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Ken woke up warm. He was trapped under too many blankets and snugged against the warm body of his husband, and honestly, he was not complaining.
He groaned, half asleep, trying to roll over yet he didn’t succeed. Paulo’s leg was firmly hooked over his waist, possessive even in sleep, and one of Paulo’s hands was splayed confidently across his stomach like a warning to anyone that he, indeed, owns this body. Ken’s arms made their way to Paulo’s waist and kissed his lightly snoring husband on the lips.
“Good morning, babe.” He whispers in his deep bedroom voice.
“Hmmmm…”
“Masaya ka ba sa regalo ko sayo kanina?” Ken chuckles at his own comment, still not earning any coherent response. He blindly reaches for his phone, and he squints at the glow of his screen on the bedside table.
9:12 AM.
His eyes flew open.
“Baby.”
A sleepy noise came from beside him. Paulo shifted, face still buried in the pillow.
“Babe,” Ken said again, louder now. “Babylove, gising na, alas-nuebe na.” Paulo hummed lazily. “Mm. Five more minutes. Masakit pa katawan ko.”
Ken stared at him in disbelief. “Five more minutes? Christmas ngayon.” That finally got the reaction from his husband, who’s fighting off his own hazy fog. Paulo blinked awake, hair wild, eyes unfocused. “Ha?”
Ken lifted the phone. “Christmas na. Umaga na. May pamilya tayong pupuntahan!” The realization hit Paulo all at once. He shot up, blanket falling to his waist. “Ay, sh—”
They both froze. Slowly, in perfect unison, they turned to look at each other. Paulo squinted. “Sa amin muna tayo, ‘di ba?”
Ken’s brow furrowed. “Ha? Hindi ah, sa amin tayo ngayong taon?”
Paulo laughing once, disbelieving, throwing a pillow at his husband’s face. “Hindi ah. Last year sa inyo tayo.”
“Oo nga,” Ken said, nodding. “Kaya ngayon sa amin ulit—”
“Hindi ganon ‘yon,” Paulo protested. “Alternate tayo. Christmas sa ‘kin ngayon.”
Ken pointed, accusingly. “You said next Christmas, which is next year.”
Paulo gaped. “Love, ngayon na ang “next” Christmas.”
Ken opened his mouth, then he closed it again. He cannot believe that they are arguing on something that’s been done a deal months before. His mind is already running a lot of arguments that his mouth couldn’t catch up. “Hindi pa. Technically, this is still this Christmas.”
Paulo stared at him. “Ginagamit mo na naman ang teknikalidad sa relasyon natin.” Ken gasped. “Ginagamit mo naman ang pagiging paborito ng buong angkan mo.”
They glared at each other. “Ah basta, bahala ka diyan, sa Cavite tayo ngayon! Makatayo na nga.”
***
The supposedly merry Christmas morning had officially turned tense, though that didn’t stop Paulo from moving briskly around the kitchen, preparing their morning coffee. Ken followed him like an unrepentant shadow, phone already in hand. “O, tignan mo,” he said, shoving the screen dangerously close to Paulo’s face. “May sinend na si Mama ng mga hinanda niya. At may regalo na siya sa atin!”
“Oh tapos?” Paulo shot back. “Nasa family GC na yung picture ng dalawampung kamag-anak ko! Nagsisimula na rin doon!”
“Paulo!”
“Aba, Suson?!”
“Suson ka na rin naman ah? Bakit mo tinatawag sarili mo?” A spatula flew over Ken’s head the moment he opened his mouth.
“Wag mo akong pinipilosopo!”
“Baby naman…” Ken pouted, instantly switching tactics. “…excited na si Mama makita ka, oh.”
“Huwag mo akong daanin sa guilt trip at sa pagmumukha mong ’yan,” Paulo scoffed, sliding a mug of coffee across the counter. It stopped perfectly in front of Ken.
Despite the argument, Ken took the coffee and sipped it carefully, and he immediately sputtered. “Asan ang asukal?!”
“Nasa mama mo! Kunin mo sa kanya!”
“Love naman! Yung gigil mo, dapat sa kama lang e.”
“Ay ewan ko sa’yo! Di ako natatawa sa joke.” Paulo continues to wipe off the counter aggressively. “Maligo kana dun, bago ko ibuhos yung buong takure sa’yo.”
“Late na tayo…kasi sa QC tayo pupunta?”
“Sa Cavite nga!”
“Alam mo, hindi bagay sayo magsungit? Mas maganda ka pag naka-smile.”
“Hindi rin bagay sayo yung bumanat na parang teenager, Suson, umalis kana sa harapan ko!”
***
By ten in the morning, they were both dressed, stressed, and still deeply committed to their respective arguments. Ken stood by the door with the car keys, already wearing his most innocent smile. Paulo hovered near the hallway, arms crossed, blocking the exit like a very attractive security guard.
“Sa amin muna,” Paulo said calmly.
Ken took a step forward. “Sa amin.”
Paulo mirrored him. “Sa amin.”
Ken sighed. “Bato-bato pick?”
“Ah talaga, e parati akong talo dun!”
Ken sniggered. “Coin toss?”
“Ayoko, baka dayain mo pa rin! Baka lasunin mo ang hangin!”
“Ha? Anong klaseng argument yon?!”
“Basta!”
“Paulo, isa!”
“What? Edi dalawa.”
They stared at each other, blood boiling over, their ears were both red. Then, at the same time, they reached for the throw pillows on the couch. Five seconds later, they were engaged in the least dignified pillow fight.
“Bitawan mo ’yan!” Paulo laughed.
“Sa’kin ’to!” Ken grunted, grabbing Paulo by the waist.
They both lost balance and fell onto the couch in a heap, the pillow crushed uselessly between them. For a moment, neither spoke. They just lay there, breathing hard, laughing despite themselves.
Ken turned his head. “Aalis ka talaga mag-isa?” Now, his voice is turning soft.
Paulo huffed. “Kung kailangan.”
Ken clutched his chest dramatically. “Iiwan mo ang asawa mo sa Pasko?”
Paulo attempted to stand up, grabbed his phone, then paused. “Sumama ka kasi.”
Ken looked away, muttering, “…aba kung ganyan tono mo, parang talon agada ko ah.”
“What if mag-split tayo?” Ken offered.
Paulo raised an eyebrow. “Paano?”
“Lunch sa inyo. Dinner sa amin.”
Paulo pretended to think, tapping his chin. “May dessert ba sa inyo?”
Ken smiled slowly. “Ako.”
“Deal.” Paulo laughed, finally realizing how silly they’ve been the whole morning. They both stood up and went to their garage. But before they could enter, Ken grabbed Paulo again by the wrist. Paulo sighed. “Ano na naman?”
Ken smiled softly, kissing Paulo quickly on the lips. “Muntik ko na makalimutan…Merry Christmas, asawa ko.”
Paulo’s expression melted instantly. He leaned in and kissed him again, slower this time.
“Merry Christmas, love” he murmured. “Kahit saan pa tayo mapadpad today.”