AMACon 3: Oikos - Home

Belen - December 24: Him

Being a guy, Nicom has never done last-minute Christmas shopping. He doesn't have many friends and family members to give presents to, and they're all easy to buy for. Even before the Christmas rush, he already had all the gifts wrapped up and placed under the tree.

But meeting this girl a week before Christmas, he doesn't know what to give her.

Exchange gift nalang tayo Aldene, sayo na ko at akin ka na. I-gift wrap ko pa sarili ko para sayo.

"Ano ba kaseng nireregalo sa babae pag Pasko?"

"Sino ba kaseng reregaluhan mo?"

"Nay!"

"Gulat na gulat ka. Aga mo nanaman nagising anak ha."

"Nay naman kase eh."

"Alam mo anak, namang masama eh.ok lang talagang mag-kwento sa amin. Saming lahat, kahit sino pa. Makikinig kami, hindi ka namin itatakwil o anuman. Sa lokohan lang yun. Pero nandito lang kami Nicolo, handa kaming tumulong ok?"

" ... Salamat Nay."

She patted his back and left his room.

"Ay! Nay!"

"Bakit?"

"Pwede patulong?" Nicom whispered his plan to his mother.

"Mamaya, pagkatapos natin magsimba ok?"

Nicom has never been more awake - or active - in a mass, especially one held at 4 in the morning with no decent sleep yet. But looking at Aldene, who's currently playing as Mary, makes him happy and excited for the gift he'll give her.

He is now singing and answering with the crowd, instead of his usual silence. Nicom does so enthusiastically, like he's a part of those old people who praise the Lord so much. Maybe he is, because after years of hating Christmas, he got his miracle.

Salamat po talaga ah.

"Ang saya mo dyan. High ka ba?" Coleen asked him during the offertory.

"Di ah. Masaya lang." He said while looking at Aldene.

"Ayown. Kayo na?"

"Di pa.

"Eh anong ikinasaya mo?"

"Basta. Mamaya."

To Aldene's disappointment, Nicom ran home immediately after the mass.

"Umalis siya agad?"

"Bakit Ate, namiss mo si Kuya Nicom?"

"May utang pang kwento sakin yun. May wish pa siya. Tsaka may ike-kwento din ako."

"Eh bat di mo ikwento samin?"

"Ate Niki naman eh."

"Kayo dyan, tara na. Mamaya nalang Aldene ha?"

"Mamaya po?"

Nicom's mother just waved at the whole family walked home. Aldene smiled at them, looking every bit of that perfect family she wanted. What she got was nothing close to theirs, and she might be a teensy bit jealous of Nicom.

Pero kahit ganyan kasaya pamilya niya, bakit kaya malulungkot parin videos niya?

At the Mendoza's, Nicom told everyone about his plan. He wanted to make this a Noche Buena memorable for Aldene. With how she acted when Mang Gusting left, Nicom has this hunch that she won't come back next Christmas, so here's his desperate attempt to make her come back again next season, or even earlier.