The Billionaire's Son

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

December 2011

I glanced at my list again, hoping that I didn't manage to miss anything before I walked down the busy streets of town. It's Christmas day. Everyone is busy milling about, buying last-minute presents and making sure that they come home early for their family.

Nang mapagtanto kong wala na akong kakailanganin pa, huminto ako sa paglalakad at humigpit ang hawak sa aking basket. Christmas is such a magical day for me, even when I was still a kid. But it's also the same day that I have lost my father. Each year, I tried to find the spirit of Christmas when I was still little so that I could pretend that nothing tragic happened and spend it with my mother happily like a normal human being will do.

Napalunok ako at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Nang madaanan ko na ang pier sa bayan ay mas lalong sumikip ang aking dibdib. All the cargo ships and even the tiny boats reminded me of my late father. I could still remember how he'd sneak me inside his ship so I could watch the water when they deliver goods from Davao Oriental to Cebu. Ngayon ay hindi ko na maaaring gawin iyon.

"Mallory!"

I turned around and saw Aaric grinning widely at me. Imbes na ngitian siya ay nagulat ako nang makitang kasama niya si Sierra ngayon. She beamed at me. Bumaba ang aking tingin sa kaniyang kamay na mahigpit na nakahawak kay Aaric.

"Aaric, Sierra. . . kayo pala." wika ko nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa.

"Merry Christmas!" Aaric pulled me into a big hug. He smelled of aftershave and freshly showered warm skin. I smiled politely at him when we pulled apart.

"Merry Christmas din sa iyo, Aaric."

"Merry Christmas, Mallory. Pwede ba kaming makikain sa bahay niyo mamaya?" sabay hagikhik pa ni Sierra.

"Oo naman. My mother would be glad to see you." wika ko.

"Great!" pumalapak ang kaniyang tainga sa narinig at sinulyapan si Aaric. "So, what do you think?"

"Yeah, sure. I'm sure Christian would be glad to tag along."

Now that I think about it, he's not with Sage right now. But knowing he's with Sierra, perhaps Sage didn't bother to tag along with him.

"Nasaan ba si Sage ngayon?" I asked, shifting my weight on my feet.

"He's busy with the family. Tumakas lamang ako kanina." Sagot naman ni Aaric sa akin.

Tumango-tango ako. "O sige, mauna na muna ako sa inyong dalawa ah?"

"Sige Mallory, punta lang kami sa bahay niyo mamaya." Sierra winked at me and looped her arms with Aaric again. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at mahinang tumawa.

"Sige, mag-enjoy kayo..." wika ko.

Aaric wiggled his eyebrows at me before the two of them left, sticking with each other like a newly-wed couple. Parang kahapon lang ay galit na galit si Aaric nang malamang si Sierra ay nakikipag-date sa ibang lalaki. Ngayon naman ay halos hindi mo na sila mapaghiwalay dalawa.

Nang makarating ako sa bahay ay nagulat ako sa dami ng tao. I didn't know my mother would invite people to our house. Nagmamadali akong tumulong sa kusina habang nagkukuwentuhan naman ang mga faculty members sa aming sala. I even spotted my former principal in elementary, smiling widely at his co-teachers while sipping his beer.

Hindi ko na tinanong si Mama kung bakit marami kaming bisita ngayon. Last year, we've spent the Christmas with only the two of us together. Maybe my mother feels lonely too and she wants to conceal her loneliness by drawing heavy traffic in our house. Kapag kasi napapalibutan siya ng maraming tao ay hindi niya naiisip ang pagkamatay ni Papa.