Film of Love

23 à 24: La nuit silencieuse

A silent night in the Christmas week. The time I want to stop is today and fill the space with warmth and find our own space that nobody knows. Under the stars, we will be relaxing while on the freezing winter afternoon.

“Hi, A!” he greeted with his warm smile. He was holding a cup of tea and a cup of coffee in the other hand.

“Hey! Thanks for this”

“No, probs!” he replied. “Aunt made that for you! Lavender, right?”

“Yeah! My all-time fave!”

We are out in the forest to celebrate the ‘le réveillon de Noel’ or the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. We are always doing it with my best friend’s family, the Martins.

Even until now that we are older, Jk and I still visit our families. We decided to go south this time, and we ended up in the french alps—and because this is a tradition to our families we make sure to make time or make this day free, and we do it every Christmas eve.

24 to 25 we will stay together in the sits of our cozy chairs outside the camp track as we circle the bonfire. My dad, Jk’s dad, Jk, and I are outside enjoying the scenery while mom and auntie are inside the chalet to prepare our dinner.

My dad was in charge of going out somewhere in the woods to get some kindles and my uncle is in-charge of chopping some larger woods.

Jk and I have some little call letters, mine is A for Aryn—he suggested to call me J but I don’t want to because it seems like a boy’s name and we almost have the same call letters. I call him Jk as I took out only his first letter from his first and second name and make it together and he is now called Jk.

“When are we having dinner? Jk asked.

“Are you hungry?”

“A bit?” he said.

“Do want to have some chocolates?” I asked him who is busy writing words in the snow.

“Wait…a minute! Why do you have always a chocolate bar with you?”

“Isn’t is déjà vu to you?”

“How can it’s not déjà vu to me?” he sarcastically asked.

“Oh…well, you may or might just think its natural,”

“Oh, A! it’s not like I’m not used to it but it’s amazing how you can always have a chocolate bar when Christmas eve,”

“Well, the secret is…your house—I mean your fridge is full of chocolates and how cannot I grab two bars for me and you,” I explained and gave him the other bar and also unwrapped mine and he said, “Well, thank you for this. I can’t say no even if we are told not to eat it since we are a kid.”

“Well, we are adults now with child-like hearts,” I uttered. “Maybe after that, you can help your father chop some woods, your muscles are not that visible.”

“What? My muscles are visible. I am just in this thick padded jackets,”

“Oh yeah, sure!”

“You want to see?”

“No, it’s a fugly sight to my eyes,”

“How dare you!” he protested and just responded a funny face to him.

“Well, it’s only in your eyes. I have ladies on my lane,”

“Whatever!” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Are you jealous?” he teasingly asked.

“Why in the world would I? huh?” I denied it.

“Alright, suit yourself,”

“Just go to uncle! You might be a great help to him instead of bothering me here!”

“Really? I felt that you’re annoyed by the fact that-oww!” he was cut as I throw a ball of snow into his eggy!

“You deserved it!”

“What if because of this I can’t give you a child anymore!”

“Oh please! Stop with your dirty talks!”

“Look a lady who looks innocent but not,”

“Same as you, bro!” I said emphasizing our brotherhood relationship here.

“Awwch! You called me bro!”

“yeah and I don’t care and please just go!” I said and pick some block of snow—threatening to aim again what I aimed earlier.

“Fine! I’m gonna go now!” he surrendered and walk away, finally. “But it doesn’t mean I am scared. I am just an obedient boy here!”

“Obedient your face!” I screamed. “You look like someone who doesn’t do what others asked for you to do!”

“What do you think I am doing now?” he yelled as he chopped the woods.

“Aryn! Why don’t you go to your mom?” my dad asked or much more requesting me to go out of his sight. I sighed and nodded and walk towards the chalet. I don’t want to also stay there as they will talk about some men's talks and I’ll be out of place, anyways.

I opened the door only to be greeted by the warmth of the chalet and very bright light all around the house. I looked out as I wonder why they open so many lights and I saw that the sun is nearly going to fade in the background as the stars starts to appear in the sky.

“Aryn, come here!” Auntie Diane said as she noticed me standing in the doorway.

“I am relieved that you went in. the cold must be colder by now,”

“Ahh! Yes, it is!”

“Don’t worry about those guys, they are tough in cold!”

“Yeah! I don’t worry,” I said as I chuckled a bit. Aunt Diane also chuckled and shakes her head.

“There you are!” my mom enters the room.

“What are you making?”

“Well, we are making some Caviar, a lot of seafoods—like lobsters, scallops, and oysters,”

“I will be making the Foie Gras and the roast turkey with chestnuts stuffing,”

“Please put a lot of chestnuts on it!” I requested as I do love to eat chestnuts on Christmas eve.

“Sure! I’ll make sure to put a lot on it,”

“What did the both of you bring?”

“Well, Jk and I brought some fruits for the thirteen desserts and we can’t go on without Bûche de Noël,”

“That seems perfect but you know, Haze wants to have a drink and No Christmas in this house without the bubbly,”

“Champagne will surely wash it all down!” my mom said.

“Everything is all set for the dinner!” Aunt excitedly uttered as she went away and sit in the living room.

The chalet is big and spacious but cozy during winter.

“Whoa! I’m so tired!” Jace complained as the trio who was left outside entered.

“Shoes, boys!” my aunt reminded me about the dirty shoes. She wants them to enter without shoes as the shoes are covered with snow mixed with mud.

“Fine, wifey!” Uncle Haze said sweetly which made me cringe. My mom called dad his given name, Leonel, and vice versa. Mom is not that vocal about her love for Dad but he is used to it so it doesn’t matter now.

“Why are you cringing?” Aunt Diane notices our faces. “Don’t you have your own?”

“Well, Cherie can be one of our options but it is long for a call name,” Jace said.

“Who said it needs to be short and what are those options?” my uncle asked.

“If you felt comfortable calling each other like that then let it be and if not—then change it or what,” Aunt Diane advice to us. It’s funny how we still get advice for things like this.

“That’s why your mom gives up on the call names. She wants it simple the better.” My dad added as he sits beside mom at the dining table.

“So shall we start?” Mom asked and we nodded.

We let the snow falls and piled up more outside. This family, this mood exudes a sweet scent. This picture I am seeing right now is a memory I want to save forever.

This night went out so fast as the snowstorm hit down unfailingly. This day brushes off all the tiring days that stacked up this year, in my love’s warm embrace and my family’s mellow laughter that rings in my ears.

I leaned to him more, snuggling in his warm embrace and taking a break. As we marathon Christmas movies.

This time I want them, him to stay for my Christmas memories and not only for that but forever.

Happy warm holidays, and Happy Christmas!