Season 3 - 3

Monday came with my mind still stuck on the weekends. I can't believe I saw her at that place, with someone else. What did I expect anyway? It's been so long, of course, she'll find someone new... Just like how I found Meraki. I wonder if what they have is just as similar to what I and Meraki have.

Even after all this time, I'm still thinking of her and the regret just won't go away. A lot of what-ifs flood my mind. If I just become honest with my feelings, could we still be together right now? Just what am I doing denying everything and hurting people around me? However you see it, everything is my fault. I won't be surprised if she is mad at me cause honestly, I'm mad at myself too.

A pretty face pops up in front of me stopping me from my thoughts. I'm currently at the cafeteria killing time before my next class. I decided to ignore her, the place is crowded anyway.

"Hi!"

I stopped eating and looked at her confused. Do I know her?

She giggled. And I don't know why I feel irritated. I feel like she's faking it, I don't know her that much to judge her but... Something feels off and I don't like it.

"So you don't remember me?"

"Should I?"

She smiled. "I'm with Inari last weekend! Remember, the wedding? You're one of the photographers, right?"

Inari... Peach?

She continued when I didn't respond. "I'm sorry if I approached you so suddenly like this. I'm just curious to know who are you and-"

"We're just schoolmates at high school. Don't make it such a big deal." I interrupted and decided to leave the place. My mind is already filled with thoughts of her, I don't want her adding up to it.

"Really? But it doesn't seem to be the case for me. By the way you are reacting right now and her reaction when she saw you at the wedding..."

"What is it with you, anyway?"

Just leave me alone, damn it.

"Are you really just schoolmates in high school?"

I sighed. "Yes."

She stared at me for a second before she smiled. "Then that's good."

"What are you to her anyway?"

"Oh, me? I'm her girlfriend. And I think I have the right to know about her past, don't you think?"

"You could have just asked her instead of doing this."

She nodded and looked around. "Yeah. But I want to hear two sides of the story. Now that I know yours, It's time to know her side. Thank you for being honest, See you!"

I stared at her back walking away. Somehow, everything becomes blurry in my sight and I can't breathe due to my chest tightening.

'I'm her girlfriend!'

See? I told you. There's no way... No way that...

Ah, I guess I'm too late.

Too late for what? I lost my only chance to be with her. I only have myself to blame for what happened.

"Siren!" A loud voice and a warm body enveloped me, softly caressing and patting my back.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Hana's worried voice surrounded me.

Crying? I touched my cheeks. It's wet. So I am crying. Guess, my habit of crying without me knowing is still there.

"Hana...."

"Hmmm?"

"I'm so stupid."

"Ha? Why? Did you fail an exam? It's okay! I failed too! You're not alone!"

I shake my head as I try to smile. "I hope it's like that."

"I don't know what happened but... Do you want to eat? I can cook you something."

"Then... I want to eat pasta."

"Pasta? Sure! I don't have class anymore. Let's go to your house, okay?" Hana keeps on consoling me while wiping my face using the sleeve of her uniform. I'm really glad she could be with me right now. Or else, I'll go crazy drowning in my thoughts alone.

"Hana... Thank you."

- - -

"Hey, calm down!"

Meraki panics as she watches me gulp down a beer in one go. After I met Hana, Meraki called me to go drinking at a bar. Still feeling disoriented I agreed and here we are.

"Just let me. It's not like I get drunk easily."

"I know, but still, calm down! What made you drink this much?"

"Mera..."

"Hmm?" She leaned closer, her perfume is so sweet, so enticing that I ended up biting her ear which made her chuckle.

"What? Horny? You want to leave this place?"

"No. Let's drink more."

"Yeah. But chill out. We won't run out of drinks."

I sighed. "I just want her to get out of my mind."

"Peach?"

I nodded. Meraki is nosy, so sooner or later, I found myself telling everything, from Peach to Yujin.

"That's bad. It's your fault anyway."

And she's brutally honest too. Nothing and no one would stop her from speaking what's on her mind, and she gets into trouble all the time.

"I know. That's why I want to forget." I gulped another beer. This is starting to taste like water now. Guess I need to stop. "Her girlfriend showed up earlier, asking me things what was I supposed to say? That we almost did it in high school?"

She chuckled once again and mumbled, "A girlfriend, huh."

"What am I supposed to do, Mera? I want to forget about her."

She leaned closer again, this time our faces facing each other. "I told you to go steady on me."

I frowned. "You were never serious about your relationships, so no."

"You'll never know." She smiled seductively while removing pieces of hair from my face. "Why don't you give me a trial, then?"

"Why, do you like me?"

"I can learn to like you."

I laughed lightly. "No. I did that before and I learned it the hard way."

Meraki went quiet so I tried to lean away but she grab my neck and kissed me on the lips. I could taste the liquor in her mouth.

"Hey, do you want to get out of here?"

- - -