By: @vetzky
For: @Forever_Rimaine
Prompt:
He believes Santa is real, she does not
****
A/N: Merry Christmas Ann! J Because it's Christmas and my right brain is feeling giddy, here goes the second prompt! Hope you enjoy reading this, and Happy Holidays.
P.S. I know that 12 days of Christmas is supposed to start on the 26th, but for the purpose of this story – I counted backwards!
Prompt: He believes Santa is real, she does not.
Day 1
"Ricardo! Anong ginagawa mo? Matutulog na tayo, may midnight snack ka pa."
"Menggay! Bakit gising ka pa?"
"Ikaw ang bakit gising pa? Ako valid na laging gutom, eh ikaw? Mas malaki na tiyan mo sa akin oh."
RJ sheepishly smiled at her, looking like a kid caught with his hands in the cookie jar. Well technically his hands are indeed inside the cookie jar.
It has always been a tradition for RJ, every year, on the eve of Christmas to leave something – most of the time, food – for Santa. Yes, even at his age and father-stature, he still believes that Santa exists.
The Faulkersons did not always have a good life, there are Noche Buenas where they would all share one-half of the Christmas Ham and Queso de bola; and the other half, they would save for Media Noche. But amidst all those, one thing is constant during the Faulkerson Christmas – gifts under the small Christmas tree. Their parents would always tell them that it is from Santa, and he have always believed them.
Him and Riza would stay up late every Christmas Eve to wait for Santa to come, but their parents would tell them that Santa does not come while everyone is still up and about. So they will just leave goodies for Santa and a thank you note, just so that he will come back next year.
There are instances that he would stop believing, but like a lot of unexplainable things... you will just believe again.
He just wish he could say the same for his wife who is already on her last stretch of pregnancy, just counting weeks before they get to meet their little angel.
As much as he believes in Santa, Maine does not. She was very adamant that it was just their parents who are leaving those gifts for them during Christmas. Maine would always say that Santa is a fictional character, the gifts are from their parents.
He would insist they were not well-off before, his parents could have not afford those gifts.
Maine would just shake her head, and tell him that parents would do anything for their children.
It's an unending cycle every Christmas since they found out this little quirky difference about each other.
Him convincing her that Santa exists.
Her convincing him otherwise.
"Pero maiba ako... Hindi pa naman Pasko RJ, 12 days pa... unless para sayo talaga yan at hinahabol mo ang tiyan ni Santa?"
He ignored her comment, he still has 12 days before Christmas... he will be sure to convince her by then.
Day 2
Today is the day. By hook or by crook, he will convince her of Santa's existence by slowly incorporating Santa's presence in their daily lives.
"Ano ito?"
"Uhm, plate and baso?"
"I know, pero para saan ito? Why are you painting it red and white?"
"Para kay Santa kasi yan eh. Dapat personalized para alam niya na para sa kanya yun milk and cookies."
"Sure ka ba na hindi para sayo yun hinoard mo na cookies?"
Day 3
"Delivery for Mr. Faulkerson."
"RICARDO! Bakit may sleigh dito?!"
"Get away ride ni Santa yan. Lagi kang gising sa madaling araw, para just in case dumating siya at gising ka pa... hindi na niya kailangan tumakbo papunta sa sleigh niya. Baka sa malayo niya kasi i-park eh."
"RJ, Santa is not real!"
"He is! I wrote you on my wishlist Christmas of 2014!"
"Ano? Sinulat mo dun 'Maine Mendoza' ganon?"
"Hindi. I wrote 'Happiness' and the next year, I got you."
"But Rj, I thought 'God gave me you'?"
Day 4
"Ano nanaman ginagawa mo diyan sa rooftop?"
"Nagiinstall ng homing beacon, para madali makita ni Santa yun bahay natin."
"Bakit hindi ka na lang magdrop ng pin sa google maps tapos send mo kay Santa?"
"Gagawin ko din yun. Pero I just want to make sure na hindi siya maliligaw."
"Baka naman gusto mo na din lagyan ng led lights na 'Faulkerson is here'."
"Magandang idea, Love."
"Ricardo!!!"
Day 5
"Babe, tara na sa room."
"Wait lang love, 10 minutes."
"Tara naaaaa please. I need my sexy time with my hot marshmallow."
"Love wait lang sige na please?"
"Ano ba kasi yan na mas importante pa sa sexy time?"
"Gumagawa ako ng wishlist for Baby Ann. And for ours na din. Lalagay ko sa Christmas tree. Dun siya kukunin ni Santa eh."
"Bakit hindi mo na lang i-mail?"
"Sa Christmas Tree lang, Love. Malayo ang North Pole, baka hindi makarating sa kaniya on time eh."
"Isa na lang Love, tapos tapos na. Sexy time na."
"Wala na, tinatamad na ako."
"Ah ganon ba? I wished pa naman for the Loubs that you so wanted."
"5 minutes Ricardo, or I'm starting without you."
Day 6
"Love, ayun si Santa oh."
"You are aware that that is just a costume noh?"
"Maski na, malay mo may contact siya kay Santa sa North Pole. Come on Love... bubulong mo lang naman sa kanya yun gusto nating gifts for Baby."
"Babe, gumawa ka na ng list kahapon... isn't that enough?"
"Nope! We have to make sure!"
"Ok ok ok..."
"Oh RJ, bakit mo ako hinihila papalayo? Tayo na next oh."
"Hindi naman ako na-orient na kailangan kumandong ka. Wag na, dadamihan ko na lang yung sulat sa Christmas tree. Tsaka fake naman yan, mas malaki pa tiyan ko oh. Sa akin ka na lang kumandong."
Day 7
"Ikaw talaga ang gagawing Santa? For the Christmas special? Hahaha"
"Ewan ko nga ba. I fit the role daw. Pero pumayat na ako oh."
"Talaga ba?"
"Oo kaya! By the way, makakapunta ka ba?"
"I will try. I have one last taping for the show before I go on official ML."
"Dapat kasi love nagpahinga ka na eh. Anyway, try to come pa din ah. This Santa Claus would need Mrs. Santa beside him."
"But I don't wanna be Mrs. Santa."
"What?!"
"Can I be naughty elf Maine instead?"
Day 8
"Ano nanaman ito RJ? Chimney talaga? Dito sa Pinas? Paalala ko lang, hindi tayo sa Baguio nakatira."
"Pag wala tayong chimney, saan papasok si Santa?"
"Babe, nasa 21st century na tayo. May pinto, pumasok siya dun."
"Pero mas masaya pa din na may chimney diba? Classic."
"RJ no! We are not installing a chimney in our house."
"Pero paano si Santa babe?"
"Text mo, sabihin mo dumaan na lang siya sa pinto."
Day 9
"What are you doing?"
"Uhmmm, wrapping gifts?"
"For Baby Ann?"
"Uhh yes?"
"Why is it written here 'from Santa'?"
"Pinadala ni Santa yan kanina sa studio. Naubusan daw siya ng gift wrapper."
"Talaga lang ah... eh where's mine?"
"No gift for you muna daw. You've been naughty kasi eh."
"Naughty talaga?"
"Yep!"
"Ok! Wanna see how naughty I can get?"
Day 10
"Love, sorry I tried to beg off... pero hindi talaga pwedeng mag-cancel. Pero promise, I'll be back before clock strikes 12 midnight."
"RJ naman eh. First Christmas natin with little peanut ito eh. Bakit naman binook ka nila ng raket?"
"Sorry na love. I'll try my best promise!"
"Hay naku talaga. Siguruhin mo lang, if not kakainin ko lahat ng cookies na binili mo for Santa."
"Huy wag! Tirhan mo ako!"
Day 11
"Pag wala ka dito pagpatak ng alas-dose, sasabihin ko talaga sa anak mo na hindi totoo si Santa Claus."
"Grabe siya oh! Eto na nga mahal! Lilipad na po si Ironman papunta diyan, please wag mo lang babasagin ng maaga si baby."
Not contented with the verbal reprimand, he took out his phone to send one last text message to his loving wife.
He was so excited to be spending their first Christmas with their little peanut, he did not notice the over speeding car beating the red light until it him, right smack at his side of the car.
When he opened his eyes again, everything was upside down. With all his remaining strength, he lifted his hand grasping his phone to check on the time.
12:02 AM – 12/25/2025
"I'm sorry mahal, it seems like I will not make it before Christmas. Bawi ako next year. I love you."
Those words were the last thing on his mind before darkness consumed him.
Day 12 – December 2030
"Mama? What po dawa mo?" her chubby little angel stubbled towards her. Maine stretched out his arms to catch her little angel and sat her down beside her.
"Baby! I'm leaving food for Santa. We don't want him hungry when he comes later to deliver your gifts don't we?"
"Otay Mama!" Ann wobbled back to where the cookies are, stuffing her pudgy hands to get some from the jar.
"Ann, what are you doing? Do you want some cookies too?"
"Aym getting some for Papa too. Sabi mo po tasi, Papa comet with Santa when I sleep din. Eh bata po Papa is hungry din. Bata Papa won't share with Santa tasi he is hungry."
It's been 5 years since that fateful night when RJ was taken away from them. And a few days after, Santa has brought her the greatest gift - her, their Ann. She just wish that she can share that moment with RJ.
But maybe God took RJ so that he can personally (or spiritually) deliver their angel to her. And even if he is not physically with them anymore, she knows in her heart that he always watches over them - her and their little angel.
When every Christmas lights has been turned off, in the silence and darkness of the night she looks up at that lone star, with tears streaming down her face.
"Merry Christmas RJ! Hingin mo na lang yun cookies mo from Santa. I love you."
****
December 25, 2025 @ 12:05AM
'Santa is real Menggay! Don't tell baby girl otherwise! I'll see you soon and I love you' – RJ
T H E E N D