TRY . jinlia

037

[ CHOI LIA'S ]

"Merry Christmas!"

The three of us cheered as Papa popped the wine bottle. Nandito kami ngayon sa kusina kung nasaan nakalapag sa harapan namin ang iba't ibang sari ng pagkain para ngayong Pasko.

At tulad nga ng napag-usapan namin, dito magpapasko si Ryujin. Her parents didn't mind, anyway. Basta dapat daw sa New Year ay doon siya sakanila. And Papa didn't mind also. We've been celebrating Christmas with just the two of us for almost two decades now. Hindi naman masama ang madagdagan, hindi ba?

Nandoon lahat ng paborito kong pagkain. Ryujin and I cooked earlier for this midnight dinner. May mga kandila sa gitna ng dining table kung nasaan may nakasabit na maliliit na Christmas socks. It was cute.

We fixed the whole house two days ago. Set up a Christmas tree and many more Christmas decor around the house. Alam naming masyadong late ang 'two days' before Christmas but we were all busy, alright. Kahapon lang din kami nakapag-grocery para dito. Tatlo lang naman kaming kakain kaya hindi na kami nag-abalang damihan pa ang mga niluto.

Papa was now done pouring wine in our wine glass.

"Cheers!" kami ulit tatlo at inangat ang mga baso namin sa gitna ng ere. We all stiffled a laugh before taking a sip.

Maya-maya pa ay nagsimula na kaming kumain. The table was quiet at first, though the Christmas playlist I made was blasting gently in the background. Hindi na kami nakapag-usap dahil sa sobrang gutom. We skipped early dinner for this kasi.

"Ryujin, tinawagan mo na ba ang parents mo?" tanong ni Papa maya-maya.

I took a peek at Ryujin who swallowed her food before answering. "Hindi pa po. I'm planning to call them after eating," sagot niya at tumango-tango naman si Papa.

"Only child ka, hindi ba?" si Papa.

Umiling si Ryujin, dahilan para mapataas ang kilay ko. She has siblings?! Bakit hindi ko alam?

"May kapatid ka?" tanong ko.

She smirked at me. Sa harapan ko siya nakaupo, habang si Papa ay pinaggigitnaan naming dalawa.

"I have an older brother but he's in the States so," she shrugged before starting to pick on her plate again.

"If you are here, and your brother's in the States, sinong kasama ng parents mo doon sa bahay ninyo ngayon?" si Papa. "I mean, it's Christmas! Won't they feel lonely?"

Napansin ko ang pagngiti ng pilit ni Ryujin. "We don't celebrate Christmas and... matagal na pong hindi maganda ang pagsasama ng parents ko," sagot niya at yumuko kaonti.

I pursed my lips as I watched her.

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. Pasensya na rin at ang daldal ko," si Papa.

"Ayos lang, Tito," sagot naman ni Ryujin.

I took a deep breath before making the mood lighter. "Videoke ulit mamaya?" nakangiting aso na singit ko, dahilan para ilipat nila ang mga mata nila saakin.

They both groaned. "Ikaw naman lagi ang highest score, e!" si Papa dahilan para matawa kaming dalawa ni Ryujin.

"Galingan niyo rin kasi!" sagot ko at tumawa.