Under the Mistletoe (One Shot)

Christmas Vacation

"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock; Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time, Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square In the frosty air." Pag pasok ko pa lang ng mall ay yan na ang naririnig ko. I just cringe at the song, I'm not really a fan of that song or rather not a fan of Christmas.

Four years ago my parents died on Christmas Eve, I was 22 years old back then. It was heart breaking dahil kung kaylan natanggap nila kung ano talaga ako ay kung kaylan naman kinuha sila sakin. Simula noon hindi na maganda ang na ranasan ko tuwing Pasko.

I don't celebrate Christmas, I find it useless since mag isa lang ako. My parents are both only child and my grandparents already passed away when I was very young, kaya mag isa na lang ako.

Pumasok ako sa grocery store para mamili ng isang lingo kong pagkain, balak kong mag mukmok ngayong pasko sa bahay, I grab 2.5 litter of soft drinks and put inside my cart at nag simulang mag lakad.

"Sofia?" someone from my back called me, napalingon ako rito. "Sofia de Guzman?" Tumango ako rito. If my memory was right schoolmate ko ito nung college pero nasa lower year ko ito, what's her name again-

"Addison?" I guessed her name, she gave me a big smile and hugged me.

"You remembered! Wow you change alot, kamusta ka naman?" She asked excitedly.

"I'm doing fine, just shopping for tomorrow I guess," sabi ko dito at binigyan ito ng matipid na ngiti. Tinignan nito ang cart ko at nag laho ang ngiti nito.

"I heard about your parents, I'm sorry for your lost," Malungkot na sabi nito. binigyan ko lang ito ng tango. "You know my batch-mates are having a reunion tomorrow, if you want you can come," Tumangi ako sa offer nito pero iniinsist nito na sumama ako.

"Sige na sumama kana, besides sasama si Cleo, I remember that you and her were close friends back then," Sabi pa nito, napakagat ako ng labi ko ng marinig ko ang pangalan nya. Cleo isn't just a friend, she was my first girlfriend, and we did not end in good terms, partly it was my fault; my life was messed up at sinisisi ko ang sexualidad ko sa nang yaring aksidente.

"Here, I'll get your number and I'll pick you up tomorrow," Sabi nito at binigay ang cellphone nito sakin. Napa buntong hininga ako at tinipa ang numero ko sa telepono nito. "Great! I'll see you then!" Excited na sabi nito sakin at mabilis na umalis.

I continue getting groceries and left the mall after. Dumeretsyo ako sa bahay at niligpit ang mga pinamili ko. After I put away all the stuff I bought I decided to finish my painting! Painting for me is a stress reliever, I paint when I'm happy, sad, bored or even angry. In those ways I can express my feeling, but after picking up the brush napa isip ako, na baka oras na para mag kausap kami ni Cleo, apat na taon na rin ang nakakalipas, I know that she had moved on. Huli kong balita dito ay successful na ito, napa tayo na nito ang pinapangarap na cafe.

I let out a sigh and look at my unfinished painting. It's a portrait of two women dancing, their both wearing a dress and staring at each other lovingly. I can't help to feel sad, ganito na lang every year, I feel lonely then I'll tell myself that I deserve it. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako olet, I decided to just sleep and think about everything tomorrow.

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong sinundo ni Addison sa bahay, wala pa mang 6am ay tumatawag na ito para hingin ang address ko. So here we are in the Resort, medyo na late kami dahil kinaylangan ko pang mag impake ng dadalhin.

Pag baba ko pa lang ng kotse ay na mataan ko na kaagad sya, she was sitting in the lobby facing outside the parking lot, kausap nito ang isa nilang ka batch-mate na si Poly. Mukhang hindi naman niya ako kaagad na pansin dahil patuloy ang pag k-kwentuhan nito. Did she know that I'm coming?

"Let's go?" Yaya sakin ni Addi, kinakabahang pumasok ako sa loob.

"Finally, kayo na lang ang hinihintay namin." pa birong sabi ni Wesley ng makapasok kami

"Sorry naman, medto traffic e," Sagot naman ni Addison. Sumilip ako sa gawi ni Cleo and I saw her looking at me, I looked away immediately and bit my lips.

"So we were just choosing the pairings, you would't mind naman Sof kung kayo ni Cleo ang mag kasama sa room?" I was about to protest but I saw her stand up on her seat and approach us. "Na isip namin na dahil kayo ang close before that it would be okay," Naka ngiting saad nito. "What do you think Cleo?" Tanong nito sa huli, na nasa likod ko na pala.

"Sure, parang wala naman kaming pinag samahan," Sarkastikong saad nito.

"Well, it's all settled, here's your card." inabot nito ang card sakin, at dali-daling umalis. I was left there speechless.

"Well tutunganga ka na lang ba jan?" I got startled when I heard her talked behind me, Napa lingon ako dito with a question mark written all over my face. "I'm tired okay, I don't have time for this!" Masungit na sabi nito at sabay hila ng card mula sa kamay ko.

Nag lakad na ito patungo sa aming kwarto, kaya naman sinundan ko na ito. I stared at her back, hindi pa din ito nag babago, still frank and straight forward. But I have to say na pumayat ito, before kasi medyo chubby ito, not like I don't like her body, I do like her thick butt. I can't help myself but to land my eyes at her ass.

I bit my lips when she turn around and caught me staring at her butt, feeling ko uminit ang buong mukha ko. She glared at me but didn't say anything binuksan lang nito ang pinto nang kwarto. Nauna syang pumasok at sumunod ako rito.

Nagulat ako dahil nang makita ko ang loob ay nag iisa lang ang kama.

"They may have given us the wrong room," Sabi ko dito.

"You don't say." Sarkastikong sabi nito, I just rolled my eyes secretly. Hinugot nito ang cellphone sa bulsa saka may tinipa rito. "Hello Wes!" sabi nito. "Yeah we found it just fine, we just have a little problem," she continue. "I think you gave us the wrong room, one Queen ang naibigay mo,"

Nag lakad ako papasok and I sat on the bed waiting for her to finish.

"Pwede pa kaya to gawan ng paraan?" Tinignan ko ito at mukha itong problematic."Okay, Thanks Wes," I heard her let out a sigh. "Yeah mag papahinga lang kami saglit, 12?"

Binaba na nito ang telepono at napa tingin sakin

"Fully book na ang Resort, I'll just sleep on the couch." Binaba nito ang bag sa sahig at humiga sa sofa. "You should rest, mamaya pa naman 12 ang lunch." She said to me. Tinignan ko ito and saw that she already closed her eyes. I glance at my wristwatch and saw that it's still 10:20 in the morning.

I decided to lay down the bed and rest for a while, hindi din ako naka tulog kagabi kakaisip kaya naman medyo na pagod ako.

Thirty-five minutes has passed at hindi parin ako makatulog dahil narin siguro sa presensya ni Cleo, but then again I can't remember when was the last time I slept peacefully. I decided to just get up in bed and go to the balcony of the hotel room.

Huminga ako ng malalim ng maramdaman ko ang sariwang hangin sa mukha at balat ko. The fresh breeze is calming and the view of the beach shines under the sun, the white sand is so white and makes me want to paint, it was truly gorgeous.

"You hold me, hostage, with one glace into my eyes," I whispered to the air. I watch the people on the beach and saw children play in the sand making sandcastles and some burring in it, I got zoned in the scene. Na putol ang aking pag iisip ng maka rinig ako ng matiin na tikhim. Lumingon ako at nakitang naka tayo na si Cleo sa glass door.

"Are you coming?" Tanong nito. "It's almost 12," Tinignan ko ang wristwatch ko at na kumpirmang malapit na ngang mag alas dose.

"You can go ahead, I'll just catch up," I just told her, I don't know but every time she's near I feel awkward and a little intimidated, kahit pa man dati ay mas dominante na ito kumpara sa akin, In fact when we first met we're competing in a debate competition and she won because I got so intimidated by her.

"Whatever." masungit na sabi lang nito at saka umalis ng kwarto. I sigh, parang nakawala ako sa mahigpit na kapit ng masiguro kong nakaalis na ito, I'm amaze that she still takes my breath away, kahit naman na sinusungitan ako nito ay hindi ako mag kakaila na I am still affected by her, I am still so much in love with her.

I sigh again and went inside the bathroom and took a quick shower, hindi ako nakapag shower kanina dahil na rin sa pag mamadali. After I showered lumabas ako ng bathroom at binuksan ang maleta ko, I was choosing clothes when I heard the door open.

Pag lingon ko ay nakita kong nakatayo sa pinto si Cleo, she was eyeing me intensely at naka awang ng kaunti ang kanyang mga labi.

"Did you forget something?" I asked her nervously.

"I forgot my phone," She said while still looking at me from head to foot. Napahigpit ang kapit ko sa tuwalya ng mag simula itong mag lakad papunta sa direksyon ko. Na pa upo ako sa kama ng maka lapit ito, she bend down and got her face close to mine, I closed my eyes when she lean closer.

"Glad I still have the same effect towards you," Na pa mulat ako at na kitang naka tayo na ito at hawak na ang kanyang telepono. I blushed when I realize that maybe her phone was behind me and she was not trying to kiss me. She chucked and winked at me before living the room, sinapo ko ang noo ko at na pa higa sa kama. Na pa ngiti na lang ako dahil kahit papano ay hindi pa rin ito nag babago, still playful as before.

Pag baba ko sa lobby ay na mataan ko kaagad ang grupo sa may restaurant ng hotel, I walked towards them and smiled when they greeted me, I looked for a chair to sit and luckily I found one beside Addi but I bit my lips when I saw the opposite side of it, I looked at her and nervously sat.

"You look so pretty Sofia," compliment ni Wesley ng maka upo ako, I was wearing a peach flowy dress and a ballet shoe, I also let down my wavy hair and put a bit of make up. I smiled at him and thank him for the compliment, but my ears clap when I heard Cleo snort, tinignan ko ito nat nakitang masama ang tingin nito sakin habang umiinum ng wine. I just ignored her and started eating. Na kipag kwentuhan lang ako kay Wesley dahil ito ang katabi ko, which I don't mind dahil mabait ito at nakakatawa.

"You should eat more Sofia, wag kang mahihiya, mga patay gutom naman ang mga kasama mo," pag bibiro ni Addison, na pansin siguro nito na hindi ko masyado ginagalaw ang pagkain na nasa plato ko, how can I eat when my ex is looking at me intensely?

"Here eat this," Wesley gave me his shrimp na binalatan na nito. I thank him and started eating again but I almost chock when Cleo stood up aggressively and excuse herself, she left the table and went outside.

"Anyare dun?" Addison asked, Poly just shrugged her shoulders and continue eating.

After lunch ay na pag disisyunan namin na mag lakad lakad para matunawan, kasama ko si Poly at Addison habang ang iba ay may kanya kanyang gropo.

"It seems may inis sayo si Cleo Sof, I remember you two being so close before, lagi kayong magkasama kahit na ba na nasa upper class ka, what happen?" Tanong ni Addison while walking towards the beach.

"I don't know, people just fall apart I guest," Sagot ko rito, Honestly di naman ako na tatakot malaman nila na naging kami dati kaso I don't think na it's necessary to announce since matagal na kaming wala.

"It seems Wesley has a crush on you," Pag iiba ni Poly sa usapan, I looked at her and saw her knowing look, I mean it doesn't surprise me na alam nito ang tungkol saamin ni Cleo, dahil matalik itong kaibigan ng huli.

"I think he's just being nice to me," I brushed off the thought.

We reach the beach and saw Cleo there she's already in her bikini while sun bating, she was laying on her stomach kaya hindi nya kami na pansin. The girls walk towards her, Poly sat on her butt and tickle her back, nag pumiglas ito at dahil mas malaki si Poly ay walang magawa ang huli, tumigil lang ito ng mapansin na hindi na ito makahinga.

Hinampas nya si Poly sa braso na ikinatawa lang ng huli. I just stared at the scene, I actually used to do that pero since maliit lang ako ay madali lang nito maka wala sa akin at gumanti.

"Swimming tayo." Yaya ni Addison, I agree dahil naka bating suit na ako sa loob ng dress ko, and I think they're also wearing there's since sabay itong nag hubad ng shirt. Parang mga bata itong nag si tatakbo. I smiled at the scene and decided to join them, tumakbo na ako pa punta dito at nag simulang makipag laro, It felt good, I can't remember the last time I had fun and the last time I had to laugh this much.

Di nag tagal ay nakita na namin ang iba naming kasama na nag lalaro volleyball sa dalampasigan, Wesley invited us to play kaya naman umahon kami, I felt cold when I felt the cold wind on my skin, pero hindi rin nag tagal dahil may tuwalyang pumatong sa aking ulo, napa lingon ako at nakitang si Cleo ang nag bigay.

"Thank you," I said to her and gave her a shy smile. Inirapan lang ako nito at nag simulang tumakbo pa tungo kila Wesley. Nag simula na itong mag laro, na pa upo na lamang ako sa buhangin and watched them play.

I watched them play- scratch that, I am watching her, wala pa din itong kupas, she was an athlete when we were in college kaya naman kahit na kalaro nito ang mga boys ay walang kahirap hirap nitong pakainin ang mga ito ng buhangin.

She spike the ball at walang ka hirap hirap na ma ipasok ito, tumingin ito sa direksyon ko at kumindat, I blushed because she used to do that, sabi nya nga na ako ang inspirasyon nya tuwing nag lalaro sya.

5:00pm ay napag desisyunan ng lahat na mag pahinga dahil na rin sabay-sabay naming sasalubungin ang bisperas ng pasko mamayang alas nueve ng gabi sa isang bar na hindi malayo sa hotel.

Na una na akong umakyat sa hotel room at pumasok sa kwarto, nag banlaw lang ako at nag bihis ng comportableng damit, I lay down the bed and closed my eyes. I heard the door open but I was too tired to open my eyes, in my dream, I was with Cleo in the bed and cuddling her, it felt real, I can even smell her scent, I hope I can stay in my dreams forever, for there I can be with her.