“What’s he like?” He asked.
This came as a surprise to Lea but she answered him, “He’s wonderful, Jack. He’s amazing, he’s…He’s him, whatever that means.”
“Does he love you?”
“Yes…”
“And do you love him?”
“Yes, actually, I do.” Lea said and when he looked at her, he saw that she meant every word she said. That she didn’t just say them because she needed to, but because it was the truth. And that was what he never heard from her before, what he never felt: That she loved him.
He smiled, “You know, I always thought this day would come…” He told her, “I love you, Lea, but I can’t force you to say with me if…If you don’t want to.”
Lea smiled and kissed him on the forehead, “You’re a good person, Jack. You deserve the best.”
He squeezed her hand, “You do, too. I love you.”
Lea just smiled, “Will you be okay?”
“I’ll get by…” Jack said, “You’re free now.”
“I hope you could forgive me.”
He nodded his head, “I hope you’d be happy.”
“You too.”
And they smiled one last time.
Maybe I’m a lonely girl who’s in the middle of something
Terrence saw Margot waking back to her cabin one afternoon, 3 days before Christmas. She seemed to be avoiding him. He caught up on her and grabbed her by the arm.
She took a deep breath as she let go of his grip, “What are you doing?” She asked.
“I just wanted to talk to you. I haven’t been seeing you around lately.”
“You don’t have to see me.”
“Margot, come on, talk to me, let’s talk about…”
“We’re not gonna talk about anything!” She said through gritted teeth, “Whatever we had doesn’t mean anything.”
He took a deep breath and spoke a little louder, “You know what’s wrong with you?” He said, “You never say what you really feel. You know something else? Whatever we had means something to you and you can’t admit it! You know why? Because you’re scared! And your letting your fears eat you up!”
“Stop,” She said with tears in her eyes and then ran away and locked her cabin. She found herself sitting down on bed, crying. She was crying for all the times she’s lost, and the times she felt like she let herself lose all those chances she had in life and in love. She was crying because underneath the tough girl exterior was a lost child, a child who needed a hand. She was crying because Terrence might be that hand and yet she was pushing him away.
Home
The following day, Lea was back in Italy, back in Venice where Venizio, her boyfriend, the man she loves and who loves her was waiting. She knocked on the door of his house and he was so surprise to see her back this early.
“Princess,” He said. He loved calling her his Princess. Princess Lea. “You’re home.” He kissed her, “I thought…”
“I told him.” Lea smiled, “I told him about us and he let me go.”
Venizio smiled, “He’s a good man.” He said, “I’m glad you’re back.”
“I’m glad I am, too.” She said, “But would you go with me somewhere?”
“Anywhere, Princess, why?”
“Because I think I finally want to go somewhere that I’ve been putting off for so long,” She said, “I want to go home.”
He smiled, “Well, then, let’s pack our bags…”
She hugged him and they went inside his house.
Maybe I’m amazed
December 23 was Anielle’s wedding day. Alfred saw Carly going out of Anielle’s room that afternoon, looking very beautiful in her Pink (or Fuschia? What was with all these colors?, he thought) tiered knee-length gown while holding a mini bouquet of roses. She had her hair in a bun, with rhinestones on it, and on her face was a beautiful smile.
“You’re beautiful.” He instantly told her.
“You haven’t done your bow-tie well.” She smiled.
“Oh,” Alfred said, looking down on his bow and trying to tie it well.
Carly laughed, “Let me do it…” She said as she went up to him and gave him her bouquet of roses. She started tying his bow and he looked at her with such fascination and she looked back at him with a smile, not even knowing why. Anielle saw them like that as she got out of her room, looking perfect in her long, white wedding gown.
“Ehem,” Anielle muttered, laughing, “You two can get married next year. It’s my wedding day today.” She winked.
Carly laughed and Alfred did, as well, giving her the bouquet.
“Let’s go?” Carly smiled as she asked Anielle.
“When you’re ready…” Anielle laughed, eyeing them both.
***
Carly and Alfred looked at each other from the crowd in the church while Anielle and Kurt were getting married. Carly was happy for Anielle, wondered what it felt like to get married. She caught Alfred smiling at her for the nth time and she couldn’t help but smile back. It’s been a great two weeks, she thought, realizing how much she missed the Philippines and how much she missed feeling the way she felt at that moment—light, happy, full of hope. She sure knew hope was springing again in her heart, and as much as she thought that was a bad thing, because hoping might cause heartaches, she also knew, deep down, that it was a good thing.
***
By some twist of fate, Alfred and Carly were the ones who got the garter and the bouquet at the reception dinner. Alongside Kyle and Anielle, they led the dance. Joshua Radin and Schyuler Fisk’s Paperweight was playing.
“I’m sure you caught the bouquet on purpose…” Alfred told her while they were dancing, her hands on her shoulders.
She laughed, “And why would I do that?”
“So I’d get the garter and we could dance.” He smiled.
“You dummy.” She said.
“Why? Aren’t you enjoying dancing with me?”
“Whatever, Alfred…”
Alfred laughed, “I’m glad you got it though…”
“Why? So you could dance with me?”
“Yes.”
She laughed, “Really…”
“Really.” He smiled and then whispered, “Let’s go to the rooftop, shall we?”
“Why?”
He laughed, “Just come with me.” He said as he held her hand, and they started making their way out of the dining area and up the rooftop, both reminding them of the first time they held hands six years ago. It may have been ages ago, but at that moment, the memory felt fresh and the feeling felt real, the way it always is when something seems to happen again, for the second time, although in very different circumstances. Minutes later, they found themselves at the rooftop, with no one but the wind as their company. They looked at the surroundings for a little while before speaking.
“It’s beautiful out here…” She told him with a smile on her face.
“You’re beautiful.” He told her once more.
She laughed, “You should stop saying that, I might fish for more…”
“There are more, there are so many beautiful things about you, Carly.”
She just smiled.
He took a deep breath, “I’m so sorry for everything,” He told her, “I was a coward. I didn’t mean to be a coward all those years…”
“I was one, too.” She said. “We both were.”
“But I should’ve done something,” He said, “I should’ve fought for how I felt about you. I’m so sorry, Carly.”
“I’m sorry I was blinded by so many things, too.” She told him, “Or rather, by so many people.” She smiled.
He laughed, “I’m glad you came back.”
“I hate to admit this,” She said, “But I’m glad I came back, too.”
And there they were, at that moment, feeling glad, scared, hopeful, dreamy all at the same time. There they were, two lost souls, tw
o people who once chose different tracks, tracks that kept them away from each other. There they were, the Iron lady and the Lonely Businessman, away from the prisons they let themselves in and together in their own world, different from their everyday lives. It didn’t take long for their faces to come together, for his hand to hold hers, for her hand to go on his shoulder and for their lips to meet and kiss magically. It was only a few seconds but it seemed forever—to them, it was a prelude to forever or whatever there may be. They stared at each other and smiled.
“I love you.” He said.
“I love you, too.” She told him, and there in the rooftop, they danced. There was no need for music. Having each other was already far more than enough.
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Christmas eve and most of the world is in a festive mood. It’s that time of year where in it’s okay to not think about your problems, to try to be happy, even when you’re not really sure what you’re happy about.
Vince drove to Vivienne’s apartment, knocked on her door and waited for a couple of seconds before she finally opened it. He was holding a bouquet of Wild flowers on one hand.
“What in the world…” Vivienne said.
“Just give me a few seconds,” Vince said, “Please?”
“What do you want?”
“I want you,” He said, “But I know that I can’t have you if I’m not worthy. I’ve been wrong before, Vivs, and I’m so sorry. And before I go on, I just wanna tell you that I’m not drunk.”
She rolled her eyes, “Vince,”
“I love you, Vivienne, I always have and I always will. I know I haven’t been worthy of your love, maybe not…at least, not yet. So I wanna start from scratch.”
“What do you mean?”
“No more of our friends with benefits thing,” He told her, “No more dating anyone else. No more of that shit.” He laughed, “I want to prove to you that I am a good man, that I can stand by my words and that…That I can stand by you and for you.” He went on, “That is, if you’d allow me…”
She wanted to tell him that he was wrong, that what he was telling her was incredulous, that he was being insane. That’s what she always did, anyway. But somehow, in her mind and in her heart, she knew she needed him, and they needed this fresh start. She was tired of all the knots in her complicated life, she needed something, someone to accept her for whoever she was. She needed someone to lean on. A smile then crept in her face.
“Well,” She said, holding his hand, “Come in, you’ll freeze here.”
He laughed and she smiled, full of hope.
***
It was almost midnight and Margot was alone in her cabin, watching Serendipity on TV. She always spent Christmas Eve alone; Heck, she always spent everyday alone. She may have had her fair share of relationships (or flings, or whatever they were) but she still felt that void in her heart.
When she was younger, her family was intact. Even if she didn’t have any brothers or sisters, her parents made sure she didn’t miss out on some things. They were happy. But when she turned 7, things got nasty. Her mom died. She was in a car accident and her dad didn’t really recover ever since. He became an alcoholic. A year and a few months later, she started living with different relatives because they told her that her dad could no longer take care of her. She didn’t know the feeling of being safe, of being taken cared of. From then on, she always felt alone.
When she was 17, she learned that her dad decided to kill himself. He didn’t say why. There were no letters or messages, but she knew. It was because he still hasn’t moved on.
So, she decided to move on. But didn’t know how to let go.
Someone then knocked on her door, interrupting her thoughts. Margot stood up from bed and opened the door, seeing Terrence with a platter of food.
“I didn’t order food.” She told him,
He went in, placing down the food on the table, “It’s a gift from Montesa,” He said, “Merry Christmas.” He smiled.
“Terrence,”
“Come on,” He said, smiling and holding her hand, “No one spends Christmas alone.”
She could’ve pushed him away, but she found herself giving a tiny laugh and nodding her head.
***
In Boston, it was a cold night. But nonetheless, people were in a festive mood. Especially at the bar. It wasn’t just Christmas eve; It was also Candice’s birthday the next day. Tim and the rest of the guys decided to give her a surprise.
Tim was on stage when Candice walked in. “Candice,” He called out.
“Hey…” Candice said, smiling and noticing how the bar was bursting with people—well, basically, those who work in the bar and some of the people she grew up with. No new faces, just the people who had a place in her heart—even Tim.
“So,” Tim went on, “This night is very special not only because it’s Christmas eve, but also because it’s the eve of someone special’s birthday. That someone being Candice.” He smiled. Candice was surprised. Tim continued, “Before I met her, I was living in a pretty much ordinary world living a basically ordinary life. But she changed all of that. She’s…She’s the sunshine that makes the rain stop, the angel that makes you feel like everything’s gonna be okay, and that person who would always make you feel special. It’s just been two weeks, but Candice, I want you to know that you’re special,” He said, “And that I care. And…I’m glad I met you. I wanna be here for you. And…And I wanna sing something…” He motioned for the keyboardist to start playing and a few seconds later, he was singing Paul McCartney’s Maybe I’m Amazed. After the song, he saw Candice clapping her hands, with tears in her eyes. “I love you.” He told her, “But…I still have another surprise…” He smiled, went backstage and when he came out again, Candice just got the biggest surprise of her life. It was her sister, Lea, back in Boston, there inside the bar and in front of her. Lea walked towards her and gave her a hug.
“I told you I’ll be home,” Lea said and smiled. She never considered Boston home—she ran away from there, but at that moment, finally, she felt like she had finally come home. Like she belonged.
“I’m so surprised…” Candice said, smiling with tears in her eyes. She hugged her sister one more time. “I’m glad you’re home.”
Lea nodded her head, “I am, too.” She smiled.
Candice then turned towards Tim and hugged him, “Thank you,” She said, “It’s the best Christmas and birthday gift ever.”
***
Miles away, in the Philippines, there was a big celebration. Carly, Alfred, Kurt and Anielle were at the Marquez’s residence, having fun, partying like there was no tomorrow. Just after the clock stroke twelve, Noche Buena began and heaps and heaps of food were served. Carly was happy. She didn’t care if she was heading back to New York on the 26th—she redeemed herself and hope was alive in her heart again. She and Alfred have patched things up and although there was no telling what would happen next, she realized all that matters was that she knew she loved him and that he loved her. She was also happy that she patched things up with their family, that no matter who she was and how different she was from them, they were still her family and nothing would ever change that.
Later, Alfred and Carly went up to the balcony. Carly gave him a book about art and he thanked her. He then gave her his gift and asked her to open it. She was surprised when she saw that it was a painting he made of her and she couldn’t help but feel touched.
“It’s beautiful…” She told him, smiling, “Thank you.”
“You’re beautiful.” He smiled, “Actually, that’s not the first one I made with you in mind…”
“Really?”
He nodded his head, “The girl in the red dress.” He said.
She thought about those words for a little while until she realized what they meant: The painting downstairs—that of a woman with her back turned who seemed to be running awa
y. The girl in the red dress.
“Oh, Alfred…” She said, hugging him.
“I always thought about you being away, running away…” He said, “But I figured, I made you do that.”
She shook her head, “You didn’t…”
“I don’t wanna see you run away again,” He said, holding her hand, “Will you stay here?” He went on, “I’ll leave my job, I’ll follow my dreams, but I need you to follow yours, too…Will you stay?”
She smiled and didn’t speak for a little while until she finally decided what to say, “I’d love to,” She said, “But I can’t…” She paused and then, “At least, not yet.” She smiled.
He looked at her quizzically.
“I can’t just leave New York without saying goodbye to my job and…And to the people who were there with me these past three years. I have to at least, say goodbye properly.” She said, “And then I’ll be back.”
“Will you promise me that?”
She nodded her head, “I can’t see any reason for me not to go back here.” She smiled, “I love you.”
He kissed her, “I love you, too.” He said and he held her until they were greeted by the bright rays of the sun the next morning.