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“Josh? What was that?” gulat na tanong ni Paulo. Kakauwi lang niya at kasalukuyan siyang tinutulungan ng nobyo para mag-unpack ng pinamili niyang groceries para sa kanilang lima.
They weren't doing okay today honestly, tahimik nga lang silang kumikilos sa kusina dalawa, until this time. Kaya takang-taka siya sa ginawa ni Josh, pero agad kasi itong tumalikod para magpatuloy mag-ayos.
“You’re underneath the mistletoe. I had to do it,” the latter replies nonchalantly.
Oh. Paulo tries to hold his smile, but the corners of his mouth betray him. The skin of his left cheek where Josh randomly planted a kiss while he was busy placing the fruits inside the refrigerator burns. Hinaplos niya ito at tuluyan nang napangiti, “Wala namang ganun sa kultura natin, love.” At kailan pa nga ba nagka-mistletoe dito? Paulo wonders, but lets it go.
“Meron, hindi lang uso. And well…” Josh trails off, nakatalikod pa rin kaya libreng nakangiti — kahit pilit na pinipigilan — nang tawagin siyang “love” ni Paulo. After a whole day of not hearing it. Finally. “Nasa US tayo, Pau, technically.”
“Ganun ba dito?” Paulo slowly reaches his hands to hold Josh’s waist, unti-unting inihaharap ang nakatatanda sa kanya. “Sige nga, isa pa.”
Nagpumiglas si Josh saglit, rejecting Paulo’s advances, “Teka. May ginagawa pa ‘yung tao.”
Hinigpitan ni Paulo ang hawak sa bewang ng nakatatanda, at tuluyan nang hinigit paharap sa kanya, “Mamaya na ‘yan, love.”
When they finally turn towards each other, they see the same silly grin plastered on each other’s faces, pinkish cheeks mirroring each other.
“Tsk. Okay. Madali naman akong kausap.”
Paulo giggles before inching closer and capturing Josh’s lips with his own, eyes fluttering close.
The kiss was short but sweet, enough to melt the tension between them down. Even Josh’s knees melted at the touch, dahilan para mapahawak sa braso ng nobyo.
It takes them a few more seconds to recover.
“I love you.”
“Sus.”
“Onga!”
“Kahit inaaway kita?”
“Ha? Ako nga ‘yung sumusuway sa’yo?”
“Oh, makikipagtalo pa ulit!”
Paulo laughs heartily, “Mahal kita, Josh. Palagi. Kahit sa mga oras na hindi tayo nagkakaintindihan. Kahit ilang away pa pagdaanan natin.”
Josh feels warmth and guilt spread across his heart. The patience this man has with him is unlimited.
“Sorry, Pau, for always causing you troubles.”
“I do the same, Josh. But isn't that where we learn and grow? And that's our thing, right?”
Tumango si Josh while he drowns with Paulo’s soft gazes. His sincerity pierces through him. He really couldn't ask for something better this Christmas season when everyday life has given him a partner who fills him up on days he's lacking and makes him feel loved and happy through it all.
“Sorry din,” pagpapatuloy ni Paulo. “Sa mga panahong nagkukulang ako ng pang-unawa. But you're still here by my side.”
Matagal nilang pinagmasdan ang isa’t isa, tila nagkakaintindihan na agad sa ganung paraan.
That's their thing — madalas silang may hindi pagkakaintindihan because of the strong and clashing personalities. But what surprises Josh is how well they work it all out despite the differences, that at the end of the day, they will always come home to each other's embraces.
They learn, and learn, and learn every day from each other, and he prays fervently no one gets tired from both ends.
“I love you, Josh.”
“Oo na nga, paulit-ulit. Pag ako kinilig.”
“Hindi pa ba? I love you so much, my Josh,” Paulo earnestly says while nuzzling his nose lovingly against Josh's.
Hinampas niya ang dibdib ng isa, “Nakakainis ka naman eh!”
“Hahahahahaha! Ikaw kasi! Paskong Pasko, hindi ako pinapansin. Na-miss kita.”
“Isang araw lang ‘yun!”
“Anong “lang”? Dapat nga minu-minuto mo ‘kong pinapansin. Tapos hindi mo na nga rin ako sinamahan mag-grocery.”
Paulo is such a clingy boyfriend, but that's what makes him too endearing for Josh to resist.
“Sorry,” Josh cups Paulo’s face, pulls him closer, and pecks him. “Pwede na bang pambawi ‘yan?”
“Hmm, isa pa nga.”
Josh brushes his lips against Paulo’s once more, longer this time, “Ayan?”
“Hindi eh, parang may kulang pa.”
Josh chuckles before he completely wraps his arms around Paulo’s neck, tiptoeing, ultimately bringing their bodies closer and finally giving Paulo a long and gentle kiss. Paulo embraces him by his waist even tighter, tilting his head to deepen it.
No matter how clouded his thoughts are, it's always Paulo's presence that soothes them all and kisses his worries away.
Paulo feels Josh smile along the kiss, and he can't help but feel fuzzy inside. He loves this man so much, and he's willing to go through so many disagreements in his life if it meant being with someone who understands and still accepts him by the end of it all. If it meant being with the person who has his context and heart in mind and helps him realize it to become better. If it meant being with Josh Cullen his entire lifetime.
Paulo pulls back, resting his forehead against Josh’s. He basks in the feeling of being kissed by his lover before he whispers, “Tingin ko, kailangan na nating umakyat sa kwarto.”
“Gago, andun sina Jah!”
“Ganun ba? 'Nubayan. Mga panira.”
“Sira. Sila nga pinagsabit ko nitong mistletoe.”
“Inutos mo ‘yan sa kanila?”
Josh nods shyly. Paulo smiles, amused and touched at his boyfriend's peculiar antics all at once. Andami talagang alam, pwede namang i-kiss na lang ako basta.
“Wala, gusto ko pa rin sa taas tayo.”
“Napakahilig mo, Pau!”
“Hahahahaha! Goods na ba tayo? Papansinin mo na ‘ko?”
“Duh,” Josh says sarcastically, bringing his hands up to caress Paulo's face. “I love you so much, Pau. Thank you for always putting up with me.”
That's you, silly, Paulo thinks. But before he can utter the words, napalingon ang dalawa nang marinig ang nagpapanic na boses ni Justin, tila pinipigilang humangos si Stell papuntang kusina. “Gagi, Stell, hayaan mo muna sil—”
“Okay na 'yan sila, Jah! Guys, sorry. Pero masusunog na ‘yung manok! Yari tayo kay Ken nito!”
While still on each other’s embrace, nagkatinginan sila and shared a precious, understanding laughter. Kung may kaltok silang dalawa, mas may kaltok ang mga kaibigan nila. “Panira talaga kayo!”
“Malay ba naming effective ‘yung mistletoe! Sana pinatapos niyo muna kasi ‘yung manok!”
“Ken, ayusin mo kasi!”
“Jah, ‘nuba! Inaayos ko! Hindi ka naman kasi ganun ka-gaan!”
“Ba’t ‘di na lang kasi tumungtong sa upuan? Sakit niyo sa mata!”
Napasapo na lang si Josh ng noo nang makitang nagkakagulo ang mga kaibigang sina Justin, Ken, at Stell.
Originally, si Justin lang naman talaga pinakiusapan niyang magkabit ng mistletoe. Pero dahil parehong epal ang dalawa pa nilang kaibigan, andito silang apat ngayon sa hallway ng kusina — silang dalawa ni Stell ay problemadong nakatingin kay Ken na buhat-buhat si Justin habang pilit na inaabot nito ang ceiling.
Fortunately, matagumpay namang nagawa ‘to ni Justin.
“Whew. Bigat mo, Jah.”
“Heh,” Justin scoffs while stretching his arm. “Para sa’n ba ‘to, Josh Cullen? Mistletoe kiss?”
Ken’s eyes sparkle when he realized, “Onga noh. Binyagan natin, Jah, gusto mo? Andito na rin naman tayo.”
“Hephep! Uunahan niyo pa kami ni Pau,” malapit na talagang ma-highblood si Josh sa mga kaibigan, pero thankful din siya sa mga ‘to. “Oks na ‘yan. Salamat.”
“Anong “salamat”, Jashkalen? Hindi kami tumatanggap ng “salamat” lang.”
“Oo na, Ken. Heto, bumili kang Christmas cake kasi mukha kang cake.”
“Omaygad! Pero— ‘yung manok ko…”
“Kami na bahala, Ken! Dali na, minsan lang maglabas ng pera ‘yan si Josh!” pagsusuporta ni Stell.
“Sige ha, ingatan niyo ‘yung manok ko!”
“OA! Baka nga mas malagot ‘yan pag ikaw ang nagluto!”