Mapanakit: Mga Dulang Bittersweet (Hurtful: Bittersweet Plays)” leaves a lasting impression similar to the heartbreaking moment your ex left you.

In this three-parter play—led by YPC Stage, directed by BJ Borja, and written by Eljay Castro Deldoc— audience members are brought on quite the emotional journey. “Mapanakit” ticks all the right boxes, be it “kilig” (giddy), anger, joy, or sorrow. And that’s all largely due to the powerful performances by the mixed cast of veteran talents and those brewed by the YPC Stage featuring emerging acts from Biñan, Laguna.

It all starts with “Ang Liknayan ng Ating mga Katawan (The Physics of Our Bodies).” Here, we follow the story of a promising young student, Hershey Mae. Hershey Mae sneaks into the school’s chemistry lab to confront her teacher, Sir Banakon, for rejecting her controversial research paper. This is largely in part due to the harm it has already caused to fellow schoolmates, with her study leading to a suicide attempt, a fight, and a missing student.

As the play unravels, we learn about Hershey Mae’s intense feelings toward Sir Banakon. This dangerous premise manages to toe the fine

“Mlines of making you laugh over the uncomfortable confessions and feeling either concerned or outright disgusted by how it plays out. Certainly one that leaves the crowd talking afterwards, and enough intrigue to keep you curious about how the next two episodes play out.

“Ilihan at Kalingaw (Ilihan and Kalingaw)” fits right in the middle. It plays out like a classic tragedy, following a forbidden love story. Ilihan, the tribe’s poet-historian, falls for Kalingaw, who is set to be wed to someone else. Things go south once the elders of the tribe find out she has been writing secret love poems about him. As Kalingaw tries to get her to flee before the tribe punishes her, Ilihan ultimately refuses, instead urging him to hide her love poems so that their love can be remembered. Audience members feel exactly what they’re supposed to feel as things play out. Those in the know might find a fun easter egg as well in the show’s choice of soundtrack.

For the final show of the night, “Ganito ang Pangarap Kong Kasal (This is my Dream Wedding),” we follow a trio of college students, Kris, France, and Noel. Kris has a crush on Noel, but he has his sights on France instead.

Despite this, she remains supportive of the two as they form their relationship. It’s a gleeful celebration of a boy’s love (BL), right until the play has to remind you of its main title, “Mapanakit.”

This show definitely left the biggest impact on audience members, as you can hear all the audible reactions playing out as the trio navigates their tricky relationship. Definitely, the perfect end to a night that has you feeling all sorts of things.

“Mapanakit: Mga Dulang Bittersweet” runs at the KAL-IBG Theater, UP Diliman, in Quezon City. It has shows on Aug. 1, 2, 8, and 9, with a gala show on Aug. 7.