Just This Time

Chapter Eight

Marco’s POV

I can already feel the Christmas breeze gently touching my skin. I missed that feeling — after those months na ang init-init, finally, ang lamig na. I even let out a sigh of relief just feeling the cold embrace of the seasonal wind.

As I was walking to our classroom, I bumped into my co-chess player, the boy I practiced with in our tent during the Division Meet.

“Uy, Kuya Marco,” he says with a smile on his face. “Sakto, hinahanap kita. Good news!”

“Ano ‘yun?”

“Sinabi nila coach na may celebration picnic daw tayong naki-athletic meet, sagot nila,” the boy excitedly reports.

“Totoo? Where are we going?” I replied.

“Sa may Claveria Heights View Deck kuya, malayo-layo raw dito,” he replied. “Uupa daw tayo ng huts doon sa may tuktok.”

“That’s nice,” I responded. “Kailan daw?”

“In three days, kuya. Bale sa Sabado. Sabihin mo lang sa ‘kin if game ka.”

I paused for a moment to think if I’m going or not. I thought, agad na madra-drain ‘yung social battery if pupunta ako. But on the other hand, kung pupunta ako, it’s my way of patting myself on the shoulder for representing the school with all my best.

“Hmmm…” I uttered while thinking.

“Hmmm???” The boy anticipated for an answer.

“Tell coach I’m going,” I decided.

“Yes!!!” The boy rejoiced. “May kasama na ako!!! See you, kuys,” he happily said to me while he bade goodbye. “Kitakits!”

I smiled in return.

“Here goes nothing, Marco,” I thought to myself.

Therese’s POV

“Claire, may dala kang jacket???” Ini-type ko sa cellphone ko sabay send kay beshywaps ko na si Claire.

Grabe, mga ateng, nagsisimula nang magbukas ang aircon ng Pilipinas. Ang lamig-lamig na dito! Sa bagay, malapit na Christmas, eh. Pero mga momsh, na-mistake ako sa pagsuot ng croptop with cardigan. Feeling ko kakabagin na ako anytime. Claire, save me!

Nag-notification ‘yung phone ko.

“On the way bebe girl.”

My heart is kuwan, very touched. Love na love ko ‘tong babaeng ‘to. Ma-kiss nga.

While papuntang classroom for another slay school day, napadaan muna ako sa open court slash gym namin. Kasi talagang dadaan ka doon para makapunta ka sa room namin. While passing by, nakita ko na naman siya, my gosh. Oo, SIYA. Day ruined, charez. Nagpra-practice ‘yung team nila for Regionals.

Habang naglalakad ako, napalingon siya sa direksyon ko.

Our eyes met.

Pero parang balewala lang. Nagtinginan lang tapos, wala na. Kasimbilis ng breakup namin. Charez ulit. Tinuloy ko maglakad, of course. Hindi marupok ang ante ninyo.

Pagdating ko sa room, eksakto namang sumunod si Claire my BFF. We of course hugged each other, ano ba.

“Congratulations mimasaur, you did your best,” she told me.

“Parang sira, thank you,” I responded. “Sa’n na ‘yung jacket?”

“Nasa bag. Sino ba kasing engot na magsusuot ng ganyan e Amihan season na???” She sounded like she was scolding me.