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Diana Venicia, the happy-go-lucky girl from Mark's high school.
Of course, Mark never got to know her all that well. She was always busy, surrounded by others, and seemed to have this strange aura about her.
She’s talked to him a couple of times, but it never really led to anything meaningful. Just a couple of “Hey!”s and “How are you?”s here and there.
But tonight, Mark finds himself stuck at a house party, chosen by his classmates as the “designated driver”. Other than his music, that’s the only reason they brought him there. After messing around with the speakers a couple of times, he returned to the corner of the living room, holding a red solo cup in his left hand and scrolling through his phone on the right.
He groans at the sight of the room; messy, loud, and bright. One of the guys from his Chemistry class dives into one of the tables, spilling drinks and food everywhere. The crowd laughs and cheers, but all of it sounds empty. He was about to leave until he saw someone approaching him.
It was, well, Diana Venicia. The lights surrounding the room gave her a different look—Mark couldn’t differentiate what it was. Whether it was to pity him or to taunt him, it didn’t matter. He’ll just shoot her down anyway.
She slowly makes her way over to him, holding a red solo cup. Her pink hair flowed beautifully, framing her face. The vibrant lights engulfing her beauty made it look like she was an angel, emphasizing her body glitter.
“Hey,” her soft, mellow voice rings through his ears. “It’s been a while.”
“...Yeah,” Mark replied, albeit a bit awkwardly.
…
She turns around, her back facing the wall. “Um, I’m sorry for not talking to you that much.”
His eyebrows furrow in confusion. “Why are you apologizing?” He asks.
“No reason…” she answers, looking down at the floor. “I just feel extremely guilty.”
“If you’re here just to pity me, then go away.” He snapped, almost wincing as his throat began to itch.
“That’s not what I’m here for,” she pleaded. “I just—”
“What, are you drunk like them too?” He hissed, gesturing at the others in the vibrant, LED-lit room.
“No,” she replied, almost looking offended. “I don’t drink.”
His eyes then focused on the attention of Diana’s red solo cup. It barely moved, just like his.
“...” He remained quiet, embarrassed at the fact that he snapped at her for no reason.
Of course, he’d never admit it out loud.
“Pfff,” she laughs, her voice sounding like a sweet melody. “You’re so negative.”
“You can’t stay like that forever, you know,” she continues. “A smile would do you some good.”
He chuckles at her response. “What, and end up like you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asks, tilting her head, almost like a puppy.
“I think you know what it means,” he scoffed, gazing back at the commotion in front of them.
“No, really, I don’t,” she teased, laughing at her remark. “Mind telling me?”
“Sure,.. I guess? Let’s take this—” as Mark was about to continue, a bottle of alcohol was thrown against the wall, a few steps next to them. “..outside.”
As the two of them walked to the backyard of the house, they both left their red solo cups on a table. Whoever’s desperate enough for another shot should be happy they left it there, completely untouched.
There, they walk outside. They find a pair of plastic chairs in the backyard, facing each other, placed directly on the grass.
“Okay,” Diana whispered. “Now you should tell me.”
Mark pondered for a bit, gathering his words and thinking of what to say. But no matter which route he took in expressing his thoughts, it all ended up sounding the same; too rude.
“If I told you, you’d hate me forever,” He mumbled. “Uh—okay, let’s just change topics. What was it you were trying to say earlier?”
“Not fair,” she giggled. “Well, it’s just… I haven’t talked to you that much this whole senior year.”
“I’m really, really sorry,” she added.
“Okay,” he laughed. “It’s not that serious.”
“...But—” she persisted. That’s one thing you can’t change about Diana: her constant anxiety towards other people’s feelings. Mark always hated that thing about her, as he believed there was no one in this world good enough to be doing all of that for. Like he always says, the world is hopeless.
“Listen, Diana,” he paused, paying close attention to her pink hair, falling beautifully on her shoulders. “You don’t have to apologize for the simplest things.”
“I couldn't care less about that—you don’t have to be a people pleaser around me,” he added. “Or just, at all. You’re a person too.”
.....
Diana just stood there, in silence. He was right, of course. But she would never want to accept that truth. It’s too cruel, too selfish.
Mark took one sharp breath before continuing,
“One thing I’ve noticed about you these past few years is that you keep changing . The other day you were trying to hang out with the band kids, last week you were at another party with those cheerleaders, hell, at one point I even remember you trying to befriend those moody art kids.”
He turned to look at her. “Jesus, Diana , can’t you just be yourself?”
The words that entered Diana’s ears from one way to another stuck with her, like glue. It hurt, the pain was sharp, as if his words were daggers.
She stood there in silence. Twirling her hair nervously, looking down at the concrete floor.
“I..”
The muffled sound of the party’s playlist is still strong. They’re still playing Mark’s music, and they’re still yelling and screaming. It’s almost as if they’re in a different world.
“..Sorry,” he lowered his head in shame. “If anything, it’s almost admirable.”
“You’re actually willing to change yourself just so people would like you.” he chuckled at himself, “I wish I could do that too.”
“It’s.. Nothing much,” Diana finally spoke. “I just do all of this to make it through high school.”
“But school’s ending soon, isn’t it?” Mark added, looking into her eyes. “You should stop that habit of yours—live a little.”
Diana looked back at him, laughing at his remark. “Really? The Mark Berskii telling me to live my life, huh?”
He laughed back. “Yeah, but look at who’s talking.”
Diana looked back at the sight of the house, and back at her and Mark.
“...I guess you’re right,” she muttered. “Um, about that thing you said–”
“Hm?”
“Was that.. What were you trying to tell me?” she asked, lowering her head to meet his gaze.
“..Yeah,” he admitted. “I’ve noticed it since sophomore year—when you stopped talking to me.”
“Wait—” she gasped. “So it did affect you!”
“Not like that—I mean, yeah, sure—” he stumbled over his words.
She laughed, “So much for acting nonchalant. You actually did care, didn’t you?”
“Just—let me finish, damn it!” he snapped, with his cheeks burning red. He looked down at the concrete floor again, nervously fidgeting with his hoodie strings.
“Ever since that day, when you ditched me for those popular kids, I couldn’t stop thinking—or uh, worrying about you. When I saw you hanging out with a different crowd almost every day—only one thing came to mind.”
“...And that was?”
“Why can’t you be yourself?” He continued. “I mean, you have a… a certain 'who-knows-what' about you. I don’t exactly know what it is, but you shouldn’t change it.”
Diana’s cheeky grin reached from ear to ear, She couldn’t believe what Mark was saying.
“Even though we’re not that close,” he pondered. “I guess I was just worried for you, and your… your unrequited love for life.”
The two sat there for a few minutes, unmoving. Mark moved further away from his chair, his back hunching, and his hands covering his face in embarrassment, while Diana continued to lie her back against hers, fidgeting with her hair and smiling at him.
“..my unrequited love for life, huh? That’s beautiful,” she teased, finally breaking the silence.
“Shut up,” he mumbled.
As they were about to continue, the loud yells and pleas of Mark’s classmates began to reach them from behind. “Mark, where the hell are you, dude?!” could be heard by one of them, screaming-crying.
“Looks like the party’s over,” he said, getting up from his chair. “I’ll see you next week, yeah?”
“Mhm. See you,” she replied, slowly picking herself up from the chair as well. “Thanks—for tonight.”
“..Yeah. Get home safe,” he said slowly, walking backwards to the other side of the yard, still facing Diana. “You’re welcome.”
As he turned his back against Diana, the cold air of the night greeted him. He continued to walk towards the front yard until he heard her call him out.
“Mark,” she said softly. “Thank you.”
“My unrequited love for life… I think it is requited right now,” she beamed, with her smile bright enough to light up the whole street.
He stood there, surprised. “...” he couldn’t fester up a single word.
“I had a lot of fun tonight, and it’s a bit funny to admit this out loud, but that thing you said earlier,” she added. “It really changed my perspective on things. Thanks again.”
“See you next week!” she waved at him as she slowly made her way back to the house.
“...Yeah, see you!” he sheepishly yelled out as his voice began to crack.
She laughs at him, waving goodbye through a glass window, before disappearing from his sight once again.
“You’re welcome, Diana,” he mumbled to himself before grabbing his car keys from his pocket, hurriedly making his way to his classmates, who were currently throwing up on the sidewalk.
Ever since that party, Mark and Diana could be spotted walking next to each other in the hallways again. Laughing, recalling their inside jokes. Almost as if they’re in their own world. They’re described as inseparable again. Just like when they were freshmen.
And it will stay like this, week after week, until Graduation, where they'll be separated again.