When Love Lasts

14

This is a work of FICTION. All characters are used in FICTITIOUS manner.

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"Iti nagan ti pamilya Marcos, adtuy kami nga mangidanon ti napalaus unay a kablaaw mi." (Sa ngalan ng pamilya Marcos, nandito kami upang iparating ang taos-puso naming pagbati.) panimula ni Mommy.

"Sapay kuma ta agrambak tayo iti paskua a napnuan ayat, kapya ken namnama." (We hope we will celebrate with full of love, peace and hope.) Manang

"Agtalinaed tay kuma amin a nasiyaat ken nasalun-at tapnon ti kasta, maaddaan tayo ti kireg ken pigsa ti panang-sango iti kada aldaw." (Manatili sana tayong maayos at malusog nang sa gayon ay magkaroon tayo ng lakas na harapin ang bawat bukas.) Kuya Bongbong

"Tatta nga ram-rambaken tayo ti pannaka-iyanak ni Apo Hesus, sapay la kuma ta kadwa tayo amin nga ayayaten tay iti biag." (Ngayong isine-celebrate natin ang kapanganakan ni Hesus, sana ay kasama natin ang lahat ng mahal natin sa buhay) Napasulyap ako kay Greggy na nasa likod ng camera na malaki ang ngiti. Akala mo naman naiintindihan niya.

"Naimbag a Paskua ken Nagasat a Baro a Tawen, ayayaten mi nga Ilokano" (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, mahal naming mga Ilokano) sabay naming sabi na apat.

"Cut!" sigaw ni Borgy. Tinuruan na naman to ng ama niya at ni Greggy dahil pumapalakpak pa sila.

We are filming a video na maipapadala sa Ilocos. They will play it there at buti na lang konti lang ang lines ko.

Kaliwa't kanan ang mga cameras kahit kami lang at wala namang bisita. Cameras for vlogging, for video calls, and for taking pictures. Iba lang itong hawak ko. I want to personally capture beautiful moments tonight.

I am seated beside Greggy. We are waiting before the clock strike exactly 12.

"Gwen give the phone to mommy. Wala ka rin lang namang sasabihin na matino." he told her sister. He's having a video call with his family.

"Napakasungit mong kuya ha" I heard Gwen uttered.

The moment his mom's face flashed on the screen, he also showed me. "Mom, Irene is here."

"Hello Irene, beautiful as ever." Tita Emma, his mom said.

"Good evening tita, Merry Christmas. You look good din po"

"Thank you hija. Where's your mom?"

"She's here po, wait let me call her." I said and excused myself. I found her in the kitchen. "Mommy, Tita Emma wants to see you"

"She's calling?"

"Yes 'My. Kanina pa kausap ni Greggy." I uttered and we both went back to the sala.

"Hello Emma, Merry Christmas. It's nice to see you" bati ni mommy as she face the screen.

"Merry Christmas Imelda. Nice to see you too. Thank you for letting my son be with you this christmas."

"Of course. He's like a son to me now. Always welcome siya dito."  my mom smiled.

"Paano ba yan, son na daw ako ni tita." bulong ni Greggy sakin.

"Oo tapos kapatid ka namin" I said smirking.

"Hey, no way!" he exclaimed kaya napatingin silang lahat. "I didn't mean that tita, may sinabi kasi si Irene" He then turn his gaze on me. "Ipapahamak mo pa ako."

They thought he didn't like what mommy said. Ikaw ba naman ang magsabi ng 'no way' pagkatapos sabihing itinuturing ka nang anak.

After the call, they decided to give the gifts first before eating dahil mapilit so Borgy.