It was already 12am, and I was still wide awake and finished wrapping the gifts. I yawned when I was now finally done. Now, I can rest.
I stood up and started cleaning the mess. Nang matapos na ako maglinis ay pupunta na sana ako sa aking kama ng bigla akong makarinig ng katok sa aking bintana. I smiled, when I knew who it was. I saw him looking at me and tilted his head and I immediately opened the sliding door.
"What are you doing at this late hour, sir?"I jokingly asked.
"My apologies, m'lady. But why are you still awake?"he asked and looked around my room.
"Just finish wrapping some gifts."
"Is my name included?"
"It depends."I shrugged my shoulders."What are you doing here?"I asked him and he immediately put hands inside his pockets.
"I have something here."He said and pulled out a velvet box. I was curious about what was inside."Although, it's a bit early but I am pretty sure you won't be here at Christmas."he chuckled.
"What is it?"
"Close your eyes."he ordered and I followed. Suddenly, I felt his cool hands sweeping away my hair and I felt a cold chain at my neck."Belle. I blushed.
I opened my eyes. I looked down and touched the red gem dangling at my neck. "Its a necklace."
"Not just a necklace."he said and grabbed something under his black shirt and revealed a red gem similar to mine."This is for your protection."
"My protection?"I was confused. How can a necklace protect me?
"If you press this red gem."He said and grabbed my necklace and pressed the gem. I thought it would glow or something, but it didn't."it will transmit a signal to my necklace that you're in danger. Thus, glowing like this."He further explained and showed his necklace blinking a red light. I kinda get why mine is not glowing and only his is glowing. Its because if mine's glow the person who took me would immediately find out that I am asking for help.
"Th-That's amazing."
"Don't ever take it off, Jewel. Even when you're showering."He said and I was about to ask if it was waterproof but he beat me to it."Don't worry, it's waterproof. Please don't lose it. It caused me millions."sabi niya at tumawa.
"Well, then I should be protecting it my whole life."I said and rubbed the necklace and I saw how his eyes wrinkled, maybe smiling at me.
"I better go. You should get some sleep."he said and pointed at the bed."Good night, m'lady."he kissed my hand, before jumping on my balcony.
We were all busy decorating the house for our Christmas party. Kuya Jackson, Rigel, and Sapphire are at the supermarket buying some ingredients. While Kaizer, August, and Jace were busy assembling the Christmas tree. Kuya James and Mom are at the study room and with a call maybe from the board of directors at the company. Kuya Jaydee, kuya Jaydan, and kuya Jayden are also decorating the house with Amber and Natasha. Although, I saw them putting mistletoe at every corner of the house, probably to target couples in the room. Well, unlucky for them they are the only couples in the room.
All my brothers are single and for a reason.
Me?I am in my room looking for those Hogwarts scarves. Jamie is helping me.
"Tita Jewel."I looked at Jamie when he called me.
"Hmm?"
"Have you fallen in love?"he asked me and I was startled. I gave him a small smile.
"It was a long time,sweetie."I said. I suddenly remembered the guy who cheated on me when I was still 15.
"How about now?"he asked.
"No one."
"How about kuya Jace?"My brows furrowed when he mentioned Jace.
"What about him?"I asked, curiously.
"You look good together."he said and I looked at him,unbelievably. I thought he was joking but he was looking at me all serious. D*mn!
Wait a minute!Baka inutusan si Jamie nila kuya.
"Sino nag-utos na sabihin mo iyan?"seryoso kong tanong.
"No one, tita."he said and shook his head, cutely.
"Did your titos told you?"I asked him. I'm pretty d*mn sure it was my brothers, or possibly my friends.
"No, tita."
"How about your dad?"
"That's just my opinion, tita."sabi niya at tumawa ako. Ang bata pa niya para maka-isip ng opinyon. Talagang mana sa ama.
"We're just friends, kiddo."
"He told me, he likes you."Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya at ramdam ko din ang biglang paglakas ng tibok ng aking puso.
"What?"I wanted to hear it again, more clearly. Dahil baka guni-guni ko lang ito. Nakakaimposible naman na gusto ako ni Ja-
"Kuya Jace told me he likes you."inosenteng sabi ni Jamie. Si Jace nagsabi sa kanya na gusto niya ako?Literally, sinabi niya iyan?!Jace Angelo Montezalde told Jamie he likes me-"As a friend."Napatingin ako kay Jamie sa kanyang sunod na sinabi na ngayon ay naka-ngisi sa akin.
D*mn! Alam kong pamangkin ko ito, pero parang trip ko siya itapon sa bintana. Gusto ko lang malaman kung marunong siyang lumipad. Can you fly my beloved nephew?
"Next time, Jamie. Complete your sentence."I said, while rubbing my forehead. I'm stressed with my nephew.
"Jamie, want some snacks?"said Amber, while holding some cookies. Shes leaning at the door and smirking at me and I rolled my eyes at her. I'm just gonna pray that she didn't hear it.
"Yes, tita Amber."Jamie said and excitedly ran towards Amber. Amber picked her up and left the door. Napailing lamang ako at nilagay lahat ng scarfs sa isang box. When I was done putting them, I decided to go down and put this at the bottom of the Christmas tree. I'm pretty sure they're already done.
While going down, I saw my friends and brothers chatting in the livingroom. Nandon din si Jamie na ngayon ay kumakain ng cookies. I shook my head at how cute my nephew is. Nang makababa na ako ay tinignan ko ang Christmas tree na tapos nang lagyan ng Christmas balls at ano-ano.
"Tita."Napatingin ako kay Jamie ng bigla niya ako tinawag.
"Hmm?"I asked him and he approached me while holding the star.
"Here."he said and handed it to me. I was confused about why he gave it to me. Ramdam ko din na nakatingin na silang lahat sa akin.
"Why are you giving me the star?"I asked him, confusedly. I levelled with Jamie to look at his cute brown doe eyes. "Aren't you supposed to be putting it at the top?"
"I want it to be you, tita Jewel."Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya.
"That's too high, Jamie. Tita won't reach it."I jokingly said.
"Tito Jace can help."Napapapikit ako sa inis, dahil nandyan na naman tayo sa Jace. Rinig ko ang pag-ubo ng mga kaibigan at mga kapatid ko at may iba din na pumipigil na tumawa. I fakely smiled and stood up. I looked at my side and was shocked to see Jace. Hindi ko man lang siya napansin sa gilid ko.
"Doon tayo sa itaas."he suggested and I nodded. Mabilis kaming pumunta sa second floor at ramdam ko ang pagsunod ng tingin ng mga kaibigan at mga kuya ko sa amin. When we reached up, I tried to put the star at the top. However, kulang ang height ko.
"Can't reach it, though."sabi ko kay Jace. I was looking around to find ways to reach the top.
"How about I carry you?"he suggested and I blushed. I mean, not a bad idea but-
"Yeah, maybe that's ahh!"Nagulat ako ng bigla niya ako binuhat. Hindi man lang ako binigyan ng warning.
"Can you now reach it?"he asked and I looked up and tried to reach the top and put the star at the top. I was getting uneasy about the height, maybe Jace will suddenly let go.
"Don't let me fall."I said to him as I'm reaching the top.
"Never."
Nang malagay ko na ang star sa itaas ay ibinaba na ako ni Jace. Muntik pa nga ako na out of balance kung hindi lang ako nahawakan ni Jace. Our position was very intimate, my hands were at his chest and his hands were at my waist. I looked at him and he was also staring at me.
We were startled when suddenly the door opened. Because of the sudden noise, we immediately let go of each other. Tumingin kami dalawa ni Jace sa pinto at nakita namin si kuya Jaydee na nakatingin sa amin na nagtataka habang tinatanggal ang kanyang headphones.
"May ginawa ba kayo sa labas ng aking kwarto?"biglang tanong ni kuya Jaydee.
"W-wala ah!"sabay-sabay naming sabi ni Jace.
"Merry Christmas!"we all shouted when it reached 12am. We were all gathered in the living room and sitting on the floor, while wearing the scarves.
"Okay, let's now start opening the gifts."Mom excitedly said. Nandito din ang pamilya ni Carter na sumabay sa amin sa pag-celebrate ng Pasko. The more, the merrier, if I do say so, myself. We all wore Hogwarts houses scarfs and PJs. Kahit si Jace ay nakasuot ng PJs. He looks cute while wearing it. Plain but cute. I made him wear a white bunny headband whichever he had been trying to protest, but couldn't do anything about it. As he noticed my stare, he glared at me playfully. I laughed.
My friends and my brothers immediately opened theirs and received different gifts. While I mostly receive books, I'm not complaining. Best gift na ito sa akin. More books, more reading, more fictional characters, and mostly more fictional husbands.
"Aww thank you, jewel."Mom was awed when she saw what i gave to her. I smiled at her and she immediately approached me and hugged me tight while crying.
"Thanks, Jewel."Carter said and showed me the shoes.
"Thank you, Ate Jewel!" Cassidy shouted and hugged me while carrying her gifts on the other hand. I wisphered 'you're welcome' to her and hugged her tight.
"Bro, seryoso ka?!"gulat na sabi ni Rigel, August, and Kaizer.
"Yup."
"Babe, anong nakuha niyo?"Natasha asked, curiosly. Tumawa lang ako dahil alam ko na ano ang ibibigay ni Jace sa kanila. Jace was smirking at me and then...winked.
"Brand new Lamborghini cars."sabay nilang sigaw at pinakita ang keys na nakuha ng tatlo. Nagulat lahat sa sinabi nila pati nga ang mga kuya ko nagulat din!
"Weh?Seryoso?"Kuy Jaydan was wide-eyed.
"P*t*ngina! Patingin nga."Kuya Jaydee said and immediately approached Kaizer. While kuya James was only smirking at them.
"Oh!Sayo naman Jace!Anong binigay ni Jewel?"tanong n Kaizer nang makita niya na ang hawak ni Jace ngayon ay ang regalo ko para sa kanya. Binuksan niya ito at tinignan naman ng lahat. Kumunot ang noo ang lahat nang makita anong meron sa loob. Mukhang dissapointed sila, sabi ng isip ko at bigla ako tumawa!
"Eh?Black tshirts?"August was very confused. Well, not just him, but all of them. Mukhang hinintay talaga nila ang ibibigay ko kay Jace. However, Jace seems to immediately realize. Nagulat nalang ang lahat ng biglang siyang tumawa. Kaizer, Rigel, and August were shocked! Mukha sila nakakita ng multo sa ginawa nila. It's like it's their first time hearing him laugh.
"Now you have black tshirts with different brands."I smirked.
"It's our inside joke."Jace said so they won't be confused. Mukhang naiintindihan nila kung ano ang aming ipinaparating.
"Di ko gets."Kaizer said and we all laughed.
"Joke lang na para sa kanila. Inside Joke nga eh!"sabi ni Rigel at binatukan bigla si Kaizer. Kaize then rubbed his nape and glared at his friend.
"What's this, Jewel?"Kuya Jaydee curiously asked and lifted the bracelet taht I gave to them. Kumunot di ang noo ng mga kapatid ko nang makitang may ganyan din sila.
"Name niyo."I said and smiled at them.
"Huh?Wala akong pangalan na Acrux."confuse na sabi ni Kuya Jackson. Lutang.jpeg ngayon si kuya Jackson.
"Bobo!Second name natin iyong stars!"inis na sabi ni kuya James at binatukan si kuya Jackson.
After exchanging and opening gifts, we decided to party. I was laughing while dancing when suddenly my phoe rang. Tinignan ko ito at kumunot ang noo ko ng maka-receive ako ng message sa aking bodyguard. It was from a different number, though.
From: XXXX XXX XXXX
Come outside. I have something for you. It's me, m'lady. This is my new number.
I smiled and immediately headed outside. The guards stopped me but I told them that i would be just at the corner and they would easily see me. Kung may mag-tangkang kikidnap man sa akin ay madali lang nila ako mapupuntahan. I shivered and a weird feeling formed in my stomach as I remembered what happened in the mall.
The guards agreed and opened the gates. I breathe a sigh of relief and head outside. But when I got there. I was confused. Wala siya dito. Bakit naman niya ako ipalabas kung wala lang naman siya dito?
I felt the back of my hair rose. My breath started getting ragged.
Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t!
Okay, calm yourself, Jewel. Guards are near. Walang masamang mangyari sa akin. I'm okay. I'm fine. This is nothing. I'm just panicking over nonesense. Tinignan ko ang paligid ko. Hoping to see a shadow of him. Kahit iyan man lang. Pero wala akong makita. Just darkness. Alley lights.
I felt the back of my hair rose, once more. Okay, this is not funny anymore. Bakit pinalabas mo ako?!
Ang hirap huminga. Ang hirap din gumalaw. I felt my stomach clench. Suddenly, I started seeing eyes. So many eyes from trees. Just eyes. But then starting to form a smile.
I'm imagining things. This is not real. This is not real. I kept trying to convince myself.
I saw a scar and I was already done for. I took out my phone and was about to call his number, when suddeny someone touched my shoulder.
F*ck!