Eyes On Me, Baby (COMPLETED)

Chapter 57

Chapter 57

It was December 24 and as much as I could not explain it, it just smelled like Christmas. The air was cold and the Christmas songs just made me feel good and light—like nothing could go wrong.

Nang magsimula iyong ber-months ay naitayo na iyong Christmas tree namin. Naayos na rin last week iyong mga regalo para sa mga clients nila Papa at naipadala na rin iyon. Nagluluto si Ate Gina para sa noche buena namin mamayang madaling araw. I asked her if there's anything I could do to help, but she said na kaya niya na raw lahat. I tried to play with Blue and BV, but they both did not want to play with me kaya nmana umakyat na lang ako sa kwarto.

"Hi," I said when Austin called via FaceTime. Umuwi siya sa bahay nila para doon magnoche buena. They did not go to Madrid this time, and even if they did, Austin told me na hindi siya sasama dahil nagsabi na siya sa akin na plano niya na magkasama kami buong December 25 to make up for what he did before. He already talked to my parents about this, and they were fine with it. We didn't have any traditions except for the noche buena, anyway.

"Hey," he replied. He looked like he was in his old room. Hindi pa ako nakaka-punta roon at hindi na ako makaka-punta pa. I did not feel comfortable to go upstairs kapag nasa kanila ako. I went there on Tita Anna's birthday. I also met his grandparents. They're fine. I didn't really listen to what they talked about because Austin warned me that no one's ever good enough for them. I didn't care—I was already good enough for Austin.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Nothing. Just waiting for the food."

"Same. Ate Gina won't let me help."

Natawa siya. "Movies?"

"Yes."

We watched Mare of the Easttown together via Rave. Hindi pa rin kami tapos na panoorin iyon. We were still three episodes to the end. It was just that kissing was always the better option kapag nasa condo niya kami. Sometimes, when I thought that we'd go beyond kissing, Austin would forcibly get off me—usually with a loud grunt—grab his wallet, and then tell me that he's going to buy something. He usually goes back with a carton of almond milk. There's a cabinet in his condo that was just full of cartons of milk. I checked the expiration dates at may five months pa siya para ubusin iyon.

"Who do you think did it?" he asked when we finished the fifth episode.

"I still need to watch another episode to decide," I replied. "Why do we have to wait for 12MN to eat?" I asked because it was only 8PM. I was already hungry.

"Tradition," he replied. "You can eat if you want. You don't have to starve 'til midnight."

"I'll order online," sabi ko kasi kapag bumaba ako tapos nakita ko iyong niluluto ni Ate Gina, mas magugutom ako kasi mas gusto kong kainin iyon.

"Or I'll just drive there and we can drive thru? I'll get you back by 10 or 11?"

"Papayagan ka ba?"

"Yeah," he replied. "It's full house here. I doubt if they'd notice."

"Okay," sabi ko. "Drive carefully."

"I will," sabi niya tapos ay tinapos na namin iyong tawag.

I changed into a maong shorts, white tank top, and my oversized light brown cardigan. I also brought my tote bag na naka-lagay iyong notebook, pencil case, wallet, at phone ko. Pagbaba ko ay nagpaalam ako kila Mama tapos ay lumabas na ako nung nandoon na si Austin. I told him na 'wag na kaming pumasok dahil sabi rin nila na 'wag na raw basta raw bumalik ako bago mag noche buena.