Nicole had heard about what happened between Julie and Cielo.
Eh? Was that girl really okay? The question echoed in her mind, followed by a heavy sigh.
She was alone in her room that evening. Her brother was out running errands, her mother at an important office meeting. The house felt too quiet… too empty.
Nicole sat on her bed, and without warning, the dark memories crept back in. Her chest tightened, nerves prickling like ice.
No, no… he's gone, Nicole. You're okay, she whispered to herself, forcing the thought into her mind. But the memories clawed through, relentless.
And then—footsteps.Slow. Heavy.Right outside her door.
He's gone. He's gone. She repeated it desperately, but the footsteps grew louder. Panic overtook reason. She rushed into her closet—the same place she used to hide before.
A low chuckle.A man's voice calling her name.
"Nicole… I'm here. Where are you?"
It wasn't real. She knew it wasn't real.
But her body didn't believe it. She trembled violently.
Stop it! Stop haunting me! she screamed inside her mind, tears falling freely.
"—Nicole! Nicky!" A different voice cut through the terror, followed by hands shaking her shoulders.
She gasped and turned.
"Kelly…"
"Come here."Her cousin pulled her tightly into an embrace, and Nicole collapsed against her, sobbing.
"It's okay. It's okay. I'm here. I came to check on you. Your brother will be out for a while," Kelly murmured soothingly.
Nicole looked at her cousin's calm face and nodded weakly.
"Let's go to our house. We'll wait for Jonathan there."
Nicole could only nod. She followed silently as Kelly locked the house and led her out.
On the way, Nicole overheard her cousin on the phone.
"Nathan, I brought Nicky to our place. She was alone. When are you coming home?"A sigh… a nod… "Okay, bye."
"Come on." Kelly draped an arm around her.
It was a short walk to their house.
Inside, Kenjie greeted warmly. "Nicky! Fever gone? Good. Stay here with us." He ruffled her hair lightly.
"Melissa's upstairs," Kelly added. "Go to her."
"Thank you," Nicole whispered.
She climbed the stairs and knocked.
"Nicky! Come in!" Melissa ushered her inside. Nicole noticed she was on a video call.
"Oh, Nicky," a familiar voice said through the phone.
Nicole blinked. "Raymond?"
Melissa nodded.
"Don't worry, he's not here," Raymond added quickly when Nicole stiffened. She relaxed a little.
"Will you be able to return to school tomorrow?" he asked gently.
"N-No… Mom said I still have another session Monday. I need one more week," she sighed.
Raymond nodded. "I'm sorry. He really triggers your trauma. He never controlled his temper… I just want you to heal."
Nicole gave a tiny nod. "Thank you."
"Take all the time you need, Nicole, okay?" he said with a soft smile.
Nicole managed a faint smile back.
"Mel, I need to do something. I'll call you later," he said.
"Sure. Bye."
"Love you."
Melissa flushed. "Love you too."
Raymond laughed before ending the call.
"Did I interrupt?" Nicole asked.
"No! He knew you'd be coming. He told Sis earlier that she'd stay with you later."
Nicole nodded slowly.
Just then, Kelly entered and flopped onto the bed dramatically.
"Oh, I thought you were going to help brother?" Melissa teased.
"He doesn't want my help anyway!" Kelly pouted.
Melissa giggled.
"Maybe later I'll help Kuya Ken," Kelly muttered.
Nicole smiled at their playful bickering.
"Hey hey, Nicky, look at this." Kelly pulled out her phone. "You'll be shocked."
Melissa laughed.
Nicole squinted at the photo Kelly showed.A girl with glasses, curly ponytail, semi-formal clothes, and heels.
"…Who's that?"
"Swipe," Kelly urged.
Nicole swiped. Same girl, but without glasses—standing beside the two sisters.
Recognition hit her.
"Eh? That's Julie?"
Melissa burst out laughing. "Yes—well, no. That's Pop Princess, not Julie."
"She looks so… different… so sassy," Nicole muttered.
The sisters laughed even harder.
"We just fixed her up—light makeup, different styling. Enough so she wouldn't be recognized as Julie," Kelly explained.
"Open our GC. You weren't online while sick. You'll choke," Kelly said proudly.
"I left my phone at home…"
"You hopeless brat." Kelly rolled her eyes and opened Messenger herself. "Here!"
Nicole saw the pictures—Julie with the Villanueva cousins. She chuckled.
"Let's call Julie," Nicole suggested.
Kelly opened the chat. Jason was teasing Julie nonstop, making Nicole laugh.
"Oh, she's online! Hold on." Kelly tapped the call button.
Julie answered in pajamas, hair messy.
"Why, Ate Kelly…? I just woke up…" Julie whined.
"Tired from yesterday?" Kelly teased.
Julie looked mortified.
"Wow, so you CAN be a girl," Nicole teased mischievously.
Julie blinked. "Ah—Nicky, you're there?"
"Yep. We adopted her for now," Kelly said proudly. Nicole burst into laughter.
"I had no choice, Nick," Julie groaned. "I can't be Julie right now."
"You were so sassy in those clothes. Did they believe it?" Nicole grinned.
"You only called to tease me, didn't you?!"
Nicole laughed even harder.
"Nicky, you're not going back to school tomorrow?" Julie asked.
Nicole shook her head. "Still have a session. One more week."
Julie nodded. "Come back soon, okay? Let's smash that jerk together!"
"You crazy girl!" Nicole laughed. "But tell me everything. I KNOW your heart was fluttering yesterday."
"H-Hey! Fluttering?! I was nervous!" Julie protested… then muttered, "Well… maybe… a little…"
Kelly and Melissa exploded in laughter.Julie's red cheeks gave her away.
"Hold on, my brother's calling," Melissa said, leaving the room.
Nicole stayed on call with Julie and Kelly.Laughter filled the space—warm, familiar, healing.
For the first time in a long while, Nicole felt something returning.
Something she thought she'd lost:
Laughter.