11:58—The fireworks display in the neighborhood finally began. Lyka anxiously makes her way outside her house; her eyes fixated at the skies painted with wild and radiant colors, all gracefully bombarding. As she takes further steps, her heart boisterously pounds inside her chest.
She couldn't help but embrace the sensations she was suddenly getting from thinking of what's to come. It was indescribably irresistible in a way that it was manageable, all at the same time. Butterflies begin to wildly churn in her stomach; it was as though something was punching her right in the belly.
As soon as she arrived at the back of her house, there was no one else but her. It was a balmy night but with a mixture of sentiment. She could feel the coldness pierce through her delicate skin. And so, she wraps her arms around herself.
She constantly rubbed her palms together, in attempt to warm herself up. She cups her own cheeks with her hands and returns from rubbing them together. Once more, she gazes upon the vicinity to check any signs of life, other than herself of course.
She shifts her head from time to time—every second that had passed, her eyes would move. And her hopes heightened.
And out of the blue, she felt a soft and light fabric rested from the back of her quievering shoulders. She instinctively jolt in surprise. Her heart beat even more loudly and rapidly. Lyka immediately writhe to where she felt the. fabric came from and was relieved when she saw a familiar face in front of her.
Mark was smiling widely. His pearls clearly shined as he choked a chuckle. It was overwhelming for Lyka to see Mark paint the very same smile she saw when they first met after a long time—after a long time of silence and miscommunication.
She thought, "Why was I running the whole time?"
She silently stared at Mark for a short while.
Another minute has already passed yet She felt like time suddenly slowed down. It was as if the world suddenly decided to slow down from spinning for her to sink in to the moment.
"I-i'm sorry. I really l-like you, Lyka."
Mark noticed Lyka's orbs were shaking and so his smile falters and imstead, his lips quivered.
Unable to hold in her composure, she absentmindedly engulf Mark with a tight and solemn bear hug. However, it was not an embrace of relief and ecstasy, but it was an embrace of agony and remorse. She tighten her grip and buried her face on his chest, badly resisting from sobbing.
Mark was left flabbergasted. It was a very perfect moment, he thought.
It's already 00:00.
And Mark couldn't be more contented, thinking that he ended and began the year with someone whom he dearly hold the most.
He lifts his arm and wrapped it around Lyka's shoulders. And his other hand was ruffling the back of her head, gently caressing it as he rests his chin above.
Mark budged his arms to a much more comfortable position and Lyka did as well for her head. For a moment, Mark felt like crying .
As colors, brighter than the stars, splashed over the skies, their heart beat even more faster.
"Yah. . . Pabo. . ." Mark finally spoke in a trembling yet breathy voice. Lyka craned her chin a little to meet Mark's eyes.
When he saw that there was a single tear slowly cascading from the corner of her eye, he quickly wiped it with his finger, holding her right cheek. "Ang panget mo talaga 'pag umiiyak,"
And Lyka burst into laughter. She slapped Mark's shoulder and took a step back. However, he was able to nimbly cease her from moving away. He grasped on her shoulder and tugged her closer than ever, warmly hugging her once again.
"Hindi na tayo bata, Lyka. We're going to be college students soon, which means we'll be far from each other." he quietly mumbled, almost in a whisper.
It was clearly evident how disheartened they were, knowing that they've wasted their time over people who did nothing right for the whole year instead of spending it together for the last time. But Mark didn't become hopelesss.
"Nonetheless, baka palagi kitang pupuntahan sa school mo." he added.
"So. . . Tayo na?" Lyka innocently asked, her voice still shaking. "Tayo? Shet. Ang ganda pakinggan—putangina kinilig ako—t-teka muna" replied Mark, adorably flaliling his arms above him whilst spinning around.
"Hoy," she called out, flashing a smile.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Tayo na ba?" She asks once more, this time with a much more stern tone. "Wait putangina sabi teka muna eh. Kinikilig pa ako bwesit ka ah."
Lyka tightly folded her arms across her chest whilst her foot menacingly tap on the floor. She impatiently await for Mark to stop from getting giddy and raised an eyebrow at him when he looked her in the eye.
"Okay. Tayo na."
And Lyka's lips coild up into a sincere and warm smile.
And again, Mark grabbed Lyka by the shoulder and hauled her closer to him, locking her with his arms as they both chortle in joy. Mark softly swayed Lyka from side to side and kept on tickling her by her neck, which made her flinch.
"Lyka. . . " Mark silently mumbled, finally stopping from moving. His voice had a mixture of remorse and relief, which made lyka baffle.
Lyka looked up to Mark with her eyes gaped in utter perplexity. "Ano?"
He carefully hung his arms around Lyka's shoulder and neck, securely hugging her, which caused her to fluster. And just like that, he stooped his head a little low and planted a quick kiss on her forehead.
Lyka's cheeks tinge pink in embarrassment and once again buried her face in his chest.
"Yah. . ." Mark giggled, holding Lyka's cheeks. He drew her face nigher to his and wrinkled his nose for no particular reason.
"Putangina, kailan ka natutong lumandi nang ganito?" Lyka whispered whilst lightly pinching Mark's cheeks.
"Puta mas malandi ka noh," Mark replies.
--
You've reached the end of the story. Thank you for reading 😅😊
HOY MGA GUYS HUHUHU I HOPE YOU ENJOYED CRUSH AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED WRITING IT.
IN ADDITION, I WOULD LIKE TO SINCERE APOLOGIZE FOR INCONSISTENTLY UPDATING THIS STORY WITH BORING ASS CHAPTERS and for ending it like this 😭😭😭😭 patawarin niyo akooooo huhuhu
TRUTHFULLY SPEAKING, I AM HAVING A HARD TIME MANAGING MY PRIORITIES AND TASKS AS OF THE MOMENT BECAUSE OF SCHOOL.
Buhay Senior High.
Happg New Year nga pala sa inyo mga bb ✨🎆🎈😃🎊👊 cheers to more fanfics and cheers to more years with NCT 👇👆💚
~ Thank you for reading crush💚
