"Three..." I counted, smirking at him.
"Two..." Mikey readied himself.
"One and..."
"Go!"
We began dumping our faces into our plates, digging our food as fast as we could. I almost choked, containing my laughter, when I saw how Mikey really tried putting the whole slice of strawberry cake in his mouth.
"Tfwake ift swlowb, Mfuikeay," I tried telling him with my muffled voice.
He looked up at me while eating. "Byowu tsayke ftit szlo—Dwelfla," he muffled with his mouth full.
What?
I laughed, not understanding anything we say. I hurried my pace when I saw the last piece of cake on his plate. He's so fast! Mikey slightly chuckled when he saw my reaction because I still got two slices, plus, I still haven't finished what's inside my mouth.
"I'm winning this, Della," Mikey proudly said as he prepared to eat the last piece.
"I cwan stwilb bdo twhfis!" I mumbled, shoving the last two pieces in my mouth, surprising Mikey. "Vswee?" I pointed at my mouth.
Now the only problem is... I can't chew it altogether!
Mikey and I squinted our eyes at each other, racing until the end. When he swallowed, I immediately tried following and swallowed mine instantly, causing me to cough unendingly and drink a lot of water.
Mikey laughed and pulled out a tissue from the box as he placed his elbows over the table and unexpectedly leaned towards me to wipe my face. I was still coughing a little bit when he did that. Tears even pooled my eyes.
"Dummy Della." Mikey chuckled huskily, wiping the tears from my eyes. "I told you already."
I pouted and cleared my throat. "I could do it, you know."
"I know you can," he replied, startling me. "But not against me." He playfully smirked, making me punch his shoulder. "Ah! That hurts!"
I chortled, only realizing how close we were in front each other when we suddenly heard a click. I slightly panicked and found the two standing on our side who were smiling and smirking as they watched us.
"Maybe you took that at the wrong time," Draken-kun said to the person beside him. "We ruined their lovey-dovey moment."
Emma giggled, showing him the image she just took! "I think you got it wrong, Ken-chan. Look. I got the perfect shot!"
"Oi. Oi. Oi." Mikey stood and reached out for the camera. "Give me that!"
Emma sticked her tongue out at her brother and cackled. Mikey was still trying to take the photo from her when she hid behind Draken-kun, letting me smile at how the three looked so adorable by making Draken-kun their wall.
"Oi, Emma!" Mikey yelled and Emma bursted laughing from behind. "Ken-chin, move out of the way," he demanded.
Draken-kun playfully grinned and shook his head while his arms crossed. "Forget it, Mikey. We won't show it to anyone. Right, Emma?"
Emma popped her head from behind and made a thinking face. "Hm... maybe Hina-chan and the whole gang?" She chuckled again when Mikey tried to get past Draken-kun.
"Ah, forget it." Mikey waved a hand, going back to his seat.
Emma and Draken-kun chortled at him before facing me.
"Merry Christmas, Delle-chan!" She greeted.
"Merry Christmas, Delle," Draken-kun also said
I let out my smiles, standing to approach them. "Merry Christmas to you two."
"Did you guys watch the caroling?" Emma asked.
"Not yet. It's just about to start."
"Let's go watch them!"
Things were simple, but it's better than I thought it'd be especially when Emma and I forced the two to sing along with the choir. It took us a lot of energy before we got to convince them. Of course, there's an exchange for that.
For Mikey, it's food. Again. For Draken-kun, surprisingly, it's also food. We ordered chicken, strawberry cake again, some drinks, and the hot curry Draken-kun requested.
As for Emma, all she wanted was to take photos together, and that leaves Mikey as the photographer which was so funny. Mikey grunted, trying to do a group photo just like how he tried when we went for caroling.
As expected, all those photos were blurry and Mikey received a lot of punches from Emma because of that. And of course, Draken-kun and I just laughed at the two.
We then prayed for the food first and began eating again. I only took a small slice of each because I was too full to even eat while the person in front of me's still as greedy when it comes to food.
"Oi, Mikey," Draken-kun uttered. "Didn't you eat just an hour ago?"
"Yep," he said, taking a spoonful of the dish. "Why, Ken-chin?"
Draken-kun sighed and shook his head as he looked at me. "He's an expensive lover, Delle. Think twice," he said, snorting.
"Ha?" Mikey reacted, already done with his plate. "I paid for this, y'know!"
"Ha? You? How?"
Their glares were cut off when Mikey looked away and unexpectedly yawned the exact same time that I did, causing the other two to grin at us.
"I just realized this now," Emma spoke, getting our attention. "But you both are always yawning. You're both always sleepy."
I snorted, remembering that one time I fell asleep behind him and how Mikey also falls asleep all the time.
"You're right," I agreed, watching my fingers scoop the strawberry cake using the utensil. "Strawberry cake, huh."
"Hm?" The three turned to me.
I glanced at them and let a breath out through my nose as my lips arched up a little bit from the memories. "Here, we meet up for dinner and eat strawberry cake and chicken and stuff. Back there..."
In my hometown... we already begin preparing for Christmas at the start of "-ber months". There would also be parols and simbang gabi. We would also go from houses to houses to do caroling. And everyone loves lumpiang shanghai, but the best part always is when we exchange gifts... with our loved ones.
Loved ones.
Family.
I guess I miss them. Even a little.
I was a little late to notice how all of them were so attentive while listening to me. They were all eyes on me that made me raise my hands. "S-sorry. Did I talk too much?"
"Yeah." Mikey answered with a soft smile planted on his lips as he gazed at the view.
"E-eh?" I made a face.
He actually agreed?
"Yeah..." he uttered again and this time, he smiled as his eyes went up to meet mine, startling us three. "I want to go there someday."
There he is again, making my real smiles out.
"Okay..." I said. "Let's go there sometime."
"You're not talking about just you two, right?" Draken-kun raised a brow with a smirk.
I giggled. "Of course not. You and Emma and are coming too."
Emma swayed her body, her head quite leaning to me. "I'm excited." She grinned.
But that only means, I'm going back...
But...
"Oi! Oi! That's my slice, Mikey!"
"No, it's not!"
"My goodness! Boys!"
I found myself laughing at their chaotic actions.
But...
I smiled at the thought.
I guess... that won't be so bad if I'm with them.
"You said your motorcycle broke down, right?" Draken-kun asked Mikey as we headed outside.
"Yep."
"Didn't I warn you already?"
Mikey awkwardly laughed, placing his palm at the back of his head. "Sorry, Ken-chin."
Draken-kun groaned, massaging his nape. "So? Where's it? Let me see."
"Hey, Delle-chan," Emma called beside me.
"Yeah?" I slowed down to match her pace as we walked on the ground covered in snow.
She glanced at the boys. "Is it really okay?"
"Hm? What is?"
"Us going?"
"Where? Oh." I thought for a while. "Why'd you ask?"
"I mean... I still remembered what you told me and my brother."
"Mikey?"
She shook her head. "Shinichiro."
Just hearing his name still hurts. Not because of my romantic feelings but because I still love him as my family. I'm sure Emma and Mikey and even Draken-kun feel that way too.
I forced to smile to lighten the atmosphere. "Hm? What about?"
"I know you're having a tough time with your family," Emma replied, being thoughtful as always. "And... now, because of Mikey and well, us, you're... going back."
Her sentence froze me a bit to think, but before I could respond, my eyes found the same random person I saw just a while ago. Just like how I saw him, he's still standing from afar, all eyes on me with his clothes covering his identity.
I was starting to feel anxious.
Is this coincidental? Is he really following me?
This time, I didn't let my eyes leave him. My mind wanted to follow him to see who he is, but my body couldn't respond. I was too intact to my position, nervous how things could go wrong.
It was even too difficult to swallow because of how sharp our eye contact was for a few short seconds just before I found myself afterwards under a warm blanket, the surroundings becoming more dim as the view in front of me changed.
Realization hit me when my vision darkened. I wasn't being myself just now because of the emotions, the anxiety, and the fear overcoming me. My breathing and my heartbeat was also in chaos.
And yet, I never expected for him to do this for me.
Mikey... covered the both of us under the scarf I gave him.
"Della," he whispered.
"H-huh?" I was still panicking deep inside. "M-mikey? What—"
"Close your eyes."
"What?"
"Just close them."
"But—"
"Tss. I'll do it." Mikey covered my eyes himself. "Now, take a deep breath."
I could sense my fingers shaking, but I carefully tried to manage my emotions as I listened to what he says.
"Breathe out."
Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... Exhale...
Finally, after a few seconds, I had calmed down, thanks to Mikey. My shoulders weren't stiff anymore and my fingers weren't shaky. Even my head's clear and the fast beating of my heart eventually returned to its normal pace.
I really hate it when this kind of thing happens to me, but...
Blinking while my sight was onto our feet close to each other, I just realized the position we're in! I unconsciously swallowed hard and slowly lifted my eyes to meet the expression of his that I've always loved...
His face that looks so reassuring and comforting.
That's right. Whenever I'm with Mikey, I feel calm.
He can calm whatever chaos going wild inside me.
It's amazing.
"You're safe," he whispered with a gentle beam.
I could feel the tears in my eyes which were eventually absorbed back. "Mhm." I nodded. "Thank you, Mikey."
Maybe I'm just overthinking things or maybe imagining things. I never thought seeing your stalker could be so frightening. All my life I've been stalking people, not with had intentions, of course, but I suppose it really is scary when you're the one being stalked.
I shook my head to clear the thought away.
I'm fine. I'll be fine.
Unexpectedly, in the middle of my overthinking moment, Mikey pinched my cheeks.
"O-ow! Mikey?!"
He groaned with a slight chuckle. "You'll age fast if you keep worrying over stuffs. Stop overthinking."
I pouted. "It's not like I wanted this, y'know!"
"Then that's a big problem."
"Huh?"
"People will think we're a mother and a son rather than a couple."
I froze.
H-ha?
W-what did he just say?
I almost forgot that my mouth was still open, but I instantly closed it when my eyes dropped down to his lips which formed a grin. I squinted my eyes and glared at him as my arms automatically pushed him away, destroying our sweet moment under the warm, silky scarf.
"Are you saying I look old?!" I yelled and Mikey just laughed at me.
"Woah! Woah!" Draken-kun raised his hands, interfering. "I thought it's a couple moment. What happened?"
I glared at them and shook my head.
Do I really look that old? Are you kidding me?
"I was kidding, Della!" Mikey chortled, stepping forward.
"Tsk." He giggled when I threatened him with my expression.
"I already know what to give Hina-chan!" Emma appeared behind Draken-kun. "Huh? What's wro—"
"Let's leave them for a while," he cut her off, pulling her away.
"E-eh? Okay..."
I turned to Mikey who seemed to have calm down a little. I also calmed down, but my glares were still onto him. I mean, I really don't like people telling me that kind of stuff.
I hate it because I know for a fact that I'm growing old faster than I thought I will!
"Let's go to the shrine together," Mikey said, dusting away my thoughts.
"H-huh?"
Go to the shrine? With him?
"To celebrate the new year," he added with a smile.
"Eh? Uh, o-okay..."
"I'll wait for you there."
And just like that, my frustration faded away.
It's really surprising how he can just calm me.
Almost like a miracle.
The way Michi modeled the gift I gave him somehow got me to realize how I blessed I am to have these people. Like I said before, life sucks most of the time, but it can be so beautiful at times.
"It's amazing that Hina-chan chose to give you the exact same necklace," I told Michi. "It's a symbol that you should both hold on to."
"Yeah..." Takemichi smiled, checking the necklace. "We're going now, Delle," he said. "You're not coming with us?"
"I will..." I answered, excited for the surprise I have for them. "But you go first. I just need to take care of something. Besides, it's your date with your girlfriend." I grinned at him as I emphasized the last word.
I checked the two paper bags on my hands. One with a tiger stuff toy for his pet, some shirts including an Aloha since that's what I heard he liked, a letter from Hayashi-kun, and a mini board game to keep him company.
The other one contained a black and yellow socks and a customized blanket with the Toman's symbol, some new books, and a frame that has a picture of the founding members on it.
Just to make him remember that Mikey still considers him as a part of Toman, and of course, it's because that's what Baji-san wanted.
"To Haruki Hayashida... and Kazutora Hanemiya," I said, handing the bags to the delivery man. "Please tell them this is from Toman and that Toman will wait for them."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh, and—"
"Ma'am?"
Soft smiles planted on my face. "And tell them, Merry Christmas... and a Happy New Year."
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