Laments of Broken Strings (Arte del Amor #1)

Chapter 23

"Are you sure you're doing fine? We miss you here!" my mother said through Skype. It's Christmas Eve and I wanted to call them while we were waiting for 12 midnight.

I saw my dad in the background, behind my mother, flaunting his Christmas tree costume. "Make sure our neighbors do not see!" I jokingly said.

"Hay nako, Dad showed them the moment he put it on. That's three seconds of their life that they could never get back." sabi ni Mama.

I imagined my dad calling our neighbors from the window just to show his costume. Yup, he definitely did that. "That is not surprising."

Sumulpot si Ashriel bigla sa video ko kaya napalingon ako sa likuran.

"You done?" I asked him. Kanina kasi ay abala sila sa kusina kaya hindi ko muna sila ginulo. Simula kanina ay nasa sala lang ako dahil nandito pa rin sina Dianne, at kasama siya doon sa kusina. I offered to help too but Tita Ashanti said that one helper is enough.

"I do not know how to cook, Lyrica. I just helped Mama carry heavy stuff." sabi niya. Humila siya ng isa pang upuan para makaupo siya sa tabi ko.

Nang tuluyan na siyang humarap sa camera ay abot-tainga ang ngiti ng mga magulang ko sa pagkakita sa kay Ashriel. Hay naku...

"Ashriel, anak! Merry Christmas!" bati ni Mama sa kanya.

Tumingin sa akin si Ashriel at itinaas baba ang kilay niya, "See? They like me."

"Merry Christmas din po! I promise that your daughter is in good hands here." sabi niya na ikinatuwa naman ng mga magulang ko.

I rolled my eyes at him.

"O siya, enjoy kayo dyan ha? See you soon!" my parents said before they ended the call. Ang mga pinsan ko ay nasa bahay kaya busy sila at hindi naman sila mag-isa ngayon.

Isang oras nalang ay Pasko na. We heard Tito Gabriel call us to go near the Christmas tree to take pictures in front of it. Kami palang ni Ashriel ang nandoon kaya inuna niya na kami.

"Pinagplanuhan niyo talaga, ha?" natatawang sabi ni Tito.

We are wearing matching pajama sets with Christmas designs printed on them. Alam na alam ni Ashriel ang mga gusto kong sinusuot at kung saan ako komportable.

"Ashriel wanted it!" I said which is actually true. He might not seem like it because of his serious facade but he surprisingly likes matching outfits like this.

Tinututok na sa amin ni Tito ang DSLR camera niya. "He did? I didn't know you had interests in such things, anak. That's good!"

"I did not!" tanggi pa nung isa. We are smiling in front of their massive Christmas tree as his father who looks just like him is taking photos of us.

For the last shot, Ashriel grabbed a Santa hat and put it on me. I smiled at the camera and saw Tito Gabriel's genuine smile.

Naramdaman ko ang hawak ni Ashriel sa baywang ko kaya medyo sumandal ako sa kaniya habang nakangiti pa rin.

"You two look good together."

Umingay na ang parteng ito nang bahay nang saktong natapos kami sa pagkuha ng litrato dahil dumating na sina Dianne. Nakasunod sa kaniya ang nanay niya at si Tita Ashanti.

"Sakto! Gabriel, take a photo of Dianne and your son! Maganda d'yan sa tapat ng Christmas tree." suggestion ni Tita.

Tito Gabriel looked at me with concern laced in his eyes. She is his wife so it would be natural for him to heed her request, and it's a harmless picture, so I don't see a reason why I wouldn't be okay with it.