Addison won’t leave me alone after that night.
Although I couldn’t remember what she had done, nor what I did drink or take, I feel like she’s done something so horribly I get tired seeing her everywhere I go. “Forget about it.” I said simply and walked away. Thankfully, she stopped and never looked at me again.
Other than that, I noticed that some of my classmates do start talking to me. Literally. Not just a short conversation but they are asking me to come with them every lunch or be beside me every time we shift the subject rooms. It continues until the last day before the holidays. Finn did invite me over to their vacation in Alaska, which I politely refused. Mukhang alam nila na I would be celebrating the holidays alone and how did they know? I ask the same thing, either.
Hux is bound to return to London this holiday, which means I’m really like a stupid person celebrating first Christmas in here. Aside from the fact he couldn’t let go of the idea they went to the party without me and brought the fucked-up me home, he even suggested he would stay and his girlfriend and I completely disregarded his plans. “I’ll be okay, really.” I said while patting his shoulders.
He saw me not shed tears when I buried the people he first became neighbors with and it seems like it is what is keeping him here. “Tell him I won’t do anything bad,” I murmured to his girl. “He only listens to you.”
She laughed and was able to pacify him and just let go. “Come with us to London!”
“I’m a waste of space.”
“You’re not.” They said, in unison.
“Really, back in my country, I experienced the same thing! Not a new thing for me, Hux. I’ve learned to be calm when times like this come. Promise, I’m still complete when you get back.”
Took us long enough to persuade him but, “I’ll bring you some presents, mate. Never mind me.”
If I try to say no, the more he insists on staying so I let him. “Ingat.” They looked bewildered but sensed it’s a nice word and bid their goodbyes. Two days before Christmas, being in the house doing and preparing nothing is suffocating me. Again, only if they stayed longer, nalaman ko sana kung ano ang mga usual na ginagawa nila rito. Surely they have ornaments, the question is, where was it hidden.
No sign of Christmas ornaments in the cupboards, cabinets, basement and my last hope is the small attic and there it is! The garbage bag is full of dust and seems like it wasn’t touched for a year or two. There are three big bags and I opt to look inside first before decorating.
I spent the whole night contemplating whether I should decorate everything or not. In the end, pinili kong huwag nang lahatin. As soon as January 2 comes, balik na uli kami. That’s Tuesday and I am sure I won’t have any time to unravel these things. I hang the wreath on the door outside, I bother to hang the lights loosely on every corner of the walls. A small Christmas tree was found too and I put them beside the sofa, on the small glass table where our picture from that first time I arrived here was taken.
Next morning, doon ko lang nakita nang buo ang ginawa. There’s not much change but if I had hung them all, maybe a difference will happen but this will do. “Happy Christmas, mom… Dad…” the snow grew thicker outside, the world seemed to stilled than ever.
Every alley in this city is draped with white icing, the tinsels and mini Santa Clauses look like a toppings on a cake. Ganoon na lang ang gulat ko dahil maraming tao sa labas even though it’s 10 degrees Celsius. Never kong binanggit kay Hux that I'm scarce with cold clothes yet he found it out and offered me the ones he grew up from the sizes. That way, hindi ko na kailangan bumili at maghanap ng murang bilihan.
YOU ARE READING
LOUIE (COMPLETED)
General FictionLeo is the one who could stay. Moving to Canada is the last shot to stay for Leo, and in spite of being ready of what might come, he found himself still getting confounded by what happened. He's crossed this path again, he's shed the same tears agai...
