Chapter 12
Walking quietly, I opened the front door slowly and walked to the moving…Christmas tree?
“Tiffany!” Jonathan exclaimed as he emerged from behind the almost completely decorated Christmas tree. “Where have you been?”
“I…you…what?”
Speechless, what’s happening? Him here, decorating a Christmas tree, and singing Christmas songs. It’s Christmas?
“Ah, yes.” He said, sounding ‘isn’t it obvious, duhhhh?’
“Huh?” oh, something slipped from my mouth again.
“I thought you were…”
He raised his hands in defeat, “Ok, ok! You got me, I lied.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Jonathan, are you okay?”
He grinned, “Happy Christmas!”
“Seriously?”
“Ah, is there a reason for me to not be serious?”
I shrugged, “I don’t know with you, but…really?”
He sighed and nodded, “Lost track of the date?”
“Ah, yea…obviously.” I dropped the stick that I was holding and sat on the sofa.
I looked at Jonathan and saw his expression; I was just reading it when he immediately replaced it with a big smile. “Want to help me cook our Christmas dinner?” Shrugging, I stood up and walked with him to the kitchen.
We were busy cutting, slicing, and cooking our dinner when he suddenly stood beside me; pasta in one hand and cooking pot in the other. “You okay?” he asked, sounding concerned. That’s new.
I nodded weakly and took the pot. I filled it with water and placed it on top of the stove. He just nodded and began his cooking while I resumed my slicing and cutting.
All of a sudden, I felt guilty. I never thought that I’d be running away this long. I haven’t missed a Christmas day with my family—we were always together. I wonder if it’s the same with Jonathan.
I heard a sigh and it made me look to my right, where Jonathan was. “Why don’t you just sit down? I don’t think you’re okay.”
“No, I’m…”
“It’s alright…” he smiled, “I can handle this.”
“Jonathan…”
“No, really. Ah…” he looked around, “Why don’t you finish decorating the living room? So we’ll feel the Christmas spirit.”
I just nodded and slowly walked to the living room.
“Play some music, it’ll lighten your mood.” He said as I continued walking.
I did. I plugged his iPod on the speakers and chose ‘shuffle songs’. I was just about to resume Jonathan’s decorating of the Christmas tree when the first song’s intro made my heart skip a beat. I love this song—Craig David’s ‘Officially Yours’. Smiling, I continued his job. Jonathan was right; this is making me feel better.
“…I’m officially everything you hope that I would be, this time I’ll tell the truth”
I felt a blush crept from my cheeks when I heard Jonathan singing with Craig David, he has a nice voice and it’s my making my cheeks heat even more. Trying to ignore his singing, I continued with what I’m doing but then eventually sang along.
“Tiff, you’re so one in a million…you are. Baby you’re the best I ever had.”
I snapped my head to the direction of the kitchen and saw Jonathan dancing in time with the music and singing along. When the chorus repeated, I felt like a puddle of something on the ground. Tiff, you’re so one in a million? Nah, he’s just playing again. I ignored him and checked out the Christmas tree. Hmmm, not bad. I looked at the kitchen again and observed Jonathan. He’s cute when he’s just like that, relaxed. Maybe Christmas is his favorite holiday….he’s so jolly.
“If you keep on dancing like that, we might have a burnt dinner.” I teased, it’s obvious he isn’t aware that I’ve watching him.
He turned around and the faint blush on his cheeks was an indication that he really isn’t aware, “You were watching me?”
Adorkable. “Ah, no. Of course not.” I laughed, “I wouldn’t make a comment like that if I haven’t been, wouldn’t I?”
“Jon, you’re so one in a million.” I sang, imitating his dance.
“Ya, hajima.”
I smiled, “bad mouthing me?”
He frowned, “Stop playing around, and continue your decorating.”
Amused, I saluted, “Yes, sir!”
When he turned his back again and continued his cooking, I sat on the sofa and watched him intently while I listened to the music.
Is this love? Is this real? Is it you taking over my heart?
Nice one Chris Brown. You just have to sing that part when I just started to watch Jonathan and admire him, huh?
Wait, wait, wait, wait! What am I thinking? This Jonathan thoughts has been going on in my mind ever since I went out for that walk. What does that forest have to make me think of Jonathan so much?
“Tiffany?”
Jonathan’s voice made me snap out of my thoughts (of him). “Yea?”
“Oh. Thought you left. I’ve been calling you ten times already.”
“What?” I walked to the kitchen, “Really?”
“Hmmm… yea, thought you left or might’ve been deaf.” He turned his back to me, “Anyway, could you prepare the table, please?”
“Yea, sure.” His change of mood is surprisingly charming—specially with that blush still present in his cheeks.
***
When the clock struck 12, we greeted “Merry Christmas” to each other then we started eating—he was obviously hungry.
“Sorry” I blurted out of nowhere. Gosh am I weird.
Jonathan stared at me with the look of ‘why are you sorry?’ as he chewed and swallowed his food.
“Well…I” think, think… “Uh, well if I was tracking the date…I would’ve been able to buy you a gift.” Buy? “Uh, make you a gift.” Wow, good thinking Tiffany.
He just smiled, “You’re cute.” Realizing what he said, he cleared his throat. Why are my cheeks hot? “I mean…that’s alright.”
We both nodded and continued eating. I wasn’t really eating; just tasting everything that he cooked. It’s a good thing he cooked mostly for one person.
“It isn’t really Christmas day, you know.”
“Huh?”
“You should’ve checked the calendar. Well, it’s still the 23rd.”
“Do you usually celebrate Christmas 2 days before the actual—”
“No, no. It’s just that, I thought that you might want to spend Christmas with your family…so I had our Christmas celebration earlier.”
Awww. That is so sweet. Wait, what’s sweet?
“Oh~ uh…”
“Why?”
“Well, you know…actually…”
He smiled, “let me guess, you don’t want to go home yet, right?”
“Not quite. It’s not that I don’t want to go home yet. It’s Christmas season, and I’ve never missed a celebration with my family…it’s just that…I’m not ready to go home...yet.”
“So, you’ll just stay here?”
“If you’ll allow me.”
“I guess I could allow you.” he grinned, “I don’t have plans to go home yet, too, so I’ll probably be spending the holidays here.”
“Until new year?”
“Nah, I think I’ll celebrate New Year with my family. You should probably, too.”
I nodded, “Yea, you’re right.”
Awkward silence, except for our utensils.
As Jonathan was eating, I’ve been stealing glances and I can’t help but to notice his restlessness. He would sigh then stomp his foot then sigh again. He looks kinda frustrated.
“Uh, you okay Jonathan?”
“yea. Great. Fine.” Was his fast reply. I didn’t push it and continued tasting the delicious food that he prepared.
I was trying to ignore him, but I was uncomfortable with him like that. I wonder what’s bothering him.
Pushing the uncomfortable atmosphere, I thought of something to say. What should I say to distract him?
“Food’s very delicio~”
“Tiffany, I love you!”
“you…what?”
He stood up, reached over the table, cradled my cheeks and looked into my eyes, “I love you” he repeated. Before I had any chance to react, I felt his (soft) lips over my unguarded pair.
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