Kabanata 17

Christmas is a string that connects me to my family. I think this can be said towards other families too. Magbati na kayo, magpapasko na. Lahat 'yata ng mga away sa pamilya ay nawawala kapag malapit na ang pasko. It's also a way to connect with them, it brings everyone together merrily - even if after Christmas, tapos na rin ang pagpapanggap na masaya ang lahat.

Pinapansin na ako ni Mommy, ganito talaga siya magtampo. It takes weeks before she talks to me. Ilang beses ko na itong nararanasan, tulad na lang nung Halloween party sa UJD. She didn't want me to attend because it's a late night party, nang ipilit ko na saglit lang naman ako rito agad siyang nagalit sa akin. Mabilis siyang magalit pero mabagal siyang masuyo.

Kaya naman hindi ako maka-relate sa mga kwentuhan ng mga kaklase ko tungkol noon sa Halloween party. I don't know if Paulene attended but Iscalade knew I didn't attend so he never brought the topic up.

Christmas party na namin, pagkatapos nito ay hindi ko alam kung may oras pa si Iscalade upang makasama ako. I know he's also busy with his life. I know he's a party goer, alam ko na marami siyang pinupuntahan tuwing bakasyon at naiintindihan ko naman ito. It's not like we should always be together.

I picked gifts for my friends and classmates in papemelroti, they had various crafts to choose from. Bumili lang ako ng maliliit na keychains para ipamigay sa kanila. I didn't expect anything in return, gusto ko lang na may mabigay ako ngayong pasko para sa mga naging kaklase ko.

Maaga natapos ang party sa HUMSS 1. I really enjoyed the food and got a book as my exchange gift. Ito naman talaga ang nilagay ko sa wishlist ko. Hindi ako masyadong sumali sa mga laro, so I didn't really get any prizes. Pero may mga kaklase ako na binigyan ako ng candies na nakuha nila bilang premyo.

"Philo! Merry Christmas po ulit!" bati ng isa kong kaklase habang paalis na sila.

"Merry Christmas din po," I greeted back as I continued walking towards the STEM building.

I was planning to spend time with Iscalade to know something about him. Siya na lang kasi ang walang regalo mula sa akin.

I ordered most of my other gifts online but wrapped them in my DIY wrapper. I got them gifts base on what they're currently into. Korean photo cards for Pau, a business tie for Daddy and an expensive earrings for Mommy. I even prepared gifts for our helpers. Si Iscalade na lang ang hindi ko sigurado kung ano ang gusto. I could get him rubber shoes but I'm not sure of his shoe size, balak ko na lang siyang tanungin.

Pumunta ako sa classroom nila Iscalade, hindi pa 'yata sila tapos pero nakaawang ang kanilang pinto. I can hear them shouting inside their room. Pinili kong maghintay sa gilid ng kanilang pintuan para hintayin siya.

"Charades lang 'yan, Iscalade!"

"Ikaw kaya sa pwesto ko! Ikaw 'tong manghula," reklamo ni Iscalade habang nakaupo sa isang silya.

Si Cae ang nasa harap niya, he look confused and tired at the same time. Napapakamot na sya sa kanyang ulo.

I adjusted my eyeglasses, para malinaw kong makita kung ano ang nakasulat sa papel na nasa noo ni Iscalade.

Matalino.

That's quite hard, hindi kasi specific kung tao, bagay, pook o hayop. Kaya siguro mukhang problemado si Cae.

I looked at Cae who started doing a tableau of pointing his head part. Iscalade squinted his eyes, even mouthing 'ano' in confusion.

Cae groaned, inulit niya ang aksyon niya kaso nagkibit ng balikat si Iscalade.

"Noo?" hula ni Iscalade.

"Tanga!" halakhak nung isang kaklase niya.

"Hoy, huwag maingay! Hayaan niyo si Iscalade!" saway naman nung isa pa niyang kaklase.

Agad na umiling si Cae. Ngumiti si Cae at tinuro naman ang kanyang mga mata.

"Mata?"

Agad na tumango si Cae. I even clapped my hands in anticipation, malapit na si Iscalade! Lino na lamang ang dapat niyang masabi para mabuo ang salita.

Tumingin si Cae sa paligid, finding an object to represent the 'lino' part. Pero mukhang wala at nahihirapan siya. He spotted Sarathiel who was watching them while having his arms across his chest, nakaupo lang siya sa isang desk nila.

Tinuro ni Cae si Sarathiel. I nodded my head, pwede rin ito! Matalino si Sarathiel!

"Mata? Marupok?" Iscalade furrowed his eyebrows while looking at Sarathiel. He look so confused.

"Marupok!" Iscalade shouted confidently. "Tama ba, Cae? Marupok 'yung word? Si Sarathiel tinuro mo 'di ba?"

Marupok? Sarathiel?

Sarathiel leaped out of his seat, his lips parted and a crease was formed in his forehead. He looked slightly offended. Biglang nagsitawanan ang mga kaklase nila.

"Ma'am, sabi ko sa inyo talo na kami e." Cae grunted out. May biglang tumunog na buzzer, timer 'yata ng laro nila.

"Si Sach at Sarathiel naman daw!"

Si Sachael at Sarathiel naman ang pumunta sa pwesto ng mga kaibigan nila kanina. Mukhang si Sach ang gagawa ng actions at si Sarathiel naman ang huhula.

Someone plastered the paper on Sarathiel's forehead. Binasa ko ang salita na nasa papel.

Makulit.

Walang pagaalinlangan na tinuro ni Sachael si Iscalade, who looked surprise with the sudden attention. Lumipad ang tingin sa kanya ni Sarathiel at ngumisi.

"Malibog." Sarathiel said, shrugging. Agad na nagtaas ng kamay si Sach, giving him a thumbs up.

Nalaglag naman ang panga ni Iscalade. My eyes widened because of the accusation. Pero mukhang wala lang ito sa mga kaklase nila dahil nagawa pa nilang magtawanan muli.

"Ma'am! Namemersonal! Naninirang puri!" Iscalade says, which only made the laughter more louder.

"Picture me naked, Iscalade." Sarthiel sneered, plastering a triumph look on his face.

✿✿✿

Nakuha ko na ang shoe size niya, I subtly asked for it without him having any idea that it might because I'll give him one. Maghahanap ako ng favorite color niya at kung ano ang magandang gamitin para sa basketball. Sa Nike siguro ako titingin, since most athletes pick their shoes in that brand.

People may think I'm inserting too much effort, but the truth is I'm just repaying the kindness I receive from them. Lalo na kay Iscalade, he has been a great friend to me ever since I met him. This is the least that I could give.

Sa mga sumunod na araw, I was busy preparing for the days before Christmas. I tried learning new recipes for cakes.

"We'll have visitors today, Philomena." Mommy reminded me, inaayos niya ang mga bulaklak sa mga vase sa sala.

It's probably her amigas. Ang balita ko kasi ay kauuwi lang nila Tita Harlena at ang kanyang mga anak galing ibang bansa.

"Have you prepared the cakes for them, sweetie?" tanong ni Mommy sa akin.

I abruptly nodded my head, at maligalig na pumunta sa kitchen. My Mommy never really bothers me, lalo na pagdating sa mga hobbies ko. She's not that interested enough, I guess. Kaya naman nagdulot ng ligaya sa puso ko ang malaman na kahit papaano ay natutuwa siya na marunong akong mag-bake.

Baking is what I do whenever I feel like I need to cope with certain things. Kinakain kasi nito ang oras ko sa pagiisip ng mga tamang measurements, I don't have to think of other things.

I decided to do mirror glaze cakes, so I can create little galaxies. Tinulungan ako nila Ate Flora kahapon na gumawa ng buttercream cakes, para mas madali na lang ang paglagay ng glaze. I just added the sugar mixture, gelatin sheets and the white chocolate chips together in order to create the glaze. I choose the food colorings that would resemble a galaxy and poured them over the chilled buttercream cakes I created yesterday.

Hinanda ko na ito habang nakaabang si Mommy sa gate para sa mga bisita niya. After I finished preparing the cakes, I went over to her.

Nakikipag-beso na siya kay Tita Juana, Tita Kiara and Tita Harlena. Tita Juana is the most modern looking among them, palagi itong naka-polo at slacks. She's also the most workaholic base on the tales they have shared to me. Tita Kiara looked like your typical commercial mom, wearing her sleeveless shirt and pants. Si Tita Harlena talaga ang bukod tangi sa kanila, she's always the one who stands out because her body is almost covered in jewelry. She's also always wearing a dress that shapes her body structure.

"We brought the kids with us," anunsyo ni Tita Kiara nang i-abot sa isang helper namin ang hawak niyang basket ng prutas.

Sumunod na pumasok sa bahay namin ay ang mga anak nila. Douglas, Tita Kiera's son always had this arrogant smirk on his face. He was followed by Arlene who is modestly dressed and another girl who I wasn't really familiar with. She is pretty though, mukhang modelo.

"Pasok kayo, halika..." My Mom smiled and went towards them.

Lahat kami ay tumungo sa sala. Binagsak ni Douglas ang katawan niya sa sofa namin, agad naman itong sinaway ni Tita Kiara. Arlene and the other girl meekly sat on the couch too. Agad na nagtama ang tingin namin ni Arlene, she gave a small smile to me.

She really is beautiful. Balingkinitan ang kanyang katawan at matangkad siya. Her figure is also quite mature compare to mine. Her face is the bre​via​ry of a Filipina beauty.

I can't help but admire her. Sa totoo lang, ngayon ko pa lang siya nakita sa personal. But I watch her pageant clips on her Facebook since we're friends. In-add ko kasi siya noon dahil sinabi ni Tita Harlena na dapat ay maging mag-kaibigan kaming dalawa. Although, we never had any chance to get close to each other.

"Hi po," I greeted feebly.

"Hi Philomena," she replied. "I heard a lot about you."

We immediately hit it off. She was a natural conversationist, at ako naman ay natural na nakikinig. Wala naman akong masyadong makukwento sa kanya. Madaldal siya at parang hindi mauubusan ng hininga kapag nagkukwento.

Umalis 'yung kasama niyang babae dahil sumunod ito sa lugar kung nasaan sina Mommy. Douglas was busy on his phone, hindi nakikipagusap sa amin. He probably feels awkward since he's currently the only man on the vicinity.

I can honestly relate to him in some way. Our parents is indirectly forcing us to get together. Porke't sila ay naging magkakaibigan, they expect us to be friends with each other too. Kahit sobrang ibang-iba kami sa isa't-isa.

"C'Mon kids, let's eat first!" anyaya ni Tita Kiara sa amin para puntahan sila sa may dining area.

We all went there, tinabihan ako ni Arlene nang umupo ako sa bandang gitna ng lamesa. The pretty girl who was with Arlene also sat next to me, giving me a quick smile before unfolding the table napkin.

I lead the prayer before we started eating. Umuulan ng puri sa aming lamesa ngayon para sa mga handa. They kept on chattering about different things. Tahimik lang akong kumakain ng roast chicken at nakikinig sa kanila.

"Douglas, sa UJD ka na lang kaya mag-aral?" Tita Kiara asked her son who only furrows his brows at her.

"Mom! I told you, sa ATU muna ako! That's where my friends are -"

"But your friends are not forever! Mas maganda ang background ng UJD pagdating sa mga companies! It is your option lang naman, incase your CETs..."

Napalingon ako kay Arlene, she shifted on her seat making me notice her. She didn't look comfortable while talking with her mother.

"You should date this guy, Arlene. Anak ito ng isang politiko, galing pa sa isang political dynasty ang pamilya..." Tita Harlena pushed her phone on our faces. Mukha ng isang lalaking naka-barong ang bumungad sa amin.

"I don't think I know him, Mom..." Arlene chuckled, a stilted look on her face.

"Philo, did you do something to improve your grades?" it was my Mom's turn to interrogate me.

"Yes po, I was the highest in our class during most of our quizzes in different subjects." I told her and it immediately smeared a genuine smile on her lips.

I blushed, sobrang saya ko na. This always melts my heart, kahit sobrang pagod at stress na ako sa mga gawain namin ay napapawi 'yon kapag nakikita ko siyang masaya para sa akin. Bilang anak, isang karangalan ang makitang masaya ang mga magulang mo dahil sa mga ginagawa mo para sa kanila.

"Maybe Iscalade Altreano is a good influence for you," Mommy casted a glance at Tita Harlena.

"Priscilla!" Halakhak ni Tita Harlena. "Kaya pala pamilyar ang pangalan na 'yon! Yes, it is true! He is from a prominent family of engineers. Pero, guess what?"

Tita Harlena looked at the pretty girl who was only giving a curt smile for all the time she was spending with us.

"That boy was dating my niece," Tita Harlena smugly raised her wine glass to drink.

"Tita, that was during junior highschool po." the girl flushed, even slowly shaking her head.

"Oh C'Mon! You only broke up because you entered different schools 'di ba? Pero, now you're back here..." tumingin sa akin si Tita Harlena.

Iscalade dated this girl?

Biglang nanikip ang dibdib ko. Natuyo ang lalamunan ko at humigpit ang aking hawak sa kubyertos. I looked at her and she was already eyeing me.

"Hi Philomena," the girl extended her hand to me, she had slim fingers. Matagal ko itong tinitigan bago umangat ang aking tingin sa kanyang mukha.

Her pretty face seems to become prettier just because of the fact she dated Iscalade. Binigyan niya ako ng isang ngiti.

"I'm Caitlyn, it's nice to finally meet you."

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜