AMACon 3: Oikos - Home

Belen - December 18: Him

Malas. Kahapon pa ko minamalas eh. Konti palang yung vids pang Christmas movie. Nung 16, low batt tas kahapon walang belen. Kase naman, di nagpakita si Mary kahapon.

Tapos may makulit na nag-aadd sakin sa FB. Rio Faulkerson. Di ko naman kilala, pagtingin ko sa mutuals si Coleen lang.

At ngayon late pa siya sa misa. Iniwan na nga siya ng pamilya niya eh. Dapat di na siya hahabol, pero baka lang naman diba? Baka siya na ulit ang Mary.

But Nicom is late, and he's stuck with the ushers. They know of him so they gave him an extra seat. But he's far away from the altar and he can't see who's playing Mary now.

Dapat ata di na ko naligo para di ako nalate noh?

It was only during the communion that he made his way to the front. Nicom fell patiently in the long line, praying real hard that it was that Mary again. Yung Mary na maganda Lord, yung may dimples.

He was a few people away from the lay minister when he saw her. It's her. She's back!

Unknown to him, Aldene was looking for him. Pasimple niyang tinitignan ang mga nagsisimba, sinusuyod ang buong simbahan baka lang naman.

"Iho. Sabi ko, Katawan ni Kristo."

"Ay. Amen po. Sorry po."

Nicom went immediately to his family and kneeled next to Coleen. Aldene didn't catch sight of him, as she was looking at the sides of the church.

"Para po sa ilang mga paalala..." Nicom tuned the old commentator out.

"Lagot late ka." Coleen whispered.

"Bukas di na ko maliligo para di na ko malate."

"Ew kadiri ka wag kang tatabi sakin bukas."

Nicom has a comeback ready but a glare from their mother shut him up. He returned his attention to Mary, whose eyes are moving slowly towards ... him.

When their eyes met, she smiled, eyes, dimples and all. She didn't care about being Mary, she smiled at him. And Nicom's grin is ripping his face, even if Mary had returned to being a statue.

Bakit naiwan ko yung camera ang tanga Nicom tanga.

He ran out of the church as fast as he could the moment he heard clapping. He just wanted now to ran up their rooftop and shout his happiness out until he loses his voice.

Nicom realized his mistake when he arrived at their house empty handed. He forgot to get the keys from his dad.

Tanga. Yan kase.

It was definitely a mistake when Coleen returned and told him what happened.

"Alam mo nakakainis ka eh. Dapat free breakfast na yun oh. Eh kaso ikaw, umuwi agad na walang susi. Parang timang. Gusto ka sanang mameet ni Aldene. Nako ang sungit mo daw sa FB, iadd mo na kase."

"Yung Rio Faulkerson?"

"Oo! Si Aldene yon. Yung Mary kanina sa belen."

Yung. Mary. Kanina.

"Manlilibre sana yung mga lola niya ng breakfast kanina. Eh kaso baka mamatay ka mag-isa dito kaya umuwi na kami. Itetext sana kita kaso malamang nasa loob cellphone mo."

"Dala ko phone ko!" Dinala ko just in case makita ko siya kukunin ko sana number niya. Eh in-add na pala ko sa FB eh.

"Libre mo kong breakfast!"

"Luh. Asa. Taba mo na oh."

And he left Coleen still shouting insults at him. He needed to connect and respond to her friend request.

"NICOM!" Kung minamalas ka nga namang tunay oo.

"Ano yun Nay?" Nicom went to his mother, still waiting for the FB app to load.

"Samahan mo ang tatay mong sunduin ang mga kasamahan niya sa pier. Kuhanan mo ng video ha. Dali na. Nasa labas na yung tatay mo."

"Teka nay pipindutin ko lang- "

"Akina yang cellphone mo. Sige na pagbalik mo na to. Kilos na."

Di ko man lang nakita kung naaccept ko na. Langya. Eh pag ang tatay ang kasama kong umalis gabi na kami makakauwi.

Naman. Minamalas talaga.