"MODEL. F-in-a-follow ka sa Instagram. Aba, marunong na 'ko mag-check ng followers sa IG."

"No," sagot ni Gabriel.

"Secretary ni Aze," tuloy ni Pam sa tainga niya.

"Nananahimik 'yong inaalay mo, Ma," Kuya Aze says quietly from the backseat.

"No," sagot uli ni Gabriel.

Binatukan siya ng nanay niya. "Puro ka na lang no! Wala na 'kong narinig sa bibig mo kundi no!"

"Aray! Nagmamaneho ako!"

"'Wag mong sigawan nanay mo," banta ni Rich sa passenger seat.

"Hindi ko siya sinisigawan!" sigaw ni Gabriel, diretso ang titig sa daan. "In-a-announce ko lang na nagmamaneho ako!"

"Bakit wala kang gusto sa mga binibigay ko sa 'yo?!" sigaw pabalik ni Pam. Itong boses talaga ng nanay niya, naka-maximum volume palagi.

"Bakit ba ako kinukulit mo para ikasal, Ma? Ayan si Kuya, o!"

"'Wag mo 'kong idamay, ikaw ang pinag-uusapan dito," kalmadong sabi ni Kuya Aze.

"'Di n'yo talaga ako mahal, wala kayong pakialam sa 'kin," Pam sniffs, turning to the window. "Ayaw n'yo 'ko bigyan ng anak na babae, ayaw pa bigyan ng apo. Bahala na kayo—"

"Nandito na tayo," Kuya Aze points out, relieved.

Finally. Gabriel loves his family, but when he's quite literally being pushed to the altar to pop his seed into whichever vagina his mother wants, the four-hour drive can be considered torture.

As he pulls into the driveway, Anderdal Manor comes into view.

Blended neatly in the towering pine trees, the Gueco-Tanjangco holiday house in the middle of the forest stands proudly as a large log cabin with wooden architecture and windows glowing with Christmas lights and twinkling holly.

They step out of the car and are greeted with a breathtaking view of the mountains, fresh air, and a temperature of 19 degrees Celsius.

Putangina, ang lamig.

The front door opens and Tita Marge comes running out, wrapped in layers of clothes. "Pam! Rich!"

"Marge!" Gabriel's mom squeals, rushing to hug her.

Akala mo hindi lang sila magkausap nang tatlong oras kagabi.

Nagmano sina Gabriel at Azriel before Marge pulls them in for a tight hug. "Hi, Tita."

"Hay naku, ang gwapo-gwapo n'yo talaga!" she gushes, pinching both their cheeks in a way that is both embarrassing for thirty plus year-old men and endearing for the friends she considers family. "Pasok, pasok, bilis, malamig dito!"

Gabriel and Aze lug theirs and their parents' suitcases out of the trunk while Pam, Rich, and Tita Marge go ahead. Lov's mother links arms with Gabriel's mom and says, "Hay. Ang babait talaga ng mga anak mo, friend. Sila pa nag-drive. Anong magagawa ko kapalit ng mga puro babae?"

Hinampas ito ni Pam. "Aba, ginagawa ko na lahat para magka-babae ko. 'Wag ka na mangarap ng lalaki, 'di naman nakikinig sa 'kin. Tapos tingnan mo 'tong bunso ko, walang respeto. Papunta pa lang."

Kahit kailan talaga, Jett. Bida-bida.

Natawa si Tita Marge. "Ay, Diyos ko. Kahit ako nahihirapan sa bunso ko, alam mo 'yan. Sina Kaf, papunta pa lang rin..."

Nutty, their life-sized nutcracker statue, stands beside the door. Binati ito nina Gabriel bago sila pumasok.

Once he steps inside, he savors the warmth of the cozy private cabin, the comforting smell of freshly cut timber and cookies, and the holiday music softly echoing through the speakers.

Just to the right of the entryway, the banister of the staircase with a skylight roof leading to the rooms on the second floor is wrapped with garland. To the left is the spacious living room with grand, floor-to-ceiling windows that let in all the natural light. A huge couch with wool blankets draped over it takes the space in the middle in front of the wood-burning, massive stone fireplace, and the arc of the room houses a long bay window seat overlooking the mountains. French doors lead to the terrace outside, and a globed chandelier hangs on the ceiling.

The kitchen takes up the right side of the house with a bar, a pantry, and a long wooden dining table. At the hall leading to the kitchen sits a gigantic pine tree covered in twinkling lights and ornaments.

Anderdal Manor is cloaked in Christmas—red, silver, gold, green. Kahit 'yong mga plato at baso, Christmas-themed. 'Yong lalagyan ng salt at pepper ay gingerbread man statuettes. All the cabinet drawers and coffee tables are covered in wrapping paper with ribbons, little Christmas tree figurines adorn the whole house, and even the paper towel is designed with Christmas.

Na-miss ito ni Gabriel.

"Tita, Tito."

Umikot ng 360 degrees ang ulo niya sa boses na 'yon.

Bumababa ng hagdanan si Lov, sa likuran nito ay si Mikee, ang pinakabatang Gueco.

Tinitigan ni Gabriel si Lov.

She's in a white off-the-shoulder sweater tucked in a brown pleated skirt that accentuates her long, smooth legs, and white knee-high boots. Nakatali ang buhok nito at pulang-pula ang lipstick.

"Lovi!" Pam screeches. "Mikee!"

Nilagpasan ni Lovi si Gabriel at dumiretso ito sa nanay at tatay niya para magmano. Pam and Rich hug the sisters.

Mikee raises his chin at him. "'Sup, Kuya Tan. Kuya Aze."

Kuya Aze ruffles her hair and she swats it away. "Mikee. Lovi."

"Kuya Aze, hi." Mabilis na niyakap ni Lov ang kuya niya. Then, finally, she meets his stare. "Gabriel."

Ngumiti siya. Quietly, he greets, "Hi, Lov."

Her eyes narrow.

Tumingin si Gabriel sa paligid niya. "O, nasa'n boyfriend mo?"

"He's not here. We broke up," Lov says.

"Oh, you broke up," Gabriel says, nodding.

Five whole seconds (or minutes) pass.

Then, locking her in place with his stare, Gabriel repeats, "Oh. You broke up."

Scrambling for his phone, nag-text kaagad ni Gabriel.

Wag ka na pumunta

09913276621: Huh??? Why?

Wag na sabi

'Di mapigilan ni Gabriel ang lawak ng ngiti niya habang binubulsa ang telepono.

Around them, nag-uusap pa rin ang mga magulang nila at si Kuya Aze. Si Mikee ay nakatakas na sa social interaction.

Lov crosses her arms and tilts her head to the side. Kahit anong tangkad ni Gabriel, tatapatan at tatapatan ni Lov ang titig niya. "Don't sound so relieved, Gabriel, I might think you like me."

"'Di kita pipigilan kung iisipin mo 'yon."

"That would work if I actually thought about you."

"Don't sound so definitive, Lov. Kainin mo 'yang mga salita mo, e."

She scoffs. "'Di ko alam sa'n mo napupulot 'yang arrogance mo."

"'Pag tinititigan mo 'ko habang nagbabasa ako ng script, parang may karapatan naman ako maging arogante."

Lov isn't even fazed. He loves it. "Sabi ng 'di maalis ang tingin sa 'kin habang pababa ako ng stairs."

"Malamang. Ano 'yan?" Tinuro niya ang bibig nito.

"Ano ba." Hinampas siya ni Lov at sinamaan ng tingin. "Lipstick, Gabriel, 'di mo ba alam kung ano 'yon?"

"Visual learner ako. Sample nga ng nagagawa niyan." He leans down and offers her his cheek.

She pushes his face away with a rough hand. "My lips are not going anywhere near you."

"Mm-hmm."

She instantly flushes.

Ngumiti si Gabriel.

Unfazed when called out on her staring, but a simple 'mm-hmm' makes her knees weak.

He loves it.

"'Tsaka kahit na pogi ka, hindi ibig sabihin n'on pinag-iisipan kita," tuloy nito.

Ngumiti lalo si Gabriel.

"Ano?" inis na sabi ni Lov.

"Mas kinukumbinse mo pa 'ata sarili mo kaysa sa 'kin, Lov."

She opens her mouth to argue, and Gabriel's blood is singing, he wants to know what she's going to say next, but then Tito Holder comes out from the wine cellar downstairs with bottles and glasses in hand. "Ho, ho, ho!" he booms. "Merry Christmas!"

Holder is a bear of a man, large frame, large hands, young and happy soul. Binati ng pamilyang Tanjangco ito.

Gabriel kneels down on the ground next to Lov.

"Huy!" panicked na sigaw nito, pulling the material of his sweater by the shoulder roughly. "What are you doing?!"

"Relax," he chuckles, reaching out for her foot. Nahulog kasi nang 'onti ang zipper ng sapatos nito habang pababa ng hagdanan. Inaayos lang ni Gabriel.

Natahimik si Lov. He looks up at her while he zips up her left boot slowly, eyes on hers, watching her pretty red lips part.

Pinanood din siya ni Lov pabalik.

Even as Gabriel straightens to his full height in front of her, he keeps his eyes on hers.

Then he whispers in her ear, "15 - love."

Lov lasts two more seconds. Without another word, she turns around, her ponytail swishing around her and hitting Gabriel in the face, and stomps up the staircase.

He grins and thinks: I love the holiday season.