Thirteen
Christmas day is my family's favorite day. Bukod sa magbibigayan ng regalo, Mom let us do all the things in the kitchen, from preparing the food and arranging the table. We would give Mom a rest because she's been doing things for us, every day and every year. It was time to payback for all her hard work and for taking care of us.
"You're baking a pie for Nori? For Nori lang talaga, Zoe?" Ate Shil asked me as she stared at me in disbelief. I chuckled as I turned the pie, checking on the edges.
"What? She hasn't tasted my homebaked pies. Kayo every year na kaya sa kaniya na lang ito."
Ate Shil laughed. "Make it good! Baka kapag kay Nori na pumalpak ka pa!"
"Ate, don't say things like that!" Natatawa kong sabi bago inilagay ang pie sa oven. I removed the thick baking gloves and put it on the center island. Si Ate Shil naman ay nilalagyan na ng design ang cake na ginawa.
"Susunduin mo ba si Nori? What time?"
"Later at 9. I gotta finish thus pie first then I'll go."
Nori had informed me yesterday that her Mom will be with her Dad on the next few days. She'll be alone after Christmas so might as well spend it with us. Alam ko namang nasanay na siya na kasama lang ang Nana niya na nagc-celebrate but this year's gonna be different for her and I want to make sure of that.
Nori deserves a happy Christmas after all and the best at that. Ever since I met her, all I want to do is make her happy. Life hadn't been easy on her at kahit sana naman sa isang araw lang, it will be something that will linger on her memories.
"Is it okay na she won't spend Christmas with her fam?" tanong pa ni Ate.
"It's fine. Her parents are on a business trip and I already asked for permission, Ate." I lied smoothly.
"Okay."
Once the pie was done, I left it on my sister's care. Naligo ako at nag-ayos. Nang bumaba ako ay naroon si Mom sa sala at inaayos ang arrangements ng gifts. Mom smiled when she saw me.
"I added gifts for Nori. Galing sa mga pinsan mo ang iba."
Napataas ang kilay ko. "Who exactly, Mom?"
"Sina Vernon. They added some cute small gifts for her so I accepted it the other day. I'm sure Nori will like these."
I smiled. She will. Nori appreciates a lot of things. Big and small. She's always appreciative of the things that were given to her. Mahirap tuloy isipin na may mga tao pa palang gan'on. That someone could appreciate even the smallest efforts. Indeed, my Norine Ahava is a rare gem that I must protect at all cost.
It won't be bad to dream of forever with her right? I don't think I could replace Nori in my life if ever time will come that we will be challenged by the people around us. Hahanap at hahanap ako ng paraan para manatili sa buhay niya. I am not a good guy and that I could be annoying at times. But I can compensate if situation's bad or worst or if Nori doesn't like it, I'll try to be good for her.
It's easy to change when you have someone that inspires you to be better everyday. The smallest of the steps matters. I've seen Nori getting better and better for herself. She smiles and laughs a lot. She wasn't that shy and timid girl I met before. She was trying to loosen up despite of the kind of life she's living in. At ako? I was trying not to get disappointed of the smallest of things. Hindi na ako nawawala sa mood because I was looking forward to seeing Nori's smiling face when she sees me smiling too.
"Pogi!" She giggled as she tiptoed and pinched both of my cheeks. Napangiwi ako sa madiin niyang pagpisil. She was looking cheeky right now kaya naman hindi na ako nainis pa. Sino ba naman ang maiinis kapag nakita na siyang ngumingiti?
"How's your Nana?" I asked as I looked down on her.
"She's sleeping soundly," she whispered and giggled. "Baka nakakahiya kapag isinama ko siya sa inyo. She said she didn't want to go outside either. Sinabi ko kasing pwede naman kaming lumabas."
"Busog na ba si Nana? You could bring some food later pag-uwi."
She gave me a weird stare. "Nakakahiya! Bisita na nga ako, magbabaon pa pauwi."
"It's fine with, Mom. She's too fond of you and she might find it cute."
"Heh. Walang cute sa pagdadala ng pagkain mula sa handaan."
I laughed at her antics. Inaya ko na siyang pumasok na sa sasakyan para makaalis na kami. I am sure my sisters will be delighted to see her again. Kahit na dinadala ko naman siya roon, my sisters were just too fond of her. Gan'on din si Mom.
Hindi nga ako nagkamali dahil hindi pa man nakakapasok ang sasakyan ko sa garahe ay nakatambay na ang mga kapatid ko sa gate. They were wearing cute pajamas for our Christmas theme. Hindi ko sinabi kay Nori na may gan'on kasi ang mga kapatid ko na raw ang bahala.
"Nori, we've missed you!" bati ng mga kapatid ko nang lumabas na si Nori sa sasakyan. She cutely hugged my sisters and even kissed their cheeks.
Napanguso tuloy ako. Did I get a kiss from her a while ago? Parang wala ah?
Napailing na lang ako dahil nauna na sila sa loob at hindi ako hinintay. I can hear my girlfriend's giggles from where I was. Sumunod ako sa kanila nang maisara ko na ang pinto ng sasakyan.
"——got matching pj's for you! Size mo naman, don't worry. Wear it tonight coz all of us are wearing PJs too."
"Hindi ako sinabihan ni Zoe na may theme pala. I could have brought my own."
"Kami nga ang nagsabi na huwag sabihin sa'yo. Bonus na pamasko na namin sa'yo." Si Ate Suede ang nagsalita.
"Thank you po. These are lovely. Hindi ako makapili." She looked cute while looking problematic. Lumapit ako sa kanila at inilagay ang aking braso sa kaniyang balikat. She looked up at me, pouting.
"Ano sa tingin mo ang bagay sa akin?" she asked softly.
"Ako, syempre," mayabang kong sagot.
"Crazy," rinig kong bulong ng kapatid ko. Ate Suede was trying not to laugh.
"Dad ang corny po ni bunso," Ate Shil shouted. I rolled my eyes at them before I focused my attention on Nori's hands. Inaangat niya ang dalawang pj's na iba-iba ang design. The other one was a pastel pink and the other one is purple. May kaunting disenyo ang dalawa pero sa tingin ko pink ang babagay sa kaniya. It would compliment her soft and fair skin.
"Wear the pink ones. Bagay sa'yo," I said as a matter of fact. Napangiti naman siya bago ibinaba ang purple para mas lalong i-check ang pink.
"I like this too! May cute strawberries, oh!" Tinuro niya ang maliliit na strawberries na ngayon ko lang nakita. I chuckled as I stared at the cute designs.
My sisters had to accompany her while changing. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay si Nori na ang kapatid nila dahil todo alaga sila sa kaniya. I can't help but be thankful for having sisters like them. My girlfriends from the past had never been into their liking. May ibang nakakasalamuha nila nang maayos, may iba ring hindi. My sisters were always vocal about the girls I've had.
I was younger back then. Of course, I'm not good in picking girls to like. Basta maganda ay okay na sa akin.
Naupo ako katabi ni Dad sa couch. Mom was in the kitchen, taking pictures of the arrangement of our dinner. Nagkunwetuhan lang kami ni Dad at ilang minuto lang ay rinig ko na ang boses ng mga kapatid ko.
Ate Suede was giggling as she walked back to us. Hinanap ng mga mata ko si Nori na ngayon ay kasabay na ni Ate Shil sa paglalakad. My lips parted as I saw her in those cute pajamas. She looked adorable with that cute pink cat ears. Hindi ko alam na may binili pa silang gan'on and with a matching pink slip-ons too.
"Ang cute!" Ate Suede complimented as she sat down beside me.
"Yeah..." I said absentmindedly as I stared at Nori. She looks effortlessly cute. Her bangs matches her look with those cat ears. Nahihiya pa siya g maglakad kung hindi lang naitulak nang mahina nang aking kapatid.
"Zoe! Bakit hindi ka pa nagpapalit? We're about to start!" inis na tanong ni Ate Shil nang mapansin ako sa tabi ni Dad.
"Yeah, you should change. Para matchy na kayo ni Nori," Ate Suede agreed. "Nakabihis na nga si Dad, oh? Match na sila ni Mom."
My lips protruded a bit before I stood up. Nori was giggling at me because I was being scolded by my sisters. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at hinawakan ang kaniyang kamay.
"Saan kayo pupunta?" habol ni Ate Suede.
"She'll help me choose my pj's!" I said as I pulled Nori upstairs. Narinig ko pang hinabol kami nila pero mabilis kong nahila ang girlfriend ko. Nori was just giggling as we jogged into my room.
Humarap ako sa kaniya nang nasa kwarto na kami. Her bangs were a bit disarranged due to that jog kaya mabilis kong inayos.
"There." I said as I stared at her face. She was looking back at me with that cute smile. "Cute mo," sabi ko.
"Mas lalo lang akong nagmukhang bata," she said with a pout.
"Nah. You just look cute that's why." I chuckled. Pinaupo ko siya sa kama bago ako nagtungo sa closet. I opened the lower drawer to pick the pj's I got. It was in a soft blue color. It would match on her pastel pink pj's.
Nagbihis muna ako. I had my phone with me when I went out of the bathroom. Nori was in my room while staring at the medals and pictures I had on my wall.
"Achiever ka pala since grade school?" she asked.
"Hmm? Not really. I had an almost failing grade when I was in junior high, maybe?"
She chuckled. "Bakit naman?"
"I was skipping classes just to attend my taekwondo session." I chuckled as I remembered those days. Nagalit si Dad of course. My mom was stressed about it too pero buti na lang at pasado pa rin. I don't really study that much and rely more on stock knowledge.
Umakbay ako kay Nori habang nakatingin sa iilang medals ko. Those were just from my basketball matches before. Ang academic medals ay naroon sa living room kasama ng kina Ate Shil at Suede.
"Can we take a picture?" tanong ko sa kaniya sa malambing na tono.
"Sure. Paano ba? Selfie?"
"Hmm. Kahit ano. We can do a mirror shot too."
We took lots of selfies together. Mayroon doon na nakahalik siya sa aking pisngi while I click on the camera. We had a mirror shot too at the bathroom where I was hugging her from behind while she took the shot. Nori looks undeniably cute on her pj's and matching pussycat ears.
Nang bumaba kami ay masama ang tingin sa akin ng mga ate ko. They weren't able to say anything as Mom invited us to dinner already.
They were too attentive of my girlfriend. Tinatanong nila si Nori kung anong gusto niyang kainin. Mom was so happy to have Nori with us for Christmas too. Si Dad ay gan'on rin. My family's always welcoming and they are warm to people. Kahit hindi pa nila gaanong kilala. My mom taught us to kind whenever possible. She said that as the world changes, humanity should also do better to change the lives of the people around them.
My mom loves having people around and maybe that's the reason why my sisters didn't move out even when they had the chance to. Kasi ayaw nilang iwan si Mom. At ayaw ko rin. The moment I move out is maybe the moment that I'll have my own family. Pero pipiliin kong huwag ng lumayo.
"It's gift-giving time!" My sisters cheered. Alam kong matanda sila sa akin pero minsan, iniisip ko na parang hindi man lang sila umaalis sa kabataan phase nila.
I was smiling the whole time while my sisters were distributing their gifts. Si Nori ay nahihiyang dumikit sa akin habang inaakbayan ko siya.
"I came empty-handed," she whispered to me. Mahina akong tumawa.
"It doesn't matter. Your presence is already enough. Minsan lang kami magka-bisita rito."
"Maybe next time, I'll bring something."
I agreed to her. We both received gifts from my sisters. Tumayo ako para ipamigay na rin ang mga regalo. The money I used to buy gifts is from my allowance. Malaki-laki naman ang baon ko araw-araw and I wasn't that fond of buying foods in school. I was too conscious to even eat any junk foods, except if Vernon or Kieran would offer.
I got Mom a case for her eyeglasses. She was still using her old ones and maybe, one last drop on the floor and it will crack open. Dad got a new pair of socks from me. I'm sure he'll be laughing later about it. I got my sisters matching minimalist watches. And Nori, I've got her a sweater, pink ones with strawberry designs.
When it was time to open our gifts, I was laughing because dad gave me a pair of socks too.
"Anak nga talaga kita, Zoe." Dad said while shaking his head. Inangat niya ang regalo kong medyas sa ere.
"We gotta use these when we play outdoors, Dad."
"Yeah. Maybe we can try these socks tomorrow."
I chuckled. Meanwhile, Nori was too overwhelmed of the different gifts she had received from my family and some of my cousins. Those were all cute stuff. And I couldn't agree more. Nori's like the goddess of cute stuff at kahit anong ilagay sa kaniya ay babagay. My girlfriend's a combination of cute and pretty.
"You got me a sweater..." Her lips parted in awe. She checked out every corners of it. Kahit saan siya tumingin doon ay may strawberry na makikita. She's got every pink stuff that she needs.
"Thank you, Zoe..." She smiled at me. Lumapit siya sa akin at bumulong. I leaned closer to her.
"I'm too shy to kiss you on the cheek.."
I chuckled more. Kinagat ko ang aking labi at tinitigan siya. She was chuckling cutely.
"They won't mind..." I said.
Umiling lang siya. She scrunched her nose before turning her attention again on the gifts. "They're all lovely. Thank you for making this happen, Zoe..."
"You both made us happen, Nori." I said honestly. "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be this happy. So thank you for being here."
I stared into her eyes. Ngumiti siya sa akin. On this day, nobody could ever replace the smiles on out faces. Nobody could erase the evidence of love in our eyes...in our actions.
I knew I love Nori the moment I saved her. At the back of my mind, I knew that this is the girl that I am going to spend my life with. With this young love and young heart, a place of doubt could grow but with Norine Ahava...I was certain. I am sure that I could and that I would stay with her, no matter what.