Still Into You (Negros Series #1)

Still Into You 29

"Merry Christmas Ate Alex!" Andrea popped the party poppers, again.

"You greeted me six times already." Napailing nalang ako at nasapo ang aking noo habang umiinom ng wine at kausap ang aking kapatid through a video call.

Hindi ako nakauwi ngayong pasko. My parents understand that it's because of my work but Andrea and Arkien really felt sad. Kaya ayan, higit isang oras ko na silang kausap.

"Arki come here!" Sigaw niya sa kabilang linya at lumapit ang bunsong kapatid namin sa kanya habang nakanguso at mukhang kumakain pa ng noche buena.

"Andrea what is that? Don't give it to him!" I warned her. Binigyan niya ng wine glass si Arki.

"What is it ate Andrea?" The kid innocently asked. Tumingin ito sa screen ng laptop at ngumiti sa akin, "Oh, is this same with yours ate?"

"No Arki. Andrea get that wine back!"

"Chill! It's juice ate." Tumawa siya at pinilit na ipaamoy iyon sa kapatid. "See? It's cranberry. Duh!"

"Make sure that's a pure cranberry." I know her too well

Napailing nalang akong muli habang pinapanuod siyang pinapainom iyon kay Arkien. And I got distracted when someone is calling on my phone. Dumungaw ako sa kabilang table para sagutin iyon.

It's Khalex! My god.

"Andrea, wait there a minute. I need to answer this first." Sabi ko sa kapatid. Tumango naman siya at abala sa kinakain kaya lumabas ako saglit ng kwarto.

I cleared my voice before answering the phone call.

"Merry Christmas babe! I love you." Khalex greeted me with a husky voice.

"I love you so much and Merry Christmas." Ngumiti ako kahit hindi niya naman makikita iyon.

"Are you alone in your unit?"

"I am unless you will show up in my door." I joked but I'm expecting tho. Ngunit alam ko naman na malabo.

"Sorry babe. Do you want me there? I can book a ticket so we could celebrate the New Year together."

"Silly! It's okay because I know you're busy there." And I will be busy on New Year too. Work, of course.

"Hey, are you still working?" Tanong ko ng makarinig ako ng ibang boses sa kabilang linya. Tinatanong siya kung uuwi ba siya. It's not that clear so I didn't hear exactly everything.

"Yeah. I'm still at our company." He sighed. I can hear it.

"Really? It's Christmas! You should be with your family this time."

"Shall I go there?"

"Stop fooling around La Cuesta."

Our talked lasted for how many minutes. Sinabihan ko siya na kailangan niya munang umuwi upang makasama ang pamilya niya ngayong gabi. He's so workaholic and Christmas should be an exemption for that.

I slept around 2AM. Kinabukasan ay walang trabaho kaya nakapunta ako ng supermarket upang bumili ng mga groceries. Rachel was out of town so I'm alone. And three days before New Year we are so busy again. Mukhang hindi holidays dahil ang daming ganap sa trabaho. Lalo na ngayon at sa susunod na linggo na ang umpisa sa construction site.

"Architect, shall we go now?" Adrian showed me his silly smiles again. Pinipilit niya akong sumabay sa kanya papunta ng site.

"I have my car." Rason kong muli.