At Last, Him

Chapter 35: Let the Light Back In

Ang sikat ng araw sa umaga ay dumaan sa manipis na kurtina ng kuwarto ko, nagbigay ng malambot na gintong liwanag sa mga dingding. Nag-unat ako, unti-unting umaalis ang antok sa aking katawan, ngunit natigilan ako nang mapagtanto kong wala si CL sa tabi ko.

A pang of disappointment, unexpected and sharp, coursed through me.

I threw on a thick sweater, padded across the room, and made my way downstairs. The smell of sizzling garlic and eggs met me halfway, warm and familiar. Mags stood by the stove, spatula in hand, humming a tune that reminded me of childhood mornings.

"Good morning, Ate kong tulog mantika," pang-aasar niya sa 'kin. "Halos 7AM na tapos kagigising mo lang?"

"Nasa'n si CL?" I asked, looking around as if he might appear from behind the couch.

"Relax," sabi ni Mags, tumatawa. "Nasa palengke siya kasama si Mommy. They left at 5AM to beat the holiday crowd. CL even offered to drive her and carry everything. Surprised me too."

A smile tugged at my lips. It was a small gesture, but something in the idea of him weaving into the routines of my family filled me with a warmth I hadn't expected.

"They should be back by now," Mags continued, turning back to the stove. "I mean, they left when it was still dark."

I glanced at the wall clock. The minute hand ticked towards seven, and I nodded absently, trying to picture the scene in my mind—CL navigating the bustling market stalls, the banter with my mother over prices and vegetables. It was an image that felt both strange and sweetly familiar.

Bago ko pa ito mapag-isipan nang mas matagal, ang tunog ng pagkaluskos ng harapang gate ay nagbalik sa akin sa kasalukuyan. Lumapit ako sa bintana at sumilip sa labas. My heart did a little flip.

There they were: my mom, animated and laughing as she gestured with one hand, and CL, holding all the grocery bags with an ease that spoke of his strength and, somehow, of care. He nodded along, listening with that attentive expression I had come to know so well, as if every word she spoke was worth absorbing.

My mother turned to say something, and CL's face lit up in a smile so genuine it reached his eyes. For a moment, it was like they had known each other for years, as if he had always belonged here, in the heart of my family's world. The sight left me rooted to the spot, an ache in my chest that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Mags' voice broke through my thoughts. "Nandiyan na sila," sabi niya, sumilip sa likod ko. "Mas mabuti pang tumulong ka, baka si CL na lang ang magdala ng lahat sa kusina mag-isa."

I nodded, but before I could step outside, I lingered just a moment longer, soaking in the sight of them—CL, standing with the sun warming his profile, laden with bags, and my mom, already half-telling him to set things down before he hurt himself. And me, caught somewhere between the past I thought I wanted and the present that was slowly reshaping everything.

***

The afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the neighborhood, casting long shadows as we bustled about, preparing for the Christmas Eve dinner.

Ang kusina ay buhay na buhay sa tunog ng mga kaldero at kawali, ang amoy ng bawang at mga pampalasa na naghalo sa hangin, at ang himig ng usapan na pinapalamutian ng tawanan.

I wiped my hands on my apron, moving between the stove and the dining table where Mags was arranging a centerpiece made of fresh pine and red candles.

Amid the cheerful chaos, my phone buzzed insistently from the counter. I glanced at the screen and, seeing Jaron's name, felt my shoulders tense. "Work?" I muttered under my breath, half-annoyed. I picked up the phone and accepted the video call, ready to air my frustration.