Chapter 2 2

Winter Pov.

Ashong stayed at home all day, he helped us with cooking and some decorations even though there were no visitors. My day was happy because I was with him, even though I was thinking about our relationship. I still chose to make the most of the time with him.

Even though I know his mommy doesn't like me. I don't know what will happen the next day, that's why I feel heavy because of the information about his problem. I still get along well with him.

"Merry Christmas." I smiled at Ashong's greeting. It's only eleven o'clock at night but here he is greeting me, we're still awake because we're waiting for noche buena time. This is not the first time I was with ashong on Christmas night, I still remember when I was with him when we were still in a relationship with calix.

That was also the time when he had a crush on me and didn't feel any more for Trixie.

"It's not even twelve." I said with a slight smile.

"But it's still Christmas, what are the ones you brought out earlier?" I looked away when he mentioned that. I have a gift for grandma and her, this is the first time I will give her a gift even to give a material thing to a man.

"It's just a gift." still avoid my eyes even when I answer. I don't know why I was shy, but I also turned to see his reaction.

"Is that for me?"

"Y-yeah, I just thought I'd give you a present because it's Christmas. Because I haven't given it to you yet."

"Gosh." he lightly pinched my cheek. "Even if you don't give it to me, I'm happy."

"I won't give it anymore?"

"Huh? Why not? I thought that gift was for me."

"I thought you would be happy even if I didn't give it to you, then. I will not give it anymore."

His eyes rolled at what I said. "Not like that, im happy with or without gift's. It's just me, you're still bothering."

"It didn't bother me, I just used an online app to order it." he bit his lip as if to hold back a smile, here's the side of him that he's excited about that he can't really stop.

"What did you order for me?"

"You want to see something?" he nodded.

Still really smiling and I can even see the twinkle in his eyes. I shook my head, only the surface of happiness. Honestly, I can't decide what gift that I should give him. I have a lot of things. I know that even though I bought him a cheap gift tonight, he will be happy. That's fun even if it's just a small thing, he should be happy because I even searched online for what good gifts for men.

"I'll just take it, wait for me." I stood up from sitting, we were in the living room. I went to the small Christmas tree and took a present for Ashong. Grandma also came out right after she had just dressed, I smiled at her before handing over the gift for her as well.

"Merry Christmas." Grandma's smile was wide when I reached. The gift I gave was simple because dad hasn't sent me money yet, aunt Raquel just sent it to grandma so we bought something for noche buena today.

"Thank you, grandson." Grandma sat in front of Ashong, I also approached her there and handed my gift to her. He peeked into it even though he couldn't see what was inside, it wasn't difficult to wrap it. The gift was still in the box and I just wrapped it in red gift wrap.

"What's inside it?" I sat next to him while shaking my head.

"Secret, you have to open it first. I won't say because I want to see your reaction."

He snorted. "You're terrible, I'm nervous. Maybe it's a ring too, right?"

"Tch." I struggled, the woman was even better if she narrowed her eyes to open the gift. Grandma is fine, hers has been opened. It's a pair of sandals for her to go to church, grandma goes to church often and her favorite sandals have never been replaced with new ones. So I thought of buying her to have a pair of her sandals.

"The color you chose is beautiful." I smiled at grandma's comment. You could read the joy on his face and I could see that he really liked what I gave him. He looked up and stared at Ashong. "Aren't you going to open it for you?"

"I'm excited, right? I'm nervous, I might pass out here." Lola laughed at Ashong's answer, even if he would really insert his thrill.

"Open it now." Grandma insisted because she also wanted to see what was inside. Ashong bit his lower lip, trying to hold back a smile.

"Don't stop."

I held my breath. "In that case, just take it home and open it at your house." it goes beyond what I said.

"I'm just kidding, I also want to ask why you gave this to me. I'm going to open it, are you sure it's not a ring huh?"

"Just open it, bro. You know too much."

"Tch, really spoil the moment."

As I said, he did open it, being almost careful with each tape release. Your gift wrap wasn't even damaged and it really wasn't torn when the box containing the gift came out.

Since he saw the box, he immediately knew what was inside. It's a watch, its numbers are black and white. Ashong's watches are almost black in color, so I thought of giving him a black one too because he might prefer a black watch.

He had a big smile, his mouth slightly open as he slowly opened the box. The watch that I ordered online was revealed to him, it wasn't that expensive. Grandma's sandals are even more expensive than my gift to Ashong.

"How much did you buy it for?" my lips pressed together because that was his first question. Will he ask all the details of how much and where I bought it myself?

"Do you need to know?"

"It's look like expensive, maybe you don't have an allowance." I snorted.

"I still have some, I guess. I bought that a long time ago, I just couldn't give it to you, so I thought I'd give it to you this Christmas."

"How about you? Did you have one? Did you buy for yourself?"

"Why are you still asking? Don't you like what I gave you?"

"No, winter. Not really, I really like it. It's like I'm floating in the air because you gave me a gift, I thought I could just be with you. I didn't expect something like this, my heart. I'm having fun inside, but I'm thinking about you. I think your price here is expensive, I still have a lot of watches."

I did not move what he said. I know he has many. I've seen all his things at home, he's almost complete. But that's the top one best gift for men, followed by shoes but I don't know what size Ashong is so I only chose the watch.

"But this one, I will surely use this. It might be my favorite, I can't sleep on it now."

It messed up my hair, I couldn't help but smile because I thought he didn't like that. But he immediately put it on after he took off the watch he was wearing earlier, even the gift wrap I used to wrap it in his pocket.

"Why don't you throw that away yet?" he frowned.

Throw it away? Why should I throw it away? This is part of the gift you gave me, I will put it in the big book in my room." I winced.

"You really know a lot." he grinned before looking at grandma who was just watching us.

"This is your grandson, too destructive of the moment. Isn't it right that I hide it?" Grandma nodded.

"Whatever you want, that's what you do."

"Yes, I'm going to treasure everything she gives me. Even if it's paper, as long as it's from him. I will hide it."

I shook my head and smiled, this assong really knows a lot about how to catch a woman's smile. And with every gesture and word, I smile. My feelings are more and more different, I can't stop the growing and growing love I feel for him.

AFTER we were waiting for noche buena, grandma said goodbye and was going to rest in the room. I didn't eat much because I only ate food while waiting for twelve o'clock.

But since it's past midnight, grandma needs to sleep. I also turned off the lights of the Christmas tree because I'm going to keep it in my room.

"Where are you going to take that?" I looked at Ashong who was now carrying a glass of ice tea. He placed it on the side of the table before finally taking the Christmas tree I brought, it was only small. She is just the right decoration for the little house.

"I was going to put it in the room."

"Why didn't you ask some help, will you carry it? It's so heavy." he walked past me. Since Ashong thought he was already at home, he went up the stairs first. I shook my head and followed him, he didn't wait for me because he entered my room first.

I saw him put it in the corner near the cabinet. He even closed the window that was open because it was dark there. Later he sat on the bed while looking around my room.

"Compared to your room in the province, this is smaller. But he's cute."

I also sat on the other side, facing each other while looking at the posters on the column of the room.

There are emojis stuck there, on the opposite side of my bed are tulips stickers. On the ceiling, there are glow in the dark stars. I really cleaned up this room because before I moved here, grandma really neglected cleaning. So here I am, loving the room and decorating it.

"I didn't like stickers, but it was beautiful. I'm planning to buy some stickers too, help me organize my room." I laughed.

"Alright, let's just put stars on your ceiling."

"How can we put stars? The ceiling of the room is too high, maybe even close to my bed."

I was disgusted, it turns out that they live in nothing like our house. It looked like tall people were there because of the height of the ceiling and ceiling of their house. I sighed, I didn't just give a suggestion but he squealed once more.

"I also want to print your pictures, I will also stick them in my room so that even when I wake up. You are the first one I will see."

I laughed. "How about mommy? Maybe he'll just set your room on fire because of the way I look."

"Tch, why are you still thinking about that? I will keep my room locked. Only I can enter there, even you."

"B-but, that's not possible, is it?" I looked away. Why does he have to put my photo in his room?

Really know a lot.

"That's what I want, don't stop me. Okay?"

"It was embarrassing when Mrs. Angelina saw it."

"Why are you shy? That's how beautiful you are. You should be confident."

I know everything if ashong makes me look beautiful. He often says that, he never makes me feel like I'm not perfect. He thinks I'm weird, more than I thought.

"By the way, I left my gift for you at home." I looked at him. I was interested because I thought he didn't have a gift for me.

"I have a present?"

"Of course, I give you every special day, don't I? I don't miss anything, and it doesn't matter what day it is. I will really give you a present."

My lips twitched. "Why do you seem to be stressing what you are saying, huh? I know I just gave it to you, so I'm sorry."

"What?" he laughed. "That's fine with me, and besides. I don't listen, as long as you love me and you are mine. That's just the big gift I received for you."

"Are you not joking?"

He stood up, walked over to my place and sat down next to me. "I often joke, but when it comes to talking about relationships. I'm serious, so don't even think about giving me a present, don't give me one. I know your studies are expensive, graduation is next month right? Have you paid yet?"

I shook my head. "I'm still waiting for papa's shipment, maybe next week or the first week of January."

"I will pay your graduation fee."

I shook my head several times because of what he said. "I don't want to, I can pay."

"Tsk, no. I will call your adviser tomorrow. Don't reject me anymore."

"Ash." he stood up, ignored me and headed to the side where my small side table was. He was just looking at my photo that was taken when I was studying in the province. I was with the whole family, even grandfather when he was alive.

"I will sleep here." he said without looking at me, I blinked.

"Won't your mommy scold you? B-Maybe he'll come here and get mad at me again." he looked at me with a frown.

"I can protect you from mommy. He will be angry with me, just not with you. Besides, I don't want to go home. Only aunt Yolanda and Erica were there."

"S-is Erica?"

"Hmm." he nodded. "That's why I left, because they will spend Christmas there."

"N-Did you talk to Erica earlier?" He stared at me for a long time at my question. It's like it balances my emotions if it's okay for me to talk about his future fiancee.

"What you heard earlier, that's all we talked about. We don't talk." I swallowed. Even though he said that, he still didn't lose the weight in his chest because of the thought that his mommy still voted for Erica and not for me.

"W-why was he there this morning?" he sat next to me, never taking his eyes off me.

"He often comes to the house, but I never take him out. I'm just in the room, he leaves immediately when mommy isn't there. Because he knows I won't talk to him."

"You said, it became your childhood. Calix and I seem to be the only ones, it's fine if you talk to him. If he understands that you are already in a relationship."

"I still don't want to, I know the feeling when you talk to others. Like when you and Calix had a conversation before, even though I knew we were already. I still don't want you two talking, I still can't help but feel jealous. So that's what I don't want you to feel, because I know it hurts.."

I don't know what to answer here. I can say that sometimes ashong has a childish mindset, but when it comes to relationships. It seems that it still surpasses the professional.

"So, you're not really going to talk to Erica?" it was a long time before he could answer. He looked away before he wet his lips.

"If it's not important, I'll just ignore him. I won't talk to him on purpose either, but I won't treat him badly, he was also a good friend of mine when we were kids. He always helped me before, he even played ball with me even though he often wanted us to cook. He also saved me from the bullies before, he was the one who pushed me to fight against those who were oppressing me. So, now I'm the brave one."

He was smiling until he finished his story. I know the feeling of growing up with your youth, just like calix. We've been together since we were young, he's already standing guard at our door in the morning so we can have breakfast together, what I've experienced before. I'm sure ashon also experienced that with erica.

"But, I didn't have special feelings for Erica. Not like you, you liked calix didn't you?"

"W-why did it pass me?" I stand. "That's in the past, what's important now is what's in the present."

He smiled, nodding. "I just want you to know my side, the true feelings I have for Erica. She's just an old friend, and what happened in our past. Just stay there, it can't be returned even if he comes back."

"I know, I trust you. What you said, that's what I will imprint on my mind." The corner of his lips rose, as if he still didn't believe what I said.

"But Calix, you really can't avoid him, can you?"

"No, ass. If erica is only your childhood friend, calix has been with her since she was a child until now. When you arrived, he was already there. I can't avoid him anymore, he's like family to me."

"Yeah, I understand. I won't be jealous anymore because you're mine, you're my girlfriend. Marriage is not enough to say that you are completely mine. On paper, in the eyes of the crowd and in the eyes of God."

"Why are you getting married right away? We're still young, we're just starting on 20's. Let's think about the future first."

"I know, but for me. Your future is certain." I struggled, I couldn't help but laugh because his eyebrows were raising his chin full of nonsense. It's really different. "You're here first." he patted his thigh, I raised an eyebrow because of what he ordered.

"Why?" he broke his mouth and dropped his shoulder. Later he looked away with a sigh. But he stood up for a few seconds and suddenly pulled my hand.

He made me sit on his lap, I was shocked because I looked like a child because of what he did.

"I said, sit here so I can hug you." I was speechless, I was sitting on my side with him. My legs are locked on his thighs while his head is on my shoulder. "I don't want to go home, I would really rather get married and be with you. That's all I can think about, by the time I have my own family. I'm sure mommy won't mess with me anymore."

I swallowed slowly. "H-that's still not a solution to the problem, bro. Your parents will definitely be more angry if we do that, it will feel better that we have your mother's blessing."

"But, it's really annoying."

"Because we're still young, it's only natural that they care about our lives. But we can do something, just show that we really love each other. You know, one day everything will be fine."

He pulled away after I said that, he was serious. It looked into my eyes almost drowning my vision. He caressed my cheek later before kissing my forehead.

"Thank you." he whispered after that. He pressed our foreheads together so I couldn't do anything but close my eyes. "You understand everything too much, the breadth of your understanding. How can I be like you?"

I didn't answer, I just smiled because that's how I've been since then. I prefer to understand everything rather than getting angry, rather than judging and making a way to hurt them too. That's not what mom taught me, she raised me well that's why I'm like this.

Silence enveloped us before I answered. His forehead also parted so I opened my eyes. As we were so close to each other, I almost squinted while staring at him. He continues caressing my cheek until his finger touches my lips.

His red mouth slightly opened while looking at it, my eyes couldn't take my eyes off his handsome face because I was feeling strange right now. I am truly blessed because I have someone like him, someone like ashong seems like a blessing that I can never refuse. That even though we have problems in our relationship now, I never thought of letting go.

Because I love him.

"I love you." Ashong's voice was so husky, his bright eyes were strange now. Everything was different, and I like the way he touches my face. It's full of gentle, care and desire.

"I love you too." I answered, full of sensitivity and love. He smiled like a happy man tonight, he slowly moved closer to capture my lips. His kiss was gentle without letting go of my cheek, I responded to his kiss. I follow the movements of his smooth lips, the smell of him is slowly taking all my sanity.

I couldn't help but obey, but accept his kiss because I really love him.

He put me on the side of the bed while our kisses didn't cut. He was really gentle, his demeanor was still careful with the cradled baby. His caress seems to break me as he appreciates me.

His kiss takes me to another dimension, I feel the warmth of his palm. Its lips are becoming more and more familiar making my breath short.

I thought he wouldn't let me get air, but he pulled away. He didn't just stop what he was doing because his lips were on my neck, I closed my mouth because of what he did. I don't know what it is, but it's really weird. It gets the tickle I hide, as if it knows where my weakness is.

But as long as he was there, he was done there. He also stopped as if he knew how long he would stop, which is the limit because I know for myself that he has a lot of respect for me.

"Should I control myself next time again?" I stared while he was still there next to me. He smiled before finally sitting down, he took the blanket and placed it on my body. "What's the meaning of being silent?"

"Huh?"

"If you just say yes next time, maybe we can do a lot of things here. Not only that, there are many. We're sure to like you."

After he said those words, he headed for the door. He grabbed the doorknob but turned to me before he went out.

"I will sleep there in the living room."