Holding on to His Promises

Chapter 1: Trip to Lolo Max's Hacienda

Red, blue, yellow, and green. Those were the colors of our Christmas lights displayed outside the house. They were so beautiful that I watched it for a few minutes. I was waiting for Auntie Rona because she went to the market for a grocery shopping.

I heaved a sigh and put my both hands over my chin. All of a sudden my brows furrowed because I heard a voice calling me.

"Psst! Demi!"

Unti-unti akong napatayo mula sa pagkaka-upo ko sa hagdan ng harapan ng main door ng bahay namin. It was Kirby, and behind him was Dylan. I opened the gate for them.

"What are you guys doing here? Gabi na oh!" sabi ko sa kanila. Fortunately, Auntie wasn't around, kundi lagot sila.

"We just―" Napatigil si Dylan nang marinig namin ang tunog ng tambol at tambourine. Sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa mga kapwa bata namin na nangangaroling sa katabi naming bahay.

"Let's sing a Christmas carol!" Kirby said it confidently like it was his brightest idea.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Dylan. I cocked my one brow, telling him to decide if we should agree to Kirby's idea. But he just shrugged. "For what? To ask for coins?" natatawang sabi niya, like he found Kirby's idea hilarious.

"Yeah! Pambili na rin yun ng softdrinks at tsitsirya 'no!"

"We have a lot in our refrigerator," Dylan said in a dull voice. Well, they were rich, even Kirby, but I didn't know why Kirby still wanted to ask for some coins to buy softdrinks and snacks. "Besides, your singing voice sounds horrible." I laughed at what Dylan said.

Kirby wore a sad face. "Uuuh, why are you so KJ? It's just for fun because I think it's fun."

"Auntie Rona will not allow me to go outside at night," I said.

"Then let's do it in the morning!" Masayang sabi ni Kirby sabay taas ng hintuturo niya sa ere.

Dylan and I gave him a "weird" look.

Napatigil naman si Kirby at kunwari'y tumawa. "Just kidding." Mabilis na binaba niya ang kamay niya.

Napailing lang si Dylan at binaling ang tingin sa akin. "We're here to invite you to join us at my Lolo's hacienda. We will have a vacation there."

"Yeah! Sama ka sa amin sa hacienda ng Lolo ni Dylan. Uuwi din tayo bago magnoche-buena," ani Kirby sa akin.

Napamaang ako sa kanila at tumingin kay Dylan. "Hacienda? 'Yun ba 'yung kinukuwento mo sa akin na maraming horses at flowers?" There was excitement in my voice. He once told me about his grandfather's hacienda because he was always having a vacation there.

"Yes," he said.

I wanted to come with them but . . . "Auntie Rona will not allow me," malungkot na sabi ko.

They both looked at each other for a few seconds. Naglakad naman ako papunta sa hagdan sa harap ng bahay namin at umupo roon. I looked down and played with my fingers.

I stopped when they sat on my both sides. "Ipagpapaalam kita," ani Dylan.

I shook my head. "Don't ever do that if you don't want me to be stuck in this house forever."

Auntie Rona didn't want me to befriend Dylan because Dylan was a Hunt and she told me that Hunt family was evil. I did not believe her because Dylan wasn't like that. Fortunately, Kirby was a relative of ours, so I got a chance to make friends with them.

We stopped when we heard the gate open. From here I saw Auntie Rona hugging a huge paper bag. I quickly stood up and approached her. I took the paper bag from her.