Last Christmas You Broke My Heart

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: 3 Boys and a Girl

Earlier this morning, on my to the university, I saw a family of four. A father, a mother and two young kids. A boy and girl. They are walking pass the street holding hands, smiling and looking to each other. They are very happy, just like my family, so I thought.
As they continue to walk, may nakita silang sorbetero. Siyempre, agad na nagpabili yung dalawang bata. Bata eh. They love sweets. Habang bumibili sila ay pinanuod ko sila. Parang ang sarap-sarap maging bata ulit. Simple lang ang buhay, wala masyadong problema at puro paglalaro lang ang inaatupag. How I wish my family can be like that again, and how I wish I can stay watching them until they leave but I have a class so I better get going.

￭￭￭

Pagpasok ko sa gate at may dalawabg lalaki na nakaharang sa dadaanan ko. Tumingin ako and to my surprise, it was Greg and TJ. Napaisip na lang ako. What business do they have with me?

Straighforward. Hindi na nagpaligoy-ligoy si Greg. "We need to talk to you", sabi niya.

Not so sure with what this is all about, I replied cautiously. "Okay... Let's talk", I said.

And they looked at each other and around us. Naglalakad papasok sa university ang mga estudyante. In short, its pretty crowded in here and whatever they want to talk about, cannot be heard in public.

"Not here, maraming tao" sabi nila at patuloy silang luminga-linga sa paligid.

TJ looked back at me and got this seriousness in his eyes.

"Anya, gusto ka lang naman makausap...", he said but I quickly cut him off.

"Paano kung ayaw ko", sabi ko while I am trying to show that they can't force me.

"...Look, gusto ka lang namin i-warn about...", sabi niya but he stopped mid sentence.

"About what?", I asked in anticipation of what he is about to say.

Dahan-dahan niyang binuka ang mga labi niya. Para bang hindi siya sigurado kung dapat niyang sabihin sakin yung mga sasabihin niya. Pero ginulat ako ni TJ at pinuno niya ng kaba ang dibdib ko dahil sa mga salitang binitiwan niya. It took me a while until the name that came out of his mouth registered in my mind.

"Ano na naman yan? Kaibigan niyo si Jason", sabi ko while I shake my head in disbelief.

I took aa step backward but they insist on talking to me.

"Anya, makinig ka lang samin. Nasa sa'yo na kung maniniwala ka", sabi ni Greg and his words pierce through me and suddenly I wanted to listen whaterver he wants to warn me about.


At the back of library where no students was around. Naupo ako sa isang wooden bench which have wheels at its side as its support. Bagong barnis ito at hindi ko maipaliwanag dahil gustong gusto ko yung amoy nito na para bang gasolina. At sa tingin ko, hindi ito yung oras para maadik ako sa amoy ng barnis.

I focused my attention into these two boys that have an intention and secrets to tell which I don't know what. Greg was standing right in front of me. He was wearing his uniform coated with a large size hoodie. Then there was TJ, resting his back against the pole of a sinnage. He's also wearing his uniform. Nothing less, nothing more. They are both, Agricularal Engineering students.

"Anya...", sabi ni Greg while trying his best to say something he's not comfortable enough to say.

I just looked at him. Carefully studying his body language and his expressions.

"...you should be careful with Jason", he continued.

Annoyed. I semi-yelled at him. "Bakit nga?!", I asked.

With apologetic eyes, he finally stated his reasons.

"Kasi nga, in love pa rin si Jason kay Trish. Alam namin 'yun dahil matagal na naming kaibigan si Jason. Kilala namin siya", sabi ni Greg.