Hanggang alas dos ng madaling-araw gising ang buong pamilya ni Andy. They took a lot of pictures with the food and the pets had a hard time restraining themselves from stealing a chicken or two.

They didn't really eat much. Nagpuyat lang talaga sila nang kaunti para ma-picturan ang mga handa nila nang magkakasama ang buong pamilya. They even dressed up to look a bit more festive. Tita Andrea insisted. She gave each of them a Christmas themed headband and Andy was the only one who refused to wear one because he was wearing the kermit hat she gave him.

He looked so silly with it on, but he didn't seem to mind. He was bragging to his parents how she crocheted the piece in just a few hours, and without practice, even though she didn't tell him such things. It all worked out in the end since kulang ang headbands dahil extra siya.

She wanted to take a photo of just the family, but they didn't let her stand behind the camera. Nakakapit sa braso niya si Tita Andrea para hindi siya umalis sa frame. Si Andy ang nagsi-set ng timer tapos tatakbo ito sa likod niya pagkatapos.

Niki had such a fun night. It had been so long since she spent Christmas with a family.

Pagkatapos mag-picture taking at kumain nang kaunti, nag-exchange gift naman ang mga ito. Since Niki didn't bring anything, siya na lamang ang taga-capture ng moments between the giver and the recipient. She noticed that Tonet was also filming the whole thing.

"Niki, here's your gift," nakangiting sabi ng Tito Antonio niya. It was a big rectangular box wrapped in a horrendous Christmas themed wrapper, and with a stick-on bow.

"Hala... nag-abala pa po kayo." She was hesitant to accept it, but she couldn't refuse the gift. "Wala po akong regalo sa inyo."

"It's okay, Hija. Birthday gift na rin namin sa 'yo 'yan."

"And you have already graced us with your presence, true favorite child," Andy said while bowing, which made everyone laugh.

Niki tore the wrapper excitedly. It was a bit heavy. She truly didn't know what to expect. Napamaang siya nang makita kung ano ang niregalo ng mga ito.

"Sabi ni Tonet nasa wishlist mo raw 'yan, so we figured that we'd buy it for you para menos gastos," paliwanag ni Tita Andrea.

It was a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle set. Naisipan niyang magbuo noon nang papaubos na ang pera niya. She added that exact box to her wishlist para kapag nagkatrabaho na siya, iyon ang una niyang bibilhin.

She has always liked puzzles, of any kind. She thought it would make good content for her vlog. Oorasan niya kung gaano niya katagal iyong mabubuo.

"Thank you po! This must have been expensive."

Tito Antonio waved his hand dismissively. "It's a gift, Anak, don't think about the cost."

"Tapos yung regalo sa 'min matching sweaters," Angelo said, rolling his eyes.

Tita Andrea laughed. "Oh, that reminds me!" Tumayo ito at pumunta sa kwarto nito na nasa may kusina lang. She went out with an ugly knit sweater with her name at the back. Proud na proud nito iyong ipinakita sa kanya.

"Thanks, tita! I feel like Harry Potter all of a sudden."

Tumawa si Andy. "See? Favorite child."

"Wag kang maniwala kay Angelo, Hija. Nabigyan na namin ng cash 'yang mga yan. Ayaw kasi ng in-kind na regalo."

Niki took her gift to the bedroom after. Inilagay niya iyon katabi ng luggage niya sa kwarto ni Antoneth. After washing up, inilatag niya ang mattress na pinagamit ng Tita Andrea niya sa kanya. Dalawang magkapatong na matresses, isang malaking duvet na tiniklop niya sa dalawa para hindi sasayad sa sahig, at isang makapal na kumot. It ended up looking like a normal bed without the bedframe.

"Te, okay ka na dyan?" tanong ni Toneth na kakapasok lang ng kwarto.

"Yes. Thank you." She put two pillows down on her bed. Binigyan din siya ni Tonet ng isa pang unan.

They talked for a while, habang nagpapaantok. Tonet told her about the guy she was seeing. Humingi ito ng advice sa kanya. Niki listened at Tonet's stories and was amazed at how mature she has gotten over the years. Andy and his siblings were shown how to properly love people, by their parents. They are all kind, but they set boundaries and they recognize disrespect. Tonet enumerated the things she thought were off with the guy she was seeing, but she wanted to give him a chance because she felt like he could still change for the better.

Niki didn't feel good enough to give advice, considering that none of her relationships ended up working out. But in the end, she gave Tonet a piece of advice, na may kasamang, "...pero ikaw. Do what you think is best for you. Since you know yourself best." Not admitting that it was an added sentence just so she could absolve herself later of the blame, if ever hindi mag-work yung mga una niyang sinabi.

–

Niki woke up at around 9AM. Mabilisan niyang inimpis ang higaan para makapag-almusal. Tonet was already out and about. Nakaayos na ang kama nito. The curtains were still drawn since she was asleep earlier, but the AC was already off. May nakatutok pa rin sa kanyang electric fan kaya malamig,

She turned it off and then, parted the curtains. It was a cloudy day. Hindi mataas ang sikat ng araw at mukhang kauulan. Naghihikab siyang lumabas ng kwarto.

"Hey! Good morning!" Andy greeted her from the kitchen.

"You're still wearing that?" She pointed to the kermit hat. Suot -suot pa nito iyon.

Dahan-dahan siyang bumaba ng hagdan, as she was still adjusting her eyesight. It was a bit blurry. Nakatuon kasi sa mga mata niya ang braso nang ilang oras.

Niki just realized that there was someone else in the house when she spoke. A soft, dainty voice that sounded a little too flirty in the morning.

"Nandito pala ang bestfriend mo, Kuya Andy."

Niki opened one eye to look at the visitor. Maayos na maayos ang pagkakaupo nito sa sala. Naka-magandang bestida ito. Light ang makeup, pero mukhang pinaghandaan ang pagbisita.

"Jenny?"

Jenny gave her a smile.

"Wow. I haven't seen you in..." How long has it been exactly? Magkakilala sila dahil iisang high school lang naman ang pinag-aralan nila. Mas bata ito ng isang taon sa kanila ni Andy. Her friends used to tell her that Jenny hated her in high school because she was always with Andy. E, crush na crush nito dati si Andy.

Sa kanya lang yata ito hindi nagpapakita. For obvious reasons.

"Merry Christmas, Ate Niki," she greeted sweetly.

Tinanguan lamang niya ito bago siya pumunta ng kusina. Si Andy naman ay inilapag ang kapeng tinitimpla nito kanina sa lamesa malapit kay Niki. "Gusto mo ng cake?" tanong nito sa bisita.

"Ah... sige. Kung okay lang."

Andy went back to the kitchen right away and took a big slice of sponge cake. Nakapatong iyon sa lamesa.

"She's batting her eyelashes at you," bulong niya rito. Tinapik niya ito sa balikat. "Go flirt back."

Andy let out a laugh. "Baliw," he muttered under his breath. And then, he asked a little louder, "Gusto mong kape?"

She scrunched her nose. "Ginamit mo na yung paborito kong mug e."

Andy looked at the mug half-filled with coffee. Kinuha nito iyon at iniabot sa kanya. "Sorry po."

She drank from it and gagged. "This is pure sugar!"

"Normal na timpla yan. Ikaw itong weird ang panlasa."

Niki shook her head and poured the rest of it in the sink. Saka siya nagtimpla ng panibago. "Walang breakfast?"

"Maaga kasing umalis sina mama e. Ano bang gusto mo?"

"Corned beef," mabilis niyang sagot.

"Okay, boss." He glanced at Jenny who was quietly sipping her coffee in the living room. "Gusto mong mag-breakfast, Jenny?"

Umiling ito at ngumiti. "Okay na 'ko sa cake, thank you."

Niki pulled out a chair and sat there while Andy took out the ingredients for her requested breakfast.

"Mamaya ka na magluto. Entertain mo muna yung bisita mo," bulong niya kay Andy.

"Ah, right." Andy put the knife down and went to the living room. Sinundan niya ito ng tingin habang humihigop ng kape. Jenny readied her smile, her face full of expectations. Andy went towards the TV and opened it with the remote from the shelf. "Nuod ka lang ah."

"That's what you call entertaining?" bulong niya nang bumalik ito sa kusina.

"May ginagawa ako. Gusto mo ikaw na lang ang makipag-usap sa kanya?" bulong nito pabalik.

"Bakit ba kasi nandito yan?"

"Ah... may dala sya. Teka."

Every time Andy would look towards the living room or go there, titigil sa pagkain o paghigop ng kape si Jenny para ngitian ito. She was so prim and proper in the morning, it was so amusing to Niki. She was glad she already got over that awkward phase in high school. Sa sobrang kumportable niya sa pamilya ni Andy, nakakapunta siya sa mga ito nang hindi pa naliligo.

Andy came back to the kitchen with a small box. She didn't notice it earlier. But her eyes widened when she saw what was inside. It was a sleeping gray kitten.

"Oh my gosh..." She reached into the box to pet the kitten. It stirred and slowly opened its eyes. Tumingin ito sa kanya. And then, it let out the tiniest meow that almost made Niki melt.

"Jenny offered me a kitten. Kapapanganak lang nung pusa nila."

"Hala... thank you, Jenny!" sabi niya rito.

"A-Ah... welcome?"

"Gustong-gusto rin kasi ni Niki ng isa pang pusa," paliwanag ni Andy dito. "She got a cat, but he's closer to me now so.... Ah, sorry. We live together in Manila."

Jenny's eyes widened, but she tried to cover it with a smile. "Ah... m-magkasama kayo sa bahay?"

"It's a long story," she told her. Bumaling siya kay Andy. "Nasa'n na nga pala sila?"

"They were out–" Hindi na natuloy ang sagot nito dahil biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Imogen na nakasupt ng harness. Kasunod nito si Ponkan na naka-harness din. Apparently, Tonet took them both out for a walk.

"We're back!" Pinakawalan ni Tonet ang mga alaga. Imogen quickly took interest in the visitor. Si Ponkan naman ay kay Andy dumiretso. "Good morning,Ate!"

"Morning!" she replied with a smile. Ibinaba niya ang box na may lamang kuting sa sahig. "Pon, look! May kapatid ka na!"

Ponkan curiously put his front paws on the box and peeked inside. The kitten was also looking up curiously. When their noses were about to touch, Ponkan withdrew, hissing.

"Hey!" she scolded him. "Be nice!"

Ponkan jumped on Andy's lap while giving her a side eye. Sakto naman na tapos nang maghiwa ng sibuyas si Andy. Ponkan might have caught a whiff of the onion. His eyes started watering. Andy's eyes started watering too, because of the onion and Ponkan. He tried wiping his eyes and groaned when it started hurting. Tumayo ito para pumunta sa lababo nang nakapikit. Natatawang tumayo si Niki.

"Let me see." She removed his hands from his eyes. Tuloy-tuloy ang paglabas ng luha sa mga mata nito. Niki took a dry towel and placed it under the running water. Saka niya iyon idinikit sa mga mata ni Andy. She kept dabbing the wet towel on his eye area until he felt relief.

She guided his hands onto the sink and helped him wash the onion fume off.

"O, ano'ng nangyari dyan?" tanong ni Tita Andrea na kapapasok lang ng bahay. Kasunod nito si Tito Antonio. Agad na tumayo si Jenny para salubungin ang mga ito.

"Good morning po, Ninong. Ninang," bati nito sa dalawa. "Merry Christmas po."

"Merry Christmas, Hija." Tinungo ni Tita Andrea ang kusina at tiningnan ang mukha ng panganay nitong anak.

"Naghiwa ng sibuyas, Tita, tapos ipinahid yung kamay sa mata," kwento niya.

Tumawa ang matanda. "Kung hindi ka ba naman aanga-angang bata ka. Parang ngayon ka lang naghiwa ng sibuyas," naiiling nitong sabi.

Andy wiped his tears with the sleeves of his shirt. Saka ito sisinghot-singhot na nagluto ng corned beef.

"Jenny, kumain ka na?" tanong ni Tita Andrea sa bisita.

"Ah, yes po. Nag-cake po ako," nakangiti nitong sagot. "Inantay ko lang po kayo para mabati ko po kayo."

Tito Antonio pulled out a 500-peso bill from his wallet. "Merry Christmas, inaanak. Pasensya na ito lang ang mabibigay ko sa 'yo, ha. Hindi pa kasi ako binibigyan ng allowance ni Ninang."

Jenny's face turned red as she tried to profusely refuse the money. "N-Naku, ninong, 'wag na po..."

Tito Antonio pushed the money into Jenny's hand, and patted her on the shoulder. Saka ito pumunta sa kwarto para magbihis. Tita Andrea sat on the sofa to talk to Jenny for a while. Si Antoneth naman ang nagpakain sa mga alagang aso at pusa.

After a few minutes, inihain na ni Andy ang niluto nitong corned beef sa lamesa. He also made garlic fried rice and fried a few eggs.

"Kain tayo," yaya nito sa mga nandoon. Tatayo pa lang siya nang ilapag na nito ang mga kubyertos at plato na palagi niyang ginagamit. He also casually scooped rice from the serving bowl and put it on her plate. And then, the eggs. And then, the corned beef. Halos ilagay nito lahat ng sibuyas sa plato niya.

"Thanks," she told him with a smile.

Andy smiled back and sat next to her to get himself some food. When Niki raised her head to call the others to eat, she noticed that Antoneth was filming with her phone. She was smiling to herself when she put the phone down.

Tumingin naman siya sa sala para yayain si Tita Andrea na mag-agahan. Niki saw Jenny's frowning face instead. But it was only for a moment. Humarang si Andy sa paningin niya.

"Hey. Eat up. Iniyakan ko pa yan."