Top Down [KN]

x. christmas eve

...

Nagsimula na yung Christmas vacation namin last week and here we are busy in Christmas stuffs.

"Azalea, yung Kieran ba boyfriend mo? " my eyes widened and faced Iris. I shook my head and shouted 'No!'

"Okay, chill. Punta muna ako sa kitchen." I turned  around at umupo na sa sofa and continued wrapping gifts.

I took the black paper bag and checked what's inside. It's Kieran's gift for me. He's alone.

"Nak."

"What?" I asked.

"Merry Christmas."

"Yeah, whatever." I stood up and went in my room. Tinignan ko yung cellphone ko at nakita ang 20 missed calls at 50 messages. Nung nakita ko yung Call Logs, lahat ng missed calls ay galing kay Kieran.

I checked my messages and half of them we're greetings from my friends and other relatives and the other half was from Kieran. Problema niya ba?

Tinawagan ko siya and luckily he picked up.

"Azalea?"

"Dami mo naman atang missed call at message. Problema mo?"

"Wala." he coughed and I heard him sniffed. May sakit ba 'to?

"Talaga?"

"Yeah, I'm just a bit sick. Nothing to worry."

"'La ka bang kasama?"  I asked in a worried tone.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Oh."

"Enjoy your Christmas. Bye." and he dropped the call.

It's the first time hearing him in a weak manner. Never ko pa siyang narinig na sobrang hina at may sakit. 'San kaya pamilya niya?

***

"Samcy, should I invite Kieran or nah? " I asked her.

"Lea, depende lang naman yun sa'yo. If I we're you, I already invited him."

"Pero..." natigilan ako nung biglang nag-ring yung isa kong phone.

"I gotta go Samcy. Bye."

1 message from Kieran

Hey.

I replied "What do you need?"

My phone rang again.

1 message from Kieran

Nothing.

'Di ako nag-reply sa message na 'yon at pumunta na sa sala.

Time Check: 11:58

2 minutes left.

"Azalea, let's eat na." Dad said and smiled. Ngumiti din ako ng pilit at tumayo. I am totally worried.

Kumain ako pero not in the extent na busog na busog na talaga. I don't eat that much.

My family gave their gifts for me pati na din ako.

"Lea, narinig ko yung convo ninyo ni Kieran kanina." tumingin ako kay Iris.

"Puntahan mo kaya siya. Kanina ka pa di mapakali diyan." Yumuko ako and looked at the small box na gift ko para kay Kieran.

Kieran's POV

Kanina ko pa iniisip kung tatawagan ko ba si Azalea or hindi na. Maybe she's busy with stuffs. Kinuha ko yung thermometer at chineck ang temperature ko. 37.9, not bad medyo okay na din naman ako.

I stood up and checked the time.

12:10

"Kieran?" lumingon ako at nakita si Azalea na hingal na hingal.

Inakap niya ako at nag-greet sa akin na 'Merry Christmas'. This feeling, dapat ko 'to iwala. It's breaking the rules.

"Okay ka na?" lumayo siya ng konti at tumingin sa'kin. She placed her warm hands on my cheek and then on my forehead.

"You're still sick."

"Kaya nga eh, di ata matutuloy plano ko." tumawa ako at hinampas niya naman ako ng mahina.

"Baliw."

"Sa'yo." I whispered.

"Ano?"

"Wala, sabi ko nag-worry ka talaga sa'kin."

***

Updated! dedicated kay J'anne.