December. Niki didn't think the pandemic would last that long. Parang linggo-linggong may masamang balita. Naka-quarantine pa rin ang buong bansa kahit magpa-pasko na. Sabi ng iba niyang kakilala, mas maluwag daw sa probinsya. But she couldn't stand her family. Mas pipiliin na niyang malungkot siya araw-araw kesa palagi siyang galit.
She hasn't posted in a while. Medyo nauubusan na siya ng ideya. Yung audience niya, they want more of Andy. Gusto ng mga ito ng content na either si Andy ang nasa video o magkasama silang dalawa, which was a bit annoying because it was supposed to be her channel. It should be all about her.
Kinuha niya ang phone mula sa gilid niya.
Uuwi ka sa pasko? She typed. Saka isa-isa niyang binura ang mga letra. She sometimes wishes she could go back to the time before they kissed. Hindi siya sanay na mas nakakausap niya si Andy sa text, lalo na kung nasa kabilang kwarto lang naman ito. Pero iyon na ang realidad nilang dalawa.
She decided to not send the message. He was probably already asleep anyway. May pasok pa ito kinabukasan. Siya lang naman ang maraming oras na pwedeng aksayahin.
Nang sumapit ang Nobyembre ay mas lalo siyang nahirapang makahanap ng trabaho. She finally decided to just be unemployed for the rest of the day. Bihira na rin kasi ang nagha-hire kapag patapos na ang taon. Niki thought she would have more luck early next year.
It would have been nice if she could still tell Andy about her worries. Alam na alam nito kung ano ang gagawin o sasabihin para mapagaan ang loob niya. But because she did something that created this riff between them, she couldn't burden him with her concerns. Tuloy... nagkulong na lang siya sa kwarto at nagmukmok maghapon. Ah, she hasn't eaten anything since morning. Kanina pa nangangasim ang sikmura niya. She should probably eat something.
–
Andy pushed Ponkan off of his chest. Nagyeyelo na yata ang buong kwarto niya sa sobrang lamig. He turned the AC on earlier at noon and he adjusted the temperature to make it colder. It was only open for 30 minutes, pinalamig lang niya ang kwarto. Nakalimutan na niyang ibalik sa usual na temperatura. Nangangatog tuloy siyang bumangon.
Ponkan protested when he got off the bed. Susunod pa sana ito sa kanya pero mabilis niyang naisarado ang pinto. He was walking with his eyes half-closed, he didn't notice he was not alone.
Napahawak siya sa dibdib nang makarinig ng kaluskos.
"Sorry. Nagulat ka ba?"
Niki was standing in front of the counter. Dahil madilim sa kusina, hindi niya ito napansin. She was opening something.
"Anong oras na?" tanong niya rito.
"Past twelve."
Niki opened the light underneath the overhead cupboard. Inilagay nito ang nakabukas na tupperware na may lamang pagkain sa loob ng microwave. Andy wanted to ask if she was just about to eat. Hindi ito lumabas ng kwarto maghapon. Sigurado siyang nalipasan na ito ng gutom, but he really needed to pee.
He sprinted to the bathroom and did his business. Pagkalabas niya, nakabukas na ang ilaw sa kusina. Niki has already transferred the food onto a plate.
"Kain," yaya nito nang dumaan siya.
Tumikhim lamang siya at dire-diretsong naglakad pabalik sa kwarto niya. But something stopped him from entering the room. How long has it been since the last time they were comfortable around each other? Magpapasko na, umiiwas pa rin siya kay Niki.
All because of that one moment...
Andy closed his eyes and let out a sharp exhale. He turned around to face her. Tumigil ito sa pagnguya nang makita siyang nakatingin.
BINABASA MO ANG
Niki and Andy
RomanceNiki and Andy have been friends since high school. Punong-puno ng kontrobersya ang pagkakaibigan nilang dalawa. Their other friends used to tease them a lot in high school, certain that they were just hiding their true feelings for each other throug...
