10-Angel

It was 6:22 in the morning of Wednesday. I needed to get back home before seven so that I wouldn't be late. That realization was making me bite my nails.

"Drake, gumising ka na. Kailangan ko ng umuwi..." bulong ko habang nakadungaw sa kanya.

Alam kong gising na gising na ang diwa ni Drake. Pinatay niya kaninang alas singko ang maingay na alarm clock. Subalit muli niyang pinikit ang mga mata at kunwaring humihilik.

He was face-down the softness of his pillow on the floor. He turned his head to my direction, letting out a soft groan.

"Mamaya na, pretty... Dito ka nalang mag-agahan." garagal ang kanyang boses.

"Baka malate ako. Baka malate tayo."

"Mag ober the bakod nalang tayo." he scratched his butt and gave it a playful smack.

"Ang bad mo."

His lips raised with a witty chuckle while his eyes were still closed.

The doorknob was shaking. Someone was trying to get inside his room.

Did they give each other extra keys to their rooms? We both jumped in panic when Jethro stormed in with his hair messy and a camera dangling around his neck.

"Angel! Gising na! Ang ganda ng araw! Dali! Picturan kita–"

Drake threw a pillow to his face that stopped his chattering mouth.

"Ang aga-aga pa, Jetty. Diba dadating mga kapatid mo at Wednesday ngayon. Ikaw dapat ang nagluluto ng agahan." I mildly scolded him.

Drake rose up and grabbed a white towel hanging from his study chair. He headed to the bathroom while complaining about his brother's noisiness inwardly. He closed the door and began doing his business.

"Bakit mo alam?" Jethro asked in surprise.

"Drake told me. How can you be so irresponsible?"

Drake appeared in the doorway of the bathroom with a toothbrush in his mouth. "Kaya nga! Akin na camera mo, Jetty! Ako nalang kukuha ng litrato kay Anghel."

Froth was spitting out of his mouth. I signaled to wipe the froth under his chin. He wiped it off double–quick and gurgled his mouth with running water from the faucet.

Jethro helped his other brothers in the kitchen. Drake accompanied me to the shore after I washed my mouth and combed my hair.

I couldn't afford to look horrible in front of his family. He took pictures of me. He even lay down the sand to get a good angle of me.

"Bakit naka zoom ang mukha ko, Drake? Dapat sinali mo ang araw at ang dagat." pagtataka ko nang tinignan ko ang mga litrato.

He had a strange way of taking pictures. Instead of focusing on the beautiful view of the ocean and the sea with my full body, he only zoomed my face.

"You're way more beautiful than the sunrise or the ocean, Angel." he affirmed.

There wasn't anything wrong with giving compliments. That put a smile on my face. The brighter side of our friendship should be valued.

It would be going to be sunny the entire day. Completely different from the weather yesterday.

Drake entered the small hut in the shore while carrying two mugs of coffee. We sat across each other. There were faraway mumbles after few sips of our coffee.

"May maitutulong ba ako?" usisa ko.

"Relax lang, pretty. Bisita ka. Sila na bahala sa agahan."

We talked about things related to School. Ilang buwan nalang ay patapos na ang aming Grade 11 journey.

I didn't hesitate to ask about his brothers, except Jethro. The way Drake told me their personal qualities. There was a serum of proudness in his tone.

He also told me all the sacrifices of his father and how his older brothers helped him. And how they managed to get intact as a Family without a woman mothering them. He didn't bring out the past with his mother though.

***

I sighed and lowered my voice as we got closer to the entrance of the dining room. The table with variety of foods was already set.

There were more than three dishes on the table. All were famous Filipino breakfast: the tortang tahong; daing na bangus; fried bolinao; skinless longganisa; and fruits like mango, banana, and guava.

Everyone was staring at me.

Naroon ang SSG president na si Khalid, at nakangiting si Jethro sa kaliwang banda ng mesa.

If I group them according to the air of their personality. Drake, Russel, and Drexter would be like the bad boy cards.

Drexter, a taekwondo player. Russel, the tattoo artist of the family, with many hidden talents that Drake couldn't name. He had a hoop through the center of his nose, shark bites piercing under his lips.

Khalid and Jethro were straight-A sons. Kuya Ranger was a farm man and the second father of the family. Kuya Gunner, a full-time mechanic. He seemed a little mysterious. Unlike the rest of his brothers who had this welcoming and friendly aura.

Kuya Ranger was at the head of the table. Kuya Gunner was at his side. Drake was on the end of the table with an open spot for me.

"Maayong buntag po," bati ko sa kanila.

They gave me a safeguard kind of smile.

Drake dragged the chair for me. "Tabi tayo, pretty."

"Feel at home, Ate Angel." Khalid made me feel comfortable with his smile.

I slid into my spot and flashed them a smile as they started passing the food. I waited until they were all done picking. Drake did the initiative. I felt dependent to him in front of his family!

Nakakahiya! Baka sabihin nilang maarte ako!

Nag-unahan si Drexter at Jethro sa pagkuha ng skinless longganisa. They playfully stuck out their tongues at each other.

Kuya Ranger cleared his throat at them, shooting them a glare. He was like the referee with these two dodoes.

"Ikaw ba iyong magandang bunso ni Anne, hija?" malumanay na tanong ng Papa niya.

Namula ang pisngi ko.

"Si Angel Faye Soledad, Papa." sagot ni Drake para sa akin.

He was peeling one mango.

We had exchanged pleasantries back in New Year's Eve at Santa Cruz Parish. Although, Drake wasn't in that moment. I understood why he needed to introduce me.

"Magkaklase kayo?" pausisang mosyon ni Kuya Gunner.

"Batchmate ko, Kuya." Drake provided him the right answer.

Kuya's Gunner jaw went slack. He didn't ask further.

"Palagi kang kinukwento ni ate Sonya sa akin noong member pa siya ng SSG Club." Khalid recalled and continued chewing.

My sister might look like a plain rock on the outside. But she was caring and loving in a serious way.

"But everyone probably knew you. You are the campus girl crush."

"Hindi naman, Khalid."

"She is." Drake affirmed his brother's claim.

We ate smoothly.

"Pina-alam mo ba si Anne o ang Kuya Soren mo na dito ka natulog, Angel?" Drake's Father inquired seriously after few minutes.

"Tapos na, Pa. Sa mama niya lang. Kagabi." Drake intervened.

"Saan mo pinatulog itong si Angel, Drake?" Kuya Ranger queried, curiously.

"Sa kwarto ko." he gave his brother a cheeky grin.

They darted their eyes at him like it could slice him into bits.

Drake leaned back his chair. "Calm down mga kapatid. Sa sahig ako natulog."

"Mabuti." Kuya Gunner muttered.

Each one of them have a distinct character. They lived in sync and worked together like a team.

The older brothers tended to be quieter and let things slide. Maybe because how systematic their household.

They never make feel me left out. His Father was fond of joking and like having a light conversation. Drake engrossed himself with making sure I eat properly. He took off all the bones of bangus for me.

"Angel is already here. Sabihin mo na, Drake." Kuya Ranger insinuated.

Sumalyap ako kay Drake. "May sasabihin ka pala? Hindi mo sinabi sa akin kagabi."

He offered a sheepish grin on his face. Napahawak siya sa batok niya. Some of his hair strands fell on the side of his head. There was something amusing when he's bashful.

Russel and Drexter were waggling their brows at him in a teasing manner.

"May gagawin ka bang mga assignments, activities, at projects sa biyernes ng gabi?"

Umaasa ang mga mata niya.

"Wala naman. Bakit?"

"Birthday ko. I want you to come if you can." Sinuri niya ang mukha ko habang nakapaskil ang masigasig na ngiti sa labi niya.

Malapit na pala. He didn't even mention it to me the passing days. I'm afraid I couldn't come.

"Mga kaibigan at pamilya lang naman ang dadalo, hija..." panigurado ng Papa niya.

"Baka hindi po ako payagan ni Kuya Soren." I told them already.

There wasn't any tiny chance that my brother would let me. He obviously didn't like Drake. And he would know that we're friends now.

"Drake, anak, tell me honestly. Kaibigan mo ba si Angel o hindi?" His father questioned bluntly.

"Magkaibigan lang po kami," I clarified.

Jethro smirked. Drexter and Russel were holding their laughter. Khalid nodded his head in understanding.

Kuya Ranger at Gunner ay nakatitig sa aming dalawa.

"Patience is the key." Drake answered them instead.

Jethro and his older brothers gave him a full of danger narrowed-eyes.

"Pin that to your mind," Kuya Ranger said.

What did he mean by that? I maintained the same look the entire breakfast.

***

As promised, Jethro sent me back home at 7:20 am sharp. My mother had the brightest smile seeing how the rain showered her beautiful flowers with such blessing.

"Angel, kumain ka na?" bungad ni Mama.

"Tapos na po."

"Maligo kana at pumunta na sa eskuwelahan."

She was in a good mood. I was glad she didn't ask me about what happen last night.

Kumakain pa si ate Sonya nang dumaan ako sa kusina. Nakaharap siya sa laptop. May towel pa sa ulo niya.

"Sabay na tayo, ate. Mabilis lang ako."

Tumango lang siya. Pagkatapos maligo ng sampung minuto at nagbihis nang madalian ay hindi ko parin nakaligtaan ang mag-ayos ng mukha. Pumasok si ate Sonya sa aking kwarto pagtapos ang ilang minuto.

She was ready. Her bag on her back, while carrying a gray satchel containing the laptop.

"Alam kong naroon si Drake sa bahay nila kagabi. Of course, that's their home. Is he pushy, Angel? Did he force you to..."

Hindi maituloy ni ate Sonya ang kanyang nais iparating habang nakatitig siya sa akin sa salamin.

I shook my head right away. "Drake is not a guy like that, ate. He has no intention of doing that to me. Natulog siya sa sahig buong magdamag habang ako sa kanyang kama natulog." paliwanag ko.

She crossed her arms over her chest in resolute. "I still doubted him, Angel. You can't be friends with a guy like him..."

I pressed my lips after applying a peachy lipstick. "You're free to tell our brother, Ate. If you really want..."

"I'm just waiting for a timing..."

"I don't really care anymore, Ate Sonya. Drake don't need to explain himself nor I am. I think I had the right to be just young and spend my time to people who I wanted myself to be surrounded."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Nabilog ka na talaga ng Mathildong iyon."

"I knew how to choose real friends. I saw that in him. Hindi ko siya gusto sa una dahil mukha siyang walang plano. But I genuinely like all the minor changes he showed to me. I like how he's slowly showing himself to me."

"Babalik din sa dati ang lalaking iyan. Don't be complacent of his minor changes, Angel."

***

I texted my brother to ask for permission about Drake's birthday. I knew how sparse the chance and the possibility he'll react badly was plausible. But I still tried. He would either reply to me late. I was still staring at the same conversation we had a month ago.

I was walking down the stairs with slumped shoulders after class.

"Pretty! I'll drop you off to your home! Kasama ko naman si Jethro!" Drake shouted from the upper floor with his hands on the barricade.

Tumingala ako sa kanya. "Wala ng ulan Drake."

"Sana umulan ulit!" he wished loudly.

"Tanga ka ba Drake!? May sinampay ako sa bahay!" pakli ng kaklase niya.

Nang akma niyang iwanan ang kanyang nililinis ay hinarangan siya ng classroom President nila. "Huwag kang tatakas, Drake! Kasama ka sa mga cleaners ngayon!"

***

Thursday afternoon, I was in the hallway in front of our classroom. I was checking my phone from time to time, wondering if Kuya Soren would let me.

Drake approached me with a broom he was dangling on his shoulder. "Hi, pretty. Kamusta ang araw mo?"

"Ayos lang, Drake." tipid kong sagot.

"36 hours nalang birthday ko na. Pinayagan ka na ba ng Kuya mo?"

He was so excited.

He even counted the remaining hours until his birthday. I could not hide the disappointed expression that come across my face.

If the situation would be just opposite. If Kuya Soren just like him, he would be probably jumping in joy right now.

"Hindi pa siya nagre-reply..."

Kumurba ang labi niya sa isang malungkot na ngiti. "If you can't make it. I'm alright with that. I'm sure you can be online on Facebook Messenger. Let's just video call while I celebrate my birthday."

Kinagabihan ng Huwebes ay nakipag-palitan kami ng mga mensahe sa isat-isa gaya ng aming nakasanayan.

Every night I was always bombarded with his messages.

Drake Wayne Mathildo:

You looked gloomy today (not intended to offend you) Care to share what's bothering you?

I composed a reply instantly.

Me:

I'm really thinking about your upcoming birthday. It will be your special day. I don't want to disappoint you, Drake. I want to be there with you.

My phoned beeped. Another message from him.

Drake Wayne Mathildo:

Just don't think about it. I don't want you to worry. I'll be alright, really. As long as, I'll see your beautiful face. My celebration will be complete. My night will be starry.

PERIEDOT