Chapter: Christmas Chaos at Kuya Angelo's House
The living room was glowing.
Fairy lights twisted around the railings.
Ornaments dangled dangerously from every corner.
Tinsel stuck to the floor, the table, and probably someone's hair.
I walked in, holding a bag of decorations, careful not to step on the glitter explosion on the floor.
Tita Gemma was placing stars on the tree, humming softly.
Tito Rachel was arranging snacks on the table, giving me a sly smile every time I knocked a small ornament over.
And then…
Aries walked in like the world had just stopped for him.
"Jay!" he shouted dramatically.
I turned slowly, holding a sparkly ornament like a trophy.
He narrowed his eyes.
"You've been a little troublemaker today, haven't you?"
I tilted my head innocently.
"Troublemaker? Me? Never."
"I am merely… enhancing Christmas," I said, waving my hands vaguely.
Aries groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Enhancing? That's what you call tying tinsel around chairs so nobody can sit, hiding Felix's hairbrush, and putting glitter in the cookies?"
I tilted my head further, smirk growing.
"Cookies? Glitter? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Tito Rachel snorted.
Tita Gemma tried not to laugh.
"You're going to drive him insane," she whispered to me.
"Exactly," I replied, whispering back.
Aries walked closer, fake menacing.
"Oh no… you're enjoying this way too much," he said.
"I enjoy maintaining balance," I said solemnly.
"Balance?" he repeated, confused.
"Yes," I said. "According to your horoscope, Aries, you're going to get teased mercilessly today. And maybe… tomorrow… and probably for the next week."
He groaned, throwing his head back dramatically.
"I swear… you are impossible."
"I am not impossible," I said, pointing a finger at him.
"I am your horoscope. I predict chaos. And your future says… you are doomed."
Aries's jaw dropped.
"Horoscope? You mean… you made that up?"
"Of course," I said proudly. "But horoscopes are never wrong. You should know this."
He groaned loudly, walking past me.
"You're literally the nightmare of Christmas decorations."
"And yet," I said, wiggling my eyebrows, "you're smiling."
Aries turned and glared at me.
"I am not smiling!"
I just tilted my head, glitter in my hair.
"You totally are," I said.
He stomped dramatically to the couch, flopping down like the world had betrayed him.
"I can't believe I let you get away with this," he muttered.
"Get away with what?" I asked innocently.
He groaned again.
"Everything. You've made a mess of Christmas and… I can't even be mad because somehow… I'm entertained."
I grinned.
"Horoscope predicted it. You love chaos. You can't hide it."
Aries groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"Jay," he said, muffled, "I swear you're going to give me gray hairs."
"Already too late for that," I said cheerfully.
Tita Gemma shook her head.
"Jay, maybe slow down a little," she said.
"Slow down?" I asked, placing a glittery star on the top of the tree. "Tita, chaos is a Christmas requirement. Everyone knows that."
Aries peeked through his fingers.
"You are insane," he whispered.
"And you," I said, pointing at him, "are exactly where I predicted: completely wrapped in the horoscope of Jay."
He groaned again, flopping back dramatically on the couch.
I walked over and put a small strand of tinsel on his head.
"Behold," I said. "You are officially part of the chaos now."
He blinked at me.
"You did not just put that on me."
"I did. And according to your horoscope…" I leaned closer, whispering, "you're going to keep it there until midnight."
Aries threw a pillow at me.
I dodged it.
"Missed me!" I shouted.
Tito Rachel laughed so hard she almost dropped the tray of snacks.
Tita Gemma clapped her hands.
"Oh my goodness, you two are unbelievable," she said.
I winked at her.
"Exactly. Mission accomplished."
Aries groaned again, this time dramatically falling to the floor.
"I give up," he said. "You win, Jay. You are the queen of Christmas chaos."
I smirked, holding up my glittery ornament.
"Horoscope doesn't lose," I said proudly.
He groaned one last time, shaking his head with a smile tugging at his lips.
"Fine," he muttered. "I'll survive… somehow."
I crossed my arms and smiled.
"And I will predict every move you make for the rest of the night."
"Jay…" he groaned, but his eyes twinkled.
"Yes?" I asked innocently.
"You're impossible," he whispered.
"And perfect," I added, walking away with a proud twirl.
Tita Gemma and Tito Rachel were still laughing.
Aries just sat there, defeated but secretly enjoying every second.
And that was Christmas at Kuya Angelo's house—completely chaotic, completely fun, and completely under my control.