Dear No One

DNO 019

Messenger
December 25

Finley James
Merry Christmas, Leigh ko. 😁

Everleigh
Wow. At kailan pa ako naging sa'yo?

Finley James
Joke lang po. Init naman ng ulo mo, madam.

Everleigh
Adik. Hindi mainit ang ulo ko.

Everleigh is typing...

Merry Christmas, Fin! 😊

Finley James
Kulang. 😞

Everleigh
Ang alin?

Finley James
Dapat "Merry Christmas, Fin ko!" para fair sa akin.

Everleigh
Mukha mo, Javier.

Finley James
Anong meron sa mukha ko, madam?
Masyado bang gwapo? 😎

Everleigh
Luh. What is it with you today??? 🙄

Finley James
Haha! Pinapatawa lang kita, pero mukhang hindi talaga umuubra. Lighten up, Ms. van Acker. It's Christmas.

Finley James is typing...

Where are you spending the holidays, anyway?

Everleigh
At my parents' house.
I'll be staying here until New Year.
Nandito rin kasi ang relatives namin from the States, so there's sort of a family reunion happening.

Finley James
Oh, that's cool. 😁

Everleigh
How about you, Fin? Nasaan ka ngayon?

Finley James
Nasa clinic po, madam.

Everleigh
What? Bakit hindi ka muna nagsara ng clinic?
Christmas is family time. Go home to your parents, you workaholic vet.

Finley James
That was actually my plan, until Cookie came along.

Everleigh
Cookie?

Finley James
The puppy who's with me. Sadly, he's sick.
Kahapon lang siya na-confine dito.
He needs medical attention, and I can't just leave him here.

Everleigh
And do your parents know that you're not gonna make it home for Christmas because of a puppy?

Finley James
Yeah. They're not happy about it, of course.
But they know I don't have the heart to ignore an animal that needs my help.

Everleigh
Oh my God.
You're so annoying, Finley James Javier.

Finley James
Hey, what did I do now? 😅

Everleigh
Why are you such a softie???
Nakakairita. Ugh.

Everleigh is typing...

Apart from Cookie, wala ka na talagang kasama riyan sa clinic?

Finley James
Yup. My assistants had gone home for the holidays, too.

Finley James is typing...

Anyway, am I bothering you?

Everleigh
No, of course not.

Finley James
You sure? Pasensya na, wala lang talaga akong makausap kaya naisipan kitang kulitin. I mean, I could talk to Cookie, but he'd only stare at me in return.

Everleigh
Hey, it's fine. Don't apologize, Dokie.
Truth be told, I was wondering earlier why you haven't greeted me a Merry Christmas yet. Magtatampo na sana ako. 😝

Finley James
Really? Sorry for making you wait, then.
Hindi ko naman alam na hinihintay mo pala ang bati ko. 😁

Finley James is typing...

I should stop messaging you, though. Sabi mo nga, Christmas is family time. You should spend the day bonding with your relatives.

Everleigh
Well, too bad. I'm not even spending the rest of my day here anymore.

Finley James
What do you mean?

Everleigh
Do you mind if I come over?
Pwede kitang tulungang alagaan si Cookie.

Finley James
Are you serious?

Everleigh
Of course I am. I can't just let you spend Christmas by yourself.

Finley James
Don't be silly, Leigh. Okay lang ako rito.
Besides, your family will get mad if you leave all of a sudden.

Everleigh
No, they won't. Matutuwa pa nga ang mga 'yon kapag sinabi ko kung sino ang pupuntahan ko.

Finley James
How come?

Everleigh
'Wag ka nang maraming tanong, Doc Javier.
I'm bringing some food for us to share.
Do you have eating utensils diyan sa clinic?

Finley James
Do dog bowls count as eating utensils?

Everleigh
I've already told you how annoying you are, haven't I?

Finley James
Yeah, you already have. 😂

Finley James is typing...

Seriously, though. Stay at home, Leigh.
I'm fine here. Hindi naman ito ang unang Pasko na mag-isa ako.

Everleigh
Hey, I just said you're not spending the day by yourself.

Finley James
Course I am, but it's better than before because I'm talking to you. Para na rin kitang kasama.

Everleigh
Bakit 'di na lang natin totohanin, 'di ba?

Finley James
Why does that line sound familiar? Is that a song or something?

Everleigh
Don't change the topic! Remember noong kinukulit mo akong ituloy ang first dinner date natin? This is payback time, Fin. Allow me to come over, or else...

Finley James
Or else? 😬

Everleigh
Or else, no more road trips for us. 🤨

Finley James
Damn. That won't do. You sure know how to issue a threat, madam.

Finley James is typing...

Cookie and I will be waiting for you, then. 😁

Seen 08:12 AM