CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
"Be our angel.."
I AM smiling while looking at my Papa and Dad. They are happy that's all matters. Huminga ako ng malalim at ininom ang juice na nasa harapan ko. I am 20 years old and yet I am still here living with my Papa and Dad. I don't know it's just that when it comes to them, I am really independent maybe because they spoiled me with their love, attention, and time.
"Kuya, are you okay with your classmates na ba?" I look at happy, my sister.
"Yes baby, we are okay." Of course I won't tell her that my classmates and I are not okay, I won't let her be affected with the things she encounter.
"Are you sure po?" Tumango naman ako at hinalikan ang noo neto."Papa and Dad are indeed happy, are you happy too kuya?"
I stare again. Papa is now leaning on Dad's shoulder while Dad is tapping and caressing his shoulder. I sigh and smile at the scene I saw. Seeing them happy and in love even though how many years passed— enough to make me happy as well.
"Of course baby." I softly said to her.
"My classmates are teasing me, they said that this family is not normal because I have two Dad." Sumimangot ito at halatang naiiyak na. Huminga ako ng malalim.
That's my problem with my classmates before when I was in Elementary and Highschool, they didn't stop teasing me and bullying me with the family I have. They said it's confusing. I have a mom why not my dad didn't chose my mom.
"Happy, baby, you can't stop them from teasing you if ever it happens again tell kuya okay? Don't involve yourself to a fight okay my baby?" She look at me with pout. I chuckle and I was about to hug her when Papa and Dad sit beside us.
"Did you know the reason why I stayed and fight for what we have?" Papa said while looking at the both of us. Pinaupo ko naman si Happy sa lap ko.
"What is it, Papa?" Happy said and she is excited. Ngumiti si Papa.
Hindi sa pagmamayabang pero si Papa kahit na nasa katandaan na di mo pa din makikitaan na matanda na, gwapo pa din ito at talagang alagang-alaga sa sarili.
"Because I love Jungkook. Your dad, I love him. The reason why I stayed no matter how painful it was— it's because I love him. I can do anything, kaya kong wag isipin ang hirap, ang sakit basta't magkasama kaming dalawa kinakaya ko at kakayanin ko.." I bite my lips because I really felt Papa's love to my Dad.
Ito ang bagay na kailanman di maiintindihan ng mga tao kung bakit ganito ako kung makaprotekta sa pamilya ko, kahit ano pa ang paliwanag mo kapag mali sa paningin nila mali ka talaga. They stayed because of love.
Pamilya kami at kung tatanungin ako ulit kung bakit di pinili ni Dad si Mom, because Dad loves Papa and no matter how we try to fix it— it won't break.
DECEMBER 24 midnight, we ready everything we need. Nandito na sina Lolo at Lola. They are here because Dad and Papa want us to celebrate together with the family. Maingay ang bahay at nakakatuwa dahil nakikita ko kung gaano kakompleto ang pasko ko.
"Hijo, napakalaki mo na pasensya ka na't di namin nasubaybayan ang paglaki mo alam mo namang kailangan naming manirahan sa ibang bansa dahil advance doon ang mga gamot." Ngumiti ako kay Lola na ngayon ay hawak ang kamay ko.
"Ayos lang po, La. Thank you for coming back healthy and safety. I understand." I said and hug her.
"Sarap naman ng yakap na 'yan, payakap din!" Sigaw ni Papa. Natawa kaming lahat at nagyakap kasabay si Lolo.
We are just hugging as a family, as one when someone opened the door and shouted. Napailing na lang ako.
"Gago! Merry christmas sa inyo!"
"Tangina kanina pa ako naghihintay sa labas tagal dumating ng mga kumag nato! Merry christmas!"
"Merry Christmas!"
"Shit gwapo ko pa din kahit pasko na."
"Gago pa din kayo kahit sa susunod na taon!" Sigaw naman ni Dad at sinalubong sina tito.
Nandito sina Tito Jin, tito Namjoon, tito Jimin, asawa ni tito Jhope, tito Jhope, and tito Yoongi. Kapag ganitong kompleto sila ay maiingay talaga.
"Ang laki na ng anak mo, Jungkook! Binatang-binata na!" Sabay tapik ni tito Namjoon sa balikat ko.
Napahawak naman ako sa likod ng ulo ko."Syempre naman tito, sa gwapo kong ito di magbibinata?"
"Mayabang ka din ah at gwapong-gwapo sa sarili kagaya ni Jungkook. Mag-ama nga kayo." Sabay tawa ni tito Seokjin. Umiiling na lang ako.
Uupo na sana ako nang makita ko si Dominant. He is bored while looking at our parents. Dominant and tito Jhope's son. Bunso ito sa anak ni tito Jhope. Tatlong taon ang agwat naming dalawa. Napakagat ako sa labi nang tumingin s'ya banda sa akin, umiwas ako ng tingin at umiiling-iling.
"Mabuti nakapunta kayong lahat dito." Papa said while preparing the last food. Umupo muna ang lahat at kanya-kanyang lagay sa mga regalo na dala.
"Nung nakaraang taon lang naman tayo di nagsama-sama sa pasko, ngayon bumalik ang iba sa atin galing bansa. Hinila lang kami ni Jin dito." Sabi ni tito Jimin habang umiinom ng wine.
"Lasinggero ka talaga Jimin kahit kailan! Di pa kumakain umiinom ka na!" Sabay batok ni tito Jin kay tito Jimin. Natawa na lang ako."Atsaka nagpahila naman kayo dito, makasalita ka parang aping-api kang tangina ka ah."
"Baby, you cuss too much. Want me to punish you?" Tito Namjoon while looking at tito Jin.
Hinayaan ko na lang silang mag-usap at pumunta sa gilid ng bahay. Nakita ko si Dominant na nakatayo lang at nakapikit ang mata. If you look closely at him, he is kinda good. Matangos ang ilong, maputi, matangkad, at tamang-tama lang ang katawan.
"Why are you looking at me?" Napaiwas ako ng tingin nang bumuka ang mata neto.
"Nothing. Why don't you go inside?" Tanong ko habang nakatingin lang sa mga sasakyan ng mga tito ko.
"Masyadong maingay sina Dad. Di ako makafocus ng pakinig sa kanta. Bakit ka lumabas?" Tinignan ko s'ya na ngayon ay nakatingin din sa akin, nakaharap ang katawan n'ya sa may kotse at ang ulo lamang ang nakatagilid kagaya ng sa aking porma.
"I just want to inhale some fresh air." Inayos ko ang buhok ko gamit ang kamay ko habang nakatingala. Masyadong malamig ang panahon.
"Are you okay with the set-up?" Napatingin ako sa kanya. I frown.
"What set-up?"
"That set-up, our titos specifically you have two dad/s. Are you okay with that? I mean same gender have a relationship and a family together?"
Nabigala ako sa tanong n'ya. Dominant is cold to everybody, akala nga nila noon di na ito magsasalita dahil masyadong tahimik kabaliktaran ni Tito Jhope.
"Did you feel shame with the set-up with your titos?"
"N-no, that's not it. I respect them especially our titos and your parents. I-it's just that I am curious since my family consist a man and a woman. I don't know how the family works with the same gender. You okay with that?"
I shook my head."Of course. I am happy with the set-up. My fathers are happy, they are in love, they raised us well, they discipline us. I want a family like this, tahimik, masaya lang, at kuntento kami. Di dahil mayaman kundi dahil may sapat na pagmamahal."
Tumahimik ito sandali na nagpatahimik din sa akin. Ewan ko kung ano ang iniisip ni Dominant pero I want him to be open up about this matter, baka kapag tinatago n'ya lalayo ang loob n'ya sa pamilya ko.
Sa akin..
"Anak? Dominant? Let's go inside." Napatingin ako kay Papa. Tumango naman ako at pumasok na kasabay si Dominant. Pupunta na sana ako sa pwesto nina Dad when he stop me.
"T-thank you for that. I kinda know what to do.." He smile. Napahinto ako.
His smile is genuine. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang bumilis ang tibok neto. Why do I feel that? Why?
"Apo!" Hinila ako ni Lola. Tumayo ang lahat.
"Merry christmas!"
"Maligayang pasko!"
"Merry christmas fvckers!"
The place become so lively. Everyone is enjoying. Kanya-kanya ng kain ang lahat at lambingan ang may asawa.
Nang matapos ng kumain ay lumabas ang lahat. Paglabas namin ay bumungad agad ang magandang fireworks. Napatingala ako doon. Inakbayan ako ni Dad habang hawak naman ni Papa si Happy.
"Every christmas, I only wish for a one thing." Dad said while looking at Papa.
"What is it?"
"That you'll wake up in the morning realizing it's still me the one you love, because no matter how many years will come it's still you, Jeon-Kim Taehyung."
"I didn't regret choosing you for everyday. Let's stay forever and live with our family, Jeon Jungkook.."
They kiss each other. I smile. Even though I am 20 years old I still feel a kid when I am in the arms of my parents.
"Let's stay forever as family, Papa!" Sigaw ni Happy at hinalikan kami sa pisngi.
Inakbayan ko si Papa.
"Yeah, let's stay forever as family. Merry christmas, Jeon-Kim family."
"Merry christmas!"
There's a lot of things that they need to sacrifice. Maybe it's forbidden but it doesn't mean they forgot the God, they forgot the birthday of Jesus. They are maybe a sinner but they are only human too— they will fell.
When I look at the side, I saw Dominant looking seriously at the fireworks. When he feels someone is looking at him, he look at his side too where my position is located. I smile and a seconds pass he smile back.
Yeah, a happy christmas indeed.
Merry christmas to all the people who celebrated it. Let's stay happy and okay. I wish the next year will be happy, more lively, and spread positivity.
Whatever happened in the past will stay in the past. Let's move on and live happily.
May God bless us always..
MERRY CHRISTMAS