Last Christmas You Broke My Heart

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO : Wait, What?!

The game is on. Araw-araw kaming nag-iiwasang dalawa. Hindi nagpapansinan. Hindi man lang nag-uusap. Minsan nagkakatinginan kaming dalawa, pero alam naman naming walang salita ang lalabas sa aming mga labi.

It was hard and really ackward. But what hurts the most is seeing him with Trish. And everytime I did, my heart just can't hide the pain. I'm not angry at all but I'm in pain. Seeing the guy that I fought so hard for, now back to the girl he truly loves the most. And somehow that's one big slap in my face.

I can't imagine walking to them and facing both of them face to face. Kaya naman every time I see them together at mukhang makakasalubong ko sila, umaatras na lang ako. I tell myself that I don't have to win all the battles that life put me to. Sometimes backing off gives you peace of mind. It is a noble act, not act of cowardness.

Walking alone in the hallway, somebody suddenly pat my back and when I check on that person, it was Cassie.

And her next question hit me through the bones.

"Ano masakit pa rin?", tanong niya.

I was caught unprepared. Hindi ako makasagot.

"Yung mga tanong mong pabigla-bigla ah", ang tanging naisagot ko sa kanya.

She let a sigh and we continue walking. At noong makarating na kami sa sliding door sa dulo ng hallway. Huminto siya at niyakap ako. I can smell her perfume, it smelled like vanilla with a trace of almond in her scent. I hug her back then she let go.

"Anya okay lang na umiyak ka samin. Andito lang kami. You can always call whenever gusto mong gumala o mag-chill. Alam kong msakit pa rin yung nangyari sa inyo...", she paused trying to avoid saying his name but then she decided to say it anyway. "ni Jason. Pero kailangan mong tulungan sarili mo. At ayaw kong nakikitang lagi ka na lang iiwas at magtatago para lang di mo sila makita", she continued.

"Wow!", sabi ko. While trying hold my tears. But the moment she hugged me again, like waterfall my tears began to flow.

And just like that I let all my pain be heard through my tears and we stayed there standing, hugging each other for I don't know how long. Ang alam ko lang I'm very thankful to have Cassie during these time by my side.

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Last semester. Busy kami sa thesis. Mid term na at ang daming pa naming activities and projects.

Nakaupo kami sa usual seat naming mag-tropa habang nagdidiscuss ni Ma'am Andi ng mga gagawin naming project.

"Ang dami namang gagawin", bulong ni Gilbert.

"Sinabi mo pa", sagot naman no Donny.

Iritable. Agad binawal ni Sophie yung dalawa dahil baka mapagalitan na naman kami sa kaingayan namin.

"Okay! Listen!", sigaw ni Ma'am habang hinahampas yung table niya. At bakit feeling ko elementary students kami na takot na takot sa kanya.

"You will do this project with a partner. So magbubunutan tayo and each group will comprise of two person", dagdag ni Ma'am.