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Amanda

It's 24th of December, it's the first time me and Lovey spending christmas together and I couldn't be more excited.

Kanina pa ako nakatitig dito sa christmas tree. Hindi ko mawari kung maganda ba ito o kung magugustuhan nila. Sabi ko kasi kanila Mom and Dad ako nalang ang magdesign ng christmas tree. Actually, may decorations na ito kaso gusto ko pang dagdagan. Si Lovey naman ay tinutulungan ako.

"Izhang, ano pa ba'ng kulang? Maayos na nga, eh." Sabi niya.

"Eh, kasi ang plain sa paningin ko." Paliwanag ko.

"Mas okay na 'yan, 'wag 'yong masyadong madaming decorations, nakakaumay sa paningin."

"Ang panget tignan kapag plain." Inis kong sabi.

"Plain is not ugly. It's just simple."

Sometimes hindi talaga ako manalo-nalo sa mga sinasabi namin. "Fine."

She smiled at me, reaching the red christmas ball from my hand. While I was watching her, I notice that she used her left hand instead of her right.

Lagi kong napapansin sa kanya na mas ginagamit niya ang kaliwang kamay niya kahit na mas dominante siya sa kanang kamay niya. Katulad nalang kapag naglalaro kami ng volleyball or nagte-training kami, she's always using her left hand kaya minsan hindi pumapasok ang mga palo niya.

"Lovey?"

"Hmm?" She hummed in response.

"Uhm..." I'm hesitating kung itatanong ko ba o hindi.

"Come on, Izhang. What is it?" Tanong pa niya nang hindi lumilingon sa akin.

"I'm curious. Bakit left hand lagi ang gamit mo when you are holding things?" Napatigil siya sa ginagawa niya at lumingon sa akin.

"You really wanna know?"

"Well, yeah... kind of but, it's okay if you don't answer."

She sighed heavily before motioning for me to sit down with her, I did what I told.

"Got into a mere accident before, when I was outside of our house," She started. "A drunk driver almost hit me with his car, good thing I managed to avoid it. But I was shoved right into the corner, kung saan bumagsak ako sa simento at nadaganan ng bato ang braso at kamay ko. Ever since then, I stopped playing volleyball."

"Wow. I didn't expect that. Pero, bakit pinili mo paring pumasok sa Golden Vipers?"

"Hindi ko kayang iwan si Von..."

"...she's the only thing that I have left when my parents died." Ramdam ko ang lungkot sa kanyang boses.

"Then you came. You made my world ten times happier. Sounds cheesy but that's how I feel, I can't deny that." Awtomatikong gumalaw ang mga labi ko.

Malanding pinalo ko ito sa braso. "Stoooop." Kinikilig ako sa mga sinabi ng babaeng 'to. Kung pwede ko lang talaga siyang itali sa akin para wala na talagang kawala.

"I want to give you something..." May ikinalikot siya mula sa likod ng bulsa ng shorts niya.

Napatulala nalang ako nang may inilibas siyang kulay pulang maliit na box.

"W-What is that?" I stuttered.

"Sorry, hindi na ako makapaghintay na ibigay sa 'yo." Binuksan niya ang maliit na box at tumambad sa akin ang kulay silver na singsing.

"Lovey?" Nakatulala pa rin ako.

"Uhm... I'm not asking you for marriage. This is a promise ring, a temporary one kapag hindi pa tayo kasal. I'm giving this to you, which means I want to spend my whole entire life with you. I would be delighted if you wear it."