My close friend, Kate and I went out for dinner and a movie. That was my usual weekend after Mark and I parted ways. Kate helped me forget about the past and move on. Weekends were therapy for me. On that night, we decided to go to Eastwood Libis. We were scoping the place out for a good place to eat. But Kate wanted to buy some CDs, so we went to the mall. While we were browsing all the new releases, Kate saw Mark.

He was with the same girl. I didn’t look at first, but then Kate said that they seem to be having an argument. So I peaked. Yes, they seem to be in a heated discussion. I couldn’t make out the words they were saying, except that their body langguage screamed, MAD.

Mark suddenly walked off towards where we were. I hurriedly ducked, but it was too late. He saw Kate and I. He started to walk towards us. I wanted to walk away, but it felt like my feet were planted where I was standing. Kate looked at me with a puzzled expression. She asked me if we should leave. My mouth felt dry.

Mark: Hi Dre, Kate.

Me: Hey…

Kate: Oh hi. We were just leaving.

Me: Yeah. Bye, Mark.

He held me by the wrist.

Mark: Wait. Dre, please, can we talk?

Me: Uhmm, Kate and I have to…

Mark: Dre, I knew you were there. I knew you saw us. Do you know how much I felt so stupid?

Me: Stupid? YOU? That’s an understatement and you know that.

Kate: Dre?

Me: I’ll end it now, Kate. Just find a place to eat and I’ll call you.

Kate: Ok. If you’re sure…

Me: Yes, I’m.

I knew that eventually it will come to this, that Mark and I would talk about what really happened to us. I still think God was kind enough to let me move on before he let us meet again.

Me: So, what now? Don’t you think you owe me an apology?

Mark: Dre, remember that one week you avoided me? I was going to. You never gave me a chance.

Me: You’re still with her, don’t you think talking to me is so inappropriate. C’mon Mark, give me a break.

Mark: We are not together, Jade and I. We were NEVER together. Can we sit somewhere?

And, so. This is another Starbucks moment. Found a table at the corner.

Me: So talk. Why are you here together? You know we saw you.

Mark: She followed me. I called your house and your mom told me where you are, so I came. I want to talk to you. I miss you, I still love you.

Me: Shut up! No, you don’t love me. Why were you kissing her?

Mark: You know how I never say “No” to dares right? That’s why she’s here, she followed me. She knew Jack told me all about the dare, how she planned it all; how she’s always wanted to have me. But I never ever in a million world thought of her as someone other than a dare.

Me: Stop lying to me.

Mark: Dre, you know me. I never lie to you. Maybe, I didn’t say anything, but it doesn’t mean I lied to you.

So, that was what happened. Jade paid Jack to setup a dare with Mark. Money was tight with Jack at that time, so he agreed to setup the dare. They knew Mark would never say No. But still, she kissed another girl!

Me: You could’ve said No. You did it and it was our 22nd month together!

Mark: When I saw you walking away from Jack’s, I knew what you’ve seen, so I panicked. Everyone in there knew you were there. But I begged them not to tell you that we saw you. I knew I had to deal with this myself. Dre, I know I’ve always shown you how much you mean to me, and until now, I still feel the same way. Maybe, you have moved on, but I haven’t. What you saw a while ago, my argument with Jade. I was telling her that I knew what she did and that she can never have me. You are the one I want in my life, Dre. YOU!

Oh my God. For a few minutes there, I didn’t know what to say. I was stunned with all the information I just heard. He saw me and never mentioned that to me when I broke up with him months ago. I guess, he had his reasons, and somehow he knew why I never mentioned it. I never did, because I wanted to end the relationship in a good note, at least, even if it’s just a front.

Me: Mark, I just don’t know what to say… I’m sorry I never told you what I saw. Anyone in my place would’ve felt the way I did. Shocked and hurt and confused. I guess, I’ve just been hurt so many times before that I just didn’t want to face the reality of it all.

Mark: I can understand that. But if you gave me the chance to talk about it and explain. Is it too late for us? Dre, I know you’ve moved on, but don’t you feel anything for me anymore? Even a little? If yes, I want to build on it again. I am willing to do anything. You know everything about me, what I’ve gone through. I am so sorry for ever hurting you that way.

Me: Mark, just stop.

Mark: Dre, please listen. Just give me another shot. I swear I will never ever accept dares that I know will hurt us, hurt you. I’ve always been good to you. I’ve always done my best to make things work. This is the first time I’m ever asking you for a second chance. I know it will work. I can’t function well without you. When you left me, you never left my mind, my heart.

Me: It sounds like it’s all your fault, huh? Because it is. Mark, you know I’ve never felt this strongly about anyone before you. But if I compare my relationship with you to the others, you’ve always been the best. I’ve been in my happiest with you, maybe that’s why, with that one mistake, my world came crumbling down. I guess, it just says one thing, that I loved you the most.

Mark: Loved?

Me: You know you will always be with me, right? Tell you what, I’ll be thinking about it. Just let me take everything in and give me time to sort things out. But I can’t promise you anything.

Mark: I’ll take that, I’ll take any kind of chance. Thank you!

So the night ended with us that way. I called Kate and asked where she was. We had dinner and told her all about what happened. I was surprised about what Kate told me.

I’ve always liked Mark for you, Dre. With him, I saw you the happiest.

In life, happiness is what people always look for. Yes, I have to admit, I was happy with him, and that was just one mistake that he promised he would never do again.

So I lay in bed, thinking.

The Mark. / End.

That is the end of the three part story of Mark and Dré. It’s up to you now to imagine what would happen to them. Would they get back together? Or Dre should continue moving on?

Life always gets the best of us, but only us can navigate our lives. The twists and turns that we go through would always lead us to a much stable road. I hope you liked my fictional story. I guess my imagination just runs wild and I get caught up in it.

Until the next story!

To refresh your memory, here is the link to the first two.

“Thanks Mark, for everything. You are such a sweet person. You don’t know how much this means to me. You know how I feel about you, right? I’ve never felt this way in a long time. I thought I’d never feel this way again after having been broken into pieces one, two, many times.”

I have to do this. I have to be strong for myself and for all the girls like me out there. He lied to me, he cheated, he betrayed my trust… and I thought I could trust again. I just can’t understand why he has to do this to me, and why now? Before all these happened, everything was going right. We just had most of the things in our lives settled. He got a new place, bought his new car and he was promoted for a higher position at work. On the other hand, I was ready to take on the next chapter of my life. We had it all.

Months after our first anniversary, everything was pure bliss. We even had a chance to go on a week vacation in Palawan. We took a lot of pictures and all of them depict a happy couple. I know both our smiles and the laughter we have shared were all genuine. But why does he have to do it? Kill the happiness we had together?

“Mark, I do love you and you know that right?”

“Yes. Of course I do.”

“I have thought long and hard about this. We obviously have love for each other and our lives compliment each other in such a way that it is almost perfect. But I think… believe that this is not the right time for us.”

“What are you saying? Are you breaking up with me? Dre?!”

“Mark, I know it’s hard to understand what I am trying to do, but really, this would be the best thing for us right now. I don’t want to answer any questions; I just know that I have to do this.”

“I just don’t get it, Dre. Why?”

Isn’t this what he wants? He’s free. Now, he cries?

“This is goodbye, Mark. I’ll see you around.”

But is this the end of us?

I used the Globe network to locate where he was. We both made it a point we have that technology, and thank God for that. He was at Jack’s, his bestfriend.

As I was nearing the gate, I heard a loud mixture of laughs, music and naughty charades. I smiled to myself thinking it was one of their dare games again. When I got to the gate, I turned to look at the garage to see him and his friends so I could surprise him. Mark was kissing another girl. A beautiful, tall and white-skinned girl… all that I’m not.

My heart stopped to beat for a second, and then, it turned into a loud thump thump thump in my ear, and it felt like so deafening in my ears. I held my breath to hold back the tears. Slowly, I walked back down the riser and turned to the direction of home before anyone could see me.

When I got home, I ran upstairs to my bed. I tried to erase the images of Mark kissing somebody else, somebody who looks better than I do.

I thought he was way past the beautiful ones, that I am the only person he could love more than his life. But I guess, they are all lies now.

My phone rang. It was him. He said he was just calling to say goodnight and that he missed me that day, and that he meant to come over but something came up and he had to be at Jack’s. At least he told me where he really was. Technology saved me that night. I said my goodnights and that I loved him. But he didn’t know that I was saying a real goodbye…

The next three days I tried my best to dodge him off. I had a hundred excuses why we can’t meet or even talk. He said he missed a lot of me, my smile, my voice, my text messages… Those messages always gather up tears that are ready to fall but did not because I wouldn’t let it. He would drop by my house, but I told everyone that I don’t want to see him, so they’d make up excuses for me. I used my old sim card so he can’t track me down.

After a week of hiding, I finally had the courage to talk to him. We met at the usual, Starbucks Eastwood. He was wearing the polo shirt I gave him and I noticed he trimmed his hair. He was wearing my favorite scent of him, and his smile, oh his smile, always melts my heart.

We ordered our usual, his, a Caramel Mocciato, and mine is a Mocha Frappucino. He added a slice of Tiramisu and Cinnamon Roll for our sweet tooth.

We settled for a corner table outside. I knew he wanted to talk because he always chooses the quietest spot he can find, and the corner usually is. We both started to talk at once. He smiled, that little boy smile. I let him talk first.

“Dre, it’s been a long week. I miss you so much. This has been the longest week we’ve ever been apart, it’s exhausting. Oh Dre, I hate missing you, you drive me nuts!”

He then pulled out something from his pocket. It was a white gold bracelet with a diamond detail.

“Happy 22 months, baby. I love you…”

to be continued…