08

I woke up the next day from the smell of toasts and coffee. What time is it? I reached for my phone and opened it. It's 8 in the morning. I should probably get up and take a shower.

"Good morning!" I greeted them when I got down and they were both cooking breakfast. They look cute. Always helping out each other in the kitchen.

"Good morning!" They both greeted me back. "Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes."

I grinned. "Alrighty. I'll just take a shower. Coffee for me, please!"

"Alright! Like father, like son." I laughed at mom's statement while I was walking up the stairs.

I went to the dining table right after I showered and changed clothes. "Wow, looks yummy." I said as I looked at the dishes she cooked. "Thank you for the coffee!"

"It's your finals soon, right?" Dad asked.

I nodded while eating rice following it with the scrambled egg. "Yeah. I need to go back early today, though. Is that okay?"

"Of course. Go and study your ass off. You can't come back here if you don't graduate." Mom jokes.

Dad looked at me and whispered. "Don't worry, I got your back if you don't graduate." He clicked his tongue and winked which made me laugh. Mom slapped his arm and laughed as well.

•

"I'll see you on Christmas break! Take care, you guys." I hugged them and mom kissed me on my cheek.

"My god, let your son go. He'll be back in a few weeks." He teased mom.

"Whatever, you old man."

As usual, their bickering. I can't help but laugh. "Alright. I really gotta go. Stay safe, okay? Stop fighting, more loving." I teased them but they just pinched my ears.

We bid our goodbyes and waved at each other after I finally left. I rode the bus just like the last time. I wore my earphones and looked outside. Wherever you gaze at, there's christmas lights and decor. The wind was kinda strong which is why people are wearing their jackets now or something warm.

I remember that time when it was only 3 days before Christmas. Diesel and I were out to buy gifts for our parents.

"Do you think Mom will like this?" He showed me a pretty bracelet. It was silver and it had a small pendant which was a stone.

"That'll suit Auntie, for sure." I nodded my head and gave him a thumbs up.

He grimaced, feeling unsure if he was going to buy that one. "Should I buy the bag or this one?"

"Hmm. I think we both know that Auntie likes collecting bags but never uses all of them. I think the bracelet is a better choice." I held his hand and smiled at him.

I patiently waited for him while he was purchasing the bracelet but never let go of his hand. He looks very happy with what he purchased. I was unsure of what I should get my parents. So I bought mom shoes that fit her taste. She was bugging me about it for a long time. And for dad, I bought him a wallet because his wallet is so old already. I think it's been with him since he was in high school.

Everytime I tell him to buy a new one, he tells me that he doesn't need a new one because his wallet is perfectly fine. Haa.. that hard headed man. Diesel actually bought uncle a polo from his favorite brand. We know that this isn't much but it's the thought that matters. It doesn't need to be something expensive or grand, it just needs to be from the heart.

"Okaay! Let's buy some hot choco because my insides are freezing!" He cheered when we finished buying presents. He shivered and held my hand tighter.

I chuckled at his cuteness and followed him. While we were waiting for our order, I brought out something from the pocket of my jacket. It was a bracelet for him. He looked so shocked when I opened my hand and he saw what was on my palm.

I scratched my nape and shyly looked at him. "I know it's not yet Christmas but I'm giving this to you now." I reached for his arm and wore the bracelet on his wrist. It had a leaf pendant.

"Omygod. This is so pretty, Tibby!" He smiled at me. "Don't you have one?"

I pulled up the sleeve of my jacket and revealed mine. The pendant was a tree. "They say that the leaves indicate when the tree is dying or not. Without the leaves, the tree isn't complete. Without you, I am complete." I chuckled when I realized what cheesiness I just said.

"You're so cute." He giggled. "It's pretty, thank you very much." He kissed my hand and handed me something. I felt cold chains on my hand.

"What's this?"

He shrugged while smiling. It was a necklace with a ring. "Are you proposing to me?" I joked and smirked. "It's like we're exchanging gifts.

He smacked my arm. "What if I am? Will you say yes?" He winked at me and we both laughed. "I just figured that you'll probably have a lower tendency to lose the ring when it's a necklace."

I pinched his cheek. "My smart Diesel. Thank you. I love you." I grinned and saw him blush. He looked down to hide his face and that's when I saw his. I mean the necklace the same as mine. Cute.

We were walking side by side. I was holding my hot choco on my right hand while he was holding his on the left. Our hands were clasped together, laughing together while fighting the cold. A lot of people were out because it's Christmas. Some people would smile at us from time to time.

"Ahh. Nothing's better than spending Christmas with you guys. Oh! My birthday."

I looked at him, he was all happy. "I really find your birthday cool. By the time the clock strikes 12, we're not just counting down for the new year but for your birthday as well."

"I know! My birthday's just as cool as I am." He bragged but I just made a disgusted face and stuck my tongue out.

"You're very mean!" He also stuck his tongue out and his eyebrows were furrowed.

"You're cute when you get mad at my jokes." I laughed and kissed his cheek.

"PDA!" he pointed at me and scooted away.

"Hey! Don't move away from me. I might die!" I was laughing.

He rolled his eyes. "Stop it! Eww!" He playfully pushed me when I tried to get close to him.

•

I stepped inside my room and left the bag on my bed. I threw myself on my bed. I should probably visit him on his birthday. Can I, though? Am I ready to? I don't know anymore. Nevermind, I don't want to think about that for now. Come to think of it, that bracelet, I still wear mine. I think I saw his in the box with his letter. The necklace is probably there, too.

I sighed loudly and changed to comfortable clothes and made myself a cup of hot coffee. My back hurts but not as much as yesterday. Maybe the stretches did really help.

I wasn't really in the mood to start studying but when do I plan to study when I don't do it now? I don't have much free time for these 3 weeks. I'll be busy this week and next week because of the busy schedule. And the week after that is finals already.

I drank coffee, slapped myself to wake me up, and started studying.

•

"Finally!! Hell is done." I'm with Darwin. We decided to kinda hang out with both of the girls today since our exams just finished.

"God, my back is killing me. Thanks for the tip, though. It really helps." I groaned and continued to punch my back.

"Told you!"

I scoffed. "Let's go to the café first. Tell them that we'll wait there."

"Alright, sir!" He saluted and brought out his phone to message the girls.

Thank god it wasn't so packed. "Hey, I'll order. What do you want?"

"Hmm? No! I'll do it." He said determinantly.

I shook my head and held his shoulders to make him stay seated. "Nope, you're staying. I'll do it. Tell me the orders of the girls."

He sighed and comfortably seated, a sign that he has given up. "Alright. I'll just text it to you. Go, go!"

I was ordering when I saw Sam and Angel come in. I waved at them and they smiled at me. I finished ordering and got the buzzer.

"Hey, how was your first finals?" I asked as I seated.

"Hell!" They said, synchronized.

We laughed. "Well, you should get used to it." Darwin said and encouraged them.

I suddenly went silent and stared at the tree that I always looked at. Its leaves were falling because of the wind. I unconsciously smiled on my own and chuckled.

"Darwin, did he just lose his mind because of finals?" Sam asked.

I gazed at them, asking what was wrong and that's when I realized what I remembered. "No, it's nothing, sorry. And, I'm not losing my mind, young lady. I just remembered something from high school."

"Young lady pfft." Angel laughed at what I called her friend. "She's kinda old, you know. She's very grumply like an old lady."

"Oh, says the shy grandma." She teased back. They were bickering for a few minutes and we just watched them while laughing. You'll really enjoy watching these two fight.

"Anyway, was the thing you remembered about your EX boyfriend?" Sam asked me and gave emphasis on the "ex."

"Wait, I think I heard that question before." I looked at Darwin. We laughed when he looked so dumbfounded. "Yeah, it was about the story of the photo in my lock screen."

"Ohh. Love story time!" Angel cheered and looked at me with much excitement.

"No, no. It's embarrassing to tell." I waved my hand.

"Oho. He started the topic but declines to tell the story. Come on!" Sam supported her friend by pushing me as well.

Darwin stayed quiet but when I looked at him, I saw how anticipated he was to hear the story. Seriously, he's an open book.

"Alright, okay. I don't really have a choice, do I?" I chuckled. "We were 16 that time and it was our dismissal. You know how sometimes we have this season that dead leaves would fall off the tree because of how windy it is? It was that time when we took that picture. He was very pushy to take one."

"Look, Tibby! Who would've known that we have fall in this country?" He joked and I laughed. He looked shocked when he saw me laugh.

"Let's take a picture!" He pulled me to a spot where it was nice to take a picture.

"Eh? Why?"

"Because!" He answered.

I thought of teasing him. "Because what?"

He groaned in annoyance. "Just because! Please, let's take a picturee?" He pleaded like a kid which made me soft. I couldn't say no to that.

"Alright. Give me the phone, I'll hold it for us." He gave me his phone and we stood in front of the tree, the sky was pretty, and the wind blew the leaves which caused them to fly. When I took the photo, it was the same time the wind blew the leaves. Nothing was more perfect than that picture. While I took the photo, I admired him. I didn't even bother looking at the camera.

His small eyes, his long lashes, his brows, his nose, his lips that were so red. His face that glowed whenever it was hit by the sunlight. It was all so perfect for me. I admired every little detail on his face. I asked myself how am I so lucky to have him as my friend. But I also asked myself if it was right to like him. How could I like someone who treats me like a brother?

But I didn't really think about that. I thought that I should just enjoy every moment that I have with him because I know that there'll be a time that we'll go our separate ways.

"But little did I know that we won't separate and he didn't think of me as a brother." I chuckled.

"Wow, he looks so happy talking about his ex." Sam was shocked. I guess they all are. I kinda have a guess on what face I was making while telling them that story.

"Woah, I never saw you make that face." Darwin commented, also shocked at me.

"Well, that's what love can do." Angel shrugged while smiling and blushing because of my story.

"Yeah but unfortunately, love can also destroy you." I smiled painfully.