PAGSAPIT ng buwan ng Disyembre, halos ang lahat ng tao ay pare-pareho lang ang nararamdaman dahil sa parating na holiday– Christmas. Most of them felt nervous because they were wondering if their gathered money was enough for the celebration. Others felt stress because of their jobs. They should conclude and present year-end reports. Some sensed sadness because they missed the people who are no longer in their lives. Hindi na nila kasi makakasama pa sa pagdiriwang ng pasko. Sabi nga nila, ang pinakamasaya at kung saan nagkakaroon ng pagkakaisa ang mga tao ay ang buwan ng Disyembre.

But that was not Alex and Hannah’s feelings. They reflect on what happened in their lives. On the same day– December 18, 2018. Eleven o’clock in the evening in the Philippines and ten o’clock in the morning in Chicago, Illinois. Magkaiba man ang kanilang oras na tinitingnan at lokasyon na kinatatayuan, even though they did not know each other, but their hearts were both broken. 

Hannah waited for someone who never came– her beloved boyfriend. Supposedly, they should go to a church together. Balak nilang kumpletuhin ng sabay ang araw ng simbang gabi. At hihiling sila ng wish sa Maykapal. But all their plans were ruined when her boyfriend left her without saying goodbye and for no reason. Not only that night but also their dream to get married and start their own family.

Bumagsak ang mundo ni Hannah. Nawalan ng saysay ang lahat ng sakripisyo at pagmamahal na inalay niya sa taong mahalaga sa kanya. Especially she stood alone in life. She did not rely on her parents or siblings when she graduated college. She wanted to be free from all the moves and plans she would take. She did not want anyone to interfere with the people she wanted to be within her life. Ayaw niyang may humahadlang sa kanyang mga desisyon. Ngunit ngayon, wala siyang nagawa kundi ang pumasok sa loob ng kanyang kwarto upang magmukmok, kahit mabigat ang hakbang na ginagawa ng kanyang mga paa para damhin ang sakit sa kanyang puso.

Meanwhile, Alex made an intense scene during his wedding. Even though his heart shattered like a mirror because of the pain he held onto, he patiently waited for that day to reveal the secret of the woman he should marry. The woman he loved all his life deceived him. It did not even cross in his mind that she would betray him. His fiance’s lover was his cousin, his best friend too. What Alex wanted to happen was to get revenge in his way. To let everyone know about the adultery of the two. He did not care if they were embarrassed by their guests, family, and friends. Then he bravely left the place.

That’s why Alex and Hannah’s holiday was full of misery, sadness, agony, anger, and another negative feeling knocking down their hearts and minds. They think of nothing but themselves. They heard no other sound but the voice of sorrow.

They both asked themselves, why? Why did such a thing happen to them? Why did they get into a relationship full of lies? But in the end, they had nothing else to do but accept the unpleasant event that happened in their lives and move on. Even the tears in their eyes kept falling.

DAYS passed, the month of December was over and the new year has come. Nagdesisyon si Alex na umuwi sa Pilipinas sa Cebu to seek happiness like going to various tourist spots and enjoy the night at the club with women– for him to forget his past. Bibisitahin na rin niya ang kanyang lola. On the other hand, agad naman pumasok si Hannah sa kanyang trabaho. Ipinangako niya sa kanyang sarili na ang kanyang career muna ang kanyang haharapin. No love involved should be. But no matter how different the strategy they used to move on, even if they wasted their time on useless things, even if they imposed selfishness within themselves, the red string of fate connected to their destiny will awaken.