Chapter 27
1191 Words
December 25 – 12:00 am – Aira’s Family Home
The air smelled of cinnamon, ham, and fresh pandesal. Aira stood by the kitchen window, watching Mico and Ana race around with their new toys, the living room full of wrappers and laughter.
“Halika na, Ai!” her mom called from the dining area. “lalamig na ‘yung mga pagkain!”
Aira smiled, heart full. For once, Christmas felt quiet—in a good way.
They gathered around the table, plates filling with family favorites. Her dad poured juice into glasses, and her mom kept adjusting the serving bowls like she couldn’t believe everyone was finally seated.
Mico raised his fork. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas!” everyone chorused.
And for the first time in years, Aira didn’t feel like anything was missing.
7:00 AM– Aira’s Room
After washing the dishes with Ana and tidying up the wrapping paper, Aira changed into a soft maroon sweater, heart thumping slightly as she entered her parents’ room.
“Mom? Dad?”
Her mom looked up from folding laundry. “Yes, anak?”
“May gusto sana akong sabihin.”
Her dad sat down beside her mom, giving her space.
“Si Calix…” she began, voice steady but soft. “He invited me to dinner with his family tonight. Gusto raw niya akong ipakilala.”
Her mom raised an eyebrow. Her dad blinked.
“And gusto mo ba?” her dad asked gently.
Aira nodded. “Opo. If it’s okay with you.”
Her mom smiled after a moment, eyes softening. “You’re old enough to decide who you want to show up for, Aira. Just be home before midnight, ha?”
Aira exhaled—relieved. “Promise.”
Flasback kaninang lunch
Calix:
>hi , invite kita mamaya sa dinner with my family para makita ka na nila
Aira:
> Ayy hehehe nakakahiya
Calix:
> wag kang mahihiya hindi ka na iba sakin
Back to reality
12:00 Pm – Family Lunch Date (Restaurant in Rizal)
The whole family went out after lunch, deciding on a small casual restaurant nearby. Mico got his extra fries, Ana ordered hot chocolate twice, and her parents took turns teasing Aira about “meeting the in-laws.”
“Hindi pa nga po kami,” Aira insisted, face warm.
Her dad grinned. “Eh gusto kang ipakilala. That means something.”
Maybe it did.
Maybe it really did.
6:50 PM – Aira’s POV – En Route to Calix’s House
Aira held a small box of baked goods—classic brownies, this time, the kind her mom taught her to make. She stared out the car window as the streetlights blurred past, Calix’s message still replaying in her head:
📱 “My mom’s been curious about you since October. So… I guess tonight’s the night?”
Aira smiled to herself, heart racing not in fear—but in hope.
December 25 – 7:14 PM – Calix’s House
“Breathe,” Aira whispered to herself as she stood in front of a warm-looking gate with fairy lights twinkling around the trim.
Calix met her outside, smiling like he’d waited all day.
“You look… wow,” he said, then gently took the box of brownies she held. “My mom will love this.”
Aira smiled nervously. “I hope they don’t think I’m—”
“They won’t,” he interrupted softly. “They’ll see what I see.”
She didn’t ask what he meant. She just followed him in.
7:23 PM – The Living Room
Mom calix hugged her. Tight. “So you’re Aira! Finally, we meet! Calix talks about you a lot.”
His older sister, seated on the couch, raised an eyebrow and smirked at Calix.
“Wow, may pa-intro sa Pasko.”
Calix groaned. “ate, behave.”
Dinner was lighthearted. Familiar. Aira found herself laughing at old family stories, joining in when Calix’s Sister asked her about school, even giving advice to his younger cousin on surviving long essays.
When Calix reached under the table and gently squeezed her hand, she squeezed back.
She felt… welcome. Not as someone filling a space. But as someone they’d been hoping to meet.
9:06 PM – Balcony, Just the Two of Them
“Thank you,” Aira whispered.
“For what?” Calix asked.
“For sharing your people with me.”
He smiled. “They already like you more than they like me.”
Aira laughed.
Then he turned serious. “I know this was scary. But I wanted them to meet you… because you’re part of my life now.”
She looked at him, heart full.
And in the hush between the stars and city hum, Aira whispered, “You’re part of mine, too.”
December 26 – 11:42 AM – Aira’s House
Calix fidgeted by the doorway, holding a small paper bag with mamon and pastillas from his family.
When Aira opened the door, he whispered, “Too early to run?”
She grinned. “Too late. They’re waiting.”
Flashback kagabi
Chinat ko si calix at iniimbita sya ng mom and dad ko na papuntahin sya sa bahay kaya chinat ko sya
Aira:
> calix punta ka dito bukas ha mga 11:30 am
Calix:
> Anong meron Ai?
Aira:
> Gusto ka nila makilala nila mom and dad
Calix:
> Sige pupunta ako para sayo 😊
Back to reality
12:10 PM – Dining Table
Calix greeted her parents with a respectful “Magandang tanghali po,” and handed them the treats. Her dad accepted it with a smile. Her mom was a little harder to read—at first.
“Kamusta ang pamilya mo, Calix?” her mom asked.
“Okay po. Simple lang po yung celebration namin kagabi.”
Her dad added, “Simple is good. Mas importante ‘yung buo ang loob.”
Calix nodded, clearly taking every word in.
1:04 PM – After Lunch
The mood had softened. Her mom even offered extra leche flan.
As Calix helped clear the table, her dad called Aira aside.
“He seems steady,” he said simply.
Aira blinked. “He is.”
“Then don’t rush anything. But don’t run from it either.”
She nodded. Her mom approached, quieter.
“Hindi ko man agad nakita, pero… mabait siyang bata,” her mom said. “And you smile different when he’s near.”
That made Aira pause.
She did smile differently. Not wider. Just… freer.
3:37 PM – Walking Calix Out
“Thank you,” he said, voice low. “I was nervous.”
“You didn’t show it,” Aira teased.
He grinned. “Your mom kind of scares me. But your smile saved me.”
She bumped her shoulder against his. “You did good.”
Then she added, voice soft, “Thanks for showing up.”
“I always will,” he replied.
And somehow… she believed him.
8:10 PM – Aira’s Journal Entry
> “Two families. Two tables.
Two versions of myself, both seen, both safe.
I didn’t know love could feel this grounded.
But here I am—planted, and slowly growing.”
- Writer
