Dear Ate Niki,

Here is my advance birthday gift to you. Proof of someone who worships the ground you walk on and regards your existence as the best thing this universe has to offer.

This is just a copy. I have the original hehe

With your permission, I would like to post this on my YouTube account, and title it "A Day in the Life of Niki and Andy'. It's already edited. I can also give you the original video and you can post it on your own account.

Love you, Ate.

xx

Tonet

–

Gustong-gusto nang panuorin ni Niki ang laman ng flash drive na ibinigay sa kanya ni Tonet bago sila lumuwas ni Andy pabalik ng Maynila. Pero kabilin-bilinan ni Tonet na panuorin niya iyon kapag nakarating na sila sa unit niya.

They didn't stay until new year for three reasons: una, maganda ang fireworks display sa Maynila tuwing bagong taon. Pangalawa, Niki got interviewed last Wednesday for a high-paying position na walking distance lang mula sa unit niya at may follow-up interview siya sa January 4. She needed time to prepare. At pangatlo, inaalala ni Andy ang mga pagkain na iniwan nito sa unit na hindi niya naubos.

"Sigurado kang wala ka nang nakalimutan?" tanong nito sa kanya nang makasakay sila ng sasakyan.

"I already triple checked. Wala na nga."

Nasa backseat sina Ponkan at Ashley. Nasa trunk ang mga dala nilang gamit. She was already wearing his jacket that she didn't plan on giving back. Andy was wearing that silly hat again. Wala na talaga siyang nakakalimutan.

"Okay. Sure ka ha? Baka sa mahal na araw na uli tayo makabalik pag nagkataon," sabi nito sa kanya.

Niki rolled her eyes. "Wala na nga. Would you just drive? Gagabihin tayo masyado. Maglalaba pa 'ko pagbalik."

Gusto na niyang makauwi para mabuksan ang regalo na ibinigay ni Tonet sa kanya kanina. Kabilin-bilinan nitong huwag niya iyong bubuksan hanggat hindi sila nakakarating sa condo unit niya. Na-curious tuloy siya kung ano ang laman noon.

Tita Andrea insisted that they bring food back to Manila pero si Andy na mismo ang tumanggi. They still have a few marinated meats back in Manila. Saka yung lumpia at dumplings na ginawa nito, hindi pa niya nauubos.

Pareho na rin silang umay sa spaghetti at fruit salad.

Andy finally started the car. Kumaway sila pareho sa pamilya nito na nasa labas ng bahay at hinihintay silang umalis.

"Ingat kayo!" sigaw ni Angelo sa kanila bago ito pumasok ng bahay.

"Are you really going to wear that hat all the way to Manila?" tanong niya kay Andy nang makalayo sila sa bahay.

"Yeah," he answered nonchalantly. He even checked himself in the mirror and smiled. Niki rolled her eyes. She didn't think he would love the hat so much. E di sana mas inayos niya ang pagkakagawa. Maganda lang iyon sa malayuan, pero kapag sa malapitan tiningnan, one would easily notice how uneven her crocheting was.

But she couldn't deny that Andy looked adorable with it on. Naka-puting t-shirt lang ito at shorts. He was wearing his slides. Pambahay na pambahay ang suot. And then, the hat. Si Niki ang ayos na ayos kahit uuwi lang naman siya ng bahay.

"Gawan uli kita sa birthday mo?" tanong niya rito maya-maya.

Andy turned to her and smiled. "Sure."

"Anong design?"

"Uh... sunflower?"

Niki searched for sunflower designs on her phone. Ipinakita niya kay Andy ang mga nahanap. "Alin dito?"

"Niki, I'm driving," paalala nito sa kanya.

Tumawa siya. "Fine. Surprise na lang."

–

Pasado alas nwebe na ng gabi nang makarating sila ng unit. Sa drive thru na lang sila nag-order ng hapunan nila kanina. Pareho na rin kasi silang naumay sa lutong-bahay. Ilang araw din silang kumakain ng reheated foods.

Pumarada sila sandali sa isang rest stop sa SLEX para kumain at mag-freshen up. They stayed in the car for about 30 minutes to eat after ordering.

Niki could feel that something has shifted between them. Simula noong makapasko. But they were not ready to talk about it yet, or even just to acknowledge the change. She had been meaning to talk to him once they were alone, kaya gusto na rin niyang umuwi agad. Andy has always been considerate of her feelings. He doesn't overstep his boundaries. He always makes sure that she feels safe and comfortable with him no matter how much other people tease them.

Niki had a feeling that nothing would change because Andy wouldn't want things to change, especially if he thought that she wouldn't like things to change between them. So Niki has decided that she would make a big move this time. To let him know that she was finally ready. To let him know that she has already caught up to his feelings.

Andy switched on the lights and wheeled their luggages inside the unit. Siya naman ay pinakawalan na sina Ponkan at Ashley sa sala para makapag-adjust uli ang mga ito. Hindi na nila kailangang bumili uli ng mga gamit para kay Ashley dahil maraming extra si Ponkan. Hindi rin nagkakalayo ang edad ng dalawa kaya kahit sa pagkain, pwedeng mag-share.

Andy told her that she should put Ashley in her room to let the kitten acclimate.

"Sino unang maliligo?" tanong ni Andy sa kanya.

"Ikaw na muna," sagot niya. "Aayusin ko pa yung mga gamit ko."

Andy nodded and called on Ponkan. He wheeled his luggage inside his room after Ponkan walked in.

"Come, Ashley. Wswswsws," tawag niya sa kuting. Ashley slowly sniffed her way towards her. Tumingala pa ito sa kanya nang buksan niya ang pintuan ng kwarto niya. "Pasok ka," sabi niya rito.

"Meow," Ashley replied in a tiny voice before waddling inside.

–

Dear Ate Niki, Tonet's note read. Here is my advance birthday gift to you. Proof of someone who worships the ground you walk on and regards your existence as the best thing this universe has to offer.

She looked inside the box and saw a flash drive. Binuksan niya ang laptop at saka iyon isinaksak doon. It only contained one file. A video.

Huminga nang malalim si Niki. Sa note pa lang ni Tonet, may ideya na siya kung ano ang nilalaman ng video. Her heart started racing when she heard the intro.

"I'm a twenty-something woman living in the province. But this isn't about me," sabi ng voice over. "This is a day in the life of Niki and Andy." Tonet inserted a picture of her and Andy in the video. It was cropped from their "family" Christmas photo. Nakapatong ang baba ni Andy sa tuktok niya. He was smiling from ear to ear while wearing the kermit hat.

Sa sunod na frame, makikitang may kausap si Andy sa phone. Tapos nag-freeze ang video at may malaking text na nag-appear sa screen. ANDY. Smaller texts appeared: kuya ko. Next, video naman ng pagpasok niya sa bahay ng mga ito nang dumating siya para doon magpasko. She didn't even realize that Tonet was already filiming them on the day of her arrival.

NIKI, it said. Ate ko (SIL soon 🤞)

Kumunot ang noo niya. SIL? She paused the video while figuring out what it stood for. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang ma-realize kung para saan iyon.

The succeeding video clips were taken from Christmas eve up to after Christmas. Hindi ni Niki akalain na ganoon pala sila umarte sa harap ng ibang tao. It was just so natural to them that they didn't think they were conveying anything.

Naroon iyong isang umaga na nag-request siya kay Andy na lutuan siya nito ng corned beef with eggs, her favorite breakfast. Then, Andy prepared her plate before giving it to her. Sa sunod na video clip, nagsasalita uli si Tonet. She was showing the plate, utensils, and mug she would use every time she would visit. "Si Ate Niki lang ang pwedeng gumamit nito. We don't allow anyone to use them. Kahit kami hindi namin ginagamit yang mga 'yan. Sila lang ni Kuya Andy ang pwede."

Sa sunod na video clip, likod lang nilang dalawa ang kita. Nanunuod sila ni Andy ng re-run ng Friends. Magkadikit silang nakaupo sa sofa. They were just laughing at the jokes. After that, it was the video of them standing near the stairs. Ina-adjust niya ang kermit hat ni Andy.

Sunod noon ay ang video nila habang hinihintay na makabalik ang mga magulang nina Andy galing sa simbahan. Nakahiga siya sa kandungan ni Andy habang nagsi-cellphone. Andy looked at the camera a few times. He must have caught Tonet taking videos that time. Nakakunot ang noo nito.

Sumunod ang eksena sa noche buena. Andy picked up a couple of fried chicken thighs and put them on her plate because he knew it was her favorite part of the chicken. "Favorite din ni Kuya Gelo yung chicken thighs pero walang paki si Kuya Andy," kumento ni Tonet. And then, another text appeared. ATE NIKI >>>>> KUYA'S BLOOD RELATIVE. It made Niki laugh.

Nandoon din iyong naghiwa si Andy ng sibuyas tapos ipinahid nito ang daliri sa nangangating mata. She couldn't stop laughing upon remembering Andy's remark while they were eating. "Eat up. Iniyakan ko pa yan."

The last video clip was Tonet audibly gasping upon finding out that they slept next to each other in Andy's room.Pagkatapos noon, isa-isang lumabas ang iba't ibang pictures nila ni Andy simula high school. The edges have ripped textures that were undoubtedly edited. Napakarami pala nilang pictures nang magkasama. They stopped taking pictures when they were hanging out because they knew there would always be a next time. Pero marami pa rin silang pictures na magkasama sila. It filled the entire screen and then a text appeared that said, "A Day in the Life of Niki and Andy".

May maiksing credit roll din pagkatapos noon. Puro TONET ang nakalagay. Videographer. Photographer. Narrator. Pwera sa moral support. It said, PONKAN.

Niki felt an overwhelming surge of warmth after watching the whole thing. She didn't realize that she was already tearing up.

"Meeeee," tawag ni Ashley sa kanya mula sa sahig.

She scooped up the kitten and put it in front of her laptop. Kinuha niya ang phone at saka siya nag-type ng mensahe para kay Antoneth.

To: Tonet

Napanuod ko na.

Thank you so much.

It was a wonderful gift 🥹