REPLAY. l, mark

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replay

    graduation day came in a blink, jinri can't believe she's finally leaving college. all the hardwork she did for years is finally paying off. she's happy, really. sitting beside her aunt as she watch other student climb the stage, receive their diploma and leave with big smiles on their faces while she waited for her turn.

she's happy, really, but she can't shake off that uncomfortable feeling.

halos magdilim na ng matapos ang graduation nila. from different courses and hundreds of student, it's just make sense that they take time.

as she held her diploma carefully, she can't bring herself to fully rejoice, deep down she's happy and grateful, she's relieve cause she think she wouldn't make it, studying for the final exam while finishing all the requirements she needed to pass wasn't easy, especially knowing mark have gone missing.

or maybe, just maybe, this isn't how she expected her graduation would turn out.

her aunt was there accompanying her, jisung is also present, her friends are also there, who even give her gifts and flowers, but there's no minhyung lee.

when she receive her diploma and throw her cup happily, she expected that mark would be on her side as they happily closes another chapter in their life and open another one together.

but there's no minhyung lee.

as she stood in the middle of the crowd, her eyes anxiously search for mark, she search for lucas, tutal classmate naman sila ni mark, wherever lucas is, mark would certainly be there.

and indeed he is. as her eyes landed on his figure, jinri can't help but feel that sickening pain building on her chest.

weeks, weeks of not seeing each other, mark not coming home, mark going missing in action. jinri is relieve seeing mark again, alive and kicking. he's okay, that's what matters.

but what pains her is seeing the man she love with different woman beside him, mark's fiancé stood beside him as they pose for the camera, celebrating mark's graduation.

a bitter smile tug her lips as she turn on her heels, leaving the hall, 'that should be me.'

       "punta muna ako ng condo." before her aunt could even respond, jinri was already on her way to her shared condo with mark.

they are currently celebrating her graduation, as usual nagpaparty na naman ang tita niya. she's happy and grateful, especially to her aunt that never fails to make her feel appreciated.

but she can't bring herself to enjoy.

masyado siyang problemado. she didn't even know how she manage to survive for the past few weeks.

while preparing for their final exam, hindi maalis sa isip niya si mark. all she could ever think of is mark.

is he okay? what is he up to? asan siya? kumakain kaya yun? kamusta na kaya yun? naghahanda din ba siya sa exam? bakit hindi niya ako sinasagot? iniiwasan niya ba ako? okay lang ba siya? okay lang ba kami?