The day before new year, nilabhan na ni Niki ang mga naiwang labahin sa unit. She spent the entire day cleaning the house and washing the laundry dahil ayaw niyang salubungin ang bagong taon na marumi ang unit.

Meanwhile, Andy took care of the pets and cooked themselves a small feast to celebrate the new year later.

Pinayagan na ni Niki na i-post ni Tonet ang video sa page nito, but on her birthday. Not one day earlier. Andy still has no idea about the video and Niki intended to keep it that way until her birthday.

After doing chores, Niki spent the remainder of her afternoon taking a nap. She wanted to be awake during the fireworks display.

When she woke up at around seven in the evening, si Andy naman ang nagpahinga pagkatapos nitong maghanda ng pagkain. He was resting on the couch with the two cats and Niki found herself pouting because Andy had yet again charmed a cat that was supposed to be hers.

"Morning," bati nito sa kanya nang dumaan siya patungong banyo.

Pinaningkitan niya ito. Ashley was sleeping on his shoulder while Ponkan was sitting on his lap, wagging his tail with contentment.

"I hate that all the animals in this house like you."

Tinawanan nito ang sinabi niya. "Maybe you should get a dog? Or a pet snake?" he teased.

Niki rolled her eyes and turned her back on him. Tinungo niya ang banyo para maligo bago pa niya ito mahampas ng tuwalya.

–

Kinuha ni Niki ang thigh parts ng fried chicken na niluto ni Andy mula sa lalagyan sa lamesa. She also put mashed potatoes on her plate and smothered the whole thing with mushroom gravy. She took a huge plate of food. Andy was not sure if she could finish everything.

Umupo ito sa tabi niya at nagsimulang kumain. "Kumain ka na?" tanong nito habang ngumunguya ng pritong manok.

"Inaantay kitang magising."

"Kumakain na 'ko," sabi nito sa kanya.

"I know." Gustuhin man niyang tumayo, ibinabaon ni Ponkan ang kuko nito sa hita niya kapag sinusubukan niya. He only meant to sit for a few minutes to rest, but the cats have other plans. Ashley fell asleep on his shoulder and Ponkan put his entire body on his lap.

Mukhang naawa naman si Niki sa kanya because she offered him a piece of the chicken she was eating. She offered it close enough to his mouth so he could take a bite.

"Gusto mo ng rice?" tanong nito.

Without waiting for his answer, she got up and went to the kitchen to get some rice. Andy looked visibly confused when she started feeding him. Niki wouldn't do that unless he was sick or he begged her to do it.

"Do you need something?" kunot-noo niyang tanong nang akmang susubuan siya nito.

"New year's resolution ko ang maging mas mabait sa 'yo," sagot nito sa kanya.

"Ah..." When he opened his mouth, she took the opportunity to feed him with the rice and chicken.

Nakailang balik pa ito sa kusina para magdagdag ng pagkain para mabusog silang dalawa. Something felt weird between them and Andy couldn't figure it out. Does Niki already know about his feelings? Did their friends tell them? But why was she not saying anything? Was she waiting for him to say something?

Iniisip pa rin ni Andy kung papaano siya aamin dito. It was the one thought that wouldn't leave his mind since Christmas. He tried to act normal around her, but not knowing if she already knew was making him anxious.

"Ayaw mo na?"

Napakurap siya. May nakaumang sa kanyang pagkain. Was he out of it again? Nakatulala na naman ba siya?

"Busog na 'ko."

"Okay." Niki shrugged and ate the food instead. Andy just then realized that they were sharing the same spoon. It shouldn't be an issue since they were used to sharing stuff since they became best friends. But why does it feel different now?

–

11:50PM

Andy had already put the cats to bed, in his room. He followed a tutorial about wrapping clothes around an animal's body to keep them calm during stressful situations, like a fireworks display. Of course, Ponkan had to fight him in every step of the way. It was a good thing that his wounds were not that deep.

Naglagay sila ni Niki ng mga malalapad na karton sa sahig ng balcony nito bago nila iyon pinatungan ng kumot. Andy brought some snacks from the kitchen and a few light alcoholic drinks.

11:55PM

They were both sitting there, leaning on the glass sliding door of the balcony, and waiting for the fireworks.

"Do you have a new year's resolution, Andy?" tanong ni Niki sa kanya habang nakatingala ito sa madilim na langit.

11:56PM

"Uh... Siguro magsisimula na akong mag-ipon next year?" he answered with a smile. He had been saving money for a while now. Marami-rami na rin siyang naipon. One day, someday, if he finally had the chance to confess, he would be honest to Niki about everything, even the little things that he was keeping from her.

11:57PM

He took a swig of the alcohol and looked at her. "Ikaw?"

Niki let out a sigh. "I think... next year... I will..."

11:58PM

Niki still has not finished her sentence. Nakatingala pa rin ito sa langit. "Ewan ko. I really can't think of anything right now," she admitted after a while.

11:59PM

They were both looking up at the sky, expecting the fireworks display.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Andy glanced at Niki.

Five.

Four.

He averted his gaze towards the sky again.

Two.

One.

The sound of fireworks shooting up at the sky filled the air. And then, boom! The sky was finally filled with pretty lights.

"I'm surprised na hindi mo kinuhanan ng video yung fireworks display. Maganda sanang isama sa vlog mo," sabi niya kay Niki. His loud voice was no match to the sound of the fireworks, but Niki seemed to understand.

"Oh, shit!" Dali-dali itong tumayo.

"What?"

"I forgot to set up the camera!" sigaw nito. She quickly ran back inside her bedroom to get her phone. There were still a few minutes of the spectacle to capture, but Niki seemed upset that she did not get the whole thing.

"Bakit kasi hindi mo pinaalala?!" sisi nito sa kanya nang matapos ang fireworks display.

"Aba malay ko ba!" Niki had been vlogging for months now. She should have thought of setting up her camera earlier. Andy wondered if something else was bothering her. She seemed preoccupied. "Sorry."

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "Never mind. I guess it was my fault for forgetting." Inilapag nito ang phone sa gilid nito. Niki raised the bottle of alcohol she was holding. He did the same. She smiled when they clinked the bottles together.

"Happy new year, Andy."

"Happy new year, Niki."

–

Mike

Did you kiss her?

Andrew

Huh?

Mike

Kaninang midnight

Did you kiss her?

Andrew

Lol

E di nasampal ako

PJ

Sinampal ka ba nung hinalikan mo sya dati?

Andrew

No but that was different

She was caught off guard

He did want to kiss her again. Ever since the first time, tuwing magkakalapit sila, it was all he could think about. He wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her senselessly. It even crossed his mind earlier. Sa ibang kultura, uso iyon. People would kiss during new year's. He didn't know why they did it or how it started, but he was ready to get on board, if he had enough courage.

They stayed on her balcony for about an hour before calling it a night. Birthday naman ni Niki ang aasikasuhin niya kinabukasan. He would go out and buy her a cake tomorrow. Hindi na siyia bumili ng regalo. When he asked Niki what she wanted for her birthday, she told him that she didn't know yet. Sasabihin na lang daw nito kung ano iyon kung may maisip na ito.

In the past, he gave Niki all sorts of things that seem unconventional to other people. Niki loves gift checks, gift baskets, groceries, and appliances. Kapag may okasyon, tatanungin lang niya kung ano ang gusto nitong bilhin na hindi pa nito napaglalaanan ng budget tapos ay siya na lamang ang bibili. She was easy to please when it came to gifts.

–

At 11:59PM, just as new year's day was about to end, Niki heard a knock on her bedroom door. Nakangiti niyang binuksan ang pinto, already knowing what to expect.

"Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you..." Niki just awkwardly stood at the door while Andy sang her happy birthday. He was a man of many talents, but singing was not one of them. His passion for singing made it entertaining to watch, though.

She waited for him to finish the song and then, he asked her to make a wish. Pinagdaop niya ang dalawang palad at saka pumikit. She was not good at making wishes. Kapag hindi pa panahong humiling, ang dami niyang naiisip na hilingin. Pero kapag kailangan nang humiling, saka nabablangko ang isip niya. She still closed her eyes and pretended to make a wish, just for the heck of it.

After a few seconds, Niki opened her eyes again and was met by Andy's eyes. He was looking at her while waiting for her to blow the candle. It was just a brief second, but all she could think about was Andy. Andy. Did that count as a wish? She didn't know. But her mind was clear and it only had one thought at that moment. Andy.

Hinipan niya ang kandila at saka siya pumalakpak.

"Thank you!"

Andy went back to the kitchen to cut her a slice of cake. Sumunod siya rito.

"Hm... ang sarap nito ah. Sa'n mo binili?" she told him after taking a bite. "Hindi masyadong matamis."

"Cara Mia. Masarap? Buti naman. It looked good so I bought it."

Niki shook her head. Typical Andy, only buying with his eyes.

"Have you thought about your gift yet?" tanong nito sa kanya. Kumuha ito ng tinidor at pumisang sa cake niya. Andy frowned when she didn't answer, but didn't ask again. He must have figured out na wala pa siyang naiisip na regalo.

–

Nakukulangan si Andy sa preparation niya. Cake lang ang "surprise" niya para sa birthday ni Niki. He didn't even get the chance to decorate the living room like he did last time because she would already know about the plan.

Masyado tuloy simple ang celebration ng birthday ni Niki.

Nang tanungin naman niya ito kung ano ang gusto nitong regalo, wala pa rin itong masagot. She just stared at him like he was supposed to know what she was thinking about. Pagkaubos nito sa cake ay agad siyang kumuha ng tubig para ipainom dito. He had experienced going to bed after eating dessert and not drinking water. Waking up after that was not a very pleasant experience.

Pagkainom ni Niki, kinuha niya ang mga pinagkainan nito para mahugasan sa lababo. Niki was not her usual chatty self that night. Inaantok na siguro ito.

Andy was already drying his hands when Niki approached him again. May dala-dala itong walis tambo. May plano itong magwalis nang ganoong oras?

Sumandal siya sa lababo. "Magwawalis ka?"

Niki laid the broomstick horizontally on the floor, between them. Saka nito iyon hinakbangan.

"What are you doing?" kunot-noo niyang tanong.

"I'm crossing the line."

"Huh?"

Niki kicked the broomstick back with her foot. "I'm erasing the line."

He bent his head slightly to the side, still confused as to what she meant by her words. "What line?" Did she mean the lines on the tiles?

Niki rolled her eyes. Lumapit ito sa kanya at sinapo ang mukha niya. "I'm saying I'm crossing the line!"

His furrowed eyebrows finally relaxed when he finally understood what she meant. He opened his mouth and closed it again, not really sure how he should respond to that. And somehow, biglang nag-replay sa utak niya iyong paglalagay nito ng walis-tambo sa gitna nila. Andy found himself laughing at how bizarre Niki's confession was. He was laughing so hard that his insides already started to hurt.

Nakahalukipkip lang ito sa kanya at simangot na naghihintay hanggang sa matapos siya sa pagtawa.

"You... really... are... something," he said in between his wheezes.

"I thought I was cool," she said while giving him a side eye.

"Oh, Niki." He brushed off his happy tears and pulled Niki into his arms. He let out a sigh of relief as he felt his worries leave his body. Hindi na niya kailangang mag-isip kung paano sasabihin dito. She already told him, no matter how weird the way she did it was.

He tilted her chin up. Tiningnan niya ito nang mataman sa mata. "Does this mean that I now have the privilege of kissing you?"

Niki parted her lips. "That was actually my birthday gift."

Andy exhaled sharply. "This is really happening."

"Yep."

"This isn't a prank?" paninigurado niya.

"I have been thinking about this since yesterday. Would you please just kiss me?"

Instead of doing just that, he leaned back and frowned. "Niki, do you know what this means?"

"Yes. I am getting annoyed," she said with a grunt.

Her usually pretty features were slightly marred by her annoyed expression. Gising sila pareho, yet Andy's mind still refused to believe that this was really happening. Niki was already there, in his arms, waiting to be kissed.

Maybe he just needed a moment to breathe.

"Do you want just a kiss or me?" He gestured to himself. "As in ako?"

Niki put her arms around his neck and pulled him for a kiss. It was sudden yet he was half-expecting it. His hands were already down her waist, pulling her closer. It was more aggressive than the last time that Andy was afraid he would lose himself completely in the kiss if they didn't end it soon.

–

Maybe she should have written him a heartfelt letter. Or she should have at least sat him down to talk to him about her feelings. But Niki thought the broom was a cute idea. A gesture that he would immediately recognize because Andy does corny stuff like that all the time.

She had been waiting to be kissed since the fireworks display yesterday. She had been thinking about kissing Andy all day. She wanted to kiss him earlier even though there was a cake with a lit candle between them.

Did her impatience ruin everything?

"Do you want just a kiss or me?" Why would he even ask her that? Why have a slice when she can have the whole cake? Who would be stupid enough to look at Andy and all he had to offer and just settle for a kiss?

A kiss that was making every nerve in her body dance. A kiss that can make her toes curl. A kiss that was cut too short.

Lito siyang tumingin dito nang bigla itong humiwalay sa kanya. Did her impatience ruin everything?

"Niki, I..."

She clenched her fists around his shirt's collar and pulled him back. Ikinawit niya ang mga braso sa leeg nito. She felt relieved when he started kissing her back again. Slower this time. Taking his time. Still a bit unsure if this was real.

She couldn't even tell if this was real. But the feelings his kisses gave felt real. Niki and her friends used to talk about how Andy's ex-girlfriends seemed to be all over him all the time. She used to wonder why they were so territorial. Especially the most recent one. Tuwing makikita niya ito dati na kasama si Andy, she was always making out with him. Constantly. Now, she knows why.

Andy felt confident. He knows what he's doing and he's doing it well. His hands on her back made her feel safe, like she could melt in them and he would be able to scoop her up and put her back together again.

After a while, their kisses slowed further. The firecrackers in her belly began to quiet down to a sizzle. She brushed the back of Andy's hair with her hand while the other was memorizing the contours of his shoulders.

Andy pulled away a while later and gave her gentle pecks on the corners of her mouth. He trailed kisses down the side of her neck and when he reached her shoulder blades, Andy pulled her for a tight hug.

She could feel his heart racing against her chest. Their heartbeats were almost perfectly in sync. Niyakap niya ito pabalik.

"Let's stay like this for a while," she heard him say. "I think I'm gonna pass out."