Chapter 41 - Through another peaceful holidays

Only 7 hours remaining and it would be another Christmas Day to be celebrated.

As the usual happening, the places all over Cagayan de Oro City were filled and were being enveloped with loud music and songs whether it would be… of course, Christmas songs, or, some jazz, rock, ballad, and etc.

Christmas lights, Christmas trees, and any other Christmas deco's were being displayed as well at the various places such as on the streets, parks, malls, and to many houses and structures in the area.

The people, as for sure and usual, would be rushing away from their homes to buy the goods that they have planned in mind for each of their own preparations at the house.

The stores, especially the malls and the grocery section would likely be the places to be flooded by these mass and the roads would also be expected to be under quite the heavy traffic. Probably it would last before 7pm or 8pm since all of the businesses would close around that time, giving us no reason to go for an appointment or shopping at the least.

Meanwhile, it was about time for the sun to set, and I was walking on an unfamiliar path which I had never seen and had never set my foot onto before.

I was trying to find the manager's place, but it seems that I had difficulty in doing so since most of the houses in this place were almost alike to each other.

Looking around, most of the residences living in the area were having their own parties and gatherings inside their houses and outside their balcony. There were a number of people present as well, and it was hard to pinpoint where Manager Alvarez's house could be due to it.

'Just look for a 2-storey house with a red gate on it.' I recalled what Sir Alvarez had told me.

"A 2-storey house and a red gate alright. It might be true but, THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM OUT HERE!" I loudly complained in mind.

Having no other choice, I have gone closer to each of the residence's gate to look at the names of the people living in it, and unfortunately as a result, people noticed me in this somehow suspicious act of mine, and they likely became curious and have gone wondering about my presence as they turned their heads to look and probably observe me.

"Hey!" A random person loudly called out to me.

Great, just great. I knew that this would happen since from the start.

"Do you need something kid?" The person added, asking for my concern.

Turning around to the person who called me, I began taking a few steps to get closer to him for an audible conservation.

Good grief, stranger danger.

Well, we could just be loudly conversing with each other from that very distance of mine just like any other folks out there on the road, but that way of talking is not really my thing and style and it is quite very tiresome for me, and mostly, I couldn't do that in a place where I have not even been into before you know.

"Uhm sir. Do you know where would be the Alvarez Residence here?" I asked, rubbing my head with a lost face as I was presenting myself as a new comer to this place.

"Oh! You're looking for Sammy? Just go straight to this road and take 2 turns to the right. You should get there by no time" a companion of the man who called me replied to my question, giving me the relief for receiving a guide from an unknown person.

"Thank you!" I bowed my head a little, showing my sincerity.

I then resumed my walk to go to the manager's place, and still, my eyes continue to wander around until I could find his location.

"Oh! Hanzaki!"

"Huh? What? Where---"

"Over here!"

From turning my head in searching around, I sighted Manager Alvarez at the window of the second floor of his house, he was waving his hand as he called out to me.

Manager Alvarez then quickly evaporated from my sight, seemingly has gone down from upstairs to fetch me, and so I started moving my feet to go over to his place. As I stood at their gate, I noticed that there were already a lot of people inside as well.

Their visitors must likely be their neighbours from the nearby area, and observing the people inside, they were busy talking to each other while having some drinks and meals, most likely they were having an early fun for the celebration.

Jeez. To be honest, I feel awkward about this, and out of place.

"Hey Hanzaki, I'm glad you made it here." Manager Alvarez popped out in front of me, his presence startled me as I was looking away while not being self-aware of my surroundings because of these introverted thoughts of mine. "Oh sorry, did I scare you?"

"Hmm? Uh, no. Not really" Rubbing my head, I lied.

"Then let's get you inside. Have a meal with us" Tapping my shoulder, the manager suggested.

I sigh. I hope my social tolerance could handle this.

Oh wait, I forgot. I was not the only one who was invited here by the manager.

"Oh right. Where is David?" I asked as I looked around, trying to find my silly co-worker at the place.

"Oh that. He is still not here. I've been giving him a call but he hasn't answered."

"Are you looking for me?" A familiar voice was heard coming from outside the gate.

Well, well, speak of the devil.

"This place is a lot livelier than what I expected!" David took a step inside while looking around.

Hmmp. Finally this idiot is here. Now I won't have to worry of the thought of being just by myself.

"What took you so long?" I questioned.

"Eh? Says the person who also just got here."

Huh? Wait. How'd he know?

"Gah! So you already saw me heading to this place and had followed me from behind!" I concluded out of annoyance.

"Bingo! Saves me from the hassle of asking."

Damn it. I never thought that this guy really took advantage of me.

"You're such a coward." I said.

"Hahaha, well then! May I come in?" David changed the topic, evading my concern of his dirty tricks.

"Please do so. Come in." Manager Alvarez responded.

David entered the Alvarez Residence together with me, and we waited for the official celebration to arrive inside the house.

Time moved fast, and when an hour was left until the celebration, a banquet was brought out by the Alvarez Family.

Looking at it on top of this wide table where it was all put, the kinds and number of foods were nothing compared to what we had eaten earlier. I guess those from this afternoon were just some appetizers.

Together with the people invited, David and I were enjoying our time at the place eating, drinking, and having talks for the rest of the day.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

*SWOOOOOOOSH!*

*BOOOOOOOOOM!*

All of the people in the city shouted together with their loud screaming and yelling out of enjoyment.

"Well you look at that! Fireworks are really something else don't you think?" awed David, his gaze focused on what was above us.

"Yeah, right… but it was bit rowdy and there were more fireworks back in the days. Due to this new law of ours, unauthorised purchased or used of it would not be allowed by the government, and by this, it lessened the cases of injured people from the previous years. Although it was quite fun and the number of fireworks were more from before, I would still prefer today's safety measures, play safe and continue to live peacefully, somehow."

"Eh? Hey, we are not in a classroom, you know. Haven't you realised that Hanzaki?"

"Are you purposely trying to make me pissed off?"

"Hahaha. My bad, my bad… but still, that speech of yours gave me a headache. We are here to enjoy, you know."

"Well sorry, I just happen to think about it." Looking back at the view above, I mumbled.

"Well, you're actually not wrong about that. Bwaaaah, let's just forget about it and enjoy the show, 'kay?" David remarked.

While we were unfazed of the exploding lights for several minutes, my phone suddenly vibrated inside my pocket. I then took it out to see what it was.

Reading the message, it goes like this…

'Merry Christmas! From: Hiroaki Hanuzuki.'

Somehow, I was smiling a bit as I was reading the text while staring at it for seconds.

'Days like these aren't so bad. I hope this would go on further.' I thought while I was making a message to reply to Hiro.

As for when the New Year celebration came, the same thing happened during Christmas. David and I were invited to Manager Alvarez's place once more by him himself.

As culture's practice, it would always be a lot livelier and fun during the 1st day of the year. I really don't know why it is like this, but I feel happier and merrier when it comes to Christmas.

Well at first, I was really into this Santa stuffs and gifts which made Christmas day to be special for me when I was a kid. But even though I grew up, these feelings of mine during the days stays with me, I guess?

When the day was already about to end, I received a text message again coming from the same person who had sent me one from before.

'Happy New Year! From: Hiroaki Hanuzuki'

After reading it, I then texted back like before as well.

-----*-----

"Oi Hanzaki! It's time for you to get this." The manager called me, his hand was holding an envelope with my name that was clear to see on it. I then swiftly went to get it from his hands. "Spend it wisely as usual kid."

Holding my pay, I nodded in front of the manager.

Shortly after work, I was wearing a big smile on my face while walking my way back to my board place.

"Since I already saved a bunch of money, perhaps it doesn't hurt to spend this for something that is a little bit expensive." I said as I was looking around the area, trying to think and find something nice to spoil myself with. "Aha! Minute Burger! It's been a while since I had those." I exclaimed after a few minutes of my search.

Quickly I then have gone over to the place. I sat down and looked up to see the different kinds of burger sets that were displayed and offered above on the menu.

"Excuse me Ma'am! 3 sets of Bacon cheese burger please, he.he.he." I ordered.

"Is this a takeout sir?" asked the female employee.

"Yes. Takeout" I responded.

Gladly when I just arrived, the people that were waiting here took their orders and have gone away, leaving me as the only and next customer to get some order.

Having to wait even for just a few minutes, I was getting excited to taste again the food of my life despite fighting out my hunger, but while I was drooling in my imagination, my phone vibrated in the moment.

Already expecting that this will happen, I quickly took it out inside my pocket to check the message.

'Happy 19th Birthday! From: Hiroaki Hanuzuki.'

I sighed, but then came a little smile on my face afterwards.

"Well, it can't be helped. "

"H-Here's your bacon and cheese burger sir" the female employee said as he handed me a tray together with my order that was put on top of it. As I noticed, her look was quite in doubt of me of being able to finish these 6 burgers.

Well, I could not blame her, and furthermost, I could still go on with two more of this sets, but in the end, I decided not to since I don't want to have trouble in going back with a heavy belly. That kind of a scenario is quite troublesome for me.

"Alright, let's dig in!"

Hmmm. Now that I think about it, probably Hiro is enjoying the view at night inside his room while holding to his phone, his message as an evident source of clue.

Taking a glance outside, the place was shunned by the moon's gracious light.