Finding Peace In The Missing Piece

Chapter 31 - Christmas

PASKO. Pagkatapos ng midnight mass ay ang noche buena.

The atmosphere of the Christmas season was palpable, with the crispness of the air and the general sense of joy and peace. It was a day when everyone seemed to be in high spirits, exchanging pleasantries, and smiles abound.

Lampas alas-otso kami nakarinig ng mga sasakyan siguro ay nasa baba na ang mga bisita.

Iniwan ko muna sa Lui sa kuna niya na nakatulog na.

"Si Lui?" Tanong ni Ate Lyxa.

"Nasa crib Ate, tulog na." Sabi ko at tumango naman siya.

"Xena, it seems the guests have arrived. Please open the door," instructed by Kuya Lexus, who was busy preparing food on the table at hindi man lang ako tiningnan.

I felt so awkward sa suot ko. Kuya Lexus asked me to dress up na parang a-attend ng party. I'm dressing in a very light blue fitted slip dress pero naka tsinelas pambahay.

I followed his directive promptly. He had invited his college classmates and some of his childhood friends, so I was familiar with most of his companions. At kilalang kilala ko din ang isa don.

With a smile, I opened the gate, ready to greet them. However, my smile faded as I laid eyes on a visitor, causing a resurgence of pain and heartbreak within me.

"Long time no see Atty. Xena! Merry Christmas!" Pagbati ni Kuya Mikael saakin at dumiretso na sa loob.

"Thanks Kuya!" I said.

Pumasok na rin si Kuya Ryu pagkatapos akong batiin.

At sunod sunod pang pumasok ang iba at naupo sa sala namin.

"Sorry, I'm late." Pumasok at umupo din si Kuya Jake sa tabi ni Ryu. "Congrats Atty. Xena!" Sabi niya at kumuha ng whiskey sa table.

"Care to drink, Xena?" Alok ni Mikael.

"No thanks." Pagtanggi ko. Pinagmasdan ko ang dala nilang mga girlfriend na barkada din ni Kuya.

"Where's Harvey?" Tanong ni Ate Lyxa.

"This is entirely my brother's plan. He's in New York with his family." Sabi ko.

"Baka may babae yan Xena ha?" Biro ni Ryu.

I chuckled. "His lost." I said though alam kong hindi magagawa ni Harvey yon.

Tumawa ang buong barkada ni Kuya Lexus sa tinuran ko.

"Lead the way to the dinning room, Xena," sabi ni Mikael sabay akbay sa girlfriend niya.

"Kulang pa tayo." Ayun ang magaling kong kapatid. Talagang gustong nandito ang malandi na iyon.

Bumalot ang kaba sa akin ng marinig ko ang doorbell sa gate namin. Tsk! Paimportante, pwede naman dumiretso na since trespasser siya non!

Nagkatinginan kami ng kapatid ko. "It's him, Xena, ikaw na magbukas ng gate." Sabi ng kapatid ko at inaya na ang mga kaibigan sa dinning room!

Sino ba kaseng tao ang nagsarado ng gate ha!

Lumabas na ako at nag prepare ng malupet kong welcoming smile para sa malandi at paimportanteng bisita ng kapatid ko.

"Hello, babe."

Instantly, my smile faded. For a moment gusto kong isara sa mukha niya ang gate namin! Sa lahat ng bangungot ko siya ang pinaka worst!

"Lavin." Pagbati ko in a cold voice and poker face.

Kaya yan, ipilit natin.

"Glad you remember, babe." He said in a mock amusement, giving emphasis on the endearment na parang yelo sa pandinig ko.

He stepped inside at hinayaan akong isara ang gate. Bakit hindi pa siya umuna? Grrrr!!!

Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin at sumama ang pakiramdam ko nang harapin niya ako and scrutinized me from head to foot.

"Nasa dinning room na sila." I said.

"Yeah, I know." He said at hindi pa rin nawawala ang titig niya sakin kaya talagang makikipaglaban ako dito.

He had not change much. He wasn't a male model but he was adored by the fairer sex for his Teutonic-gold hair. It was a casual jumble sometimes but mostly neat and flowing. His crescent-of-moon eyebrows were thin and narrow. He carried an imperious nose well and his angular cheekbones carved down towards a flinty jaw. Unusually for a model, he had a manly, Samson physique. The catwalk loved the way he glided with an athletic grace without skipping a beat.

His mariner-blue eyes were orb round and darted constantly, a-gleam with delight and the vigour of youth. They were soft, Irish eyes and swam with joy. They shone brightly, like two sapphires dipped in milky pools. Everyone commented on his vivacious character and his gentle nature. His voice could be foghorn loud when he was booming out a guffaw but it was normally mellifluous. His gap year clothes always made him appear younger than his years. The swirl of his loamy cologne had them swooning in the aisles.

Maliban rin sa nakakalokong ngiti sa kanyang mga labi, that wicked smile that made half of girls in school willing to anything for him.

Iyong Lavin na nakilala ko. Happy-go-lucky and not this stern and serious man.

"You didn't miss me?" He said and enough to make my lips tremble with fear and anticipation. "You cam back, Xena. I've waited long enough, haven't I?" He said.

I was about to aswers back nang sumulpot ang kapatid ko.

"Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay Lavin." Sabi ng kapatid ko at tumingin sakin.

Lavin followed in silence. Malakas ang pakiramdam ko na hindi inaalis sakin ni Lavin ang mga titig niya.

Gosh! I closed my eyes tightly. How could I pass this night without interacting with him?!

Buong dinnee ay tense na tense ako pero hindi ako nagpapahalata. And in what a cruel twist of fate is this?! Sa mismong tapat ko pa umupo si Lavin!

"Xena, are you all right?" Tanong ng kapatid ko. Nagtanong ka pa talaga ha?

I looked at him. "Siguro napagod lang kay Lui but I'm fine, Kuya… really." Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang kapatid ko.

"Hindi mo pa nagagalaw ang pagkain mo." Ani Lyxa.

"I'm just tired."

"Pahinga din Attorney!" Sabi ni Mikael.

I laughed. "Wala pa aong trabaho Mikael." I said.

"I'm sure there's a lot of pressure and stress at law school! " Sumingit si Ryu.

"Yeah. But don't mind me guys, eat and mind your own." I said.

Ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko. Feel ko babagsak ito anytime soon.

Lavin stared at me blankly. Walang emosyon.

Pailalim akong tumingin kay Lavin at pota weong move! His keen unrelenting eyes were on my face.

Hindi kami napapansin ng mga bisita. They were all busy chatting. Panay naman ang pagtango ni Lavin sa sinasabi at kwento ng mga kaibigan niya.

Hindi ako makakain ng maayos dahil para talagang nasa mukha ko lang siya nakatitig! I wanted to him for that!

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa kutsara at tinidor ko. I felt my tears threatening to fall.

Damn!!!

Ano ba?! Tigilian mo ako! Don ka sa babaeng hinalikan mo!

"Xena, ang tahimik mo." Puna ni Ate Lyxa. Her eyes were filled of concerns.

Pilit akong ngumiti. "No, it's just… the company's different." Nagkibit ako ng balikat.

"Different? You're joking Xena. Kailan pa kami naging iba sayo?" Natatawang sabi ni Mikael.

"Nag ibang bansa ka lang eh. Ikaw pa din ang little sister namin!" Sabi ni Ryu.

Hindi na sila nagbago. Physical Appearance, yes. But their behavior didn't.

"Pero hindi lang namin sure kung yung isa kapatid ang tingin sayo." Biro nila. I blushed.

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Happy reading my Twilights! 💚✨