2012 Christmas at Bicol

Webcam Shots at the Sala

 Mama at the background of the last shot. Also met a few cousins of our cousins: Am who is still in high school but ridiculously taller than I am (who I got to beat at chess! Heehee) and her younger brother Jan. Also notice my cousin Utoy who impressively builds his biceps and triceps but annoyingly called me a faggot as he bade me goodbye upon boarding the bus for home.

My ever humble younger-in-denial-of-being-a-danseur cousin: Karl who-also accuses me of so many absurdities like me deliberately touching his butt and exaggerates my crush to Don Lemon and Alfie Enoch to a fetish for black people. 

With handsome cousin Gadong and adorable cousin Jap who are brothers

Ate Faye- the oldest cousin among all 12 cousins at my father's side. It has been pointed out that I shouldn't be referring to her as ate since she's just a month older but it would be so awkward since the rest of our cousins call her Ate Faye and even our aunts and uncles call her that. Because we are tightly bound by our maturity due to our same age we both have shared a lot of stuff with each other. 

 Dada is a great swimmer compared to the rest of us. She used to be in the swimming varsity of her school and her butterfly stroke which according to her she came to learn for months is to be admired.

This shot was taken at the guest room and these are our positions when movie-marathoning plus many more cousins who would join us. One night when we chose to watch The Exorcism of Emily Rose and since I already watched it I went to sleep earlier than them and when I woke up I couldn't move because it was really crowded. It was a funny sight. My cousin Tessa who eventually transferred to there house at dawn said she woke up with her upper torso on the bed and her legs on the floor and wondered why no one helped her to a comfortable position. 

With my cousin Tessa who I still maintain looks a lot like Leona Lewis. Unsurprisingly she has joined pageants and have done modeling as well. At our first night in Bicol we were crooned by impressive carolers- one group were even wearing a uniform and a different dance number to each Christmas song they sang. Tessa said if there were carolers who would prove to be disappointing we would open the gates and release all our dogs.

This is my dimpled cousin Nicole who has a modulated speaking voice whom though I haven't heard her do it yet, must be good in singing as well. One time when we didn't feel like watching a movie with others she was reading the Bible whilst I played cards and Utoy was playing games on my cell. She recounted interesting experiences to me. I discovered that she knows how to play volleyball that's why I would really bring by volleyball the next time we visit and we'll sure have a lot of fun.

Painless Bump

“I just saw a bus pass by with the combined names of him and me. It’s a sign. Something’s going to happen, I’m telling you.”

 “Baka naman imagination mo lang yun triggered by the recent teasing from our cousins.”

 “Ano ako gaga?”

This was the dialogue between my sister and I the day before I indeed saw him at a mall.

My sister and I bought coffee from the grocery at a near by mall and because my legs were sore from jogging earlier that day I opted to take the walkator instead of the few steps of stairs even if it would just serve a few moments of relief because of its short length. Then from the corner of my eye I saw him sitting with his younger sister on steps of the stairs located at the very side of the walkator. I shouted his name and when he looked at me, I yelled “Merry Christmas!” Even if it was already two days until New Year.

He aknowledged by looking at me. My thoughts were running fast. Because he didn’t seem to be enthusiastic to see me, I thought for a second to leave it like that. A momentay bumping into each other which would eventually leave us both into multiple what ifs. But then again I think it's just me. I then went for it - I turned around and went to him. He was eating green mango with bagoong with his two year old sister. I said, kamusta and tried to get the attention of his sister who did not return my hi's and was acting very guarded but still cute. He told me that it takes time for her little sister to get comfortable with strangers. He told me that the rest of his family were doing grocery and they were taking too long that's why they're there resting. He asked me what I was doing there too and after answering him I babbled about how I beat this lady by a few seconds to the last two packets of a granulated brand of coffee my Lola asked me to buy and when the lady asked if she could have the other one, I apologized and declined. He said that I should have given it to her. I told him I would be reprimanded but actually I was just feeling stingy.

After a few more babbling mostly on my part, I didn't want it to be awkward for the both of us so I said I had to go. I bid his little sister and him goodbye and went my way.

It's a little bit funny that encounter with him. I didn't feel like I wanted to rekindle something with him. I didn't feel any regret that there was nothing more between us. It was funny because as usual he was being very timid. I guess that's just the way he really is and I don't mind. He was still the very first person who got me all giddy inside.

We saw each other once more that same day. My sister and I were about to exit the mall when we saw him alone walking towards our direction. When we were near enough to hear each other I said, "You're following us." and he just smiled.