Mystery Santa

VII. Alone

Lavelle's view

I head home and walk into my apartment. I glance around and don't see my brother anywhere.

"Max!" I yell and get a faint reply from the bathroom.

I walk into the bathroom and find him lying down on the bathroom floor looking horrible.

"Meron kang dalang gamot?" He asks struggling to sit up.

I hand him the bag with his medication and he replies, "bat ang tagal tagal mo??"

"Excuse me, dinala ko sa ospital ang babaeng gusto ko kasi tinulungan mo'kong lasunin sya." I retort back angrily.

"Okay, okay. Pasensya na. Hindi mo'ko kailangang parusahan ng ganun, dinala mo pa ang jowa mo sa ospital ng pagkatagal-tagal," Max replies taking the medicine.

"Hindi ko sya jowa," I say.

Max looks at me stunned, "well kailangan mo na syang maging jowa pagkatapos ng mga nangyare."

"Steps, Max. Lahat nakukuha sa unti unting steps, one step at a time ika nga,"

"Well sabihin mo ngayon sakin na nakalagpas kana kahit isang step man lang," he replies getting up to wash his mouth.

"Sa tunay nalagpasan ko ang ang ilang steps sa katunayan nga mag da-date kami," I say happily.

"Mabuti yan, saan naman at kailan yan?" He asks.

My smile falters, "ay nako, di ko alam. Di namin napag-usapan tungkol dyan shit."

Max sighs and shakes his head, "walang kwenta ka talaga,"

"Meron nalang akong ilang araw para mapaghandaan, okay. It will be an amazing date!" I tell him.

"Hindi mo na naiisip ang regalo para sa kanya tungkol dun sa pa-mystery santa nyo." Max reminds me.

"Hey, kanino ka ba talaga kami ha!?" I challenge.

"Sayo, pasensya na, tulungan kita ate, ako lang naman ang magaling magbighani ng girls nung nasa university pa ako," Max boosts.

"Una sa lahat yung plano mo sa chocolate di nag-work, second sabi ni mama yung gusto mong babae ay binusted ka," I say deflating his ego.

"Uulitin ko ha, di ko nga kasi alam yung tungkol dun sa chocolate na expired yun!!! And dapat di sinabi ni mama yun! Sabi ko naman sa kanya walang dapat makaalam hayst!" He groans.

I laugh and help him onto the couch so he can take a nap. Then I grab my laptop so that I can look up nice places to take Raquel on a date to.
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Raquel's view

When I wake up it's already dark out. I glance over at my phone and notice that it is nine p.m. I have been sleeping for four hours. I check my messages and see that Lavelle sent me a message.

Lavelle: Hey, Raquel. I just wanted to see how you are doing now? Are you feeling better?

Seeing her message gave me butterflies. She is so cute and considerate, even though I did get poisoned by her gift.

Most people wouldn't care about you enough to ask how you are after, so I'm thankful that she did. It's nice having someone think about you. So I send her a text.

Raquel: I'm feeling better now. I just woke up from a big nap. Thank you for checking up on me :>

Then I notice that I have another message on my phone. It's from my sister, Cielito. I immediately open the next and read.

Cielito: hey lil sis. How are you doing?

Raquel: hi, ate. I'm doing good, thank you. What are you up to, ate?

Am I coming off as to try? Or am I trying too hard? I don't know what to do. Cielito and I have never been close, so I don't know how to talk to her. It's been three years since I last saw her.

Cielito: I have been travelling all over the place, Raquel. It's bee  amazing. Although I have bad news

Raquel: anong nangyare, Cielito? Meron ba? Okay ka lang?

Cielito: yes, I'm okay, sis. Don't worry about me. I meant that the bad news is that I won't be able to come home for the holidays. I'm sorry Raquel, it's just that an amazing offer has up to travel to Africa. I can't pass it up.

My heart broke reading the text. I was ging to spend another christmas all alone again. I was really hoping she would come this time, but I guess I was wrong. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

Cielito: naiintindihan mo naman Raquel hindi ba?

Raquel: yeah, naiintidihan ko, it's okay Cielito.

Cielito: the best ka talaga, love you, sis.

Raquel: love you too.

I put my phone on the bed side table and try not to let the tears our, but it's no use. I feel like a small child stupidly crying out for her big sister and parents, but there's no one for me. No one is going to hug me and reassure me it will be okay.

I need to reply on myself. I only have me and I need to be strong. Like always.

I wipe away the tears and get up to make myself hot cocoa. It helps me calm down when I'm upset.

Today has mostly been a shit day and I want to get through it and move on the next day. Hopefully I can get better fast.
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A/N: Eenjoy this short chapter. I wanted to emphasize the differences between sibling relationships.

And guys omggggg in just a few hours It'll be New Year's Eve. I hope you guys had a wonderful year even though there's a pandemic we came through I know you guys and your family are in safe situation now. Have a happy happy New Year guys may your 2021 will be lucky Iloveyou all😘