15-Drake

When darkness had completely spread out in the sky, I visited Angel's Facebook account.

My eyes widened in surprise when I found out that Tita Anne has a Facebook account.

She was tagged in one of Angel's previous post. I sent her a friend request and she accepted it around nine in the evening. I sent her all our pictures and leave a message.

Me:

Good evening, Tita Anne. Ito po lahat ng mga pictures namin kanina.

Hindi ko sinali ang mga pictures namin sa Chuckies Peak baka mapagalitan si Angel.

Anne Soledad:

Ang ganda ganda ng anak ko. It's so good to see her like that. Having a good time.

I replied to confirm that.

Me:

Walang palya, Tita. Nagmana po sa inyo.

She reacted to my message with a heart emoticon. She was typing another message. My eyes bulged when it finally popped on the screen of my cellphone.

Anne Soledad:

Drake, malapit na ang 18th birthday ni Angel. Pwede ka bang maging last dance niya?

Me:

That will be an honor, po. I think I'll ask Angel if she wants that.

I rolled over my bed and waited for two minutes for Tita Anne's next message.

Anne Soledad:

Dadalo din ang Kuya Soren niya. Magandang pagkakataon ang celebration ng debut niya para mag-usap kayo. I hope you can invite your father and your brothers too. Alam mo bang classmate kami ng Papa mo noon?

Our wholesome conversation went on. I felt like I'm talking to my nonbiological Mother. She had a good sense of humor like Angel.

She even confidingly shared their High School year book pictures as well as my father's. I saved the picture and chuckled while looking at it. Naka-bowl hair cut si Papa. Nakangiti siya na parang natatae.

Matapos ang pag-uusap namin ay siya ring paglitaw ng chat head ni Angel.

Every time she messaged me first, I became exhilarated. I clicked it right away.

prettygirl💄:

Drake, may music video ka na sa subject ni Ma'am Jennifer? Malapit na ang deadline.

I had a song in my mind. Hindi ko parin talaga gets kung bakit may project kami na music video sa isang reading and writing subject.

Come on, anong connection?

I typed a response:

Wala pa, pretty. Ang balak ko nga ay isali ka. If you want to or if you like it.

prettygirl💄:

Sige.

prettygirl💄:

I like that.

prettygirl:

By the way, what song you will going to use in your Music Video?

Sunod sunod niyang tugon sa akin.

Nagtipa agad ako ng sagot.

Me:

Alipin by Shamrock. What about you?

💄:

All too well by Taylor Swift. Sasali ako sa Music Video project mo, kasali ka rin sa akin, deal?

Me:

Okay. Deal.

prettygirl💄:

Pwedeng ikaw ang gumanap na gas lighter kong imaginary boyfriend?

I reacted her message with a heart emoticon because of the word imaginary boyfriend but I changed it to a laughing one when I saw the word gas lighter.

Kunot noo akong gumawa ng tugon.

Me:

Bakit naman gas lighter?

That would be make me feel like a total shit. I think this project would make me a downright walking red flag in her music video.

She explained afterwards.

prettygirl💄:

Tungkol iyon sa lalaking nag-double crossed kay Mommy T.S. I know you will give justice to the character, Drake.

I gave up punctually. I couldn't refuse to her nor change Taylor Swift's idea of the entirety of the song. Angel had an absolute confidence that I'll perfected the red flag character.

Me:

Kailan ang taping? At sinong camera man? O mag-eedit?

prettygirl💄:

Walang pasok sa Tuesday. Si Jethro ang magvivideo at mag-eedit sa akin. Sina Bonita at Kirsteen naman may binayarang cameraman at editor. Gusto sana nilang isali ako pero I said no. Kinausap ko kanina si Jethro. He said yes. Kung magpapatulong ka sa kanya, may bayad daw, Drake. Sa akin wala.

I was thoroughly confused and annoyed at the same time.

Kahit noon paman ay hindi na ako gusto ni Jethro. Palagi kaming nag-aaway sa mga maliliit na bagay. Pero hindi ito katanggap-tanggap.

I composed a last message for the night:

Me:

Alas dyes na, pretty. You should rest now. I know you're tired. Out na ako. Kakausapin ko lang ang unggoy kong kapatid.

She reacted to my reply with a laughing emoji. I log out and switched off my phone. I didn't want her to overthink.

"Jethro!" tawag ko sa unggoy nang nakababa na ako sa living room.

He was radiantly and transparently happy with headphones on. May kinalikot siya sa kanyang phone. I assumed he turned down the volume.

My father and my older brothers were chilling outside holding their bottles of beer. Iyan ang ginagawa nila kapag ang araw nila ay patang-pata sa trabaho.

"Si Angel lang ililibre mo sa editing pay? Nakalimutan mo atang magkapatid tayo!"

Kuya Gunner looked over his shoulder and I clammed my mouth instantly.

"Ako ang nag-ligtas sayo noong muntikan ka ng mabugbog at ito ang isusukli mo sa akin?" I lowered my voice.

I scratched my head when Jethro seemed to ignore me completely. "Jethro Paul. Isa, dalawa-"

Russel removed Jethro's headphone. "May kausap ka, Jethro." he whispered in his right ear.

"Oh, sorry," He faked a surprised face at me, "I couldn't hear you through your stupidity. Can you say it again?"

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Sinuklian niya lang ako ng mapanuyang tawa.

"Bwesit ka." I snorted at him. "Si Anghel lang ang ililibre mo sa editing pay?"

"Yeah." Tumayo siya. "Magkapatid tayo pero magkaibigan kami ni Anghel. Mas mabait siya sa akin. Ikaw ilang beses mo na akong sinigawan noong mga bata pa tayo. Kasali na ang pagpapagawa mo sa akin ng mga responsibilidad mo na dapat ikaw ang gumagawa." He was facing back and forth to prove a point.

Umani iyon ng bungisngis kina Drexter at Russel. Napatingin ako sa gawi nila Papa sa labas. Nakakunot silang nakatingin sa amin.

I swallowed and relaxed my face. I didn't want them to know we're having an altercation.

Jethro put back his headphone and flopped to the couch. Umupo ako sa gilid niya.

I was waiting for a timing. I couldn't afford to raise my voice at him when my older brothers and my father were just a few steps away. Maya-maya pa ay tumayo na sila at pumasok na sa loob.

"Tulog na boys." matigas na atas ni Kuya Ranger habang naglalakad papunta sa kanyang kwarto.

"Huwag kayong masyadong babad sa mga cellphones niyo." dagdag ni Papa at umakyat na din sa itaas.

Kuya Gunner turned off the WI-FI. Umangal silang lahat. "Tulog o walang allowance?" he threatened them.

We were in the midst of scooting back to our rooms. But Khalid came out from his room upstairs.

"May assignment pa akong ginagawa, Kuya."

Sinaksak pabalik ni Kuya Gunner ang WI-FI. Paborito niya talaga si Khalid.

"Salamat, Kuya." Khalid went back to his room.

Kuya Gunner eyed us one by one with full of warning. He eventually zoomed to his room. Bumalik agad sila sa kanilang mga ginagawa.

Pabiro kong siniko si Jethro nang masigurong wala na ang presensiya ni Kuya Gunner, "Magkadugo tayo, bro." I gently massaged his shoulder. "Kung may nagawa man akong hindi maganda sayo noong mga bata pa tayo – edi sorry na. Tao lang naman ako at kapatid mong gwapo."

Tinanggal niya ang kanyang headphone. "I don't care. Blood is not thick anymore, brother. You have to pay me if you want me to help you with that project."

He was being dramatic. I know we had few rivalries and indifferences. But this one was betrayal!

"I feel like you're betraying me. I'm one of your older brothers who take care of you when you were just a little! Gusto mo bang isend ko lahat ng mga baby pictures mong umiiyak kay Margot?"

Tinaas niya ang kanyang baba. "Kahit isend mo pa ngayon, dakog ulo! Hindi mo ako masisindak sa mga banta mo!"

"Okay. How about I wash your clothes?" Nilambotan ko ang aking boses.

Ako ang may kailangan sa kanya kaya dapat ibaba ko ng konti ang pride ko.

"For a week?" pang-aasar niya. Nakangisi pa ng nakakaloko ang unggoy.

"No." I shook my head. "For a day." panglilinaw ko.

Dagliang nawala ang kanyang ngiti. "Nah. Lugi ako, Drake. Hindi madaling mag-edit ng video. Maraming oras ang dapat igugol bago matapos."

"Pisti..." I heaved a sigh. "You will be my camera man too?"

"Sure, just wash my clothes,"

"For a week I'll wash your clothes." I said in defeat.

He threw a victory fists. "Handwash?" he advanced.

"Yes..." I exhaled a heavy breath.

I would have to prepare myself. Nasanay ako na washing machine ang gamit. Talagang pinapahirapan ako nito.

"Kasali mga underwear ko?" Natatawa siyang tumakbo pataas.

"Damak!" I brawled at him.

***

Tuesday went on swiftly. Wala kaming pasok. I forgot what's the reason why we didn't have a class. As long as we didn't have any boring classes throughout the day.

It was the important thing that matters to me especially when we're packed up with school requirements.

Drexter and Russel were free the whole day and offered to help me. Wala silang project na ganito.

Nakahiga ako sa aking kama at inaayos ni Jethro ang lightning.

Angel was sitting at the edge of the bed, dabbing some foundation on my face. She brushed my thick brows for them to be in the right place. She insisted on putting me a lipstick to make me a presentable human. Ginaya ko kung paano niya pinaglapat ang kanyang mga labi para kumalat ang lipstick.

"Let's start." Jethro stated after adjusting his tripod.

"Good luck, Drake." Angel flashed a widest smile at me. Tumayo na siya at pumunta sa gilid ni Jethro.

"Thanks, pretty girl." Kinawag ko ang aking mga kilay sa kanya.

"Oh, pretty girl..." pakantang biro nila Russel at Drexter.

Binato ko sila ng unan. Nakaiwas ang mga gago at tinawanan ako.

"Tama na iyan! Wala tayong matatapos nito! First scene, look at the ceiling, Drake. Imagine her face is plastered on it," Jethro strongly instructed.

I nodded at him and winked at Angel. Her nose scrunched with a hint of gentle sermon.

"Lights!" sigaw ni Jethro para tumahimik na ang dalawa sa panunuya nila sa akin.

"Music!" Nilakasan lalo ni Jethro ang boses.

Russel played the music and raised a thump up while holding his laughter.

"Camera!" Jethro aimed the camera at me and gave me a final signal. "Action!"

Di ko man maamin

Ikaw ay mahalaga sa akin

'Di ko man maisip

Sa pagtulog, ikaw ang panaginip

I mumbled the lyrics suavely and continued.

Malabo man ang aking pag-iisip

Sana'y pakinggan mo ang sigaw nitong damdamin

"Grin like an idiot." utos ni Jethro.

Nanonood si Angel sa akin kaya madali lang ang ngumiti. That beaming face alone could light up the whole town. That only she could make me feel like a dog with two wagging tails.

"Ganyan nga! And cut!" Jethro ended the first scene with a satisfied face.

"Pwede ka na palang maging artista, bro." puri na may halong panunuya ni Russel.

Nagfist bump nalang kami. Tinawanan lang ako ni Drexter.

Angel clapped her hands in amazement.

I loved watching her like that as if she was my supportive girlfriend.

"Here's the drill for the next scene, Drake, you are driving your motorcycle, casually glancing over your shoulder while Angel is crossing the street. Then — you suddenly skidded to a halt when you realize you're about to hit her. You uncover your helmet, rush to her, and help her to her feet. Upon seeing her, you feel like the time is really slow and the world is full of clouds and rainbows. Let's stop there with many seconds of eye-to-eye contact. In just like that, you fell in love at first sight. But reality slap you and she also slap you hard right to your cheek."

Jethro's idea was giving me a crystal-clear reminder of that night: my recklessness and foolishness.

I admired him. He was really professional the way he's giving orders.

"Sounds familiar." Angel hummed.

"I love this idea of yours, bro. Ang creative mo talaga!"

Umalis na kami sa bahay. The next scene would be in the school. She was wearing her school uniform and currently crossing the street carrying some books.

Ako naman na ugok ay padaskol-daskol na nagmamaneho at muntikan ko na siyang masagasaan.

I helped her got to her feet and we made eye contact but she slapped me right away.

Nagulat ako dahil biglaan talaga ang sampal niya. It was only a one take. Nag-sorry siya pero nag-apir kaming dalawa pagkatapos.

"Good job, pretty."

We proceeded with several scenes with ease. I was sitting on my motorcycle. Jethro was recording me while I'm lip-synching the lines.

Ako'y alipin mo kahit hindi batid

Aaminin ko, minsan ako'y manhid

Sana at iyong naririnig

Sa 'yong yakap, ako'y nasasabik

"I want the next scene to be your youthful shenanigan since you two are already close friends here." Jethro explained.

"What? Shenanigan? Anong klaseng salita iyan?" reklamo ni Drexter.

Nakasuot siya ng uniporme ng isang school bodyguard: dark blue pants, white long sleeve, pershin cap, necktie, holster, and black rubber-soled shoes. We actually borrowed it from our head School Guard.

"Shenanigan means kalokohan, brother. Lahat naman ata ng mga estudyante may mga High School or Elementary shenanigans. Santo nalang siguro ang hindi nakakaranas niyan," Russel fed him with a short definition.

"Aba! Gusto ko rin ng ganyan kasama si Bonita. Para hindi naman boring ang High School life niya."

"Kahit maging Prinsipe ka pa habang nakasakay sa puting kabayo hindi pa rin magbabago ang tingin ni Bonita sa'yo. She still sees you as the Lord of Jejemons." kontra ni Jethro.

Lord of Jejemons, amputa.

"Grabe talaga kayong mga matatalino, no? Pahingi naman kahit katiting ng mga utak niyo, oh! Gusto kong maging ka level ng talino si Bonita. Ang talino kasi niya hindi ko kayang pantayan." He scrunched up his face when realization hit him.

"I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but I see you are unarmed." I provoked.

Angel was listening but she flinched at that. I knew how my intelligence affects her. Well, short of.

"Masyadong hambog, ah. Sige, sino nagsabi niyan?" hamon ni Russel.

Kinamot ko ang aking ulo. Russel had it all. He was brainy, creative, and artistic. He could paint, sing, play different instruments, likes reading books. He knew for sure who said that.

I was totally stupefied by that. Nagdaan ang mga segundo. Naghihintay parin sila sa aking isasagot. Wala talaga akong ideya kung sino ang nagsabi ng katagang iyon. I just heard it somewhere.

"William Shakespeare," Angel mouthed in the air at me secretly.

"Bawas pogi points–"

"William Shakespeare." I answered, lifting my chin with confidence.

They were stunned by that.

"You guys always thought that I wasn't playing with a full deck. If I wanted to, William Shakespeare would probably be in danger. I might take his title."

"Yawa, bro! Abi nako ug bugo ka bah! Ako man diay ang mas bugo sa atoang duha!" Drexter lamented.

Angel hid her smile. She was really my Angel-ready-to-the-rescue.

"That's okay, brother. I know your pain." Russel patted his back. Drexter even leaned on his shoulder and cried like a baby.

"Stop the drama, brothers. Hindi kayo si William Shakespeare." suway ko sa kanila.

***

We were making a graffiti on the wall at the back of the school. Si Drexter ay nagkunwaring nakita ang aming ginagawa at agad kaming hinabol upang iharap sa guidance councilor.

We threw our spray paints to the trash. We ran hand in hand, while our sly laughter lingers through the street.

Ngunit natisod si Drexter. Lalong lumakas ang tawanan namin ni Anghel. Mukhang may sira ata ang isang suwelas ng sapatos na hiniram namin.

Sumenyas si Jethro na ipagpatuloy namin ang ginagawa habang tumatakbo siyang kinukunan kami ng video.

We honestly couldn't stop laughing and looking at Drexter who seemed to have trouble with the shoes.

Lumiko kami sa kanang kanto. I slowly grabbed her into my chest as our hearts was rising and falling from running.

"Freeze. Stay like that, hugging her." Jethro commanded.

His camera was still aiming at us. My brother read my mind. She was gazing up at me. I looked down at her blushing face, whistling to ease down the silence.

I prolonged our eye contact. Gone the gaiety of shenanigans.

Our stare was a pure silent communication.

From the corner of my eye, I saw my two other brothers approaching us.

Jethro pulled a small notebook from his pocket. "This scene is about confessing your feelings to her. Kaya–"

"Kaya dapat ba manligaw agad?" agap ko.

"Angas ah. Hindi man lang nakaranas ng pagkatorpe? Bilib talaga ako sayo, brother." Russel said.

"Sus! Angel. Madaming atsa 'yan noon. Hindi pa pumapasok araw araw sa eskwelahan. Palagi namang may baon." puna ni Drexter.

"Shut up, brothers! Ginugulo niyo kami," asik ko sa kanila.

"Don't listen to them, pretty. Mga kampon 'yan ni Satanas." I told her with a gentle tone.

"I don't really see you base on your past. But why not give it a try, Drake?" bulong ni Angel.

Russel and Drexter didn't hear that.

"What we have right now is too precious."

It was a tiny sting of rejection. God, did I just say that? I shouldn't have fucking say it to her! It sounded like she's after me when it should be me!

"Gusto kong makausap muna ang Kuya Soren mo. I don't want to rush things,"

Gumapang ang marikit niyang ngiti. "Alam kong takot ka lang husgahan ng mga tao. I know how badly you want to talk to my brother too,"

"That was all recorded. Kahit iniba niyo, okay lang. Spontaneous lang ang datingan."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. May pruweba na ako.

"Sa Verse 2 na, Drake. Para matapos na! One, two, go!"

"Ayoko sa iba. Sa'yo ako ay hindi magsasawa. Ano man ang 'yong sabihin. Umasa ka ito ay diringgin." I sang with the finest lip sync I could pull off.

I wasn't gifted with a good voice but I wanted her to get the message of the song.

"Magtinginan lang kayo. Mga isang minuto pa siguro. Tuck the few strands of her hair behind her ear."

Sinunod ko ang aming direktor. Dahil masunurin ako.

"Ang bilis naman. Isang oras dapat." I sweetly complaint.

Her cheeks were pink now. She blinked away. Her heart might be racing for she was holding it dearly. My heart was crazily racing too like a rapid motorcycle.

***

We decided to get back to our house. It was ten in the morning. There were few lip-syncing, sweet moments, and dialogues to properly lay out the story.

"Dito sa pre-chorus, madalas man na parang aso at pusa. Giliw sa piling mo 'ko ay masaya..." binasa ni Jethro. "May argument na mangyayari sa part na ito dahil hindi nagbigay ng abiso si Drake na sasali siya sa isang local race. Just try to imagine, Angel. Nalaman mo ito galing kay Bonita. Medyo nagseselos ka dahil kasama si Fritz sa mga nanunuod."

"Wala namang dapat pagselosan. Dahil ako mismo ang iiwas. Hindi ako madadala sa ganyan. There will be no interaction between us. Ang problema lang ay hindi ako nagbigay ng abiso kay Anghel."

Angel was taken back by that.

"Sineryoso mo naman, ulol." asik ni Drexter.

Malapit na naming matapos ang kanta. Ipinagpatuloy namin ang shooting kahit nakatulog sina Russel at Drexter sa sala.

"Sasayaw kayo sa buhangin. Huwag na tayong pumunta sa Sussana. Diyan sa may tabing dagat nalang."

Angel wore a loose flowery skirt that made her look more girlie with a black leather jacket.

"Pilit mang abutin ang mga tala. Basta't sa akin 'wag kang mawawala..." I lip-synced the bridge.

"Yakapin mo siya, Drake. Mahigpit pero hindi nakakasakal. Sweet and consoling."

I looked at her intently like I could see the flakes of her eyeballs while lip syncing the next part to her ear.

Pagkat ikaw lang ang nais makatabi

Malamig man o mainit ang gabi

Nais ko sana iparating na ikaw lamang

Ang siyang aking iibigin

The whole afternoon we worked on filming Angel's music video and continued on Wednesday night. For she needed a ten-minute duration just like the original Music Video. I honestly didn't like the character I'm portraying.

Every time I look at her, I couldn't help but ask myself I'm still the guy with too many red flags. I was still on the process of surpassing the older version of me. But for the sake of her favorite song, there wasn't a strong force to hold me back.

PERIEDOT