It was Christmas day. Everybody was celebrating, exchanging gifts, greeting each other, and eating together with their family. Our helps had already gone home to their families before Christmas eve came. Dad and Tyler were still in Las Vegas, leaving me alone with my bodyguard. They said they had to fix some things there - things that I had no idea about.
I opened the text message I received earlier.
Kirbs Dude
+6326****3242
7:32 AM
Merry Christmas, dude! I'll
send my present to you later!
My lips quirk into a faint smile as I read that single text message of him. Kirby was my Santa Claus every Christmas, though he knew that I wasn't celebrating it. I knew that Christmas is the celebration for the birth of Jesus Christ, but we didn't believe in Him. We were not Satanic or what. We just didn't believe in God.
A deafening silence welcomed me when I went out of my room. I went straight to the refrigerator to get something to eat. I took fresh milk and drank it, then I toasted a bread before I sat on a chair and leaned against its backrest. I was currently taking a nibble of my bread when I felt a hot liquid welling on my cheeks, unaware that I was actually shedding tears. I stopped chewing and touched my cheek, blankly staring at my wet fingers.
I heard the door bell ring. I immediately sat up straight and wiped my tears through my shirt.
"Ma'am, may nagpadala po sa inyo." The guard approached me and placed a small box on the table. "Pakipirma na lang po."
After I had signed the receipt, he left.
This was probably the present Kirby was talking about. I checked if there was a name written on it, but I saw nothing. So, I decided to open it and came face-to-face with a book tied with a red ribbon.
A book? I thought. Well, I loved books. But Kirby had never given me a book as a present before.
The book's title was More than a Carpenter by Josh Mcdowell and Sean McDowell. I wasn't familiar with it. I took the letter clamped over its pages.
Merry Christmas!
Kirby told me that you love books. Try to read that one. That's one of my favorites. God bless you!
―Storm Dylan Hunt
At first, I didn't know what to react but then I settled with dumbfounded. The present wasn't from Kirby.
I decided to open the book and scanned its pages before furrowing my eyebrows when my eyes stopped on its Table of Contents. Chapter Two of the book says, "What Makes Jesus So Different?"
"Seriously?" I hissed in disbelief.
Napailing na lamang ako at nilagay iyon sa book shelf ng living room.
***
There were a few more hours to go before the New Year. I just watched the night sky, staring at those occasional bright lights caused by the colorful fireworks display in the distance.
When Mom was still alive, we would celebrate New Year together and would always cook a lot of dishes. But this time, I was just all by myself.
I was holding my cell phone when I felt the vibration in my palm. My eyes looked down to the LED screen of my phone to check who called, only to find a number as its Caller ID.
I swiped the green button to answer it. "Hello?"
"Good evening, Fara," a familiar voice of a guy greeted.
"Who's this?"
"This is Storm. Did I disturb you?" he hesitated.
My brows met in confusion. Why is he calling me? "N-no, it's okay. I'm cool with it."
"My mom wants to invite you here. Are you free?" he asked.
"W-why?" Why was I stammering?
"You know, it's New Year. She wants to celebrate it with you," he said.
New year with them? I thought. I paused for a few seconds.
"Fara?" tawag niya sa akin nang hindi ako nakasagot.
"O-okay," pagpayag ko.
Not bad. Ang mahalaga ay may makakasama ako na magse-celebrate ng New Year.
"Okay, wait for me there. I'll fetch you."
"Okay, bye." I ended the call.
I immediately stood up and went to the bathroom. After I had taken a bath, I wore a simple navy blue dress and white doll shoes, then I fixed myself up.
After a moment, I heard a car outside so I went downstairs and then outside the house. I found Storm talking to our guard and they stopped when they noticed my presence. Napatitig ako kay Storm at ganoon din siya sa akin.
"Let's go?" he told me.
I nodded.
***
We stopped in front of a yellow house - the house where I first met Storm. The gate opened automatically and Storm entered to park his car in the garage. Madilim ang kalangitan dahil pasado alas-onse na rin ng gabi.
When we got out of the car, I saw their fascinating fountain for the second time. I found it very beautiful. It had different colors of light now, unlike the first time I'd been here. Probably because it was morning.
"She's very excited to see you," Storm said as we walked into their house.
Natanaw ko na naman ang malaking picture ni Storm na parang pang-endorse ng toothpaste ang ngiti niya.
A beautiful lady in a light pink dress approached us. I guessed she was Kuya Tyler's age. She kissed Storm on the cheek and then turned her gaze on me.
"Hi! You must be Fara."
"Yeah," I responded and nodded my head.
She hugged me. "I am your Ate Peachy. Cousin ako ni Storm sa side ng papa niya," she said as she broke our hug.
"Daddy!"
Napatingin ako sa batang tumatakbo papalapit kay Storm and gave him a warm hug. The boy had pinkish and chubby cheeks. He was so cute. But wait... why did he call Storm "Daddy"?
"That's Mark, my son," nakangiting sabi ni Ate Peachy. It was the answer to the question in my mind.
Hindi halata na may anak na si Ate Peachy. I stared at the child. He had a pair of sandy brown eyes like mine. He might have inherited it from his father because none of Storm and Ate Peachy had that kind of eyes.
"Daddy, I watched Fairy Tail. Natsu was so great!" the child said cheerfully. "I'm not done watching it yet. Binawal na ako ni Mommy manood nang matagal," bibo na sabi nito at medyo hindi pa ito tuwid magsalita. "Daddy" lang pala talaga ang tawag ng bata kay Storm.
"Don't worry, we'll watch together tomorrow," Storm said with a cheerful voice as he carried the child in his arms.
"Yehey!"
"Let's go. Tita Thalia is waiting for us," Ate Peachy said.
We headed to the kitchen and I saw a woman seated in a wheelchair who was about 45 years old - I guessed - guiding the helps and instructing them what to do. She wore a black bonet, and her face was pale, looking very sickly than I imagined. But I knew that she had been beautiful when she was young. Her lips formed a sweet smile when she saw us coming.
Storm put Mark down so he could lean down and kiss the woman on the cheek. Then, I realized that it was actually his mom.
Sinenyasan ako ni Storm na lumapit sa kanila kaya lumapit ako. Muntikan ko nang makalimutan na culture nga pala ng mga Filipino na magmano sa mga nakakatanda. Kinuha ko ang kamay nito at saka nagmano.
"Good evening po," I politely said.
She caressed my face, the warmth of her palm transported to my cheek. "You look so pretty, hija," she praised.
I just smiled slightly.
"Mabuti at nakapunta ka, hija," a familiar voice said from behind.
I turned around and saw Tito Travis standing behind me. Ngumiti ako rito at nagmano.
"We'll wait for the New Year first bago tayo mag-dinner," ani Ate Peachy habang inaayos ang mga pagkain sa lamesa.
"Three minutes to go," Tita Thalia informed us.
Naghintay sila ng ilang minuto hanggang sa ilang segundo na lamang ang natira. Sabay-sabay silang nagbilang, hanggang sa...
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" sabay-sabay na sigaw nila at sinamahan pa ng tunog ng torotot ni Mark. They hugged and greeted each other with exhilarated smiles.
I stood there being uncomfortable while watching their interactions until they started to crowd around me. Ate Peachy hugged me, followed by Tita Thalia who gave me a kiss on the cheek after a hug, while Tito Travis just patted my head.
Napalingon ako kay Storm. "Happy New Year," he greeted me with a smile on his lips. I was surprised when he suddenly pulled me into his arms and hugged me. "God bless you," he whispered to me before letting go of me and giving me a warm smile.
Wala sa sariling ngumiti lamang ako pabalik sa kaniya.
"Kainan na!" Ate Peachy announced.
Storm pulled a chair for me and I knew I blushed because of what he did. D*mn, he was a gentleman. We all settled down around the table before Storm led the prayer and afterwards, they started eating.
The atmosphere was strange. Masaya silang nagsasalo-salo sa hapag-kainan habang nagkukuwentuhan. Hindi ganito ang nakasanayan ko kaya tahimik lang ako habang pinagmamasdan sila.
"Eat more, hija," alok ni Tita Thalia sa akin.
"Huwag kang mahiya sa amin. Hindi uso 'yon dito," Ate Peachy joked with a huge smile on her face.
"Okay lang po ako," nahihiyang sabi ko. Why are they so kind to me?
"Mommy, I want chicken."
Napatingin ako kay Mark na nakanguso kay Ate Peachy.
"But eat veggies," ani ate Peachy. Bahagya akong napangiti nang sumimangot ang bata.
"Gusto mo bang mag-stay dito, Fara?" Tita Thalia suddenly asked me.
"P-po?" I was a bit surprised.
"Ang pagkakaalam ko kasi wala kang kasama ngayon sa inyo dahil wala ang Daddy mo at ang Kuya Tyler mo."
"Uh, opo."
"Dito ka na lang mag-stay. Ipapaalam ko na lang sa Daddy mo," she said with a little excitement in her voice.
I paused and stared at her.
"Pumayag ka na, hija," Tito Travis convinced me.
"Oo nga, Fara. Para makapag-bonding din tayo," gatong pa ni Ate Peachy at saka nilingon si Storm. "'Di ba, Storm?"
Storm just nodded once and smiled.
Then, Ate Peachy looked at me again and said, "See? Ano, payag na?"
I looked at Tita Thalia, who was giving me the brightest smile I've ever seen. D*mn, I couldn't resist those. "O-okay," I replied.
How could I turn her invitation down when I saw the sparks in her eyes while she was looking at me?
***
While I was gazing out the window and onto the night sky with spectacular fireworks still displaying in the distance, I heard the door creak open. I glanced at the mirror that was just at the side and facing the door, and saw Tita Thalia by the reflection. This time, she wasn't in her wheelchair.
I quickly turned around.
She gave me a warm smile and sat on the bed. "Halika rito," sabi niya.
She patted the mattress beside her, telling me to sit. I obeyed her, even though I was still a bit uncomfortable around her.
"Kamukhang-kamukha mo ang Daddy mo," she told me. "You have his brown eyes and brown hair." She touched my hair. "Alam mo ba na bestfriend ko ang Mommy mo?" she asked.
I shook my head and didn't say anything.
"Nagkakilala kami noong highschool at naging mabuti kaming magkaibigan." She looked at me directly into my eyes, and I saw sadness in hers. I noticed that Storm had her eyes. "Sobrang nalungkot ako nang malaman kong wala na siya. Gusto ko mang pumunta noong libing niya, hindi ko nagawa dahil 'yon ang araw ng pagpapagamot ko," she said and heaved a sigh.
I knew that Mom and Dad had met because of Tita Thalia. Tito Travis and Tita Thalia were lovers when they graduated in college. Since Tito Travis and Dad were good friends, Tita Thalia became a bridge for Mom and Dad to meet each other. That was how their love story began.
"Hija," mahinang tawag sa akin ni Tita Thalia. Naramdaman ko ang paghawak niya sa kamay ko, kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. "Tungkol sa inyong dalawa ni Storm... Nalaman ko na pumayag ka nang magpakasal sa kaniya. Sigurado ka ba? Hindi ka naman namin pinipilit na magpakasal kay Storm."
I just looked away. Hindi kasi nila kilala nang lubusan si Dad. Kung okay lang sa kanila na hindi ako pumayag, kay Dad, hindi.
"I am sure, tita," I answered and smiled, albeit bitterly.
I was surprised when she suddenly hugged me. "Welcome to the family, Fara," she told me with delight in her voice.
Parang naramdaman ko ang yakap ng isang ina sa yakap na 'yon. Hindi na lamang ako sumagot at gumanti na lamang sa yakap niya. Ipinikit ko nang mariin ang aking mga mata at sa isip ko ay nakita ko ang mukha ni Mommy.
Mom...