"We were on fire, now we're frozen

There's no desire, nothing spoken

You're just playing, I keep waiting for your heart

(I keep waiting for you)

I am fiending for the sunshine

To show our love in a good light

Give me reason, I am pleading to the stars"

--

"Pareng Earl! Depressed ka na naman? Let me guess... Charlie again?" asked Mick, his classmate back in college and a good friend. Nasa isang bar siya sa Makati when he decided to call his friend, hoping that he will have some solutions to offer for his problem—her.

Tumango si Sen at bumuntong hininga. He raised his index finger at the bartender, signaling him for another drink.

Mick gave him a couple of manly taps on the shoulder. "Pare hindi ka pa ba maka-get over sa babaeng yun? She's been doing this to you over and over again. Hindi ka pa ba nagsasawa?"

Sen finished the scotch on two gulps and asked the bartender for some more. He looked at his friend at saka seryosong nagsalita. "Mahal ko sya pre."

"Bullshit."

He chuckled. "If you can only feel what I'm feeling, you won't be able to say that."

Mick rolled his eyes. "Psh. Please."

Napangiti na lamang si Sen sa tinuran ng kaibigan. He knew that Mick cares for a certain girl na matagal ng habol ng habol dito. Naiinggit nga siya sa kaibigan. Ilang buwan na rin itong hinahabol ng babaeng patay na patay rito. Eh sya? Dalawang taon nang habol ng habol sa babaeng hindi nga sya tinatakbuhan pero palagi namang kumakawala sa kanya.

"Sen, can't you really leave that woman alone? I mean, no offense pare pero nagmumukha ka na talagang tanga."

"I'm doing this for love man," he answered. Nailing na lamang ang kaibigan sa sagot niya. He knew he was drunk. How many glasses of scotch did he drink? He lost count already. He had this notion earlier that he could drown the hurt. Now he knew how wrong that notion was.

Kahit pa gaano karaming baso ng alak ang inumin niya, things will remain the same.

His heart would still ache for her.

"Excuse me. Two beers please."

Isang magandang babae ang tumabi sa kanya. Naka-black jeans ito at backless na blouse. Ngumiti ito nang mapansin na nakatingin sya rito.

"Hey there handsome." He rolled his eyes at saka bahagyang nailing. "Sungit naman nito," narinig niyang kumento ng babae.

He was totally ignoring the girl and he knew that she was about to leave nang makialam naman ang kaibigan niya. Mick put his hands on his shoulders and turned him towards the girl.

"Sen, where are your manners?" nakangiti nitong tanong. "Hey there beautiful," he said to the girl. "This is my friend Sen. Pasensya ka na at medyo broken-hearted itong kaibigan ko ngayon eh. Care to keep him company?"

"Sure," nakangiting sagot ng babae. Naupo ito sa stool na katabi ni Sen.

"What's your name, by the way?" tanong ni Mick dito.

"Divine," she answered.

"Ah... suits you. Well, I should really be going now." Tumayo si Mick at binulungan siya. "There's your exit door Sen. Make the most of it. Forget that woman," payo nito.

Pagkaalis ni Mick ay agad na syang kinwento ng babae.

"So who're you with, besides that guy?" she asked.

"No one," matabang niyang sagot.

"Single ka?" tanong nito.

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "Yeah but not available."

"Well, that's unfortunate."

Tumayo ang babae at akmang aalis palayo nang bigla nya iton pinigilan. He didn't know what exactly he was doing but he had, for a moment, mistaken her for Charlie. Lalo na nang nakatalikod ito sa kanya.

He grabbed her by her left arm. Napasubsob naman ito sa dibdib nya.

"Don't go," he said almost helplessly.

Ngumiti ang babae sa kanya.

"Now we're talking," sabi nito saka siya siniil ng halik.

xxx

AN: Ayan na Karen! Hahaha... bitin ulit. Lels.