Love, The Second Time Around

Chapter 2: That Past

Dedicated to @cyrhel01 – Dapat sa BS chap pa ako magde-dedic sa’yo eh... Charot! Haha! Ito update ulit oh! Coz your wish is my command, friendship!
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Chapter 2: That Past

 

FIVE YEARS AGO, everything was perfect for Monic. Nakapasa siya sa Licensure Exams for Teachers and at the same day, saktong second anniversary rin nila ng boyfriend niyang si Marky.

            Mula umaga ng araw na iyon, inabangan niya ang surpresa ni Marky para sa kanya. Of course, Marky would prepare a surprise for her. She expected that, dahil lagi naman siya nitong sinusurpresa kapag may mahalagang okasyon, lalo na tuwing anniversary nila. So mas lalo pa dapat siyang surpresahin nito sa araw na iyon dahil dalawa ang dapat nilang i-celebrate.

            Kada oras naman, hindi nawawalan ng bating natatanggap si Monic mula sa mga kaibigan at kamag-anak, mapa-tawag, mapa-text, o maging sa Facebook. Hanggang sa sumapit na ang gabi, pero walang Marky na nagpaparamdam sa kanya. Even si Yvette na best friend niya, who speaking of, was M.I.A. for already a week, ay hindi pa siya binabati.

            ‘Yung totoo, nag-joined forces ba ang dalawang ‘yon para surpresahin ako? She wondered, making her giggle. She felt very much lucky that her boyfriend and best friend were getting along very well.

            Pero 7pm na, wala pa ring nagpaparamdam sa mga ito. Nasasaktan na siya at nalulungkot. May supresa nga bang hinanda para sa kanya ang dalawang tao na mahalaga sa buhay niya?

            Nakatitig lang si Monic sa cellphone niyang nasa study table at nagdadalawang-isip kung tatawagan na ba niya si Marky. She soon decided that she would, pero biglang nag-ring ang cellphone niya. Marky was already calling!

            Nawala agad ang sakit at lungkot na nararamdaman niya. She turned very excited as she answered Marky’s call.

            “Hon!”

            Pero hindi nagsalita si Marky.

            “Uy, hon?” Tawag niya ulit dito.

            “Can you go here now sa playground niyo, Nix?” Tanong nito bluntly, but she thought that Marky was just forcing himself to sound that blunt. He was just acting.

            “Uh o-oo naman!” Monic was stammering in excitement. She was thinking about candles and roses—most probably, magdi-dinner date sila sa playground under the moon and stars. Marky could do that. He was a very sweet guy after all.

            Nag-ayos si Monic ng sarili bago umalis. Hindi naman siya sobrang nag-ayos. She only put on a little make-up like what she always used to, and didn’t bother to change into a more casual outfit. Naka-one piece, orange-yellow orange checkered blouse siya na simple lang at medyo mukhang pangbahay. But at least, it was one of her clothes that Marky liked her wearing. Tuwing nakikita nito na suot niya ito, madalas siya nitong sabihan na ang cute niya. Well, the blouse was really cute on her.

            Pagkarating niya sa playground ng village nila, medyo nadismaya siya. There were no candles, no roses, no dinner date like what she had expected. Ang naroon lang ay si Marky na nakaupo sa isa sa dalawang magkatabi na swing, at nakahilamos ang mga palad sa mukha.

            Still acting, huh? Monic grinned at that thought. Her hopes were back, expecting again a surprise that would surprise her for real. ‘Yung biglaan at nakakagulat ba.