Acute Nostalgia

CHAPTER 9

SUNSET

3RD POV

Crisha watched the lovers kissing under the drops of the rain. Sa bawat pagdampi at paglapat ng labi ni Mark sa labi ng babae ay bilyon-bilyong karayom ang tumutusok mula sa kaibuturan ng kanyang puso. Sa bawat matatamis na halik na kanilang pinagsasaluhan ay katumbas ng masasakit na suntok ang bumubugbog sa kanyang katawan.

She chose to watch the kissing scene until the end because she's just hoping that Mark was just forced for a kiss just like in the movie. However, her assumption went wrong. Mark enjoyed the kiss. After the kiss, the two people under the mahogany tree cuddled as if they love each other.

Crisha decided to turn her back and walked away. She thinks, maybe that was the confirmation she need. Mark was not into her, but she's into him. Mark was into another girl. She was just an appetizer, not the main course.

When she turned her back, the emotionless face by Zach welcomed her. Zach glanced at him, next to the two-person under the tree, and back to her. In her eyes, there was a fear but the pain was dominant written all over it.

"Z-Zach? What are–" Zach didn't let her finish her words. He just pulled her for a hug. Zach embraces her with his warm arms although they are both soaking into wet. Zach started to caress her back making her burst into tears. She sobbed in Zach's arms until she felt at ease.

On the other hand, Mark punched the mahogany tree due to frustration. Not because they were under the tree, doesn't mean they can not be soaked into wet.

"You're such a fool," the sophisticated woman he shared kisses blurted out. She was currently wiping the smudge of her lips stick on her lips. "Pagkatapos mo s'yang paiyakin at saktan, heto nga ngayo't magsusuntok d'yan sa puno. Maawa ka naman d'yan sa puno, oh! Hindi ka n'yan inaano. Tignan mo dumudugo na ang puno– ay dugo!" The woman named Rachel threw her wipes and went to Mark.

"Dumudugo na ang kamay mo. Bakit ka ba kasi suntok nang suntok? E ayaw mo pala s'yang nakikitang kasama ng iba ba't mo pinakawalan? Sarili mo na lang kaya suntukin? Baka sakaling matauhan ka. Pagkatapos mong paiyakin 'yong babae, ngayon iiyak-iyak ka dahil pinapatahan ng iba! Baliw ka! Dinamay mo pa ako. Pa'no kung ipakulam ako no'n?" mahabang sermon noong babae.

She was Mark's ex-girlfriend, but they are now friends with benefits. They are ex-lovers but not in a serious way. They both use each other for good and treat each other as a fling when they were together.

Napaupo si Mark sa paanan ng puno habang basang-basa ng ulan at dumurugo ang kamao.

"Ano kaya mo pa? Tatawag na ba ako ng ambulansya? Nilalamig na ako," sarkastikong tanong ni Rachel. Ngunit impit na iyak lang ang nakuha n'yang sagot galing may Mark.

"Aysst. Karma muna 'yan? Timer ka kasi, niloko mo kasi ako no'n. Yan tuloy kung kailan ka na nagseryoso ngayon ka na rin masasaktan ng todo." Nagsimulang humagulhol si Mark. Tinatakpan nito ang kanyang mata gamit ang kanyang duguang kamao.

Kahit loka-loka at maarteng tao si Rachel ay dinaluhan n'ya si Mark sa pag-iyak. Nilapitan niya ito't niyakap.

"Congrats, ex. Tinamaan ka na ng sobra."

CRISHA's  POV

"Zach, salamat ah! Salamat dahil palagi kang nand'yan tuwing umiiyak ako. . .tuwing nasasaktan ako. T-thank you for comforting me, and being there when I need someone to lean on. M-maraming salamat talaga. Pasensya na rin sa abala. Promise, hindi muna ako makikitang umiiyak. Pipilitin kung wag u-umiyak." My voice cracked.