The Story of Us

CHAPTER 21: Holiday (part 1)

CHAPTER 21: Holiday (part 1)

  "When you lose someone you love, they never really leave you. They just move into a special place in your heart."  -Frankenweenie

It's been a week since Nate's revelation and tonight will be Christmas Eve. I spent the past week at home with my family doing our normal routine and preparing for Christmas. Leanne drops by sometimes with his fiancé, Mark, to join us for dinner or lunch. Zach and I helped mom to buy groceries for the Noche Buena and we both insisted to buy party cups, coz playing some friendly beer pongs with family is as fun as doing it with friends.

The past week is nothing but free days for me. It gave me the chance to buy some simple Christmas gifts for family and some friends.

It was 9 am in the morning when I woke up. Hindi pa dapat ako babangon kaso I can smell Blueberry muffins. Nagbabake nanaman siguro si Mama, and the smell of Mom's baking always gives me the feeling of Christmas. Tumayo na ko para magayos bago bumaba.

A brush of the teeth and a shower later..

"Goodmorning ma! I see you're doing your all time Christmas Eve bakings again!" Bati ko pagkatingin ko sa table namin na may 3 different flavoured sets of muffins. Kumuha ako ng isa para tikman pero pinalo ni Mama yung kamay ko.

"Just one bite!" I whined.

"Not until you give this to your friends house." Sagot ni mama. Laging nagbibigay si mama ng bakes niya sa family ng mga childhood bestfriends ko. It's been a tradition since we started sleeping over at each other's houses back in our grade school years.

I picked up my phone and saw a text.

Hey! Did Tita baked any cakes today? I'll be there to pick it up!" –Mia

Mia. It's been a while since we last talked. Is she okay? Well she probably is since she going here right now.

Mom made muffins. I can just go there if you want? –Liv

Well, since I'll go to Yana's din naman might as well spare Mia the trip.

Yey! What flavour do I get? And no, I'll go there. It's been... a while" – Mia

A while, I repeated. We're probably thinking of the same thing about this whole thing. I missed Mia too anyway. She's too precious to stop liking.

Oh ok. Banana? Bluberries? Chocolate? You're choice since you're the one who'll be getting one first. Lol – Liv

Banana it is! Be there in 10. –Mia

Dumating nga si Mia within 10 minutes. She greeted my mom and tried to look for Zach dahil may regalo daw siya. Buti pa si Zach. Char!

"Well where's my gift?" Tanong ko.

"Ha! May year end naman tayo eh. Don ko nalang bibigay. " Sagot niya. Siguro di pa nakakabili to si Mia ng regalo ko.

"Fine! Fine! So, Kukunin mo naba yung muffins or you want to stay for a while?" Tanong ko habang naglalakad papunta sa kwarto ko. "Aalis nadin ako. Tambay lang saglit ganon." Reply niya sabay tawa.

Hindi ko alam kung magpepretend ba ko na ok lang kami or should I dive in with the Taboo topic? Nagiisip pa ko nang biglang nagsalita si Mia.

"So... Nate." Biglang sabi niya. Oh shit. She just dropped the bomb!! Nakatalikod ako sakanya nung nagsalita siya. Hindi ko alam kung lilingon ako agad o hintayin ko muna yung kasunod niyang sasabihin baago tumingin sakanya. Ano ba yan lahat nalang hindi ko alam gagawin.