C5 An obsession of the obsessed

The flashbacks...

It has been a yearly tradition of Flexton high school for decades, to meet every three years after graduation from high school at a reunion party and camping. To motivate its formal students on the events of progress made, by the admitted students into college, to boost and encourage each other.

As well as to create a sense of awareness to elevate or arouse the interest of their reluctant schoolmates, who were apathetic towards going to college, and inspire enthusiasm on their impassive judgment about college's unnecessary impact on their life, as were the norms of the young generation at that time. Most of them often cancel college from their to-do list after high school.

This reunion started from the insight of an enthusiastic student, who introduced the tradition at a point, to give her dispassionate schoolmates an opportunity, to reconsider their decisions and tackle their various conditions, so they could look forward to great aspirations in college and life as a whole.

However, this tradition was eradicated long back, after a student attempted to end her life from the mockery of her mates, in her unfortunate current situation, instead of getting to grips with life and developing a strong mindset from her mates' examples to reflect it on her life.

Meanwhile, this high school tradition was what Jason hard-headedly decided to take advantage of, and continue his torment in Rhea's life, after three years of being restrained by the court to approach her.

During the time Jason was cleared of all charges of his attempted murder of Rhea three years ago, he couldn't bear the thoughts of how Rhea cold-heartedly stood witness against him in court, and was determined to avenge Rhea for even daring and acting on it. But since his restraining order stopped him from going near her, at the risk of ending up in jail. He decided to tackle his obsession by taking advantage of a debt he owed a friend...Sam Wilby. Jason introduced Sam's entry into Rhea's life, so Sam could grow close to Rhea and build a trusting bond between them, until Jason's appointed time.

Well, that appointed time was now here, With Rhea currently living the perfect life, still studying in the college of Medical school, to become a doctor. As well as the strong support of her sister around her, and her newfound boyfriend...Sam Wilby, who had been amazing so far in their relationship. Rhea was currently getting ready for their date tonight.

"You heard about the party Jason was hosting, right? I want you to come with me as my date." Sam asked Rhea at their dinner table he organized for her.

However, Rhea couldn't understand why Sam, her current boyfriend, would take her as his date to her ex-boyfriend's hosted get-together out of town, whose sight Rhea hated seeing.

"I don't think I would be able to make it, and besides, you know about my past relationship with Jason. I simply don't want him anywhere close to me." Rhea replied after a second thought.

Dating Jason Taylor had been the most regretful mistake so far, which Rhea detested herself for, until now. But since she met Sam Wilby, she developed a positive mindset about guys once more, and gave him a chance after he confessed his feelings to her repeatedly. Rhea's internal battles right now were, how could Sam forget her high school days when she dated Jason and nearly lost her life to drugs, to even propose she attend the party?.

"Are you sure that is the only reason keeping you from going? not because you still have a thing for Jason." Sam commented, to trigger a denial from Rhea, which she did. Then he would have an excuse to push his luck and get her into accepting to go with him.

"Then I don't see any reason why you would turn down my proposal, since you just confirmed that, Jason is out of your life for good...right?" Sam added, as he stared at Rhea hoping to convince her.

"I would think about it...but for now, let's not spoil our time on the thoughts of Jason and have a lovely time...It is very beautiful here! I didn't know you would choose my favorite spot for our dinner date. Thanks, Sam." Rhea was all smiles, and filled with gratitude for her amazing, yet unknown to her, cunning boyfriend.

The two lovebirds continued to have a lovely time discussing exciting topics, until it was finally time for Sam to drop Rhea home.

Upon arrival home, after bidding her farewells to Sam, Rhea took out her phone to check her messages, which it has been peeping continuously for a while now. She realized they were messages from her schoolmates, inviting her, with pleading emojis, to attend Jason's hosted get-together with them. Since they missed her and would love to see her too.

Their high school tradition had always been to go on three nights out of town, camping in spectacular sceneries, as they catch up on each other's signs of progress in life. But it so happened that, Rhea's ex-boyfriend...Jason Taylor, decided to lead this tradition by introducing it to his schoolmates, even after a tragedy force the school to do away with it, years before they graduated from high school. But it seemed all his schoolmates happily complied with his arrangements, to release the recent stress from their ongoing college lifestyles, and also reconnect and have fun with their formal schoolmates.

All Rhea wasn't aware of was that, the texts from her schoolmates, were all Jason's handiwork, in case Sam wasn't able to convince her to come. So unluckily, Rhea agreed to go. Now it's left with how to convince her sister to allow her to go with raising issues of the past.

"You are home early, I thought your dinner date with Sam would take all night...considering all the efforts you put in grooming yourself." Kristine uttered, when she heard Rhea knock on her door and entered. She was currently busy with her load of work at the office, as the newest recruit of the Walker Empire Group.

"Hey, sister...I thought so too. I am more disappointed than you right now." Rhea replied in her sulky tone as she witnessed the load of work on her sister's bed. Rhea had wished her sister to finally settle down here in Textile state, by getting a new job here, but it seems Kristine loved working under the Walker Empire company. She kept going back and forth and only spends the weekends in Textile state...with the excuse to wait until Rhea graduated college. Both sisters were currently in Textile State with their parents for holidays, But their dad was currently away on a mission. He was a Military soldier and an undercover agent.

On the other hand, Kristine noticed the sulky tone of Rhea's voice and knew something was going on. She could read Rhea like a book.

"Okay... don't make me ask, spit it out." Kristine pleasantly asked her sister in curiosity.

"You know of our three years out of town tradition at Flexton right?" Rhea paused when Kristine attempted to answer, then continued anyway, since she knew what her sister was about to say. "I know it was canceled by the school, but it seems Jason wanted to revive it, and all our schoolmates agreed, even Sam. And he asked me to escort him as his date." Rhea finally concluded, waiting for Kristine's comment on the issue, which didn't come as expected.

"I know you still don't trust Jason and all, but Sam would be there and all our schoolmates, so Jason wouldn't dare to even come closer to me. And there is the restraining order too.. it is still valid...right?" Rhea suddenly remembered there was a deadline stated in the restraining order report, which she needed to confirm, so she run to check it out, and left Kristine suddenly worried for her. Kristine developed a bad feeling about this setup, especially if there was Jason involved as the mastermind.

Rhea soon came back after confirming its expiration...it was only three years until they decide to renew it, which they would once Jason tries his obsession once more.

In any case, Rhea begged Kristine to allow her to go...so Kristine accepted and gave in to her little sister, after repeatedly telling her to be extra careful. Even though she warned Rhea about the bad feelings she had from the news, it seems odd that the restraining order also expired at the same time. This simply can't be a coincidence.

At the Camping site out of town, were happily reunited school mates, amongst them were Rhea and a few of her friends from high school, who meet after three years of graduating, to share some of the craziest and most drastic turns their lives took after completing high school. They all stood waiting for the bus, so they could finally embark on their fun vacation with formal friends, in an unknown city, on their way to the botanical gardens. A place they all selected after casting votes amongst themselves. The place belonged to one of their friend's dad...Tom Carter, and they own a well-built mansion inside the huge park, as their family's vacation spot.

The night was still young when the young-blooded youngsters blooming with the age of youth, hundred miles away from home, were extremely excited. Even the bus they all took together was busting with jubilations until they reached. Some of them had even started creating their camping tents in their selected spots, while others preferred to stay in the Mansion.

After they all settled down from all the excitement, before they could begin their to-do list for the camping, Jason couldn't wait. And was very eager to make good on all his threats towards Rhea, as he kept staring at her smiling brightly while chatting with Sam, which suddenly made him furious. He was irked by the sight he was seeing before him, and felt threatened by Sam's closeness to Rhea.

Suddenly, Sam's phone peeped with a message.

"Get her to the warehouse in five minutes, I will meet you there!" Sam reads Jason's text on his phone and then raised his eyes to meet Jason's gaze for confirmation.

"Hey Rhea, since we are already here, why don't we look around the area...and get some time for ourselves." Sam invited Rhea who was about to put up their tent, she gladly agreed simply to get away from Jason's deadly glares, which she noticed for a while now.

Meanwhile, Todd Carter, their high school legend, in his latest edition Rolls-Royce car, soon appeared with his friends to show off to his schoolmates, despite everyone knowing, his progress was all thanks to his billionaire dad, whom Todd owed for his luxurious enjoyments.

"Hey, fellas...did you all miss me." Todd shouts to all his friends, upon his sudden arrival, and there were vibrant cheers from his friends in agreement.

On the other hand, Sam took the opportunity of the loud cheers and excitement from Todd's arrival to take Rhea towards the warehouse, and cunningly left her in Jason's grasp, when they both moved to look around the big abandoned warehouse, a few meters from where they were camping.

Time passed and Rhea didn't notice any movements or sight of Sam, so she decided to turn back and check it out when she saw Jason approaching the warehouse. Then she hid away to avoid running into Jason, until maybe, Sam returns to get her...which she was sure he would.

But it seemed Jason had already spotted her and began his approach toward where she was hiding, before his icy voice penetrated the silence inside the warehouse.

"You are trapped, Rhea...There's nowhere else to run!" Jason's icy voice roared with his fearful statement which made Rhea a little scared.

She peeped at the sound of his voice, and saw Jason, as he menacingly took steps to approach her

So all Rhea could do was to make a run for it, in search of Sam, but she didn't see him.

To make matters worse she got hurt underneath her feet, after tweaking a branch while running away from Jason, and even misplaced her other shoe in the process...

If only she knew beforehand, that this would happen to her. Why was it always her, who regretted after acting on her decisions, to even attempt to consider attending a party hosted by her ex. she had no one to blame but herself...