A Teacher's Diary

Countdown to 2016

December 31, 2015 - January 1, 2016
Thursday - Friday

30 minutes before 12 midnight, I woke up with mom beside me. I was still sleepy. I had busy days trying to spend the vacation with my friends so sleep is very rare for me. I wanted to continue my sleep but I also wanted to be awake and celebrate the New Year with my family. I chose the latter and told mom to wake up.

I went out of bed and decided that I could just look for food to eat. But I found nothing that would agree to my taste. The TV was on with the GMA show New Year's countdown.

15 minutes before 12 midnight, I went to our terrace. Ate Rachelle, my elder brother Fred's wife followed me with their kids Zach, Zoe and Zai. There were already fireworks exploding in the sky that moment. There's a drizzle of rain. I felt the cold air on my skin. I went down again and found mom carrying some sparkles. I looked unto my closet in my room and grabbed EJ's pre-owned black jacket and worn it. I went back to the terrace and waited.

10 minutes before 12 midnight, I decided to forward a New Year text greeting to my friends with a little editing, adding my endearment to each one of them at the end before I always hit send. The message says, "Pray not only because you need something but because you have a lot to thank God for! #2015 Have a happy new year (insert name/endearment here)! :)"

Later I found out that we were already complete in the terrace, including Marian, the kids' baby sitter, counting time. I wanted to go up higher to our rooftop but had second thoughts because I seriously didn't want to be a stray bullet victim.

5 minutes before 12 midnight, I wanted to post something on Facebook but I couldn't think of a nice or catchy post. I checked my messages though.

Elsha Tamayo: "Happy new year sa PINAKAMAINGAY kong co-teacher.. hahahaha thank you sa lahat ..mamimiss kita .. hahahaha kukunin na ko eh . joke lang ..hahahaha see you when I see you .. mwuaaaah .."
Me: "Happy birthday shang ! Este happy new year. Naks. May personal touch ang pagbati. Paalala mong tumalon ako mamaya pagpatak ng twelve."
Elsha: "Hahahaha .. lam mo namang sweet ako ii
Sige .. papaalalahanan kita maya .. pati si riza."
Me: "Hahaha. Rakenrol! :)"

I was also chatting with Johndreb earlier. We exchanged greeting a happy new year. We also talked about Elton. As Elton recently somehow vent out his frustrations to us about his failed relationship with a girl named Dana in an unplanned inuman session in Kalye Sports Bar. So dreb and I's topic was him. Then we had a joke about 'magpaputok outside - kasi delikado kapag sa loob'.

I decided to just turn my Iphone into Airplane mode after. I switched into using my basic Cherry phone and dialled EJ's number. When he didn't answer at the fourth ring, I disconnected. But then minutes later, I received a text from him saying: "Happy new year laabs! I love you just the way you are. Wag ka magbabago. Well, actually, that's not possible :) Let's have another adventure. Another 365 days :) I LOVE YOU. Always have, always will~"

5... 4... 3... 2...

More fireworks were on display up in the sky. Loud bangs were everywhere. The rain continued. Mom had these box of mini fountains, pop ups and sparkles. We lit them one after another. Mom tried one of the mini fountain which was lit near the sparkles so it made a little ruckus when Kuya Fred shouted with his concerned voice, "Bakit sinindihan naman diyan? Ay! Layo! Ilayo niyo yang mga lusis!" We acted with the adrenaline rush. We covered the kids and pulled away the sparkles (lusis). It was just out of fear that all of the sparkles start to catch fire and just like it's name - sparkle, which is out of hand. Later after the ruckus, I took a break in celebrating and typed in a message to reply to EJ. Something that says I am grateful because we're still together and that we'll be going through a lot more. He replied that his mom was sleeping and seemed no plans of waking up and that this year is a Leap Year.

I went back to celebrating. Making the kids shout with me happy new year. Making them also jump with me (for the old joke's sake that if you jump at 12 midnight of a new year, you'll get an increase of height). And making them make some more noise which included blowing of their torotot.

It's past twelve and we all decided to go down. They ate while I went straight to my bed. EJ texted if I could call Pizza Hut for him for a delivery. I wanted to reply him with, 'No, I don't want to. I'm so sleepy and too lazy to stand and make a phone call and I just seriously want to sleep now.' Yes, I'm a bitch sometimes. I didn't want to hurt his feelings even though I badly wanted to decline. So I just came up with a lie instead, 'Busy na. Tapos ring lang ng ring kanina.' Then I felt guilty when I read his reply saying, 'Wala talaga? Hayaan mo na. I guess they don't want me to eat pizza.' So I replied, 'Sorry', which I honestly meant that time. But he said it's okay, it wasn't my fault. We then exchanged goodnight. I was able to finally construct a caption in my account with my picture taken at Megamall's Art In Island wall:

"This is me. I may change and I may not. I don't have any resolutions. Just goals. I make things happen because I truly believe that everyday is an adventure. And 2015 was just as awesome as this new year 2016 comes. THANK YOU Lord and everyone I love and who loves me back. No matter what happens, I know that I am blessed.

Let's a have a wonderful start in this journey to the road of 2016. HAPPIEST NEW YEAR!!!!!! 🎆🎇"

I hit post. To which Aileen Cabuguang commented: "Happiest new year to you, partner. Hope we achieve our goals this year. Godbless lagi. Lablab~" And so I replied, "Happiest new year partner! 🎊 cheers!"

I drowned my guilt and drifted to sleep.