Three Months Later

Christmas Eve

Imee Therese's POV:

The wind that touches me cheeks....

The lights that colors my imagination...

And the songs that brings me nostalgia...

It's now Christmas Eve and everyone is prepared for the celebration for the coming of our Good Lord...

And as for me, Christmas has more meaning to me...since Christ's birthday...is also my own birthday. And this year, I have just received the best birthday gift from God...

"Oh! Merry Christmas, Imee!"

"Merry Christmas, sis! Hehehe!"

In a breezy Christmas Eve morning, Anthony and I attended the last of the nine Misa de Gallo masses along with my friends. Everybody who attended the mass with us greeted me and I reciprocate with a smile. Father Jean is back on track and celebrating the mass. But ever since he saved me and my friends in that hostage taker, he has earned the respect of his parishioners that he deserves.

"Hello, Imee and Anthony. Merry Christmas!" Father Jean approached us after the mass and hugs us both.

"Hehehe! Merry Christmas, Father!" I giggled and greets him back. "By the way, how's your stomach right now?"

"Oh! My stomach is perfectly healed now. There's nothing you can worry about me." He then pat my head. "And it's all thanks to your prayers, Imee. By the way, how's the preparation for our noche buena tonight?"

"Oh! It already going perfectly!" Anthony answers the question for me. "Catherine and Evangeline are cooking up the food while Kyle and Joshua will make some chicken barbeque and roasted turkey."

"I see. How about I help all of you before I celebrate the Midnight Mass tonight?" Father Jean offers his help.

"Oh, sure! It's a honor to lend us your help, brother."

Everything went well for the whole. Of course, I'm not getting left behind with the preparations. Even my body's paralyzed, I give ideas for the perfect Christmas food to eat and share at midnight. Oh yeah, when I was a little kid, I keep myself busy during holidays preparing the most scrumptious dishes my whole family has ever seen. Christmas and New Year will not be complete for me without having their faces smiling because of my culinary creations.

But as I make my contributions to our simple and scrumptious Christmas party....

"Okay, guys. You just need to mix the egg mixture with some flour and...huh?"

I was interrupted by a little conversation that I eavesdropped...

"So, brother. What are you gonna do?" I heard Joshua asking my love, Anthony. "Are you gonna push through with your plans?"

"Oh! Why, yes. I've been preparing for a month to do this." Anthony replies him with a grin. "I want this plan to work. I hope nothing will stop this from happening."

That's when I decided to speak up...

"Hey, Anthony! Please tell me about that plan of yours..."

Anthony's face suddenly blushed after I asked him...not to mention that Joshua is looking at him with an evil grin at his face...as if my love is hiding something from me.

"Oh! I-It's just my pla-plan to he-help the kids." Anthony stutters his words as he tries to explain. "I plan to have it on a day after Christmas. Do-don't worry, though...I can handle this!"

"Really? Are you not lying?" I myself make an evil grin to him. "Remember, I'm the Servant of God...and I just regain my faith and hope to God by revealing myself to you...I don't want to make my efforts go to waste, you know?"

"No, I swear! I'm telling the truth!" Anthony waves his hands and blushes even more. "Please believe me, Imee! I'm not hiding something from you!"

With his emotion telling the same as his words, I finally let him pass.

"...sigh...alright then. You're innocent." I smiled at him. "Make sure that you will be successful in that program of yours."

Christian Anthony's POV:

Phew, that was so close. I gained Imee's trust and she let me slip through...

"Huehehe! That's a close one, bro." Joshua comments. "You cover up your plan to Imee with something that makes her happy."

Yes, I'm a bit lied to her. Well, I do have a program with the kids on the day after Christmas but...the real thing is...I want to do this with Imee...as my wife.

Throughout a month, I've been prepared with my friends for this. The Christmas party would be the perfect opportunity to say my true feelings to her. Ever since she reveals herself as the innocent little girl that I accidentally shot five years ago, I've never felt so grateful...grateful that God guide me to her...a frail and paralyzed...but cutely beautiful and extraordinary little lady. I'm grateful that Imee guided my back to the light.

"Umm...Anthony, your barbeque is starting to get overcooked."

"Whoa!" I'm thinking too much that it was only Joshua's warning when I come back into my senses. Well, best wishes for me tonight.

Few hours later

Imee Therese's POV:

After I attended Father Jean's Midnight Mass, I approached the miniature manger which is in the front of the altar...it describes the simple yet majestic view...of the little boy being born, destined to be the Humanity's Savior...he is being looked by Joseph and Mary, who have guided me for the past few months...or even years, and surrounded by shepherds and kings...who have been waiting for a long time for Him.

Ever since I arrived in this city, nobody knows, other than myself, when is my true birthday...for I always say to my friends that I always celebrate my birthday everyday...because I've been blessed by the Good Lord of another life...that is worth celebrating throughout the rest of my life.

"O Good Lord, thank You for arriving into my life." I prayed on the Holy Baby in the manger. "For your coming, You have given us another chance in life. Thank You for giving me an opportunity to fulfill my mission to You. Many people in this city have believed in You ever since my mandate to You have begun. I've met many friends that have changed their lives because of Your marvellous wonders that You have given to me...and more importantly, I have learned so many lessons in this journey. Even my hands and feet cannot move, even I can't breathe on my own...You chose me...and You gave me a purpose. I'm ready to face my next mission to You, whatever the sign it will be. Thank You...thank You so much, O Good Lord. I will always worship you, glorify you, and thanking you for the rest of my life. Amen."

Through my chin controller, I move the wheelchair that I rode back into my room. Ever since Anthony gave me this wheelchair as a gift, I've traveled in so many places, places where lives were turned around ever since I spread the Good News of God's love. I wonder what new places my wheelchair will lead me today?

When I arrived at my room, I saw that the door is already open and it's dark inside. Oh no! Is there a burglar inside! Is he stealing things on Christmas Eve?! Or is he taking my friends as hostage again, just like last time?!

I hurriedly entered the room to check...but all I could see is the shadows of my bed, my ventilator and other valuables...still intact and not stolen...

"BANG!!!" And just as I could take a sigh of relief, the door suddenly slammed shut. Alone in the dark, I'm starting to fear for my life especially that...I saw shadows of people began to encircle me. I prayed some Hail Marys so I could be protected from harm...

And that's when things get a bit worse. The shadows stops from moving...and one of them, who is in front of me, begins to reach his hand to me...as if threatening to hurt me.

"Please...don't hurt me." Helpless with my frail body, I just closed my eyes and prepare for the worst. But then...

"SURPRISE!!!"

"Huh?" I opened my eyes and I saw my friends all around me, with Anthony holding a cake with some lit candles at the top.

"Happy birthday, Imee!!!" Catherine, Evangeline, Cherry, Joshua and Kyle greeted me with a smile on their faces.

"Wa-wait! Ho-how do you know...that to-today's my birthday?!?!"

"Well, my instincts tell me so." Anthony smiles as he puts the cake over my lap. "You're the Servant of God and I know that God's special days are also special for you...so I wondered that one of it is your birthday. Well, I must have been lucky."

"Hehehe! You're pretty clever, huh?" I giggled on the achievement that he get. "So tell me, what's your business for me today?"

He then kneels in front of me, just like happened three months ago. But this time, he smiles at me sweetly...as it takes out a small blue box from his pocket.

"Imee Therese, I want you to be my guardian angel for the rest of my life."

He then opened that little blue box...it then reveals a simple ring with a little flower at the top of it.

"Oh...wha-what's the meaning of this?"

"My love, ever since I entered into your life, I've never been so indebted to you...indebted for changing the fate of my life...giving me another chance. I was supposed to die a beggar...a lonely, miserable and imbecile jerk...fitting to die for almost killing you...but you forgave me...and gave me a brand new me...you let me be your guardian. You accepted my offer...lending my hand to complete the task that God gave me to you...and I'm among the people that turned their lives around because of you..."

"I've learned so much on you...I learned to accept the mighty power of God...accept His plan to our lives...and because of that, I met new friends, make new experiences...make new memories. I took care of you...I protected you. You let me feel like a policeman again...protecting everything that I care the most. And for that, I'm grateful for everything that I received from you...from my friends...and from God."

"So please, my love. Let me guide you...whatever mission that God gives to you...I want you to be at your happy place. I will be your servant...helping to spread the Good News to each and everyone. I will be your guardian, protecting you from every harm. And...I will be your guide...to reach that happy place someday. Don't worry, I am brave now...I'm ready to accept whatever happens to you...for I believe that you are already in God's safe hands now."

And as Anthony puts on the ring over my finger...

"Imee Therese, Servant of God and my angel, will you marry me?"

"KYAAAAAA!!!!!" The entire room quickly filled with love...as Anthony offered me to be his wife. Well, The Blessed Virgin have already gave me a blessing in our dream...so I wouldn't say no to him, do I?

"Well, if this is part of God's plan for both of us then...so be it. Let our love will shine through the rest of humanity. That the Good Lord will never forsake us and bring us the hope and faith to His plans. Come, my beloved Anthony, let's start a brand new journey, shall we?"

Anthony then stands up, approached me and kissed my forehead...

"Yes, my Therese."

Everyone in the room clapped and cheered for both of us...I blow the birthday candles and let the celebration begin...but then

"Wait a minute...you do lied to me, don't you?" I make an evil grin at him. "Don't cover it up. Spill it out already!"

"...sigh...you got me, Imee." Anthony simply smiled at me and answered, much to the laughter of our friends. "I just wanted to nobody will spoil the surprise, especially you."

"Huehehe...you know that lying is a sin, right? You should confess to Father Jean tomorrow, okay? Hehehe!" I reprimanded my love. "But about helping the kids on the day after Christmas...hmm...how about I help you with that?"

"Well...okay, Imee. But on that day, let me lead the program for myself...watch me if I can do things on my own, okay?"

"Sure, my love. Anthony, you grow up so fast! Hehehe!"

The Christmas party...and my birthday party...is surely filled with laughter tonight...not to mention lots of food that Anthony helped me to eat, the gifts that I gave to my friends...and from my friends for me...and more importantly, the joy and the bond of friendship that has become stronger this night.

Surely, the Christmas night is more magical than ever, now that somebody is started to share my life...and my mission. Ever since my world begin to turn around with the bullet that Anthony accidentally fired at me...I realized that I have contented with my life that God have given to me...that's why God trusted me...and become His servant...doing great things and wonders that even I can't imagined to do by myself...

But because of my contentment and reliance to God...I myself have received rewards from him...friends, experiences, memories...and most especially...a guardian and a hero...that become my love for the rest of my unpredictable yet blessed life.

And that's how I met Christian Anthony Gonzales...my love...and my guardian...helping me, Imee Therese Villaflor...called by God to be His servant, in my mission to bring hope and fate...and make people believe...that there's something more in them.

Epilogue will be out tomorrow. Thanks for reading Something More!