Chapter 2
It was a tough, biting weather outside. The windows were white with snow and the ice fog made quiet noises on the door. The cold winter wind wheezed through every key hole, announcing the arrival of Christmas. Christmas was coming, and the only thing I could think of asking Santa for was a perfect ending... or at least some joy for a start; and quickly too. At this point, I wished Santa was real. But then again, if wishes were horses, even beggars would ride.
The marshy sounds of people trudging in the snow slipped in through the wall. It was almost like daylight outside, considering the amount of movement that still went on. Everybody was busy, getting one thing or the other. It appeared I was the least prepared for the Yuletide. Nate and I had planned to celebrate Christmas in Paris─ The city of love, together. It was supposed to be the most blissful Christmas for us; a memorable one, with lots of pictures and memories and happy stories.
I glanced at Eunice. She looked like she had something on her mind. I had known her long enough to be able to tell when something bothered her. She wanted to talk... She usually did random things whenever she felt like saying something heavy─ a critical decision she made, a relationship that ended because of her; or someone died. Right now I was wearing three layers of clothing, but Eunice seemed comfortable unlacing her boots. She did this very slowly, and I could spot the randomness about it. She wore a puffy vest and ankle boots with thick socks and some foam lining. Then as expected, she started to talk.
"I spoke with George today," her voice was low but precise.
"Ha! So mama finally wants to give papa some cookie?" I giggled, rolling my eyes and whistling.
"I guess. But I told him that I want it to be special. I just don't want to do it because he asked for it. I want to do it because the both of us feel pulled by the forces of sexual attraction to uhm..." she started to snigger. Her face turned bright red under the shadow of the now declining fire. It had found a rhythm, and started to burn gently, latching at the hard wood ever so melodiously, making crackling sounds that only a fire and wood romance could produce.
Her new boyfriend, George, was a chump, but she loved him. He asked for sex a week ago but she declined. They had not talked since then, and it's quite surprising that she's the one who called him. But then again, it's Eunice. I had learnt to expect the unexpected with her. If Eunice was in my position, she was the type to get back with Nate in less than two weeks after he had apologized. It was only a matter of time. She seemed to have a very forgiving spirit when it came to her boyfriends.
"Why pick them in the first place if you can't forgive them when they go wrong?" She would say.
It was even a bigger surprise that she had not asked me to reconsider Nate, albeit jokingly.
"Well, what can I say? If you feel comfortable doing it, then you should." I knew that was what she wanted to hear me say, so I did. Not like I had anything different to say, though─ Relationship advice coming from a girl who could not stop herself from getting burnt by the fire that her own love had created. Pathetic!
She smiled. Our relationship worked like this most of the time. When we had already made our decision, we still talked to the other and sought approval… just a friendly reassurance that we got each other backs, however the decision turned out.
"So, about Nate… are you planning on replying any of his messages?"
Sigh... Here we go. I beamed with reprove, but I answered anyway.
"Honestly, no. I don’t think I ever want to reply any of his messages. I can't believe you would even go there."
"Hey, hey, you know me. I like seeing all the angles. You know I have never been a real fan of Nate."
"Yes. You always thought Kyle was better."
"You can't blame me, girl. The guy's a real charmer. Plus he is caring. And you can trust him."
"Yeah… I thought I could trust Nate too. Look how that turned out."
"Kyle has always been there for you. And whenever you need him most, he just haply happens to be around the corner… even when he wasn't really nearby."
"I know, right? Wonderful guy he is."
"You could give him a real chance sometime, though, you know."
"He has not ever gotten serious with me. There has always been a connection... but never that near intimate moment. Not once. Well, maybe one time."
"There you go... You see? Tell me about it,"
"It was Christmas, and we were all having eggnogs."
I hated eggnogs. But it was tradition at Uncle Richard’s house to have an eggnogs feast on the twenty fifth. Eunice was beginning to laugh. She could remember how much I always frowned… squeezing my oval face when eggnogs feast was approaching. When the doctor advised that Uncle Richard turn down his raw eggs intake, I was relieved since I knew that marked the end of a mandatory eggnogs feast, even if I felt bad for Uncle Richard. Father and mother always loved to spend Christmas at Uncle Richard’s house. He simply knew how to bring out the Christmas miracles.
"Something was off about the eggnogs that year. Kyle had come over for Christmas and was standing in front of me. I took the first sip from my cup and spurted it all over Kyle's face."
"Ha-ha ha-ha," she laughed.
"He got so furious that he jumped on me and pushed me to the ground,"
"Ouch,"
"Yeah... it was one weird awkward moment when he was on top of me on all fours while I lay on the cold floor."
"Woops... Did you kiss?" she smirked and rolled her eyes.
"Get out of here." I was laughing really hard now. Eunice had successfully transformed my mood. I was grateful to her.