"narahuyo" | YJW

11

The week into christmas, to most, should be greatly anticipated. Because it's when you're all about planning what to wear for the special eve, thinking about who to come to for their ampao and aguinaldo, and reminiscing memories with cousins that haven't even happened yet.

Jace would've been doing all that today, three days into the last 24th of the year. But she's not.

Coats on the three-sitter sofa's right arm, suitcases laying everywhere in the living room, and two strangers standing with their backs against the home owners that had just came home from a dinner out. Having attending the afternoon mass before.

The woman, from her new look of bleached and permed hair about her shoulders' length, is first to turn around. First her face, tapping the man beside with about four inches height difference, then turning their bodies altogether.

Jace, head down and looking at her nude foot socks, clenches her jaw at a pair of eyes finding the top of her head.

"Macy? Akala ko sa pasko pa kayo makakauwi!"

At Vina's words obvious of rejoice, her heart itself clenches. Breathing deep because her heart tightens, the pain on her back makes itself known.

Jace's first thought: to run away. To walk backwards and never look back. But because this is a situation she haven't been in for how many years, she can't bring herself to.

Loli steps forward and presents the rice cakes they bought on the way. Whether it is intentional or not, Jace is thankful for this gives her a chance to look up.

Jace's eyes land on the only male in the house.

"Baka hindi po muna kami makauwi sa susunod na taon.." The man beside her, her husband, smiles so mischievously it makes Jace almost nauseous. Jace's eyes notice his left hand below the other stranger, its right drawing circular motions on her belly. "Kaya pinilit na po namin ngayon.."

If earlier Jace was just nauseous, now she could feel the ghost of bitterness up her throat. She clenches her jaw too much it gives her a headache. And there's a lump about a marble's size stuck in her throat.

In panic, Jace looks around the room. But everyone is busy laughing and advancing towards the two and asking so many questions no one could possibly notice.

Once again, after eight years, a face she's so familiar with yet stranger to her all at once, is looking back at her.

It wasn't until the stranger's eyes are glittering with tears and until Jace's eyes is warm and wet, that she realizes she is crying.

She leaves with an excuse me only audible to whoever is paying attention. Turning back, she could clearly hear questions on where she's going. She keeps walking. Hearing a muffled hayaan na muna natin before finally closing the front door.

Jace's vision is blurry. Still, her eyes remain etched on the screen trembling from her hold because she's sent it. A text to Jungwon surely with typographical errors.

And all she has to do is wait. Because soon enough, headlights from the very familiar white Navara would be flashing against Jace's being and it's gonna be the best thing to ever happen tonight. The world will not be as cruel because anytime soon, Jungwon is gonna be here.

And again, Jace will be safe, things won't be as bad as they seemed, and nothing would ever hurt her again because she's going to be inside his pickup. Jungwon would be beside her, a cigarette case resting in the cup holder, his extra grey hoodie with his lighter inside its pocket just waiting to be used at the back of his car, and she's home.