Patresiah stared out the window, her chin resting on her hand. The city lights flickered below, a kaleidoscope of colors against the night sky. She loved the city, its buzz, its energy, its endless possibilities. It was her world, her comfort zone.
"Patresiah, honey, come down here!" Her mother's voice called from downstairs. Patresiah sighed, pulling herself away from the window. She knew what this was about.
She found her parents in the living room, their faces lit by the warm glow of the Christmas tree. Amelia, her mother, held a travel brochure, its pages filled with pictures of lush green rice paddies and quaint wooden houses. Richard, her father, smiled then his eyes twinkling.
"We've decided to spend Christmas in the province this year," Amelia announced, her voice bright. "We'll be with your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It'll be a real family reunion."
Patresiah's stomach sank. The province? She couldn't imagine anything worse. No towering buildings, no bustling streets, no late-night movie marathons with her friends. Just fields, farms, and… silence.
"But I want to stay in here, new Zealand is perfect than other countries every Christmas," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I have so much going on here, mom plsss let's just stay  we can celebrate Christmas by ourselves, just the 3 of us and we could add your friends as will as mine."
Richard patted her hand. "We know, honey, but this is important to us. We haven't seen your grandparents in almost 5yrs, and Christmas is the perfect time to be together as a family."
"Dad no I wanna stay! I won't leave you guys stay. I want to celebrate this Christmas with my Best friend too, plssss!" She said begging her dad to change their decision.
"Honey enough " her mom said, "that's already final, We're going to the province even you like it or not?" her mother said, a little annoyed.
"Okay, fine. Just leave me behind. Don't bring me. Yaya and the others are here; they won't let anything happen to me," Patresiah replied.
"Your Yaya is leaving though. She's going home for Christmas and she already ask permission at me," her mother said.
"It's okay. Manang Anya / our maid, can stay with me," Patresiah answered.
"Patresiah, stop it! Get the things you want to bring so Anya can pack them!" her mother said angrily.
"Mom, I told you, I don't want to go! Why are you forcing me? I'm old enough to be on my own. I'm fine being alone because it's already been my hubby." 
"Why don't you want to come? Because of what? You'd rather be with your friends than your family, huh?" her mother asked angrily.
"No, Mom. I just don't want to go. I don't want to. I don't want to go!" she repeated, then stormed into her room.
"Patresiah, come back here! You're so stubborn, you little brat! " her mother shouted.
"I don't want to go! Stop forcing me, Mom, please! Just leave me alone!" Patresiah yelled back.
"This is my house, and I'm the one who makes the rules! You're just my daughter!" her mother said angrily. "If you don't want to come, you have no choice. We're taking you with us."
Patresiah's heart ached. She knew she couldn't win this argument. Her parents were set on this trip, and Christmas was a time for family. She had no choice but to go.
She lay onto her bed, her eyes fixed on the Christmas tree. The twinkling lights seemed to mock her, a reminder of the happy holiday she was about to miss.
Amelia open her room and said"Just think of it, honey," Amelia said, trying to sound encouraging"You'll get to see your cousins again, and maybe even ride a carabao!" 
Patresiah shuddered. "A carabao?"
"See? You like that, don't you?" her mother said, sitting down beside her.
"Yes, Mom," Patresiah mumbled, but didn't finish her words. She just stayed quiet.
"But what?" her mother asked, but Patresiah didn't answer. "Honey, listen. I know I hurt your feelings earlier. I just don't want to leave you here. So please, don't be sad. I know you'll be like a princess when we get there. You'll be the only beautiful one."
"Mom, I'm not saying I want everyone to admire me," Patresiah said.
"Why don't you want to go? Do you want your dad to be sad? You saw how quiet he was earlier. He's still hurt because of what you said. Can you bear to see him hurt because of your selfishness?" her mother asked.
"Of course not, Mom. Where's Dad anyway why he didn't go upstairs?" Patresiah asked, her voice sad.
"He's downstairs, feeling down. Go apologize to him," her mother said.
"Okay, Mom," she said, getting up to leave.
"Wait, our flight is tomorrow. What kind of clothes do you want me to pack? Tell me so I can tell anya to pack them now," her mother asked.
"Anything, Mom. You choose. I'll just go apologize to Dad first," Patresiah said.
"Okay, good. Go ahead," her mother said smiling at her.
"Sorry too, Mom," Patresiah said, hugging her. "I won't do it again."
"It's okay, honey. Go see your dad now," her mother said, kissing her forehead.
When she reached the bottom, she hugged her dad and said, "Sorry, Dad."
"So, you're coming with us?" her dad asked, holding her close.
"Yes, Dad. I'm sorry for earlier. I won't do it again," she said, sitting on his lap.
"It's okay, honey. Just don't do it again, okay? It hurts me. You know you're our only child, and we love you so much," her dad said, holding her tight.
"Okay, Daddy. I promise. But can I bring my laptop? Just in case I get bored with my phone," she asked.
Her dad smiled and said, "Bring whatever you want, honey." He called out to their Yaya, "Yaya, tell Amelia that Patresiah wants to bring her laptop. Get it for her and then the pocket Wi-Fi  too."
"Thank you daddyyyyyy"
she said and kiss his checks.
She stood up and said, "Dad, I'll go see my pets. I'll take some photos because I'm going to miss them all."
"Sure, honey, you can bring any of them. Just let me know," he said.
"Really, Dad? Yessss! Thanks, Dad!" she said happily, running to see her pets.
She feel pity at her pets but she knows that their maids will take good care of them so she's just trying to sound positive. But inside, she felt like a city mouse trapped in a country dream.