“Carol, handa na ba ang mga gamit mo?” tanong ni Mama nang dumaan siya sa kwarto ko galing sa kan’yang kwarto.
Naka upo lang ako sa sahig habang nag aayos ng gamit. “Opo, ma,” I replied. 
Pupunta kasi kami ng bahay ni Lola ngayon hanggang sa mag pasko. Simula na rin ng simbang gabi mamaya. Sa totoo lang ay ayaw kong sumama pero ayaw ko naman sumaway kay Mama. 
Tumango si Mama, “Okay. Bilisan mo na, ha? Aalis na tayo,” she said before walking out to the kitchen. 
Tumayo ako mula sa kama at tumungo sa salamin malapit sa bintana para tingnan ang sarili. I removed my clip from my hair. Nilipad ng hangin ang buhok ko. My hair was cut in a butterfly style. I don’t have perfect features, but it fits me well so I’m fine with that. Nagsuot lang ako ng puting fitted crop shirt at blue jeans. I reached for my headphones on the top of my table and put it on my neck. I took a snap of my fit. I’ll post it on my IG later. 
I went outside the house. Lumabas na muna si Mama dahil may nakalimutan daw siyang bilhin na pasalubong para kila Lola. Ako naman ay nag simula ng mag lock ng mga pinto. I removed all the suckets and went to the kitchen para naman itago ang mga pagkain. Afterwards, I went to the back yard to check our laundry. 
“Wow. Good morning! Ms. Laurel” 
Umangat ang tingin ko, I was turning off the faucet. “Oh, Delavin,” kunot ang noo ko na tumango sa kan’ya. 
He giggled. Meroon pang bakod nakaharang sa aming dalawa, pero hindi naman gaano kataas ang bakod namin kaya nakadungaw siya sa akin. Her hair is a bit messy. Tutok na tutok pa sa kan’ya ang araw. He looks like a toddler. Naka pantulog pa siya. 
“I didn’t hear my morning alarm clock from you, Ms. Laurel,” he said. He has this raspy voice. Maybe because he just woke up. 
Umirap ako sa kan’ya at nag lakad patungo sa kan’ya. My hair flew because of the wind. “Whatever, I’ll put soundproof inside my room,” I said, updating him. 
Lumungkot ang mukha niya sa sinabi ko. If I know, he is just being annoying. “Awe,” he said.
I just shrugged and smirked at him. I heard our gate open. Nandyan na ata si Mama, I looked behind my back and I was right. With my hands in my pocket I look back at Rheiden. He is already looking at me. 
“Got to go?” he asked as if he knew where I would be going. 
I tilt my head a bit before nodding at him. “Yup.” I said while nodding. 
Me and Rheiden had known each other since we’re 5. We have been the same age, birth month and the same school since kindergarten. Since then, we never really became that childhood friends. We’re more like enemies. We fought a lot every single day about the stupidest thing in the world. I even threw him my barbie because he hid it. But what good in being an enemy with him is that he never betrayed me. 
“See you again, Zene,” he said before I took off. 
Dala ang dalawang bag ay pumasok kami ni Mama sa isang malaking bahay. We rode in a van for 5 hours. This house was huge, Lola and Lolo’s house, created for their 9 children. Spanish style mansion. There are maids all over the place, cleaning the vintage vases, changing the sheets of the sofa, and arranging the flowers in every corner of the house. 
“Zeney, apo,” 
Agad akong napalingon sa hagdan. The grand staircase. Lola Zenielin is going down the stairs so gracefully with his nightgown. Her hair was fixed and permed. Even if she's old, she still looks so pretty. 
A smile crept on my lips and went to the last step of the stairs to welcome her. She went to me immediately and gave me a tight hug. She smells like her flowers in the garden. 
She held my chin, “You're getting prettier like a fine wine, huh,” she said that made me blush. 
“Lola, bola ka naman, eh. Ikaw nga para kang bampira,” I said. “You look like 20,” bola ko sa kan’ya. She loves hearing those things. She gave me a phone after hearing those words. Maybe if I did it again, she could give me a car. I smirk. 
She slightly pinched my arm, “You silly kid.” We walked while we talked. She wants to go to her beautiful garden. 
“Where’s you Tita Zaya?” 
Oh, she was pertaining to Mama. My Father's sister. I call her mother because she wants me to call her that. And, she deserves to be called like that.
I smiled, “She went into her room po, Lola. She said she'll just go and change,” I informed her. 
Lumabas kami sa isang sliding door ng bahay kung saan ang labas ay ang napaka ganda at napaka aliwalas na na garden. May malaking lamesa roon na gawa sa kahoy at mga upuan na gawa rin sa kahoy. I remember celebrating my birthday there with Lola. 
Umupo kami sa isa sa mga benches. Napangiti pa nga ako ng meron dumapong paru-paru sa aking kamay. 
“Have you talked to your Mom?” she asked when we sat down. 
I gave her a smile. She's pertaining to my biological Mother. “She called last month Lola, she's ahm, busy with her second born, I guess,” I said that while looking around. 
Mas dumami pala ang bulaklak ngayon. There's even a newly built fountain near the green house. The grass was perfectly razor. Ang sarap humiga roon tuwing alas kwatro ng hapon dahil hindi na masyadong mainit. 
Liningon ko si Lola, she's looking at me silently. Kita ko ang awa sa mga mata niya. Ngumiti ako. 
“She bought me a new pair of shoes, Lola. Actually suot ko nga ngayon, eh,” pinakita ko sa kan’ya ang puting sapatos na binili ng nagbigay sa akin ng buhay dito sa mundo. 
She looked at it and smiled, “It really looks good on you,” she said. I nod. 
“Are you okay?”she asked when she saw me spacing out a bit. 
I gave her the smile that I could always give her, “Of course, Lola.” 
My mother and father were annulled or divorced. I don't really know. I didn't even know how I even existed in this world. Ang pakiramdam ko at ang alam ko, I was born to raised by my Tita Zaya. Lola's bunsong anak. She has no husband. Kaya noong nag hiwalay at nag asawa muli ang mga magulang ko ay siya na lang ang kumupkop sa akin at itinuturing bilang isang anak. And I was very thankful to have her as my Mama. 
Pumasok muna kami ni Lola sa loob ng mansion dahil may kukunin daw siya at tinawag na rin kami ng nurse niya. 
Upon entering the mansion again. I went to the living area. I left Lola with her nurse so they could check up on her. Matanda na rin kasi si Lola. She needs care. 
Tumungo alo sa living room kung saan nakalagay ang lahat ng litrato na kasapi ng pamilya. Lola's family is big and blessed. They all have a family and have a stable life. I went on to the long aisle of pictures. Ang una kong tinignan ay ang family picture ng unang anak ni Lola, Si Papa Zion. I call my uncles and Aunties Papa and Mama's because they wished to call them like that. 
Papa Zion has a small family, and only has one son, Kuya Leo. Next to Papa Zion are my Twin Aunties, Mama Zusana and Mama Zusaine. They live in states and both have a happy married life with their children. Moving to the next frame, it was a wedding picture of Mama Zeana, she has no kids yet but she's pregnant. And there's Papa Zelo, Papa Zoro and Mama Zena with their kids. Most of them are still children. We're just a few who are entering adulthood. 
I walked forward again. I was down into the last picture frame. It's Mama Zaya and my Father's frame, Papa Zekiel. I smiled bitterly when I saw his family. His wife has 2 children, Desmond and Delilah. Ang saya saya nila sa litrato. They look perfect, his wife and the husband looking so happy together with their children. Kinuha ko ang huling frame, it's Mama Zaya’s frame…with me. I looked at the two frames in my hands. Hindi ko mapigilan na ikumpara ang dalawa. 
“Wala man lang akong family picture,” I said and giggled before putting back the frame on its right places. 
It’s December 15, it’s the start of simbang gabi here in the Philippines. Wala pa ang ibang anak ni Lola kaya kami muna ni Mama ang sasama sa kan’ya sa simbahan. I want to complete this years’ simbang gabi to make a wish for myself. 
Nasa kwarto ako ni Mama, we’ll share a room. She went outside to get Lola ready. Alas kwatro na kasi at kailangan na namin mag tungo ng simbahan. For today’s outfit, I picked my simple white fitted peplum dress and paired it with my white platform heels. Very Tita. I also put my hair up and put some powder on my face. I didn’t have any accessories to put on so I just got my silver watch to match my outfit. 
After getting ready we went to the church. 
“Peace be with you,” we said in unison and bowed ourselves. 
I looked at Lola and Mama to give them a hug and kiss. I giggled when Mama poked my head a little before kissing my cheeks. Lola caressed my cheeks and kissed it. Pagbalik ko sa aking upuan ay nahagip ko ang isang lalaking hindi kalayuan sa amin. We were on the opposite side, he was seated beside her mother. Wearing his white polo shirt and black chinos pants. May shades sa kan’ya ulo. He looks almost like his dad. Nakaupo siya habang nakikipag laro sa babaeng bata na nasa kan’yang harapan. I didn’t know what got into me that I waited for him to know my presence and when he did. I smiled and bowed my head, “Peace be with you,” I said even if he wouldn’t hear me. 
Nang matapos ang simba.We went to the altar to take a picture. After taking a picture, I stood on the side near the choir to wait for Lola and Mama because they were talking to the priest and some of the oldies. While lingering my eyes around, natigil ang mata ko sa lalaking nakatayo at naka krus ang mga braso. He was not paying attention to his parents as he was staring at me. 
I guess he can’t remember me as it’s been almost a decade already. I shook my head and cared about all the paintings on the ceiling. While being invested in all the paintings, hindi ko na napansin ang bulto ng katawan sa aking harapan. 
“I knew it was you, Zeney,” 
Gulat akong tumingin sa lalaki. He was the guy I was looking at earlier. “Zaren,” 
His lips parted a bit. Ngayon ko lang nakita ng tuluyan ang mukha niya. His eyes are still brown, pointed nose, and beautiful lips. Well, I never doubted that he would grow a lot more handsome. He was my childhood friend. 
He scanned me. Hindi siya makapaniwala na nakita ako ngayon. “Wow, you've grown,” he said unbelievably. Nilagay niya ang kan’yang kamay sa bulsa. I can see the mole on the side of her right eye. 
Umirap ako dahil sa sinabi niya, “Malamang.”
Tumawa siya, “And you still have anger issues, eh?” he teased. I glared at him. 
He laughed, before giving me his smile, “Looking at you now, brings back my childhood,” he said reminiscing all. 
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay, “Yeah same, looking at you brings back my boring childhood,” I joked and cross my arms too. 
He chuckled, “Oh really? That’s why you cried when you left?” he asked. 
My lips parted when I remembered that scene. I was bowling and became sad about it. Pero hindi ko maitago ang tuwa na naalala pa pala niya ako. 
We continued reminiscing about all the past scenarios when my Lola approached us and said that we have to go home. Nagbatian pa ang tatlo, Mama even hug him because she treat him as his child, too. 
“Oh no, am I that old na?” conyo ang pagkakasabi noon ni Mama. Natawa kaming apat.
“But you still look young, Mama,” Zaren said, which made me smile. He didn’t change. 
Mama slapped Zaren’s arms, “Bola ka pa rin, o siya, kailangan na muna namin umalis, my brothers and sisters will arrive tomorrow morning,” pahayag ni Mama. 
Tuamango-tango naman si Zaren at tumingin sa akin. He pouted his lips a little, suppressing his smile, “I'm really happy to see you again, Zeney.”
That made me smile, “Me too, Zaren.”