The Other Half

CHAPTER 19

ALLIE

Christmases have always been festive and bright, especially around here. Dito sa Samuel Executive Homes in San Nicholas, September pa lang, sobrang liwanag na ng mga bahay kapag gabi because of the Christmas lights and decors. And when I say sobrang liwanag, it means sobra talaga. In other words, exaggerated. It's like kulang na lang, maging Christmas village ang buong subdivision namin because of what the residents do to their houses.

It's sad to say that for long, nakalimutan na ng mga tao ang totoong 'spirit' of Christmas and they just do it to flaunt their riches and to show how beautiful their houses are. Because of that, ilang beses nang nafeature sa magazines and sa television ang subdivision namin and people think that it's some tourist destination na pwede nilang pasyalan to take photos and such. Only it's not going to happen kasi mahigpit ang rules sa subdivision about letting the outsiders in.

What's even sadder is, kapag nagstart nang mag put up ng decorations ang mga homeowners, hindi na rin matahimik ang parents ko. Kahit malayo sila, hindi nila tinitigilan sila Mama Macel at ang ibang kasambahay ng updates and instructions on how our house will stand out among the rest. Makes sense. My dad being the owner of the subdivision (the name gives it away), talagang hindi sila papayag na may makakadaig sa mansion namin.

From the gate to the plants and trees, to every single line and detail of our house, punong puno ng maliliwanag na ilaw that from a distance, it would look as though our house is made up of million little stars that shine in the darkness of the night.

It has been the tradition every single Christmas. It goes without saying that it's our house that stands out everytime. The people who pass by and behold the majesty and the grandeur of our house know nothing about the sadness and coldness that the owner's son faces alone, behind the walls, for 21 years.

This Christmas is no different. In fact, our house is even brighter and the decors are even more expensive (I heard Mama Macel say) than we used to have the Christmases before.

But I think, what separates this Christmas from the previous ones is the idea that the sadness and coldness, somehow, are no longer here. Not anymore.

On Christmas Eve, I invited the Lucas family including Tito David to the house. We were having dinner while waiting for the midnight nang lumapit si Mama Macel with the house phone.

"Allie, excuse me lang muna, ha? Ang Mommy mo. Hindi ka raw niya matawagan."

"I turned my phone off, Mama Macel." I said. "Ayoko po sanang maistorbo."

Tumango si Mama Macel. She pointed at the phone in her hand. "Kausapin mo na muna, Allie. Sandali lang naman ito siguro."

I nodded. Tumingin ako sa kanilang lahat sa dining table. "Excuse lang po, ha?"

Nagsmile at tumango naman sa akin sila Nanay Lisa at Tatay Robert while si Rodel ay tahimik lang na nakatingin sa akin.

Kinuha ko ang phone kay Mama Macel at nagpunta ako sa isang bakanteng guest room.

"Mom."

"Allie. Will you explain to me? Ano 'tong nababalitaan ko that you are letting people in the house? Kailan ka pa natutong magpapunta ng kung sino-sino sa bahay natin? Paano kung masasamang tao pala yang mga 'yan, ha? Paano kung may mawala, may masira, can they replace it? Allie, you're grown up. You should act responsibly. Hindi ka namin pinalaki at pinagaral to lower yourself with people you seldom know. Your Dad still doesn't know about this, and don't wait for me to tell him. You know your Dad, and I'm sure you won't like it once he starts sending someone to investigate the people you're spending time with. Kumusta ang studies mo? Have you been doing good? Yes, we've seen the changes in your grades, but still, we expect more. Alam namin na hindi lang iyon ang kaya mo. Why don't you just focus instead of spending time with people who are not worth it?"