2-Angel

My older brother was completely enraged at what he did. He could almost tackle him on the ground. But he had to calm down considering his reputation.

"Ang balita ko ay kasali 'yan sa riot kagabi. May isang estudyante pa nga galing Notre Dame ang na-confine sa hospital dahil sa motorcycle race na sinalihan niya. Hindi ito isang beses na may ginawang kawalang bahala si Drake Wayne Mathildo." seryosong wika ni Ate Sonya nang nasa hapag kainan kami noong araw ng bagong taon.

"Iwasan mo nalang ang binatang 'yan, Angel." payo ni Mama.

Sumailalim kami sa malalim na panayam matapos niyang malaman na muntikan na akong masagasaan. She was worried just like the rest of my siblings.

Binitawan ni Kuya Soren ang kanyang kubyertos. "Kung susundan ka niya sa School o inaabala sa studies mo. Just leave me a text ahead. I'll file a leave of absence and sort it out." Uminom siya ng tubig.

Kuya Soren had been our father figure since our biological father completely abandoned us for his mistress. Although he had been a wholesome role model for us and a good husband. However, that changed entirely when he was promoted. He had gotten out of control: always impatient, arrogant and emotionally detached from us. Little did we know, he was hiding something.

I understood now why they were extra protective and caring to me.

"Huwag na, Kuya. Hindi ko naman siya nakikita sa School. Ang sabi sa akin ni Bonita hindi naman daw siya pumapasok araw-araw."

That conversation was on the first day of the year. Ilang oras nalang ay patapos na ang January na dinadaos ang kapistahan ng Patron ni Santo Niño.

The Fluvial Parade was super fun not until Drake appeared in my sight and shouted.

I had a sideline this evening. There would be a beauty pageant for kids. Two mothers offered me a sideline to do their child's makeup. Pinayagan ako ni Mama basta ay kasama ko si Jethro. Kapag kasi may mga pageants ay palagi kaming dalawa ang magkasama.

He had been taking pictures since he got his first camera. I'd have been doing makeup since I was a kid. Though, I was doing it secretly.

Magaan sa pakiramdam kapag naglalagay ako ng kolorete sa mukha.

I was done with the two contestants after few clicks on the camera. The kids began with their introduction number after the formal opening, and introductory speeches. Sadly, we couldn't find any vacant seats.

Maraming tao ang nanunuod. All of the provided mono block chairs were occupied on the front row. Kaya sa likuran kami pumuwesto. I was jumping, and tiptoeing. People on the front were too tall compared to me.

"Si Soledad oh. Grabe, ang ganda talaga..."

"Anghel talaga..picturan ko nga.."

"Hingin mo ang number, wala ata ang bodyguard niya..."

Jethro blatantly raised his middle finger at them. Hindi ko sila pinansin dahil namomoblema pa ako. Huminga nalang ako ng malalim. "Ang hirap talaga kapag kinakapos ka sa height..."

"Gusto mo kargahin kita, Gel?" Jethro offered.

"Bawal! Bawal!"

Someone made a loud intrusion. It was crowded and he managed to squeeze in between people to get closer to us. As per usual, his friends tailed behind him.

"Nandito na naman ang unggoy..." Jethro muttered.

I couldn't stay oblivious when his demanding existence made me turn around.

Ayon sa paglalarawan ni Bonita. Buhok pa lang daw niya alam mo ng nangangambala ng katahimikan. Tila dala niya lahat ng katarantaduhan sa kanyang ulo. Kahit saan man siya mapadpad sa mundo ay mayabang niya itong ipapakita sa mga tao.

He had a Ducktail haircut. His hair was perfectly pomaded tonight. He smelled so good too...

"Gel, don't look at him." Jethro warned.

Pinutol ko ang titig sa kanya.

Drake Wayne Mathildo was a type of guy that get you dander up by a minuscule of his words. He was been labeled as the red flag by many. Jethro clarified to us that his brothers were not our friends. Wala akong masyadong alam sa mga kapatid niya. He had been very indignantly clear about that from the start.

I tiptoed hoping to get a good look of the contestants on the stage. Jethro was snapping pictures and I gripped on his shoulder to balance myself.

"May upuan sa simbahan..." Drake suggested out of nowhere. "Kukunin ko na ba?"

"Ang bigat nun, drake!" reklamo ng isa sa mga kaibigan ni Drake.

"Church pew, hindi mono block chair!"

"Ay sus! Kahit buong simbahan pa!" he boasted. "Buhuhatin ko kahit ano para makaupo lang siya ng maayos..." Drake continued, lowering his voice when we made a brief eye contact.

I shook my head. Keep your head straight to the stage, Angel!

"She can have a better view if she will stand on a chair. I can get a chair for her if she let me..." he insisted.

"You have to kiss my ass first before you can do that." Jethro disapproved.

"Nag-aalok lang ng tulong. Bawal ba?" asik niya.

"Oo bawal. Lalo na't galing sayo. Bakit ka ba nandito?"

"Fiesta ngayon, bro. Malamang mulaag jud ko..." pagdadahilan ni Drake pero nakatuon ang mga mata sa akin.

"Diba gusto mo ng thrill? Wala dito ang thrill na hinahanap mo.." kontra ni Jethro.

"Sigurado ako. Nandito ang thrill na hinahanap ko."

I held Jethro's arm to stop him.

I didn't want him to cause a fight with his brother in the middle of the crowd. Baka maging referee pa ako nila. Pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao.

"Sa bahay tayo magtutuos, brother. Lagot ka sa akin mamaya..." Drake indicated a forthcoming dispute.

Is he really that serious?

"Kargahin nalang kita, Gel. I can carry you with my own strength. Hindi ka naman mabigat," Mungkahi ni Jethro, nilakasan niya pa ang kanyang boses.

I would love to. It was a friendly offer. I would let Jethro carry me. The only thing I'm worried about was the person behind us.

"Sige-"

"Bawal iyan.. Uuwi talaga kuya mo kapag nalaman niya.."

We ignored Drake's rant.

I tapped Jethro's shoulder as a signal. I laced his camera around my neck and he stooped down with one bended knee. I dangled my legs around his neck casually.

"Delikado masyado, Jethro. Kukuha nalang ako ng mono block chair sa bahay..." he was like a child asking for our attention.

We refused to make any responses to his complaints.

Jethro slightly grunted when he stood up with me hanging on his neck. I wondered if I'm heavy. But I was frequently called skinny. I had thin arms and legs.

"Makinig ka naman sa nakakatanda mong kapatid! Delikado 'yan! Baka mahulog si Anghel!" Drake claimed.

"Wala na bang mas nakakasuka niyan, brother?" Jethro sneered at him.

Nagpatuloy kami. Hindi na namin pinansin ang mga nakikisingit sa amin.

"I want a panoramic shot, Gel. Tanda mo pa ba kung paano?"

"Oo, Jetty..."

"Sana tinuruan mo nalang ako kumuha ng panoramic shot na 'yan. Nilalagay mo lang siya sa peligro.." bulong ni Drake.

Gaya ng inutos ni Jethro. I took panoramic shots. Marami akong pictures na nakuha. Kaya umabot sa puntong red line nalang ang natira sa battery bar ng camera niya.

"Low battery, Jetty. Ibaba mo muna ako."

He placed me down gently. "May dala akong extra battery nasa backstage. Dito ka muna, Gel. Huwag mo siyang kausapin o sumagot sa mga tanong niyang walang kwenta. Babalik ako agad."

He darted Drake a warning look before running to the backstage.

I was alone with my toes touching the ground. I could feel someone creeping beside me. I spread my legs both sides to save our area. Nang pabalik na si Jethro umisod ako para pagbigyan siya ng ispasiyo. Subalit okupado na ni Drake.

"Bakit kasi ang ganda mo? Bakit gusto kong harangan lahat ng puta sa mundo na lalapit sayo." Drake swept his hand along his hair.

"Ikaw ba iyang puta na sinasabi mo, Drake?" Jethro forged ahead.

Natahimik siya.

"Behave na si Drake ngayon." Drake's friend commented teasingly.

"Nakakapanibago..."

"Nakakataas ng balahibo..."

"Nakakabagabag..."

"Nakakagago..."

Isa-isang komento ng mga kaibigan niya.

"Ayaw ko ninyo ug surang-suranga. Buto ng tang kugo ninyo. I just don't like making noise to this already noisy crowd." Drake snapped back at them.

"Kailan ka pa naging concern?" pakli ni Jethro.

I was moved to his side. We were shoulder to shoulder. His friends sniffled a teasing laughter.

When a drunk stranger scooted in front of me. Drake shielded me from that guy at once.

Binalik niya naman agad ang braso sa kanyang gilid nang tuluyan ng nakalayo ang lalaking lasing.

"Sige lang! Pagtawanan niyo lang ako ngayon! You know how my faith can move mountains! Someday, she will look at me with the proudest face." he told them with conviction while his eyes pinned on me.

I never felt this kind of intensity when he stares at you, it's intense as the cold of the polar regions and fervent as the tropical locations. Where freezing would not be a possibility. There was complete confusion of what temperature he wanted you to feel.

"Distansiya, Drake!" Jethro pushed him away from me.

"Jethro!" May tumawag na event organizer kay Jethro at lumipat siya sa harapan.

"Since when you and my brother became best friends?" he burbled, partly a windy hum.

"Matagal-tagal na rin.."

Hindi mo na dapat sinagot, Angel!

"Kaya pala..protective ang kapatid ko sayo. I understand him now..." he nodded as a realization dawned in him.

"Your brother is a good guy and a good friend..."

I couldn't hold back. Ang bastos naman kong hindi ako sumagot sa kanya. Ako itong kinakausap.

"Because everything is so good and pretty when you're around..."

Huh?

"Thank you for saying that..." I replied after gaining some composure.

His eyes twinkled. It was indeed heartwarming. Hindi ko na dapat siya kinausap pa. His words lingered in my mind longer than my hair.

Inihatid ako pauwi ni Jethro pagkatapos ng event. Four thousand ang nalikom ko sa isang gabi.

***

Kinabukasan ay unang araw ng February. Pagpasok ko palang sa classroom namin ay bumungad kaagad ang pinaka-chismosa kong classmate.

"May namamagitan sa inyo ni Drake, Angel? Or crush ka niya? Or ikaw may crush sa kanya? O talagang kayo na?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Cheryl.

"Anong ibig sabihin mo, Cheryl?" I asked her in my nonchalant tone.

"Don't try to deny the obvious, Angel. I have a screenshot to prove. It's clear that Drake Wayne Mathildo was referring to you." she showed me her taken screenshot in her phone.

Drake Wayne Mathildo

9 hours ago

Nakakanghel ang kagandahan mo. Talking to you is like a therapy❤

"Therapy mah ass." Bonita huffed out a soft breath upon reading his recent post.

"Speaking of the troublemaker." Bonita whispered.

Siniko niya ako. Dumaan si Drake sa harapan ng classroom namin. He gleefully waved at me.

Hindi na ako medyo lumalabas ng classroom o tumatambay sa hallway para magpahangin. Pansin kong napapadalas ang daan niya sa harapan ng classroom namin.

Tuwing dadaan siya ay tinatawag ang pangalan ko o di kaya'y tinutukso ako ng mga kaklase ko.

May quiz kami mamayang 1 pm sa Gen-Math. Pumunta ako sa library hoping to find peace. My phone beeped. Binasa ko ang mga mensahe sa aming group chat.

Bonita:

Let's study together! I'll bring apples and chocolates!

Kirsteen:

Sige. Sa library nalang tayo mag-aral para hindi maingay.

Bonita:

I'm on my way.

Kirsteen:

Baka nasa bahay ka pa. Ala una ang klase natin, Bonita.

Bonita:

Okay! I'm still in my room. Pero papalabas na ako ng pintuan. Don't worry I'll bring your favorite fruit.

I typed a message:

Nandito na ako sa library.

Naghulog ako ng limang piso sa coffee machine para naman gising na gising ang diwa ko para mamaya sa quiz.

I glanced at the librarian's corner. It was a quiet hour at the library.

It was interrupted when a rebellious group arrived. Drake and his friends were not commonly seen in a place like this. They usually hang-out at the back of the school to cut classes or to smoke. Ilang beses narin silang naireport sa Guidance Office. And the source was from Bonita.

"Sinong nagugutom? May saging dito. Kumuha lang kayo." nakangiting alok ng librarian.

I sipped my coffee and found a vacant spot on the window side. Umupo ako at nilagay sa long table ang aking notebook, yellow paper, at ballpen. I would have to remain an impassive face the entire hour.

"Kumakain kami sa mga kasal, birthday, at iba pa, Ma'am. Just contact us."

Drake raised an eyebrow. I scanned my notes. I checked my FB account first when he sat down next to me. I scrolled down the list of FB people who sent me friend requests, just pretending to be busy.

Nangunguna siya sa listahan.

From the corner of my eye, he sat down next to me and rested his elbows on the table, eyeing me. "If you just accept my friend request, you'll probably be smiling now."

The idea that he appeared in the bubble of moment after what he did to me was just confusingly far-fetched.

"Inihatid ka ba ni Jethro kagabi?" He scratched his jaw. "Late na natapos ang event." he maintained a good distance from me.

Tumango lang ako. I sipped my coffee again. I switched off my phone. Sana makapag-focus ako sa pagrereview.

"Payagan mo lang ako, ihahatid talaga kita araw-araw sa bahay niyo. Sagot ko na ang gasolina." he was brimming over with confidence.

"Hindi na kailangan. Tito ko humahatid at sumusundo sa amin araw-araw." I set the coffee down and pushed some of my hair out of my face.

"Mabuti naman."

We were so close to each other. I could see each one of his lashes as they brushed against his cheeks when he blinked.

"Iyong nangyari ba sa New Year's Eve, pretty. Gusto ko lang itanong kung nai-report niyo ba ako sa mga Pulis? Kung nireport niyo ako, isang buwan na ang nakalipas, wala pa ring nangyayari."

"Hindi namin gusto palakihin pa iyon."

Keeping a short response was good. I plainly did not want to prolong our conversation.

"Patawad kung hindi ko napadyakan kaagad ang brakes kahit nasa malayo pa ang motorsiklo ko. Madilim lang talaga malapit sa inyo. I know how to control the speed of my motorcycle. Heck, that was the first time I almost hit someone." he was sitting on the top of the table to look at me up closely.

"Kalimutan na natin iyon, Drake."

Para hindi narin tayo mag-usap ulit.

I was acutely aware that the library was full of students. There were some school staff and teachers.

We garnered enough attention from my fellow students who were watching our interaction with rapt observation.

His friends with strange haircuts approached our table, carrying heavy books.

"Mag-aaral tayo ng mabuti para sa ating kinabukasan." wika ng kaibigan niyang may Mohawk hairstyle.

Nakakapagtaka at nakaligtas sila sa guwardya ng School. Kapag nakita talaga sila na ganyan ang mga hairstyle nila baka ay makalbo sila ng wala sa oras.

"Tama! Para naman magustuhan tayo ng mga crush natin. Nakakahiya lang ang tatalino nila tapos tayo mas bobo pa sa mga ipis." added his friend with snake bites piercings and he shoved an elbow to Drake. "Drake, tignan mo may papel sa likod ni Angel."

Kinapa ko ang aking likod at may papel na nakasulat.

"Ang gwapo mo Drake Wayne Mathildo." I read out loud what's on the paper.

"Sino naglagay niyan?" pagalit na tanong ni Drake sa kanyang mga kaibigan. Kahit halata naman sa mukha niyang nasiyahan siya sa pagkakabasa ko.

Tumawa lang ang apat kaya ay suminghot siya sa inis. "Sagot mga hangal! Kayo diba may gawa nito!?" he brawled at them.

"Hindi pre! Huwag mo namang ibintang sa amin!"

I sounded like they made up the whole thing.

Dumating ang mga kaibigan ko. Bonita marched to us and crumbled the piece of paper and hurled it to the trash bin angrily.

"If you come near my friend again, I will be the one to kick you." Bonita hoisted a finger at Drake.

"Kahit kailan nakakatakot ka talaga, Bonita! Nanginginig na kami sa takot, oh!" Drake's friends loudly teased her. They even jokingly trembled at her warning.

"Mr. Mathildo with your friends! Get out! Hindi ito sabong para magsisigaw kayo!" The librarian commanded.

"Don't look at him, Angel." Bonita seethed.

I didn't realize I'm staring at him. He fixed his eyes at me while they buggered off. I picked my coffee back and tried to get back to my notes.

"Anong pinag-usapan niyo ha?" Bonita's face folded into a scowl.

"Iwasan mo nalang sa susunod, Anghel." payo ni Kirsteen.

They knew Drake Wayne's reputation. Looking at the obvious, he was that guy I'll avoid at all costs.

PERIEDOT