In the middle of Erica’s (Kaila Estrada) heated confrontation with Lucas (JM de Guzman), Beth (Charlie Dizon), Mel (Sue Ramirez), and Alice (Janella Salvador) arrive and witness the scene.
They all share shocked glances at the unexpected reunion and at Erica’s account of her suspicions regarding the Santiago brothers, Lucas and Edong (Jake Cuenca). Finding the situation intolerable, especially because it resurfaced painful memories, Erica walks out.
Louisa and Alice are the catalysts of MABEL’s creation
Another flashback ensues, this time to a period before Louisa (Mutya Orquia), Erica (Krystal Mejes), Beth (Allyson McBride), Mel (Reich Alim), and Alice (Eliza Borromeo) became friends.
During a group task at Amurao High, Beth and Alice end up with Erica, Louisa, and Lucas (Andrez del Rosario). Frustrated, Beth complains to Alice about their luck, calling Louisa boy-obsessed, Erica awfully quiet, and Lucas a no-show thanks to his infamous brother who has a bad reputation in Amurao.
Outside the school, Louisa and Erica run into Beth and Mel. A few minutes later, they witness a runaway truck striking the car carrying young Alice and her father, Mike (Geoff Eigenmann).
Despite their fear, the four girls rush to the scene and find Alice’s bloodied father. Beth recognizes him and panics when she realizes Alice is still inside the car, moments from exploding.
Amid the passersby shouting for them to stay away from the vehicle, the girls frantically search for a way to save the unconscious Alice, who is also trapped by her seatbelt. Courageous as ever, Louisa jumps inside, cuts the seatbelt, and the others carry Alice out, with Louisa following just seconds before the car explodes.
On the day of Mike’s funeral, Mrs. Quintana (Carlene Aguilar) thanks the girls and shares that Alice needs friends now more than ever.
Inside the school canteen, a sorrowful Alice is approached by the girls. They give her a drink and begin appreciating the bravery and kindness of Louisa and Erica. Beth, speaking more gently than before, asks about Louisa’s condition, and they all laugh at the shift in tone.
Their first visit to Alice’s home marks the beginning of their MABEL’s friendship.
Louisa and Erica’s secrets eroded the trust within MABEL
Young Lucas (Andrez del Rosario) and Erica (Krystal Mejes) find Edong (Renshi de Guzman) sleeping on the tomb of their mother.
Lucas scolds his brother about his notorious reputation in Amurao and his destructive habits linked to drug use. Edong gets fed up and punches Lucas, leaving him with a worried Erica.
Erica admires Lucas for standing by his brother through it all—a loyalty that mirrors her own, quietly tending to a mother who barely notices her love. On the same day, Lucas and Erica confess to each other, marking what seems like the start of their relationship—until Louisa (Mutya Orquia), Beth (Allyson McBride), Alice (Eliza Borromeo), and Mel (Reich Alim) spot them hand in hand in the park.
That was when the violent clash between Louisa, Beth, Lucas, and Edong erupted, with harsh words and punches exchanged, culminating in Edong’s threat to kill Louisa. A few seconds later, Erica yanks a sobbing Erica from the scene, and Lucas drags his brother out of the altercation.
Beth exclaims that Erica knows being with Lucas is wrong, which is probably why she kept it a secret. Louisa adds to the tension, worried that Erica is too close to the violent Edong, Lucas’ brother.
Aggrieved, Erica exposes Louisa’s secret of leaving Amurao without informing their friends. Louisa explains that she planned to write as soon as she arrived, which only fuels Mel’s ire, insisting they deserved to know.
Alice speaks up, urging the others to hear Erica’s reasons for choosing Lucas, but also calls out both Erica and Louisa’s lies, pointing out that they didn’t trust their friends. She recalls how their friendship healed her, and criticizes Louisa for leaving without a word, remembering the pain of not saying goodbye to her dad. Then she walks away.
The agonies of the past continue to linger for Erica
After walking away from the wrenching reunion, Beth (Charlie Dizon), Alice (Janella Salvador), and Mel (Sue Ramirez) follow Erica (Kaila Estrada) outside of Fitness Plus.
Erica firmly explains her suspicions about the Santiago brothers and their possible involvement in Esther Castro’s (Malou Crisologo) disappearance and Rodrigo Celestino’s (Bart Guingona) death. With no faith in Erica, Beth counters, bringing up Esther’s estafa case and that a syndicate member killed Celestino.
Unyielding, Erica refuses to believe that the sequence of events is not coincidental, and they might be the next victims. Mel receives intrigued gazes after standing up for Lucas (JM de Guzman), something she wouldn’t have done previously.
Beth harshly interrogates Erica about why she still harbors resentment over Edong’s imprisonment after 14 years. Erica refuses to believe that they aren’t affected by the past.
Like she said at the time, Beth firmly asserts that what they did wasn’t wrong.
Lucas is shown silently seething, and the episode ends with a glimpse of Edong outside the prison, seemingly plotting something sinister.
Don’t miss an episode of “What Lies Beneath,” weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, TV5, and iWant.