Assume: An agreement to continue performing duties under a contract or lease.

“Honey what do you think’s the best na gawin natin sa holidays?” As usual, hinintay ako ni dad kaninang umaga kahit matagal akong kumilos. Feeling ko nga he’s already late pero hindi niya lang sinasabi – he’s selfless that way… pero he’s just fooling himself here. Kilalang kilala ko na ang mga galaw niya at siyempre hindi ko na sasabihin sa kaniya that I noticed it. I’ll just let him be kasi ayaw ko namang sayangin ang effort ng daddy ko and just nag at him dahil lang sa ganito.

And… Holidays… Ang araw kung saan kilala ka ng lahat. Pati yung mga naging kaaway mo, papansinin ka na; yung mga hindi mo kilala, pamilya mo na. At ano ang pakay nila? Mamamasko raw. Hmp! Napaka gullible pa naman ni dad minsan!

Well, pagkatapos ng competition sa Buzz Your Wits, Dad immediately fetched me and said na he’ll fulfill his promise of buying me ice cream. I wasn’t all ware nga na holidays na talaga until I entered the mall. It was glistening with sparkles and enchanting everyone with its Christmas spirit. Lagi na lang kasi akong either sa library or nasa study room.

The mall’s interior was filled with colorful lights tapos they made big gift boxes for decorations na isasabit. Yung Christmas tree nga napakalaki rin. Dad was even gushing over it, telling me ‘baby, go to the middle. I’ll take a picture of you.” Hindi naman ako nag reklamo kahit mukha akong 5 years old na pinilit lang at sinunod na ang gusto ng excited kong ama.

Nung start ng ber months kasi, hindi ko pa naman ramdam ang holidays – not like before na kahit September pa lang ay Christmas na… so maybe that’s the reason na I didn’t have it in mind na malapit na talaga ang araw na pinkahinihintay ng karamihan.

Kaya rin siguro wala ako masiyadong maisip na sagot kay Dad dahil hindi rin naman ako prepared and also, I feel like I don’t have the need to make efforts about something I’m not anticipating. “I don’t know, Dad. I’ll just go with whatever you’ll think of.” I replied habang nakatingin sa harap, hindi ko magawang tignan si Dad dahil nararamdaman ko nang nakitingin siya sa’kin. Gloomily.

I’ve been her Little Christmas Baby ever since I learned the essence of this holiday. Palagi akong may suggestions and excited pa sa games na naiisip. Kaya I think naging malungkot yung reaction ni Dad dahil he was expecting a different answer from me.

Hindi naman ako nagsisisi na ‘yon yung sinagot ko sa tanong niya. I just want to be honest lang talaga and don’t wanna act all jolly when in reality I’m not naman. Even if he was downhearted, I know he’ll understand...

I’m sorry, Dad. It’s just not the same anymore.

He cleared his throat to prevent the negative atmosphere creating between us. “Hmm, how about a peach mango pie to start your day?” Finally, I looked at his direction and I noticed na naka right signal na ‘yung kotse – heading to Jollibee’s direction. Taray parang naging commercial ng Jabee yung ganap namin ah.

“Yes, that would be all. Thankyou.” Tapos na siyang mag-order ng breakfast for the both of us. Kagaya nga ng sabi ko; mabagal ako kumilos kaya hindi na rin pala kami nakapag-almusal.

He moved the car forward papunta sa receiving area, by the time he reached it he stopped muna and looked at me. Oh, I just know may sasabihin siya. “Hon, I’m not gonna force you to do something you’re not ready of, hm? I love you, sweetheart. Dad’s always here.” He kissed my forehead and caressed my cheeks. May namumuo na ngang luha sa mga mata ko. Daddy kasi eh!

After getting our order, dumiretso na kami agad sa school. I ate my breakfast habang nagmamaneho si Dad and from time to time sinusubuan ko siya if hindi masiyadong busy ang road – better safe than sorry. Inaasar niya pa nga ako na if ever na magka-jowa na ako baka hindi ko na siya susubuan. Engot talaga. 

He dropped me off then umalis din naman. Siyempre sinabi ko na sa kaniyang alam ko na late na siya. Tinawanan lang nga ako and drove away. I remember telling him before na he should let me borrow his extra car na naka garahe lang dun sa bahay so that I’ll drive myself to school pero sabi niya ‘anak, be practical. mahal ang gas ngayon.’

He’s really bad at lying. Akala niya siguro hindi ko maaalala na one of their investors ay owner ng isang gasoline station! Alam ko naman na he’s overprotective and clingy pero I need to do things din by myself.

I was entering the school’s gate nung nakita ko sina Yeji na tumatambay sa side benches. Naghaharutan pa sila ng bestie niya. Well, more like Yeji is busy with her phone tapos Ryujin is annoying the hell out of her. Then naaninagan ko rin sa gilid yung magjowang sina Lia at Chaer kasama si Ning at Gi sa kabilang bench.

It’s already almost our class time and usually nauuna akong dumating kesa sa mga kaibigan ko pero circumstances like dad converting directions and proceeding through a fastfood drive through happens.

“Goodmorning, guys. Why are you all here?” Sabay nabaling ang kanilang atensyon sa akin. Ano ba? Me lang to oh!

Umupo muna ako sa tabi ni Ning habang naghihintay sa sagot nila. I think I already have an idea on what's the reason and It’s great nga naman na vacant namin kasi parang pa giveaway na rest time ‘to. Curious lang kasi talaga ako dahil minsan lang mangyari yung ganito sa Univ. Hindi naman kasi sila basta-bastang nagbibigay ng vacant because strict sila sa sched. So, if ever na mangyari ‘to, it would be for something na very important. Siguro tungkol sa intrams?

Yung intrams kasi magaganap siya before ang Christmas break namin. Isiningit na lang siya sa ganitong time slot para diretso na raw yung pahinga namin. After ng awarding daw eh pwede nang ‘wag bumalik and optional na lang para sa mga mayroong missed na gawain.

Ilang minuto na ako naghihintay dito pero I didn’t get any response from these guys. Ano pa nga bang inexpect ko rito? Halata namang hindi nila alam ang rason kung bakit vacant sila. “Wala ata tayong morning classes kasi may urgent meeting ang faculty. Maybe it’s for the upcoming events before our break.” Yep, si Yeji lang talaga maaasahan ko rito.

“Mukhang nag-conflict kasi yung sched sa final examinations natin kaya pinatawag silang lahat ni directress to consult kung anong magandang solution dito.” And si Chaeryeong din.

Oh? Eto siguro yung urgent matter that Ate Dubu messaged me about kaninang umaga. She only informed us that we need to fix things. Hindi niya talaga sinabi sa amin through social media ang buong detalye kasi nga baka may mag leak ng information. Good thing that my schedule is clear, then.

Sandali…

Ba’t parang hiyang-hiya si Ning kay Gi? Pulang pula pa nung aksidente silang nagkatinginan – mata sa mata ni Giselle. Habang nakikinig nga ako kina Yeji and Chaeryeong, I noticed na hindi siya mapakali sa tabi nung isa. Akala ko nga constipated na siya. Kapag nababaling yung tingin ni Gi sa side namin, yumuyuko agad siya. Hala siya mhiema?! I laughed internally. Mukhang may aasarin nanaman ako ah.

Also… Kung nandito silang lahat, tapos wala kaming classes; diba dapat nandito rin si aussie?

I noticed nga lately na she’s already enjoying the company of the nursing students eh. Kahit ako rin naman siguro, I would feel comfy with these dorks around me. Their personalities are balanced kasi; may time for fun and jokes tapos may time rin na magseryoso especially when it comes to acads.

“Where’s Winter Kim?” At ayun na nga. Hindi na napigilan ng demonyo kong bibig na magtanong.

Nanlaki agad ang mga mata ni Ryujin at Yuna, they even gasped loudly. Mga OA! “Ssob K?! Interesado ka ba kay taglamig?”

Pinagsasabi neto? Kung meron mang salita that would describe my feelings towards that girl is anything other than that! At saka, paano rin nila napapayag yung Aussie na tawagin siyang taglamig?

I scoffed. “Nonsense. I noticed kasi na palagi niyo na siyang kasama.”

“Ay akala ko kung ano na Madam Rep… Madalas kasi, wala ka namang pake sa iba kapag hindi nakakatulong sa’yo” Dugtong ni Yuna.

Really? Kaya ba ganun na lang yung reaction nila?

Gi was the one who answered me with suspicious gaze na parang nagpapahiwatig ng mga katagang What are you up to? But despite her suspic