The office was quiet, save for the faint hum of fluorescent lights and the rhythmic tapping of Colet Vergara's fingers on her keyboard. It was almost ten in the evening, and everyone else had long gone home, the promise of Christmas vacation too tempting to pass up. But not Colet—never Colet. As the breadwinner of her family, she couldn't afford to leave any work unfinished. Every peso counted, every opportunity needed to be seized.
"Ay nako, kayod pa more," she muttered to herself, stretching her arms over her head. Her shoulders ached, but she refused to stop until everything was perfect.
From across the room, the faint click of heels echoed, making Colet sit up straighter. She glanced over her cubicle wall and froze. Gwen Apuli, her boss—stunning, intimidating, and so impossibly put-together it made Colet feel like a smudge on glass—was walking toward her desk.
"Colet," Gwen said, her voice soft yet firm, like always. "What are you still doing here?"
"Ah, Ma'am Gwen!" Colet stammered, scrambling to organize the papers on her desk. "I'm just finishing up some reports. Ayoko po kasi magpabukas pa ng trabaho..."
Gwen raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "It's Christmas Eve tomorrow. Shouldn't you be resting?"
"Okay lang po ako, Ma'am," Colet said, flashing a tight smile.
For a moment, Gwen didn't respond, her piercing gaze making Colet squirm. Then, with a sigh, Gwen crossed her arms. "I admire your dedication, but overworking yourself isn't exactly a gift to your family. Go home."
"Almost done na po, promise!" Colet said quickly, not wanting to leave the wrong impression.
Gwen's lips quirked into a faint smile. "Alright. But you're not staying past midnight. Understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Salamat po!"
Gwen turned to leave, her heels clicking against the tiles, but something made her pause. She looked over her shoulder. "Oh, and Colet?"
"Ma'am?"
"Merry Christmas," Gwen said, her tone softer now, almost warm.
Colet blinked. "M-Merry Christmas din po, Ma'am Gwen!"
With that, Gwen walked away, leaving Colet to stare after her, heart pounding for reasons she refused to analyze.
An hour later, Colet was finally done. She gathered her things, her body heavy with exhaustion but her chest light with the satisfaction of a job well done. Stepping outside, she pulled her scarf tighter around her neck, bracing against the cold December air.
The bus stop was just down the block, but as Colet reached it, she realized she'd just missed the last bus. "Ang malas naman," she groaned, stomping her feet to keep warm.
"Colet?"
The voice startled her. She turned to see Gwen standing a few feet away, her coat draped elegantly over her shoulders, a leather bag slung on her arm.
"Ma'am Gwen? Anong ginagawa niyo po dito?"
"I was heading to my car," Gwen said, gesturing to the parking lot behind her. "But what about you? Why are you still here?"
"Na-miss ko po yung bus," Colet admitted sheepishly.
Gwen frowned slightly, then tilted her head. "Have you eaten?"
Colet hesitated. "Ah... hindi pa po, pero okay lang—"
"No," Gwen said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Come on. Let's grab dinner. My treat."
"Ma'am, nakakahiya po talaga—"
"Colet." Gwen's voice was gentler now, her eyes softening. "It's Christmas. Let me do something nice for you."
Colet bit her lip, torn between pride and practicality. Finally, she nodded. "Sige po. Salamat, Ma'am Gwen."
They ended up at a small restaurant just a few blocks away, the kind of cozy place with twinkling fairy lights and the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the air.
Colet tried not to fidget as they sat down, hyper-aware of how out of place she felt next to Gwen, who looked like she belonged in a magazine spread.
"Relax," Gwen said, smiling slightly as she handed Colet a menu. "I don't bite."
"Pasensya na po," Colet said, laughing nervously. "Hindi po ako sanay sa ganito."
"To being treated to dinner?" Gwen asked, arching an eyebrow.
Colet nodded, looking down at the menu to avoid Gwen's gaze. "Ayoko po kasi magpalibre masyado. Nakakahiya."
"Colet," Gwen said softly. "There's nothing wrong with accepting help every once in a while. You're always working so hard. You deserve this."
The sincerity in Gwen's voice made Colet's chest tighten. She nodded again, not trusting herself to speak.
Dinner passed in a blur of conversation that felt surprisingly easy. Gwen asked about Colet's family, listening intently as Colet talked about her younger siblings and how she wanted to give them a special Christmas despite their tight budget.
"Ang bait mo naman," Gwen said, her tone thoughtful. "You're a good sister."
"Ginagawa ko lang po yung kaya ko," Colet said, shrugging.
Gwen smiled. "I think you're doing more than that."
After dinner, Gwen offered to drive Colet home.
"Naku, Ma'am Gwen, huwag na po! Bus lang po talaga ako," Colet insisted.
"It's late," Gwen said, her brow furrowing.
"Sanay naman po ako, promise," Colet said, holding up her hands.
Gwen studied her for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. But I'll wait with you until the next bus comes."
Colet blinked. "Ma'am Gwen, hindi na po kailangan—"
"I insist," Gwen said, crossing her arms in a way that made it clear the conversation was over.
They stood together at the bus stop, the streetlights casting a soft glow around them. Colet felt a little awkward at first, but the silence between them was oddly comforting. Gwen stood relaxed, her hands in her coat pockets, while Colet hugged her bag close to her chest.
The snow started suddenly, soft flakes drifting down from the dark sky.
"Snow!" Colet exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Ma'am Gwen, tingnan niyo!"
Gwen turned to see Colet staring up at the sky, her face glowing with childlike wonder. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, her lips parted in a delighted smile.
"It's so beautiful," Colet whispered, almost to herself.
Gwen's breath caught in her throat. She wasn't looking at the snow. She was looking at Colet.
For a moment, she forgot how to breathe. Colet was radiant, her joy so pure it felt like the world had paused to admire her. Gwen swallowed hard, her chest tightening in a way that was both exhilarating and terrifying.
"Yeah," Gwen said quietly. "It is."
Colet turned to Gwen, her eyes shining. "First snow ko 'to. Sabi nila, may magic daw ang unang snow ng taon."
"Do you believe that?" Gwen asked, her voice soft.
Colet smiled. "Ngayon, parang oo na."
Gwen felt her heart stutter. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she let the moment stretch between them, the snow falling softly around them as the world faded away.
When the bus finally arrived, Colet hesitated, glancing at Gwen.
"Salamat po, Ma'am Gwen," she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "For everything."
Gwen smiled, her chest aching in a way she couldn't quite explain. "Anytime, Colet. Ingat ka."
As Colet climbed onto the bus, Gwen stood there, watching her leave. The snow continued to fall, but all Gwen could think about was the way Colet had looked tonight—like magic made real.
And for the first time in a long time, Gwen allowed herself to believe in Christmas miracles.