Last Christmas (Alex Gaskarth)

9 days ago

Days before Christmas: 9 Time: 7:27 PM 

As the train decides to stop, most of the people slowly begin to stand and walk out of the transport, leaving the six of them left for the Upper East Side. The six of them includes a couple at the rear sharing earphones with each other listening to music, a gray old man blowing a cup of coffee in his hand, a woman with five inch heels and glamorous clothes talking with someone on the phone in a European accent, and a teenager gazing outside the window lost in his thoughts. Krista looks at each of them with curious eyes, wondering what lives they are living now and Christmas to spend. She guesses they'll be having a wondrous time with their families- a roasted chicken on the center table with some wine and cake, or a small gathering near the fireplace. She guesses they'll be toasting with friends on silly achievements, guesses they'll be receiving such extravagant and joyous presents or making snowball fights with their loved ones. But she even guesses they'll not be spending the holidays that they planned it will be. 

Her phone suddenly blasts the tune of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony, making the teenager in front of her look at her with questioning eyes and an irritating look. Krista gives him an apology that sounded more like she was talking to herself, and notes her head that she'll keep the volume down the next time or use a simpler song. She rummages the things in her bag, pushing away the lipsticks, combs, pens and powder out of the way, until the woman finally holds the phone in her hand, the music exploding and loud enough for it to echo the bus, causing the five to look at her with annoyed and disturbing expressions and eyes. She absolutely needs a notebook to remind herself of these things: 1) a small bag for her make-up 2) change call/message alert settings. Sigh. She needs not to be reminded of the holidays that were planned out for her. She has enough of it. 

Krista presses the side of her phone to minimize the volume while looking at the picture of her friend. "Hello?" 

"Where. Are. You?!" Katreena's voice booming the speakers, causing Krista to move her phone away a few centimeters from her eardrums. What is it this time? "I've been waiting for you that seemed like, what...forty minutes ago?" 

"Jesus, Kat, I'm here at a train" she says while lowering her voice. "People are looking at me." 

"Ha! I've been sitting around and looking at repeated advertisements of toothpastes and Christmas sales from an appliance center in front of me and you're still there sitting around and moping and cr- 

"I was not moping, Ka- 

"I still need to buy Stephen's gift okay because there's a sale going on here and a fr- 

"Okay, okay, look. You can go and look for the gifts. I'll text you where I'll be so we can meet up later." 

"Wow, why haven't I thought of that?!?" Krista presses her lips together and bows her head. "This is so so great. It's almost Christmas and you're at a train, late for the sa- 

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, Kat" 

She didn't hear her voice neither her breath. She was about to call her name again if she was there but "Okay, I'm sorry too." 

"I'll text you." 

"Okay." 

Krista pushes the button off with the sigh of relief that was also added with the sight of the five strangers back to their business. She decides to lean back, her body in a slightly awkward position while watching the screen of her phone, rubbing the smooth screen and white case. It was not her fault that happened. Never her fault. But why is she here, feeling all alone where in fact Kat is here for her, her friends, Callum, and all the things she wanted. It is probably the bus that makes her feel all of this- the grayness and white that seems to sadden her around. Or the darkness outside. Or how the five people around her are going back to there business, waiting for their blissful Christmas with honey and music next week with their friends, family, and loved ones.  

No, she does not think of negative thoughts. It is the holidays and next week it is Christmas and soon it's going to be New Year and she does not want to be sad and depressed for New Year, isn't it? She is supposed to be happy and everyone is and should be. There is like this immense and invisible rule that tells them they should be happy when the New Year comes. Even though no one tells them to be, it feels like it has been stored to everyone's head, to do their very best to make or enter the year joyously and happily. Krista needs not to be reminded. No. Besides, it is nine days before Christmas so...