I awoke to the sound of my phone beside me. Yawning and still sleepy, I glanced at it and groaned.

It's holiday and I forgot to put off the alarm last night. It's just five in the morning, for Pete's sake!

I lied back and closed my eyes. I know I can still go back to sleep since I wasn't wide awake yet and I did.

This time, I woke up at around ten in the morning with the frowning face of Kuya Benson, in his denim jacket and brushed up hair, at the foot of my bed.

I shrieked in surprise and he rolled his eyes.

"Shit! What the, Kuya!" I exclaimed and caught my breath. "Papatayin mo ba ako sa gulat?"

"You're supposed to pick me up at the airport, dear sister." He said in sarcasm and I gasped in astonishment, realizing what I just did.

I grabbed my cellphone and saw his 35 missed calls earlier.

So, that's why I had an alarm set for earlier time!

"Hala, kuyaaa!" I wailed and hugged him in guilt. "Sorry, sorry! Napasarap tulog ko! Nakalimutan ko! Sorry talaga!"

"Aiish!" He pulled away from my hug and flicked my forehead. I complained and he said, "dahil dyan,  pagluto mo ako ng paborito ko."

"Yes, Kuya! Opo! Sorry talaga!" I apologized again. "Liligo lang ako, baba ako agad para magluto. Promise! Mabilis lang ako!"

He rolled his eyes and stood up. "Bilisan mo, gutom na ako." He said then left me for some privacy.

I fixed my bed and closed the door before I grabbed my towel and bathrobe to proceed to my bathroom. It took me only twenty minutes to bathe and dress up to go downstairs.

Thank heavens, I was able to do some grocery a week before his arrival from US. It's the Christmas Season and he's back until the 1st week of January.

We have more than a week to bond and catch up on each other. He promised to go with me this coming Wednesday back to our parents' hometown, in Ilocos Sur.

But, first, his favorite dish.

Oh my God!

I heard water from upstairs and shook my head.

I began preparing the things I need to make his favorite chicken adobo and went to our cassette player. I switched on to our favorite fm station and started singing and dancing to the music being played.

"Dancing on the hood... lalala.." I sang along to Anne Marie's song as I began to separate the chicken from the marinade.

I pan-fried its pieces and once done, I poured marinade into the pot and added water to boil. I waited for at least twenty minutes and added vinegar. I cooked it for another ten minutes and then tasted it. I decided to add the sugar and a pinch of salt.

I have to give it to my instincts. I was able to predict that he will be asking me to make him this dish when he comes home so I was able to have it marinated in soy sauce and garlic overnight. It took me only less than an hour to finish it and called out to him.

"Kuya! Kain na tayo!" I yelled and he answered back. In a matter of few minutes, I heard his footsteps and his look of excitement when he smelled the aroma of the food set on the table.

"Grabe! Walang kupas talaga luto mo, sis!" He exclaimed as he chomped on the chicken. He took a sip of the Coke on his glass.

"Ako pa ba!" I winked at him and continued eating.

We engaged ourselves in a light conversation until he became serious.

"What happened between you and Damon? Alam ko wala ako sa posisyong magtanong but the jerk had been my friend for some time. Hindi ko akalaing may pagka-gago pala yun." He asked and placed down his utensils.

I sighed and put down mine too before I could talk.

"Simple. He betrayed me with Aly." I said in a low voice. I spoke slowly, afraid that tears will fall again.

"Malandi pala talaga yung kaibigan mo noong una pa lang!" He shook his head as if he cannot believe that she can do that to me. I shrugged and gave him a small smile. "Wala akong balak sabihin sa iyo to kahit noon pa but the bitch almost came to me way back your high school days. She almost shove herself to my feet. How pathetic." My eyes grew wide in disbelief with his words.

I mean, I always hinted that Aly likes him but to the point that she will do those things to get his attention? Such a desperate move! And at such a young age?

"You are better off with Tristan." He said and I raised an eyebrow at him. "I like him for you even before he introduced himself to me as your friend. I have never seen someone who looks at you with so much respect and love like he does."

I swallowed a lump in my throat and I looked away. I began clearing our table but he stopped me.

"Ako na ang magliligpit ng pinagkainan at maghuhugas ng mga plato. You go and enjoy the holiday seasons. I believe, may get-together kayo later nila Jewel?" He said and stood up.

"Thanks, Kuya. I'll just be upstairs. Mamayang alas-tres pa naman kami magkikita. Ikaw din. Baka may jetlag ka. Bawi ka ng tulog." I said and he just nodded as he went towards the sink with the plates in his hands.
With that said, I went up.