The deal was Felix would spend Christmas with Mona's family and she will spend New Year's with his family. They made that deal the following day. Dahil Pasko, hindi niya matanggihan ang hiling ni Felix. He really wanted her to like his family and she wants the same thing, but it still feels like she's ruining everything.

During the days between Christmas and New Year, she tried to learn as much as she can about his family. Anu-ano ang inihahandang pagkain ng mga ito tuwing Bagong Taon? Ano ang pwede niyang dalhin na tiyak na magugustuhan ng pamilya nito? Conservative ba ang mga ito? Formal ba ang suot?

Felix patiently answered all her questions, even the most awkward and difficult ones to answer.

"Is Andrea going to be there?" she asked while he's helping her pack her special cupcakes.

"Yes. And Angela too. I hope that's okay with you."

Napangiwi siya. "Hindi ba magiging awkward kapag nando'n ako?"

"I'm going to be honest with you," he replied. "It's gonna be weird if we're all there."

"Huwag na lang kaya akong pumunta?"

Felix sighed. "Mona..."

"Look, I don't want to ruin the occasion."

"You're not ruining anything." Lumapit ito sa kanya at hinawakan ang tigkabila niyang pisngi. "Masisira lang ang bagong taon ko kapag hindi kita kasama."

She smiled. "Fine. I'll go." Lumayo siya rito nang ilang hakbang at umikot para ipakita rito ang kabuuan ng damit. "Is this okay or magpapalit pa ba ako?"

"Can't you wear something sexier?"

She looked down on her dress and frowned. Sure, it isn't sexy. Pero hindi naman siya nagpapa-sexy. Gusto nyang magmukhang prim and proper sa harap ng pamilya nito. Kaya naman kahit alam niyang magmumukha siyang mas malapad ay pumili siya ng dress na may cap sleeves at pleated A-line skirt. Hanggang tuhod niya iyon. Ipinares niya ang kabibiling flat shoes na matigas ang material kaya masakit sa paa.

"You look like a Stepford mom."

"And that's a bad thing?"

Inilahad nito ang kamay. When she took his hand, he pulled her close. "You are not that kind of person. You're natural. You're spontaneous. You're real. This... this isn't you."

"Hmm... kung sabagay. Feeling ko rin naman ang taba kong tingnan sa suot ko."

She gave him a kiss and headed upstairs, to her room, to change. 'Yong mga damit na nasa sulok ng closet niya ang inilabas niya, the dresses she dreads to wear. 'Yong mga damit na kailangang may baon kang confidence palagi kapag suot mo because you can't wear them without it.

She pulled a red sheath dress na covered sa harap pero may malaking butas naman sa likod, a black body-hugging tight dress na strappy ang sleeves at low cut ang neckline. The red one, she can work with, pero hindi siya makakapagsuot ng body shaper dahil makikita sa likuran. The black one, she can wear just fine pero susunod ito sa kurba ng katawan niya. Kung marami siyang kurba, kitang-kita.

She can also wear her other black dress na long-sleeved at turtleneck, but it's not sexy enough. Felix wants something sexy and she needs to deliver. Ayaw niyang matalbugan ni Andrea.

Finally decided, she quickly changed into the black body-hugging dress and covered herself with a black wool jacket trench coat na may design na zippers going in all directions sa harap. And then, she wore a pair of strappy black heels to match her dress. Sana nga lamang ay hindi mabali ang takong noon habang na kina Felix siya.

Her hair, finger curled, cascading down her shoulders. Her lips, the reddest they've ever been. Her lashes, thick and curled.

When she's done changing, that's when she realized how sexy she looks. Even the trench coat couldn't hide the curve of her hips.

"Very nice..."

She smiled at Felix who's leaning on the doorway. "Thanks!"

"You're good to go?"

When she nodded, they both headed downstairs to pick up the cupcakes she made earlier. Then, sumakay na sila ng kotse.

--

Mona was so terrified on their way to Felix's house. Hindi pa rin niya nakakalimutan ang pagbaon ng mga kuko ni Andrea sa kamay niya. If Felix's family loves that woman, then will they even acknowledge her as Felix's girlfriend?

She had been playing some weird scenarios in her head on their way there that she didn't even realize that the car already stopped.

"W-Why did you stop?" she asked Felix.

Malumanay ang ngiting ibinigay nito sa kanya. "Because... we're already here."

"Agad?! Dumaan ka ba sa shortcut? Bakit ang bilis?"

He chuckled. "No. You're just too preoccupied the whole ride kaya hindi mo napansing malapit na tayo."

Napangiwi siya. "Kinakabahan ako."

"Don't worry." He took her hand. "I'll be with you the whole time."

Bumaba si Felix ng sasakyan at binuksan ang pintuan ng passenger's seat. Hawak ang isang box ng cupcakes, sinundan niya ito papasok ng bahay ng pamilya nito.

Sinalubong sila ng buong pamilya nito. His parents, his sisters, Andrea, and Angela... they're all there. Sunod-sunod na yakap ang tinanggap ni Felix mula sa mga ito. They were crowding him kaya siya tumabi.

When Felix noticed, he pulled away from his family and went to her.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Mona," pakilala nito sa kanya. "Mona, this is everyone. My dad, Federico."

Itinuro nito ang matandang lalaki na kamukhang-kamukha ni Felix.

"It's nice to meet you, Hija," nakangiting bati nito sa kanya.

"Likewise po."

Iginiya siya ni Felix palapit sa matandang babae. "This is my mom, Martha."

Nakipagbeso sa kanya ang mommy ni Felix. He also introduced her to his sisters, Athena, Evangeline, and Cassandra. Before they could get to Andrea and Angela, ang mga ito na mismo ang lumapit sa kanila.

Bigla siyang nahiya nang makita nang malapitan ang suot ni Andrea. Body-hugging din ang nude dress nito. Mababa rin ang neckline. Mas mahaba ng lamang ang hem ng dress nito, mas stretchable ang material, at mas makapal ang straps. Hindi tuloy niya kaagad natanggal ang trench coat.

Andrea kissed her cheek. "Hello again, Mona." Yumuko ito sa anak na alangang ngumiti sa kanya. "Say hi, baby."

Angela pouted.

Kinarga ni Felix ang bata at inilapit sa kanya. She smiled at the kid. Napilitan naman itong humalik sa kanya. Seeing the three close to each other tugged at her heart, for a painful reason. They look like a family. Siya, parang tiyahin na bumisita lang.

Dinala ni Felix si Angela sa may sala para ibigay ang regalo nito sa anak. Siya naman ay hinila ni Andrea papunta sa kusina.

"You must be hungry."

"Actually—"

"Oh! And you bought cupcakes!" Nakangiti nitong kinuha ang kahon na hawak-hawak niya, binuksan, at ihinain sa hapag na punong-puno ng pagkain. Andrea placed it next to a chocolate cake. Then, she called everyone to eat.

Siguro dahil mabilis ang pangyayari o nahihiya siyang umunang dumulog kaya naiwan siyang nakatayo. Saktong-sakto ang mga upuan para sa mga nandoon. When Felix saw that she's stil not sitting down, tumayo ito at ibinigay kay Andrea si Angela.

He offered his chair to her.

"Okay lang naman ako sa sala," nakangiti niyang sabi.

"Everyone's here so you should be here as well. Tatayo na lang ako."

"Pero—"

He didn't take no for an answer. Pilit siya nitong pinaupo. Syempre, mag-iinarte pa ba siya? Nakakahiya naman sa pamilya nito.

Kukuha na sana siya ng pagkain nang maramdaman ang kamay ni Felix sa damit niya. Kunot-noo siyang tumingala rito.

"You're still wearing your coat," he pointed out. "Hindi ka ba naiinitan?"

"I'm fine."

"Hija, it's hot in here. Take off your coat."

"Yeah. Take it off. Sayang naman ang dress mo if you're just going to cover it all night, di ba?" pangungumbinsi ng isa sa mga kapatid ni Felix.

Feeling a little pressured, she slowly removed her coat. Pigil na pigil pa ang hininga niya dahil ayaw niyang magmukhang bloated habang nakaupo. Kinuha ni Felix ang coat mula sa kanya at itinago iyon sa kung saan.

"Eat, hija."

They piled food on her plate. Halos sunod-sunod ang paglalagay ng mga ito ng pagkain sa plato niya.

"T-Tama na po." She pulled her plate away when they tried to add more rice to it.

"Kung gusto mo pang kumain, kuha ka lang, ha."

Ano ba ang akala ng mga ito sa kanya, malakas kumain? Porket chubby siya? Mga judgmental! May kaunting sama ng loob tuloy siya habang kumakain. Kumuha si Felix ng upuan mula sa sala at saka tumabi sa kanya. He wanted to make sure that someone's talking to her, kasi may kanya-kanyang usapan na ang mga nakadulog sa hapag, hindi siya makasabay.

"Are you enjoying the food?" tanong nito sa kanya.

"Yes! Very! Masarap magluto ang mommy mo, ha." Sinadya niyang lakasan ang boses para marinig ng mommy nito ang papuri niya, para matuwa ito sa kanya.

Tinapik siya ng mommy ni Felix sa balikat. "Oh, thank you very much, hija. But I didn't cook anything tonight." Binigyan nito ng matamis na ngiti si Andrea. Bigla tuloy siyang nawalan ng gana nang malamang 'yong karibal pala niya ang nagluto ng lahat. Her insecurities kicked in again. Everything was delicious! How can she top that?

"Desserts, anyone?"

Andrea stood up to cut the cake. She gave everyone a piece. Saka niya napansing wala pa palang gumagalaw ng cupcakes niya.

"Hey, Mona brought cupcakes," Felix announced. "Does anyone want a cupcake?"

"I think I'll stick with Andrea's cake," his sister replied.

Another sister shook her head, saying that she's already full.

"How about you, baby?" tanong ni Felix sa anak. "Paborito mo ang cupcakes, di ba?"

Andrea picked one of her cupcakes and gave it to Angela. "Here, baby. Try Tita Mona's cupcake."

The little girl shook her head.

"Baby..."

"Hayaan mo na lang kung ayaw nya," sabi niya kay Andrea. She sensed Angela's discomfort kasi. Ayaw naman niyang ipilit 'yong cupcakes sa bata. Maybe they're just used to eating desserts made by Andrea kaya ayaw ng mga itong subukan 'yong dala niya.

"I'm sorry about Angela. Palagi ko kasi syang ipinagbi-bake kaya siguro nasanay."

"That's okay."

"Special 'yang cupcakes na 'yan," Felix told everyone. "Mona only makes them on special occasions."

"Andrea only bakes her chocolate cake on special occasions too," his sister told him. "You don't hear her complaining about it."

"Eve!"

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "Just sayin'."

"I'm so sorry about my daughter, hija," Martha apologized.

"That's okay po. No harm done."

--

After the meal, she offered to help with the dishes, but they profusely refused. But to her, it felt like rejection. Kahit nakangiti ang mga ito sa kanya, pakiramdam niya ay hindi siya tanggap ng pamilya ni Felix.

But maybe she's the only one thinking that way. Hindi na rin niya sinabi kay Felix kung ano ang iniisip niya dahil mukha namang masaya itong makita si Angela. Hindi na nito nakasama ang anak nito noong Pasko. Ayaw naman niyang ipagkait pa 'yong pagkakataon para makapag-bonding ang mag-ama.

"Cute nila, 'no?"

Nginitian niya si Andrea. "Yeah."

"Look, Mona, I'm sorry if I made Felix sad when I took Angela to Hong Kong for Christmas. I was just a little upset that he's been spending more time with you than with us. You understand, right?"

Bigla siyang tinamaan ng hiya at konsensya. "I understand. I'm sorry too."

"It's okay. It's just hard to deal with everything right now, but I know that he's happy with you." Hinawakan siya nito sa braso, in a friendly way. "I really hope that we can be friends."

"Sure, Beh. Friendly naman ako," nakangiti niyang sabi rito.

"Guys! It's time for the gift-giving!"

Angela squealed in delight. The others headed to the living room, bringing bags of gifts with them. Hinila siya ni Andrea papunta sa sala at pinaupo sa tabi ng mga katapid ni Felix. Kinuha nito ang mga regalo nito at saka siya binalikan.

"Sino muna?"

"I'll go first!" Andrea stood up and handed her gifts to everyone, including her. Sumunod ang mga kapatid ni Felix. Then, his parents. Pagkatapos mamigay ng mommy ni Felix, bumaling ang mga ito sa kanya.

She smiled apologetically. "Sorry if I didn't bring any gift. Hindi ko po kasi alam na may gift-giving pala kayo tuwing new year."

"I didn't know as well," Felix told her. Kunot na kunot ang noo nito.

"Well, since you weren't here last Christmas, we decided na ngayong new year na lang ang gift-giving natin," paliwanag ng mommy ni Felix. "You know that it's our tradition to do this as a family."

"But I told you I'd be bringing Mona. You could've told us."

"Please... let's not argue in front of the child." Binalingan siya ng mommy ni Felix. "Hija, it's okay if you didn't bring any gift. We weren't expecting anything from you, really."

Pilit siyang ngumiti.

--

What can she give if she was asked to bring gifts? Cupcakes? Mabuti na rin na hindi siya nagdala nang marami. Si Felix lang ang kumain ng dala niyang cupcakes. She didn't know his family enough to know what gifts to give them. Hindi naman pwedeng generic kasi medyo impersonal.

Mabuti pa si Andrea. Tuwang-tuwa ang pamilya ni Felix sa mga dala nitong regalo.

When Angela got sleepy, nagpaalam na rin siya sa pamilya ni Felix na uuwi na siya. Since wala siyang dalang sasakyan, automatic na ihahatid siya ni Felix pauwi. But Angela didn't want him to leave. Kaya to compromise, pumayag na lang siyang sa bahay na lang ni Felix matulog.

Sumunod siya kina Felix sa kabilang bahay.

"Dito ba kayo matutulog o sa kabila?" tanong ni Felix kay Andrea.

"I want to sleep with daddy," sagot ng batang papikit-pikit na.

"Baby, kina lola na lang tayo, hm?" Pilit na kinukuha ni Andrea ang anak pero mahigpit ang pagkakakapit nito kay Felix.

"No!" pagmamaktol nito.

"But Tita Mona will sleep here, with daddy."

"Why her? Why not you, mommy?"

"Just sleep, baby, okay?" Hinalikan ni Felix ang bata sa noo. He turned to Andrea and said, "Okay lang ba sa 'yong kina mama ka na lang matulog?"

Andrea smiled. "Okay."

"Thanks." Tumingin si Felix sa kanya. "Come on. I'll show you to the guest room."

"Good night, Mona!" paalam ni Andrea. "I hope you'll enjoy my gift!"

"Thank you! Ihahabol ko na lang 'yong gift ko sa 'yo, ha!"

Nang makalabas ng bahay si Andrea, sinamahan siya ni Felix sa tutulugan niya habang kalong-kalong nito si Angela. Inabutan siya nito ng isang shirt.

"You can wear this tonight. May toiletries naman sa banyo." Inilapit nito ang mukha sa kanya. "I'm sorry about tonight."

"What's there to be sorry for?"

"My family—"

"They were nice, Felix. Don't worry about it," nakangiti niyang tugon. "And Andrea's surprisingly nice as well."

"Are you sure you can sleep well without me tonight?"

She let out a laugh and kissed him on the cheek. "Go to your room and sleep. I'm sure you missed each other terribly."

Bumawi ito ng halik sa kanya. "I love you."

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

"Still can't say it, huh?"

"She might hear."

Tiningnan nito ang kalong na anak, na nakapikit na. "All right. Good night, Mona."

Nang umalis ito, saka siya nagpalit ng damit at naghilamos. Pagbalik niya sa kwarto, naisipan niyang buksan ang regalo ni Andrea. It was thoughtful of her to give her a gift. Peace-offering siguro?

Nakangiti pa siya nang buksan ang regalo. It was thin so hindi na siya nag-expect nang bongga. It's the thought that counts.

The gift was a greeting card that said, "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! From: The Cojuangco Family (Felix, Andrea, and Angela)." May kasama pang picture ng tatlo. Kalong-kalong ni Felix si Angela habang nakakapit naman sa braso nito si Andrea.

They really look like a happy family.