The Flicker

That day, all I saw is Francis' worried face. It is my first time to see it. Usually, he is calm, bright and happy. I have never saw him furious nor in sorrow.

I really love how his eye smile appears whenever he smiles. It is a pity to see him being in a desperate state, as if he was about to break into pieces while shouting my name.

"Nita! Nita!"

My only response to his desperate call was only a painful smile and my sad thought.

'Bye-bye'

****

Seven years ago, on a rainy day, Francis and I met in a funeral of my best friend's mother. He is a friend of my best friend's boyfriend, Carlos. We had a small talk at that time. Our fate always intertwined after that. We either meet concidentally at a convenience store, a dinner or outing with friends, even on random streets. Our personalities are compatible that when he asked me out to be his girlfriend, I immediately agreed happily.

A year and a month after, we decided to get married. We enjoyed the peaceful harmony of our marriage life. We have good careers and we are financially stable that we were able to build our own house. We do not have any problems also with our in-laws. Even my bestfriend, Kaylie, always complement our perfect relationship. Everything was perfect, but that flawless relationship started to crumble. I do not know how, when, and why did it happened.

Francis' career is an actor while I am an ordinary corporate worker. After four months of our marriage, his fame as an actor suddenly reached its peak because of how he perfectly portrayed his character as a main lead in a drama he starred in. He received so much love in the industry and the public.

"Hun, the shoot for the new drama I will play will start next week. It might take a month or two before I could come home..."

Francis looks dejected and whined like a child while hugging me from my back. Well, it is actually our first time to be apart for such a long period. Usually, we are only apart for a maximum of one whole day and he would already complain and blame either the director or the interviewers, then, he would cuddle me all day after a day of separation.

Now, knowing that he would be separated from me for 1-2 months, he is even more whining and would never let me go.

"Should we--"

He was about to spit nonsense again using his charming voice, so I get away from his hug immediately. He knows how tired my body was after we did 'it' everyday that I need to inform my supervisor that I need to take a one-week sick leave because of the exhaustion he has given to me.

"Darling, I am at my limit...really! Can't we rest just for this day? Hm?"

I tried to convinced him while acting cute. He did not reply but he smiled with his eye smile. His tall stature with that handsome and charming face of his is really my weakness.

"Okay"

That response from him looks sincere, so I let my guard down and decided to wash the dishes. But to my surprise, he carried me into his arms.

"You! Let me down!"

I struggled while laughing because of how hilarious it was.

"You are so cunning"

"Well, so do you. Seducing me like that"

Until the day Francis left, our bodies never get separated.

This kind of routine lasted for six years, I thought it will never end. Until one day, he came home from another drama shoot. As usual, I welcomed him with a warm hug and cooked for him.

"Welcome home, Darling"

He hugged me but only for awhile. Unlike before, he would usually hugged me and shower me thousands of kisses for hours. I did not asked because I thought he might be just tired. It is understandable that he is tired, taking various drama roles and commercial shoots and all those stuffs actors do, especially now that he got more offers from international directors.

I did not know that this is where it started. The crumbling of our relationship. Whenever I welcomed him, he would still smile and accept my hug, but I already felt it. The spark of our relationship is fading away. It hurts to see his coldness in our relationship, but I just hoped I can still save it. So, on our 7th year wedding anniversary, I decided to put extra effort. I even called Kaylie to help me for the surprise.

"What do you think, Kay? Will Francis like this one?"

I was choosing between a blue tie and a red tie. Kaylie is a professional stylist, so I usually asked advices from her regarding fashion. I pointed out the red one but she started to tilted her head and gently rammaged the ties in front of us.

"Hmm... I think this one would look better"

She chose something more elegant and fashionable.

"As expected of my bestie!"

"You can always count on me, Nita"

After that, I excitedly pay for it not knowing that I will discover the affair of my husband in a news while browsing my phone.

When I saw the news, Kaylie was with me drinking coffee. I looked at her, disappointed.

"Nita, what's the problem?"

She tried to hold my hand to comfort me while looking concerned but I brushed it off. I left the cafe with a heavy heart. My once colorful and bright world, started to become a monochrome.

'Why? Did I do something wrong?'

'When did it start? My husband and my bestfriend'

"Ha ha ha!"

I started to laugh like a madwoman inside the bus while covering my tears with my hands.

'SCREEEECH'

The bus suddenly stopped. I almost bumped my head in the seat in front of me. Luckily, I balanced myself but I dropped my phone.

"No one will leave this bus!"

The masked man wearing a black military uniform shouted.

"Who the hell are--"

BANG!

Another masked man wearing the same military uniform, almost shoot the man who just complained.

"How dare you talk?!"

Seeing the situation I am in, I froze. We are held hostage.

'What an unfortunate day'

The bus started to move again but in a different route.

Time: 15:04

I am not scared. Actually, I felt nothing. All my emotions were drained.