under the mango tree

I've had my fair share of girlfriends but no one lasted really long. How come? I had no idea. I graduated highschool single. My girlfriend back then was Annabelle, the prettiest girl in school. I was popular too so us being together was more because of our status. People from school expected us to be together so that's how we came to be. She broke up with me on graduation day.

"We don't have to keep up with this anymore, right?" She said. And I agreed.

Fast forward to the present,  I was on my second year at A-UNI taking a course in Accounting. I really had no interest in business but I liked numbers, it's one thing I was good at. Moreover, I had one of the highest score during the entrance exam so I received a scholarship. I had everything planned when I decided to go to A-uni. Except for an unforeseen and unfortunate circumstance,  as if the past comes to haunt you, Annabelle was also at the same University, taking the same classes with me and sitting right beside me copying my homework..

"Thanks ex, you're a lifesaver. " She said

It has become her habit to call me ex since we first saw each other at the Freshmen orientation. 

"Jason. My name's Jason. Have you forgotten babe?"

"Stop calling me babe."

"Yea, if you stop calling me ex."

She pouted.

"Fine, call me babe." She smirked. 

She's crazy. But I really don't care. She has been playing with my feelings since we started dating.

"Done" she handed me back my notes and patted my head. Anna does that all the time when we were still together. She loved patting my head. "It's great that your smart,'' she said.

I nodded. "Yea, whatever"

We became closer at the University, closer than when we were dating. Many thought we got back together but to their disappointment, we haven't. We haven't even talked about us or our relationship back then. Which I was thankful for. I'd rather not dwell into the past. 

I left class right after Anna finished copying my notes and head to the field. I frequently stay under a huge mango tree to relax, sleep or study. Today though, I don't feel like the latter. It's almost summer and the semester was almost at its end, all I needed to do was finish my exams and I could go on summer break. Oh, but the heat was getting in my head, I couldn't think. I feel sleepy all the time. I laid down on the grass and closed my eyes.

"Let's stop this" I heard a girl talking, almost shouting.. "You're not who I thought you are and I can't take this. Let's break up." 

I half expected to hear a slap or a plea from the other party but all I got was silence. Then I heard footsteps going towards my direction. I opened my eyes and saw Alexander Moreno, a 3rd year Marketing Student. He discovered me and his face blushed red.

"Hi." He sat beside me. "You heard that?"

I sat up and nodded. "Yea, I'm sorry"

"It's ok. Don't be." He fell silent. I did too, since I didn't know how to react to what I heard.

He stared at me and smiled, "You're Annabelle's ex right?"

For someone who just broke up with a girlfriend, he sure looks fine. His eyes seem to sparkle.

"I'm known as that huh?" I smiled back. "It's Jason."

He laughed. "Yea, Anna's pretty popular amongst the boys in the business department so they all know you as Ex."

He reached out a hand and I took it. He has a strong grip, I wondered if he plays any sport?

"I'm Alex by the way." 

Alex was a known Playboy. He's quick to change girlfriends although most of the girls he dated do not last a month or a week. He doesn't court them, girls come to him. He's handsome and smart and he's class rep so he's quite popular.

"You're interested in Anna too?" I asked out of curiosity.

He patted my head, the way Anna does.

"Nope. Honestly all I want is a proper relationship, something that would last." He sighed. "You heard what she said earlier right? That I was not who she thought I was. I get that a lot."

I wonder.

"Anna seems like a pretty nice girl but I don't know if she's real" he said.

I looked at him, surprised. 

"You dated her, so you would know better," he continued. "I'm just stating an observation.

I nodded. 

"You don't talk much don't you" He squeezed my shoulder and stood up. "My observation applies to you too."

Then he walked away. I watched his back disappear from my view, back to the chaos of the classrooms, Mingling with fellow students shuffling about the hallways. Then it crossed my mind, his impression of Ana and me.  How observant was he? This was the first time I had a conversation with him but it's like he's known me for a long time. Me and Anna. About us not being real.