Mountains To Cross

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Another thing I hate about growing up is the thought of Christmas.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love this time of the year. I love the decorations and gifts. But whenever I think about it, it makes me sad because of how much time has passed for me.

I still enjoy it but not as much as I enjoy it when I was a kid. The innocence of being a child is priceless.

I remember when Santa Claus aka my Father gave me a big doll house for Christmas. Isang buong taon kong hiniling iyon sa kanya at laging iniiyakan sa toy kingdom kapag nakikita. Beside the gift, there's a short letter that says:

Merry Christmas, Princess Risela!

You were a good girl and you definitely deserve this doll house. Continue doing great in school and congratulations for tying your shoelaces for the first time.

Love,
Santa Claus

But as I grew up, I learned that Santa Claus is fictional and the people who kept giving me and my brother gifts and chocolates are Mom and Dad.

Habang lumalaki kami, hindi na lang kami basta masaya kapag may tsokolate sa loob ng mga medyas namin. We want motorbikes now, we want cars for ourselves. Hindi na kami masaya sa mga laruan, we now want clothes and shoes and branded bags. And it's sad, because I think that Christmas is all about the little things you can give.

Children got the essence of the occasion but adults are just really shameless, as always. It's not really 'christmas changed', it's us who changed. Ang nagbago ay ang mga bata noon na kontento na sa kendi at maliliit na regalo dahil sa paglaki natin ay ipinaparamdam sa atin ng mundo na mas malaking regalo ay mas may halaga.

"Merry Christmas, Maku!" I hugged him tight before giving one bar of chocolate. My first gift to everyone for the night.

Maku's eyes lighted in happiness. Tuwang-tuwa na siya sa isang bar ng chocolate and he probably doesn't know that he will get bigger gifts later. Balita ko kasi ay binili siya ni Kuya Yosef ng toy car na talagang masasakyan at mapapaandar niya sa lawn nila.

"Mewy Chwistmas, Ate Wisela!" He cutely said.

Our parents loves the Santi Andrada residence for special occasions like this. Last last year ay dito rin kami nag-noche buena. Last year kasi ay hindi kami nakasama dahil sa Australia kami nagpasko at bagong taon.

They have a very big lawn kaya gustong gusto nila dito. I love it here too. Sobrang chill kasi ng overall vibe ng bahay na ito. Other houses are leaning towards a modern interior pero ang bahay nila Tita Ika ay mukhang vacation house. Puno ng mga halaman kahit sa loob at mas nangingibabaw ang wood accent.

Puno ng mga dekorasyon ang bahay nila Tita Ika. They went for typical Christmas decor this year. Kami naman sa bahay ay White Christmas ang theme dahil nasunod ang nanay ko.

Dahil busy yata ang mga Tita this year, nagpacatering lang sila ng food galing sa kaibigan ni Tito Joaquin. Pati mga upuan, galing rin sa party coordinator. Ayos lang naman dahil maganda naman ang pagkakaayos sa lugar. The color scheme they used is red, white and gold.

Pinektusan ko si Juan Luis nang makita ko siyang kumakain na agad ng skewers.

"Papansin!" Aniya sa akin.

"Patay gutom!" Sagot ko.

Umikot ako kasama si Red para magmano sa mga Tito at Tita na nandito na at nagkukwentuhan kasama si Mommy at Daddy.