Capítulo 97: A Hated Enemy Resurfaces

It was a rainy Saturday afternoon outside the arena. The wind was fierce and the downpour was relentless.

Luckily there was no typhoon. However, the weather still felt like there was one passing through the metropolis.

Inside, I sat down near the bench waiting anxiously for the team to arrive. Unfortunately, faint cheers greeted them upon entering the court.

The arena was basically devoid of spectators. The rabid atmosphere was sorely missing.

Maybe people stopped going because of the harsh weather. Or perhaps the season was still in its infancy.

Whatever the case, I was treated to an eerily silent basketball game. The remaining fans that arrived simply did not care.

When the game commenced, Michelle and Kyla's team played uninspiring basketball. Without the crowd to cheer them on, they were unenthusiastic, complacent and bored from the opening tip.

Even as their coach tried to motivate the team, it was clear this was not a game they deserved to win. As expected, the team got blown out by 22 points and suffered its first defeat.

But it was not the lethargic result which brought my attention. As I looked suspiciously at the opposing team during the game, a familiar face suddenly showed up.

"Who could that be?" I thought bitterly to myself. "She must be someone from my tragic past."

Minutes after the game, a despondent Michelle and Kyla walked to the parking lot with their heads bowed solemnly.

"We're sorry to let you down," Kyla meekly said. "We didn't play up to our standards."

Before I even uttered a single word, however, someone from the opposing team called me out.

"Hey Christine," the player shouted from afar. "Remember me you jerk?"

Suddenly I began experiencing a terrible headache. A flashback sequence started occurring inside my brain.

"No it can't be," I said to myself.

"What's bothering you Christine?" Michelle questioned as she walked by my side.

"That cruel face," I replied grimly. "She must have conjured up terrible memories of abuse and torture into my system. I can't help it."

Michelle carried me quickly to her car and we sped away before things went out of hand. Upon returning to Kyla's condominium, however, I continued cowering in fear and pain and sat down uncomfortably.

While Kyla changed into a new set of clothes, Michelle joined me inside the living room.

"Christine, you look distressed," she uttered with concern. "What's wrong?"

"Michelle, that player from the opposing team once tormented me in school," I tearfully revealed. "Her face was familiar, but her name was not."

"You must be referring to Jenny," Michelle responded critically. "The girl with the pixie-cut hair, square face, and a menacing stare."

"Indeed," I merely nodded in overwhelming despair. "I'll never forget the day she poured a plate of spaghetti onto my uniform back in fourth grade."

At that critical moment, Michelle's phone chimed in and both Karina and Charissa called via Skype.

"Christine, you don't look so delighted," Charissa said nervously. "What's bothering you?"

"It was Jenny, mother," I dejectedly replied. "The wicked girl who once poured spaghetti on me back in fourth grade."

"That was so terrible," Charissa commented bitterly while shaking her head. "But that was over a decade ago. You should have moved on."

"Mother, it's not easy," I replied nervously. "She still projects a mean look on her face whenever we met, and today was no exception. Jenny is extremely scary."

"Better confront your fears, Christine," Charissa advised me. "You're 22 now. Don't look back at your tragic past and let the emotional pain go."

"You don't understand me, mother," I frustratingly yelled back.

Still unconvinced, I angrily walked out of the conversation and locked myself in bed. Michelle and Kyla tried in vain to knock the door and talk me out of it.

"Christine," Michelle screamed at the top of her voice. "You must get out of the room, or else our friendship terminates."

"Who cares?" I yelled back. "Just leave me alone!"

A few hours later, my phone suddenly rang.

"Christine, we need to talk in person tomorrow," the peculiar voice of Jenny unexpectedly penetrated my ears. "I'll message you the details later."

The following morning, I secretly left Kyla's condominium on my own and went to a nearby coffee shop. Moments later, a tall, pixie-haired lady arrived in front of me.

"Jenny?" I fearfully uttered. "What do you want?"

Jenny sat down and stared wistfully at my innocent eyes. The fearful gaze of yesteryear instantly turned into one full of regret.

"Christine, I didn't mean to say you're a jerk," Jenny opened.

"But you hurt my personal feelings extremely hard," I cried back. "Remember that spaghetti incident all those years ago? Jenny, it's been over a decade already and that moment still hurts."

I turned my back for a moment and sobbed inconsolably. Then as Jenny approached me, she started weeping as well.

The uncomfortable feeling of pity must have overcome Jenny. It was clear her conscience was not pure.

"Christine, I know you still despise me," Jenny said bitterly. "All those years staining your clothes, mocking your mannerisms, and teasing your portly figure. Every awful thing. I regret all of them."

"So what are you going to do?" my angry and emphatic question towards Jenny. "You're going to apologize or pour that plate of pasta onto my clothes again? It's your choice."

Jenny grabbed the plate of pasta and thought about staining my precious shirt again. But at the last moment, she dropped the plate, knelt in front of me and sobbed like a little child.

"Christine, sorry for the terrible things I did to you," Jenny apologetically uttered. "All those moments of shame, humiliation and mockery, I bitterly regret them all. Please forgive me for those transgressions."

A tearful Jenny hugged both of my knees in a moment of pure remorse. Moments later, I directed my innocent eyes towards her and began talking.

"Jenny, you may be terrible in your manners but there is always room for change in your heart," I promptly nodded. "Your apology is graciously accepted."

"Thank you so much Christine," Jenny answered soberly as she stood up and embraced me. "I promise to be a more responsible and sympathetic person this time."

With tears still in our eyes, Jenny and I promptly ordered lunch at the coffee shop. Just then, however, Michelle and Kyla arrived and they were not in a good mood.