Jealous
When Christmas came, I celebrated it in the house, of course. Maagang pinauwi si Lala at binigyan yata ng bonus ni mommy para makapagcelebrate din siya sa bahay nila.
Our relatives here were far away. I have cousins, but they were in Japan, so during Christmas, we would always celebrate it at home.
Sa New Year kami mas magarbo since we'd choose to celebrate it in Tokyo, Japan, where my other cousins are. Sa side iyon ni mommy lalo na't si Lola, nakapangasawa ng hapon—her second husband. 'Yung iba ko pang pinsan, sa side naman ni Dad, taga UK kaya once a year lang din namin nadadayo. Depende kung ano ang okasyon.
"Evander?" The food catering delivery arrived.
Tumango ako at lumapit para tumulong sa pagpapasok ng mga pagkain. My mom has no time to cook for Christmas, so we were used to delivering food.
"Merry Christmas, sir!" ngiti niya.
I pulled out my wallet since nakagawian na ring magbigay ng tip.
"Merry Christmas." Ngiti ko at inabot ang five hundred. "Pinapabigay ni mommy."
"Ay salamat, sir! Pakisabi Merry Christmas!"
I smiled and nodded as I watched two of the men carry the food into our house while my siblings were eyeing it curiously.
"Kuya? Is dad coming home for Christmas?" tanong ni Riri nang isara ko ang pinto.
We would always wait for them until eleven p.m. after their work. I was used to the set-up. Nalilibang naman ang mga kapatid ko dahil buong gabi kaming naglalaro.
"Do you want to call him? Let's call him?" I suggested and carried her, taking out my phone.
Seryoso si Jester at tahimik na sumunod. Umupo kami sa sofa at ginamit ang phone ko para ma contact si dad.
It didn't take him five seconds to answer it. Nakasuot pa siya ng puting hat at mukhang nasa site. His face lightened when our faces showed up in the camera.
"Daddy!" Riri called enthusiastically and waved her hand.
"Merry Christmas!" he greeted with a big smile.
"Merry Christmas, dad," I murmured as Jester and Riri's voices mingled with my greetings too.
"Daddy! Come home! It's almost time for Noche Buena," si Riri.
"Sorry, sweetheart. Pwede bang sa New Year nalang?"
"But...it's Christmas! Daddy, it's Christmas!" Riri said in her sad expression.
Jester frowned and glared at the camera. I ruffled his hair and smiled. Kumalma si Jester habang si Riri ay hinawakan na ng buo ang phone.
"Daddy, look! My tooth is almost growing back." She showed her tooth.
"Avoid chocolates for the mean time, Riri. Can you give it to your brother first? I'll talk to your kuya muna..." he said gently.
"Okay," si Riri na ibinigay sa akin ang phone.
I stood for a while and walked to the high windows of our house for privacy. My father sighed.
