Guess what?

Guess what indeed.

==========

( Short Story: Defrost )

I'm tweaking around with my layout, I don't really know what to do with it and all.

I just thought that fire doesn't suit me anymore.

Edit: I don't really know if this is better or not...

Yeah. Well, it's not as red as before anyway, not bad for something done in Paint, I guess.

And if the artist of the picture (Whose name is on it) sees fit that the picture be taken off the site, feel free to comment here.

Hmm. Lesseee...

Week one of vacation was totally devoted to slacking off, RO, and family.

What happened?

I went to Batangas on Thursday. Went home last Monday. Funeral, wedding. Usual stuff.

Anyway. One of the highlights, I guess, was the mountain climbing thingy. But I guess it's more of a hike than a climb.

Let's see...

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Dashboard...

I took this one in the car. Was bored. Taken Thursday night. We were waiting for a Delica to get us; the mountain roads were too rugged for our car to traverse, hence the 4x4.

~~~~~~~~~~

Pinagbanderahan

Pinagbanderahan, as this peak is called, was supposedly, according to folk stories, a surrendering point for Japanese forces in the area. I was able to climb up the peak when I was still around 7 or 8.

~~~~~~~~~~

View 1

This was the view from our first stop, where I had to take a 15-minute break to catch my breath. That's the trouble with asthma and heart problems.

~~~~~~~~~~

View 2

This was taken while walking through a horse pasture.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hmm. Horses.

These aren't exactly hostile, but they ain't friendly either. That's my cousin holding the ropes so we can pass.

~~~~~~~~~~

Still Pinagbanderahan

Closer view of the top. Sun gets scorching at this point, but you don't feel it 'coz of the breeze from the sea. I think I got sunburned. I think.

~~~~~~~~~~

Umi da!

"It's the sea!" Yeah. This is taken on a mountain slope. Second to the last spot. At this point, I was thinking "I wish everyone can see this." I guess they can now. Secondhand experience, but what the hell.

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Imouto to imouto no tomodachi...

Little sis and her friend. She dragged her friend along the trip. I wish I dragged someone with me, the weekend was as boring as hell alone. But Rych was in a retreat, as I found out around an hour earlier before this pic. He asked me by text if he can sleep over, kakatapos lang daw ng retreat nila sa Antipolo...

*Call*

Me: Uhh Rych, sa amin ka tutulog?

Rych: Yeah, ok lang?

Me: Uhh. Nasa Batangas ako.

Rych: ...

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Imouto to Umi da yo.

Hmm. Sister and the sea.

~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone

My sister and her friend decided to stop there. Some of my relatives went higher up, some stayed with my sister, I went a little bit higher for some time alone. Yeah, contemplating while I was on what seemed to be the top of the world.

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Cloudy 1

Clouds soared above us, giving us a break from the sunshine. The mountain and the mountain roads are high up from the sea level, so high that you can actually see low clouds on the surroundings as fog.

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Cloudy 2

Same as above.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Climb Down

Everyone's there, made minute by the distance (as well as the goddamned auto-resizing on photobucket...). This was taken before I started descending with my other cousins. Yeah, I didn't make it to the top. Gravity had won over my spirit. My legs were weak from the climb; found that out the next day.

~~~~~~~~~~

So, yeah. The one highlight of the trip. ... I'll see if I can upload wedding pics later... 

Your Life Path Number is 11

Your purpose in life is to inspire others Your amazing energy draws people to you, and you give them great insight in return. You hold a great amount of power over others, without even trying. You have the makings of an inventor, artist, religious leader, or prophet. In love, you are sensitive and passionate. You connect with your partner on a very deep level. You have great abilities, but you are often way too critical of yourself. You don't fit in - and instead of celebrating your differences, you dwell on them. You have high expectations of yourself. But sometimes you set them too high and don't achieve anything.

Oof. Headshot.

Your Five Variable Love Profile

Propensity for Monogamy: Your propensity for monogamy is medium. In general, you prefer to have only one love interest. But it's hard for you to stay devoted for too long! There's too much eye candy to keep you from wandering. Experience Level: Your experience level is medium. You probably have had a couple significant loves. And you may have even had your heart broken. But you haven't really dated a wide variety of people. Dominance: Your dominance is low. This doesn't mean you're a doormat, just balanced. You know a relationship is not about getting your way. And you love to give your sweetie a lot of freedom. Cynicism: Your cynicism is low. You are an eternal optimist when it comes to love and romance. No matter how many times you've been hurt - you're never bitter. You believe in one true love, your perfect soulmate. And if you haven't found true love yet, you know you will soon. Independence: Your independence is medium. In relationships, you need both "me time" and "we time." You usually find it easy to be part of a couple. But occasionally you start to feel a little smothered.

I find the cynicism part funny.

One day before Christmas, my family decides to go to Batangas for the weekend. Great.

No net and DSL etc etc...

Yeah. Anyway, I can be contacted by text. I think.

Advanced Merry Christmas to all.

Disorder	Rating
Paranoid Personality Disorder:	Very High
Schizoid Personality Disorder:	Moderate
Schizotypal Personality Disorder:	Moderate
Antisocial Personality Disorder:	High
Borderline Personality Disorder:	Very High
Histrionic Personality Disorder:	High
Narcissistic Personality Disorder:	High
Avoidant Personality Disorder:	Very High
Dependent Personality Disorder:	Very High
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:	Moderate
-- Take the Personality Disorder Test -- -- Personality Disorder Info --

Hmm.

Yes, I am a problematic person.

Your Birthdate: June 7

You are an island. You don't need anyone else to make you happy. And though you see yourself as a loner, people are drawn to you. Deep and sensitive, you tend to impress others with your insights. You also tend to be psychic - so listen to that inner voice! Your strength: Your self sufficiency Your weakness: You despise authority Your power color: Maroon Your power symbol: Hammer Your power month: July

Hm? I don't think so.

HAMMAR! *hits stuff*

I am The High Priestess The High Priestess poses a challenge to you to go deeper - to look beyond the obvious, surface situation to what is hidden and obscure. She also asks you to recall the vastness of your potential and to remember the unlimited possibilities you hold within yourself. The High Priestess can represent a time of waiting and allowing. It is not always necessary to act to achieve your goals. Sometimes they can be realized through a stillness that gives desire a chance to flower within the fullness of time. For a full description of your card and other goodies, please visit LearnTarot.com

What tarot card are you? Enter your birthdate. Month: Day: Year:

I'll comment on this later. Physics sucks.

Taken from Shino's LJ.


You are burning


What Self-Mutilation Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Burning? I wonder why? ... Hehehe.

Boredom breeds creativity. Lolz.

---

Char. Name: Rene Cabral
Char. Class: Elemental Knight
Elements: Fire, Wind
Notable Qualities:
- Negative Faith (minus to religiously-inclined party members)
- Pyromaniac (plus to fire damage, added fire resistance)
- Impulsive (plus to party reaction time)
- Hot-blooded (chance to rampage through the battlefield, disregarding allegiance)
- Summoner (drains HP momentarily to draw a blood pentagram and summon creatures)
- Affinity to Swords (bonus damage and greater chance to critical when using swords)
- Affinity to Dragons (better chance of taming dragons)
- Morbid (increased damage, greater chance for enemies to run away screaming)
- Shield (increased damage, defense, bravery when defending a princess)
- Affinity to Hammers and Axes (bonus damage plus cleave when using hammers and axes)
- Tri-blade (Carries a kodachi, katana, and a no-dachi; can do 100% damage to all types of monsters)
- Affinity to Explosions (increased bloodlust and rampage chance whenever an explosion occurs)
- Torture Expert (greater chance of successful "interrogations")
- Warfreak (bonus damage when using military hardware)
- Dual Weapons (can equip two weapons, greater rampage chance when equipping two weapons)
- Affinity to Shotguns (bonus damage and bonus splash area)
- Triggerhappy (self-explanatory)
Known Weapons:
- Netherblade (katana)
- Hyakuryuuken (no-dachi)
- Aetherblade (kodachi)
Known Styles of Combat:
- Kami no Shattogan-ryu (God's Shotgun Style, used in close-combat)
- Senpuuryu (Whirlwind Style)
- rest unknown
Known Companions
- Wind Dragon, commonly found on his left shoulder
- Fire Dragon, commonly found on his right shoulder
- Iris Isilra, guardian angel, oddly assigned to guide and protect him even if his faith is nearly negative. Usually found on his shoulders.

Once again, searching through my archive. Yes, I'm proud of my stories. Someday I hope to publish them. Or make a manga out of them. Oh, don't mind the pen name, that's old.

---

Infinity
Written By: Kaze
Date Written: November 21, 2003



Cold. Somehow, the fireplace wasn't warm enough. The cold winter air gave me a sense of foreboding. The dry leaves kept falling. All life around me seemed to be slowing down. Years ago, it did. For me, at least.

Somehow I wish that time can turn back.

But it can't. I can only look at the future.

=====O=====

Laughter. I didn't pay any attention to anything, since I was too busy rolling around in the thick coat of snow on the ground. Soon, I rose up and began to make my way to the sled she gave me as an early Christmas present... Well, technically the sled was from her parents, but she still gave it to me.

I plowed through the snow. Everyone was still busy laughing. Can't blame them though. It was almost Christmas, everyone was having fun in the snowy landscape of the track and field oval.

Behind me, something sliced through the air. That thing splattered on the back of my head.

"Got you!"

It was her. Again. She liked playing in the snow. Of course, behind her was a sled full of snowballs. A wide smile lit her face.

"Not again, Iris..." I took a handful of snow and took aim. The shot I took missed her by a centimeter.

She giggled. I proceeded to chase her down and hurl snowballs at her. Both our faces were decorated with wide smiles as we did so.

Finally, she became tired. We sat down on one of the benches. I took out a pack of candies and cookies from my bag, which I opened and shared with her. She took out a flask of hot chocolate and got two cups. We've shared this kind of meal for about seven years, the seventh being our freshmen year in high school.

"Having fun?" I asked.

"Yeah." She said. There was a hint of sadness in her voice.

"You're still going tomorrow?" I felt the cold gust pass through my hair, as well as my heart.

"Yup."

"So, this is our last Christmas meal?" I said, not minding the snowflakes falling into my hot chocolate.

"I don't know." She looked away.

It was the time to give it to her. I can't drop by her house on Christmas morning and give it to her.

"Here you go, Iris. Before you go, here's something to remember me by."

"What is it?" She was puzzled. I gave her a small box. She took off her mittens and unwrapped it. She took out its contents: a silver chain, with a heart-shaped, silver locket.

"This must be expensive." She handed it back to me.

"No, take it, its yours. It's a necklace that my dad gave to my mom."

"I can't."

"Dad said I should give it to someone I care for. You're that someone."

She blushed, looked away. "I'll come back. I promise."

She leaned her head against my shoulder. Together, we looked at the stars, at space, at the infinity before us, watching them sparkle. That was a sight that inspired many others before us. It gave us hope, knowing that even if we were separated by infinity, we'd find our way back into each other's arms once again.

=====O=====

Three years have passed since that night. I walked around the school's oval, seeing our past selves running around the field, throwing snowballs, diving into the snow... I stopped at that bench we used to sit on.. I looked into the sky. Infinity greeted me again, with its stars and the bright moon.

Splat.

Snowball. I swiveled my head around, clutching snow from nearby and threw a snowball back.

Splat. The snowball I hurled met its target.

A girl giggled. I stood up. "Hi!" she said. The cold wind carried her words to me, its warm tone unchanged. A glint of silver shone with the moonlight.

I couldn't believe it. "Iris!"

She ran up to me, both arms wide open. A silent hug made my nerves warm again. I lost my balance and fell, taking her with me. We fell beside each other, laughed, and looked at the sky as we helped each other up.

We sat down on the bench, her head leaning on my shoulders, my head leaning on hers, looking up. The stars shone brightly, the moon illuminating the land with a silvery blue glow. My cold winter days were over at last, ended by the bond that transcended infinity and bridged my destiny together with hers.

Digging around the old archives again. CS Midterms tomorrow, but I don't want to study... Not yet, anyway.

---

Two Hearts As One
Written By: Kaze
Date Written: March 21, 2003


Light... Blinding light flashed in the darkness of the room... The surgery had begun...

She was sleeping in the surgery room, deeply breathing, not feeling a thing. Anesthesia was administered, though from her face, it did not look that she didn't feel the pain. From her appearance, in her subconscious, she was crying, down and burdened. Crying for support.

Outside the sterile room, I wasn't in a paradise myself. Deep inside, I wanted to be there, hold her hand, reassure her that everything will be alright, although I was clouded by a fog of confusion and uneasiness. I couldn't sleep at all, eyes wide open, trying to listen to events inside. Silently, I held my breath, in an isolation, in stasis, hoping to get out witnessing her smile sweetly against the grim atmosphere of the surgery room.

Silence. I couldn't take it anymore. I bashed my hand against the walls, blaming myself for what had happened, then bashed it more. I felt a mental surge of being that stopped me from crushing my hand against the walls, a force that was akin to the firm clasp of her hands on my arm, her strength focused on putting a halt on my self-destruction. For an instant, I saw her behind me, holding my arm back from bashing it more, her eyes welled up in water...

I released the anger in my arms, and silently relaxed it to my sides. I saw her wipe off the tears, smile, and comfort me in a smug embrace. After which, she flickered away.

It all came back to me. She didn't want me to hurt myself, ever. She'd always go and check up on me when I got hurt, got sick, even fussing over little band-aids I had on equally little cuts. Her smile would often take the pain away. I looked at my hand, bleeding. I didn't mind the pain. I didn't even feel it. It was all because of her.

I paced around the room, trying to be calm. The comfortable sofas in the room were inviting me, as well as my memories, which rushed out. In a sofa, we tried to watch a movie, but she drifted off to sleep, her head on my shoulder. Continued on to watch, careful not to disturb her in her slumber...

I gladly sat down. Tried to read a newspaper, draw, hum a few tunes, all leading in a road of futility.

Rummaging through the stuff I brought, I brought out a CD player to listen. It played music from our prom... Us dancing in the middle of the crowd in the melodies of songs we liked to sing. We sang along as we stepped on the floor in an unmatched synergy that was noticed by many.

The hours seemed like days.

A light went off. The surgery was over.

They rushed her out, gloves stained by her blood. They rushed her to her room. I followed with all my things.

She was placed in bed in a private room in the hospital. I laid down all my things, grabbed the chair in the room, stayed by her side, and held her hand, thanking God that she was still with me. The look of fear in her face became a calm expression the moment I held her hand firmly, and after a few seconds, she smiled.

I finally found peace. By her side, I slept, tears in my eyes, filled with joy in the fact that I was with her, and she was smiling once again.

=====O=====


Darkness... Darkness of isolation... Isolation from a world that had no care, no pity, no remorse.

In a corner of her mind, she wept. Wept tears of loneliness, pain, in seeing no one to comfort her.

A voice called. She swung her head to the familiar voice. The voice was inviting her to a place of peace and solitude. A voice that was quickly dissipating as it fought with haunting echoes of melancholy.

She stood up and ran towards the voice... As she did so, she cried tears of joy, knowing that someone was there. And, that incited her mind to show her memories... Of her crying, of him taking a handkerchief and softly wiped her tears out of her eyes, after which she would always smile and hold his hand...

She stopped and looked around, swinging her long hair with every motion. She remembered everytime he would always stroke her hair, one time even accidentally pulling one out which resulted to an instant red face for him from her slaps... She smirked, but it faded away as she sought for the voice...

Thinking of stopping for a rest, she immediately halted and took a few deep doses of air to refresh herself. Just like in that marathon... "Wait! I have to rest first!" she said, stopping. He ran back to her, jogging in place when he affixed himself next to her. "What are you doing?" she asked. With a reassuring hand he offered, he said, "Waiting for you."

After looking at the memory with fondness, she saw a light. She stood up and ran towards it... The light highlighted something... As she got closer, she saw him again, offering her that same hand, and the words "Waiting for you..." were filling the air. She smiled, and took the helping hand...

She slowly opened her eyes, seeing the white ceiling, the mellow glow of the sun outside, shaded by the venetian blinds on the windows, feeling a warm, inviting, somehow familiar grip on her hands. She looked at her hand, to find him sleeping by her side, holding her hand. She held his hand too... And whispered her thanks in the air before finally going to sleep.

Digging around in the old archives. Wala lang.

Roads (Part 1)

Written By: Kaze

Date Written: May 01, 2003



It had been miles... Miles of endless traversing roads have passed me by as I took my bike faster and faster... A monotonous melody of crunching leaves rang wherever I sped by... Slowing down, avoiding the ducks that were wobbling back to the lake... Just a few more minutes at the swift pace I was exerting...

Skid... The bike's wheels had slipped on the moss-covered old road towards my destination... I crashed down, my bike flipping over, scratching my hands, arms, and legs as I tried to stabilize myself for a short fall, crashing down on a nearby bush. I stood up and tried to regain my balance. Nothing serious, though there was a bleeding cut at my right arm... Silently, I took my bike, which, thankfully, was unscathed. I mounted it, and continued on...

It was getting brighter... It was the end of the path. I stopped my exertion of force and let the bike move of its own energy. I squeezed the brakes.

It was a small clearing among the dense foliage. Carpeted by low grass, with a few protruding rocks, and ventilated by a gentle gale, the clearing faced a cliff with a magnificent view of a small waterfall and the countryside below.

I looked at the usual place. She always brought a mat with her, which she always lays down in the middle of the flat grassland.

She sat there, hair swaying in the winds, silently... Head resting on the , she was admiring the view, as we did when we were little. She heard me walk towards her, so she turned to look at what caused the noise. When she saw it was me, she turned to look at the scenery again.

I sat down beside her.

The wind carried her tears to me.

Childhood memories came back. The both of us walking around the dense forestry and discovering the road I traveled and the little getaway I was in. The both of us, watching the ducks that I avoided earlier. The both of us, the both of us...

It was always the both of us. Of course there would be others, friends playing with us in the secret getaway, people feeding ducks by the lake, but we were always together. Both of us, through the good and bad, since we were walking, until now.

Until now.

The wind blew.

"I wanted..." she said as she tried to conceal her tears, "to spend my last day here with you." She looked at me, and though tears continued to flow down her cheeks, she smiled sincerely.

"You're gonna go back here again."

"In four years! Do you know how long that is?"

"Yes."

"You're so calm about this... You look like you want me to go away!" Her smile faded.

"Part of me does. Part of me doesn't."

She was taken aback. "Why? I don't want to go!"

"You've been given a good opportunity. I don't want to see you throw it away. Remember all the stuff about Disneyland we talked about when we were kids? Now you get to go there, and get a good education as well."

"You sound like my dad now."

"Believe me, it's hard to see you go. But I'd be selfish if I didn't let you. I don't want you to be left out of anything, you know that. That's why we're always together."

"You'd be left out! There'll be an ocean between us!"

"No. I'll always be with you. Wherever you'd go." I took my hand and wiped all the tears away from her face. "I only hope that you'll think that way, too."

She couldn't hold back anymore. She cried on my shoulder. I didn't mind if her tears fell on my wound. I patted her back, comforting her, and comforting myself as well.

After a few minutes, cries turned to sobs, and her tears slowly stopped.

"When we were kids, whenever we heard a conversation like that, we'd always laugh."

"The innocence of childhood..." I silently whispered.

"Yeah." She smiled once again.

She noticed my wound, which she mended up with her handkerchief, gently tapping my mended arm. "Keep that. Don't worry," she said as she tapped, "I'll be back to get it again, all right?"

"I'll be waiting."

I stood up and helped her do the same. We folded the mat, and we mounted our bikes. We were going home, holding hands as we pedaled along.





=====O=====


She said goodbye to her parents. She hugged me, and I hugged her back. "Bye," she whispered.

She picked up the small backpack which she used to carry items of sentimental value to her.

"Wait. I have something to give you."

I opened the front pocket and placed a teddy bear in it, its stuffed body poking out of the bag's zipper.

"What's this?" she asked as she inspected the note attached. I'm gonna wait for you.

"Thanks! It's cute!"

She clutched her backpack, with teddy bear poking out of its front pocket, smiled and waved goodbye. Then she walked to her plane.

The glass eyes of the teddy bear glimmered; its goodbye to me. Somehow, it said goodbye, but then again, it said, See you in four years.

So that this empty thing can have something new... Taken from Tina's LJ. =P

A complex personality, you appeal only to two kinds of people - those who accept everything at face value and, most importantly, those who deeply understand the greater things you believe in. Skeptics are hard to win over, but those who like you will respect you forever. What Kind Of Anime/Manga Are You?

Out of sheer boredom. Strangely it holds true, every bit and detail of it.

... Well, except for the marriage part. I'm not really sure of that yet.

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who have a split personality - cold as ice on the outside but hot as fire in the heart.

In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved.

You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please.

Your ideal relationship is comforting. You crave a relationship where you always feel warmth and love.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something that will confine you. You are afraid of marriage.

In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily.

Everything seemed to be in order. The sea breeze was cooling off the bayside restaurant's outside, while the airconditioning worked extra hard to keep it cold inside. The lights were dim, as I had instructed.

"This place sure has nice ambiance, Joe."

"It's my mom's restaurant, and she has a flair in decorating. By the way, who's the lucky girl anyway, Ken?"

We continued walking around the table. Everything had been set for one romantic evening. Flowers decorated the table. Roses and Lilacs, to be specific. A perfect table set for two, champagne on the side if she decides to drink to the joyous night. Candles at the center, flickering, providing what faint light they can contribute to the dim lighting around the place, set for a quiet and tranquil evening.

"Hmmm? Oh, her? A blockmate."

"The girl you were talking about?"

"Yup."

"Lucky girl. Imagine, to dine in a restaurant like this..."

"Stop flattering your family restaurant, Joe. By the way, if you wanna smoke, light it up later, okay? I want the table to be perfect."

Joe pocketed the pack inside his shirt pocket. "Sure, bud."

"Thanks again. I won't forget this."

"Nothing but the best for a friend of my best friend. You look spiffy, by the way. Reminds me of the prom."

"Oh, this? This isn't anything special." Both of us paced away from the table.

"Oh yeah? Like that table back there?"

I looked back. "Well, not really..."

A few silent paces. I looked at my watch.

"Oh, she's here."

The door opened. A girl with a long, blue dress walked in. Her hair bounced along with every enthusiastic step she took. She turned to look at me. When her gaze turned to me, I saw the deep brown hue of her eyes sparkle along with the flickering candles.

"Ken! Thank you, thank you!"

"Haha. Nothing but the best for you, remember?"

"Thanks, really. It's perfect... Thanks for this night."

"No problem."

"... May?" A man wearing a black suit walked in.

"Oh! Here you are! Meet my friend..." Several arrows shot through the tranquil air and hit me. "... Ken. He's the one who made this whole thing possible."

"Ah, thanks dude. Any friend of May's is a friend of mine." He extended his hand. I held an acid-covered glove with a vice's grip within my grip.

"It's perfect! See!" Her words faded out as both of them walked to the table we prepared earlier.

"... I suppose you'll let me have my smoke now?"

"Sure Joe, c'mon. I have a few beer bottles waiting for me at the counter, right?"

"Sure dude, free of charge."

The bar was empty at this time. After all, today's a holiday. I went through all the trouble of decorating the whole place... for her.

"Bummer, huh?" Joe handed me a bottle. I poured myself a glass and drank it.

"You can't imagine."

"Actually, I can. You put up a good face you know. I didn't even notice that you were holding it back."

"Yeah." A tear rolled down. "Well, I gave her the best scenario I could think of."

"Ah, the power of a writer's imagination. Mind you, you were really brilliant in spiffing up that table."

"Nah. I just listened to her talk of the ideal confession she had in mind. And if your mom hadn't helped us out, those flowers would have died the moment I bought 'em." Another glass of beer for me.

Joe just sat there, puffing out smoke. "You know, I swear that you two would make a good couple."

"You're just biased." Third glass. "She's happier with him. What can I do?"

"Let her be happy with the guy she loves. Martyr." He took a bottle of coke from the fridge and opened it up.

"You smoke but you don't drink?" Fourth glass.

"You don't even know your drinking limit yet. It's that painful, huh?"

"Yup." About two bottles. "That's enough for tonight, I suppose... I don't wanna get drunk and all that shit."

"Look at that." He gestured towards the table May and her date were sitting in. "So sweet, isn't it? Makes me wanna hurl."

"You were always the anti-romance guy in class. Guess it still sticks until now huh? I don't wanna look at that. Too painful."

"Then why do you go through all this trouble for her?"

I took out a bottle of coke from the ref. "... Coz... I love her. Plain and simple. So I'll let her go off with him... She'll be happier that way."

"What about you?"

"Hmm? Me? I don't care anymore."

"Really now..."

I opened the coke bottle and poured some in a glass. "Yeah, I don't care anymore... I suppose that's what we were meant to be... Just friends."

"Doesn't it hurt for you to see her happy with another man?"

I drank the glass straight. No major feat since it is, after all, just carbonated water. "Yeah. Painful. So painful that you'll want to die because of it..."

Everything was silent for a few seconds, save for the fizzle of softdrinks. Then, the violinists played their song.

"You know..." I looked at the table, to see them hold each other's hand... "This pain... is nothing, really.... It'll really hurt at first... But..." I grasped another glass of coke. "... It's like torture. You'll learn to be numb to it. Right now, the pain is unbearable..."

The couple kissed.

"... But eventually you won't mind it at all."

A tear rolled down my cheek. I didn't mind... After all, this was her night, not mine.

"You okay, dude?"

"Yeah, Joe. Alright."

"Don't you think it's your turn to be selfish, Ken?"

"No. This is my curse, you know."

"Whatever you say, dude."

"Yeah, whatever. I'm going home, tell her that I need to do something for tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure."

I laid down my glass, which was still half-filled with coke, and walked out of the place. I had no idea that it was raining outside. My suit was getting wet. But I didn't mind... Not like I'd be wearing it anytime soon anyway.

I stood for a few minutes in the rain. It's amazing. An hour ago, when preparations were finished, I saw a beautiful sunset outside. All I saw, at this moment, was grey clouds, and a crying heaven.