3- Drake

Our conversations were too short for me to know her more. She was obviously abstaining from me. Halata naman sa mga maaamo niyang mata. Pero sapat na ang makapagnakaw ng sulyap sa malayo. I had to let the universe do its job.

Muntikan pa akong makatulog dahil sa kilig. Mayroon pa pala akong gagawing powerpoint presentation. May dalawa kaming laptop para turnuhan namin sa paggamit. Si Khalid ay ginagamit ang isa. Palagi niya iyong dala-dala sa School. Mas kailangan niya kasi. Naka Jethro ang isa panigurado.

Pumasok ako sa kanyang kwarto nang hindi kumakatok. Nakaharap siya sa laptop. May ka video-call ata.

"Help me answer this, Jetty, please. Nakinig naman ako kanina sa discussion pero hindi pumasok sa utak ko."

Pamilyar ang boses.

"What subject?"

"Statistics and Probability."

Aha, someone on the other line seemed to be having a difficulty over a serious school related matter.

"I know you can do it, Angel. May ginagawa din kasi ako,"

Nang marinig ko ang pangalan ng kausap niya ay naalerto ako. I peeked at the screen of the laptop.

It was Angel in her cute pajamas with reading glasses on. She was pouting in order to get a help from my brother. No amount of filter was visible on her face. It was just pure beauty.

"Labas." pang-tataboy ni Jethro.

Hinablot ko ang lotion niya. I applied it to my arms, legs, and face. I sprayed my neck and my armpits with his perfume. Kahit papaano ay magmukha akong mabango sa camera!

"Kaya madaling nauubos ang lotion at perfume ko kasi ginagamit mo!" reklamo ng ugok.

Ang damot!

I pushed him to the side which fall him out of his desk chair. I settled down on his chair. She was taken back.

"Uy! Hi, pretty." Kunwaring nagulat ako. "Anong problema, Gel?"

I felt like I'm scraping her Angelic patience every time I called her with endearments.

"Huwag nalang pala." I saw her nose crinkled in disappointment. "Ako nalang sasagot. Bye, Jetty. Goodnight." She waved her hand.

Jethro jostled in to appear in the camera. "Sige, bye. Goodnight."

He waved back at her.

They were exchanging goodnights as if I wasn't there!

Jethro was in the midst of ending the video call when I hindered his hand. "Ako na sasagot niyan! Pareho lang ata ng assignment binigay si Sir Morales sa ating HUMSS 11."

"Huh?" pagtataka niya.

It was about time to unleash my intelligence. It was been a while. Sure enough, it was still there in my brain. Baka natutulog lang ang mga brain cells ko.

"Computing the Variance of a Discrete Probability Distribution. Diba ganyan din ang lesson niyo?" I asked her hurriedly.

"Oo." She gave me a how-did-you-know face.

"You have to find the mean of the Probability Distribution. Subtract the mean from each value of the random variable X and square the results you obtained. Next, multiply the result that you have obtained by the corresponding probability. Then, get the sum of the results."

They were stunned by that.

"Tinamaan ka ba ng kidlat o sinapian ng matalinong espiritu? Bakit alam mo 'yan?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Jethro.

"Well, it's easy. I can even solve it without blinking an eye." hambog kong tinaasan ng isang kilay ang kapatid ko at humarap kay Angel na may maamong mukha.

"Explain ko ng maayos at klaro sayo. Anghel. Para hindi ka mahirapan. If that's fine with you."

Permission is a must, of course.

I didn't want her to feel forced. Because no one was available to help her. In which that left her with no choice but to just accept my help.

"Sige..." she nodded finally.

It took some good persuasion to convince her. "Accept my Facebook friend request first." I challenged.

"Okie dookie..."

Oha! Oha! I shouted in my head.

She ended the video call.

Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Jethro. "Anong kinalaman ng Fb friend request mo sa pag-sagot ng assignment niya?"

"That's the technique, brother." Hinablot ko ang cellphone niya sa kanyang kamay at kumarimot ng takbo palabas bago niya pa ako masapak. "Pahiram muna ng phone mo! Isang oras lang! Gamitin mo muna ang laptop! Mamaya ko nalang gagawin ang powerpoint presentation ko!"

"Just answer her assignment! Nothing else!" pahabol niya.

I was bouncing in my steps like a giddy kid. I caught Russel and Drexter gave me a synchronized weird look as I locked the door of my room.

I jumped into my bed. I logged in my Fb account to Jethro's cellphone and patiently waited for the notification to ring.

I was biting my thumb when minutes passed by, she hasn't yet accepted my friend request.

Come on, pretty. I'm waiting.

Jethro's phone vibrated.

Angel Faye Soledad accepted your friend request.

"Yes!" I roared.

I leapt happily and threw a fist in the air. Her first message was the picture of the problem.

It would be easier to message her. I couldn't wait to bombard her chat box with my messages. I couldn't wait to call her and send voice messages.

I sent a picture of my answer. I tapped the video call button excitedly. I greeted her and started explaining ahead in a humble manner. She would either nodded her head and blink her eyes in amazement the whole time.

"Kung nalilito ka kong anong pinagkaiba ni Mean kay Variance. Mean is average of a given set of data while variance is the sum of squares of differences between all numbers and means."

She yawned, covering her mouth. I think she was exhausted. I could see it in her slightly teary eyes.

"Kung hindi mo naintindihan. Magkita tayo sa library bukas. I'll explain it to you properly again. Step by step. Mas maganda kasi kapag harap-harapan."

"Naintindihan ko na, Drake. Okay na..."

Humikab ulit siya.

She removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. I took several screenshots of her bare face without her knowing.

"I guess you're tired..." I snuggled my pillow.

"Drake..." She smiled meekly.

What a beautiful view.

"Hmm?"

What were you thinking, pretty?

Lampas langit ang ngiti ko sa paghihintay.

She was a bit hesitant. Huminga siya ng malalim. "Pwedeng makahingi ng favor? Alam kong sobra-sobra na 'to."

"Oks lang."

Basta ikaw.

"Hindi naman ako busy."

Gago! you still have a PowerPoint presentation to make!

"Pwedeng–"

Pinutol niya kaagad ang video call.

"No thank you? That was brutal, pretty... Sana binagalan ko ang pag-explain." napakamot ako sa aking batok.

I turned off Jethro's phone. I finished my PowerPoint presentation at 10 pm. I was smiling as wide as a mile until the next day. It was the momentum I needed.

I was one of the reporters for the Earth and life Science lesson about the four Sub-systems. Si Atlas lang ang hindi kasali sa reporting namin.

Scorpio reported about Atmosphere. Malik presented his topic about the Lithosphere. Vlad for Hydrosphere and I was full of life since last night because I'm going to report about Biosphere.

Full of life din ang mga barkada ko dahil present silang lahat.

"Next reporter! Biosphere!" Our science teacher pitched her voice.

"Yuhoo!" My classmates roared and clapped their hands.

The cheer and roar sounded like I was entering a race.

"Galingan mo, pre!" Malik and Vlad cheered for me.

"Para kay Angel Soledad!" Atlas and Scorpio loudly encouraged me.

I was revived to life when they mentioned her name. Sinaksak ko ang USB sa laptop ni Ma'am Clarion ng nakangiti. I played an animated video I got from YouTube and explained it afterwards.

"Biosphere is made up of parts of Earth where life exists. Since life exists on the ground, in the air, and in the water, the biosphere overlaps all other spheres. It contains all of the earths living and non-living things. From the plants, humans, and animals. Iyang mga katabi niyo, parte 'yan ng biosphere, dahil may buhay." pabiro kong panimula.

"Whoo! Ang talino!" hiyaw ulit ng mga kaklase ko.

"Quiet, HUMSS Patriotic!" Ma'am Clarion silenced them.

Si Atlas, Scorpio, Malik, at Vlad ay gustong- gusto ng sumabog sa tawa pero pinipigilan lang ng mga gago! Biosphere ang pinag-uusapan! Ang sarap lang nilang ihampas sa pader!

"In addition, the biosphere's earliest life-forms are called prokaryotes. It survived without oxygen. It included single-celled organisms like bacteria and archaea. Animals, in which consume plants or other animals evolved. Bacteria and other form of organisms evolved to decompose, break down dead animals and plants." I entered the next slide. It was just a picture.

"The biosphere benefits from this food web." Tinuro ko ang picture gamit ang aking ballpen. I gulped down the bile in my throat before proceeding. "The remains of dead animals and plants releases nutrients into the soil and ocean. These nutrients are re-absorbed by growing plants. This exchange of food and energy makes the biosphere both a self- supporting and self-regulating system. We play an important part in maintaining the flow of energy in the biosphere. It doesn't simply and healthily exist like that. The truth is humans tend to ruin it. People are sometimes who disrupts its regular flow." There was conviction in my voice that dominated the classroom.

"Example, oil spills, industrial wastes threaten life in the hydrosphere. The future of the biosphere and the future of our mother earth will depend on how we interact with other living things within the zone of life. Dapat talagang bigyan ito ng pansin at alagaan!" I expound thoroughly.

"Well done, Mr. Mathildo! Reporters present yourselves in front of the class. I have one question."

Kinabahan kami. Medyo lang iyong kaba ko. Namumutla si Scorpio. Si Malik at Vlad naman ay tahimik na may naninimbang na mga tingin.

Nasaan na ang mga tapang niyo mga ulol?

"Why the atmosphere is colder during at night than at daytime?"

Inayos ni Ma'am Clarion ang kanyang anteohos. She didn't look intimidating like other teachers.

"Report mo ito, Scorpio. Atmosphere." I nudged him by my elbow.

Nanginginig na siya. "Wala akong alam. Hindi ko nga maintindihan ang mga pinagsasabi ko kanina eh. Ikaw na bahala." Pinagpapawisan pa siya.

Ganito talaga ang reaction ng walang maisagot.

"I think I can answer this, Ma'am." I had to save my friend's ass.

"Go on, Mr. Mathildo."

"According to what I've read in a certain article, mas malamig tuwing gabi it's because the ground routinely starts to cool after the sun sets, since it emits more radiation. Sa ibang salita ang temperatura ng lupa ay nagsisimulang bumababa sa gabi dahil sa dumadaloy na radiation deficit. A thin layer of air next to the ground starts to cool down by conduction as a transfer of heat energy takes place from the initially warmer air to the cooler ground. At binababa nito ang paglipat ng heat energy."

Seryosong nakikinig ang mga kaklase ko. Hangang-hanga sa aking mga sinabi. See? All I need the whole time was purely a motivation.

"Very well said, Mr. Mathildo. I just want to remind you class that this reporting is graded individually. If you answer my question, a point is added to your final grade."

"Yes, Ma'am!"

"Okay, dismiss!"

Kinuha ko ang aking mga gamit at lumabas agad.

Maagang umuuwi si Anghel. She was in the middle of the crowd of students. I could see her in an instant. Palihim akong lumapit sa kanyang likuran at alistong nagbantay sa kanya.

Jordan, my classmate, who always wear classic aviator glasses shove himself to the group. Maraming umangal. Muntikan pang maitulak si Angel sa pader.

"Hinay-hinay naman, pre. Para kang hinahabol ng mga kabayo."

Hindi nakinig si Jordan at nagpatuloy lang hanggang nakalabas na.

I rested my hands gently on her slender shoulders. "Gel, ilan ang nakuha mong score sa assignment mo sa Statistics and Probability?"

"50 over 50, Drake..." Tipid niyang sagot habang nakatingin lang ng deretso.

Binigay ko naman kasi ang sagot, pretty.

"Wow. Good job."

Nagkatinginan ang mga classmates niya. She closed her eyes tightly. She didn't even try to glance at me when her friends called from the other side of the hallway.

Tinanggal ko ang aking kamay sa kanyang balikat. She walked out of the group. She was just avoiding me. I had somewhat overshot the mark.

***

"According to a recent policy belief from the National Education Association. When schools, parents, families and communities work together to support learning, students tend to earn higher grades, attend school more, regularly, stay in school longer, and enroll in higher level programs..."

"Sir, pwede ring..." I raised my hand to answer even he didn't ask us.

He nodded. Tumayo ako. Sa totoo lang hindi ko alam kung anong subject ito pero may ideya ako sa binanggit ni Sir Cadavos.

"Pwede ring...when you and your crush work together to support each other's learning, wayward students tend to earn higher grades, attend school more regularly and stay in school longer than necessary..."

Nagpalakpakan na naman sila.

I bowed at my classmates. I felt like I'm the smartest monkey in this classroom.

"Paraphrase by Drake Wayne Mathildo!"

"You have a point. Having a crush is a good factor too. Pansin namin may malaking pagbabago sayo, Mr. Mathildo. You seemed to be always motivated."

"Ganyan talaga kapag may crush, Sir!"

"Hoy! Si Soledad dumaan!"

Lumiko agad ang tingin ko sa hallway. It was her! Walking like an Angel as if she just came down from the sky!

"Ang ulo ni Drake niliko dayon!"

Tinawanan lang nila ako. Tumawa lang kayo. Hindi naman ako nahihiya na may crush ako sa kanya. Isa lang ito sa mga araw na palagi akong nakaabang sa kanya na dumaan sa hallway. Kahit iniiwasan niya ako.

Everyone was excited for the Febfest this coming Thursday and Friday. The SSG Club was preparing for the celebration. Khalid, our youngest: as a president of SSG, led the preparation so well. Jethro was also busy too. Late na ngang nakauwi.

I heard him showering on his own bathroom. It was the chance for me to sneak into his room. I stole his phone again. I had successfully practiced drawing his confusing password pattern. I giddily scrolled down Angel's photos from her FB pictures. Some shots were taken by my brother.

She was lying on the grass while smiling sweetly at the camera holding a white flower. May mga stolen shots din. There was a picture of her with a montage background. Or at the seashore where her backdrop was the sunset. Natutuwa ko itong tinitigan patungo sa sala.

Nakakawalang problema talaga ang kagandahan niya.

"Anong kalokohan na naman ang sumagi sa isipan mo, Drake!? Hindi mo pag-aari ang cellphone ko!" sigaw ni Jethro sa itaas.

I increased the volume of the speaker beside the couch. Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer song blasted the entire house. Kaya hindi ko narinig ang nakakairita niyang mga satsat.

Russel and Drexter shrunk on the couch with a groan and peeked at the pictures of Angel on the screen of Jethro's phone.

Drexter scowled up at me as he reached over to turn down the speaker. "Hindi ko itatanggi. Maganda siya."

Tumaas ang dugo ko sa narinig.

Russel slightly angled his head to get a better look of her picture. "Maganda siya, brother. Diba hindi mo naman type ang masyadong maganda?"

"Niloloko niyo ba ako?" My lips flattened in ornery.

"You're acting like a lovey-dovey, bro." Russel validated.

"Crush lang. I just adore her, mga gago..." I answered them once and for all.

"Confirmed." They snickered, giving each other high fives.

Nagmamadaling bumaba si Jethro. Basa pa ang buhok. "Anong tinitignan mo ha!?"

"Si Soledad." sagot ni Russel para sa akin.

"Tandaan niyo! Magkaubusan man ang mga babae sa mundo huwag lang ang mga girl bestfriend ko!" Jethro huffed as he snatched his cellphone from me.

"Crush lang talaga, ha." Russel smirked.

"Kahit papaano ligtas parin ako."

"Ligtas saan?" pagtataka ni Drexter.

"Sa gugmang giatay."

I wouldn't be drowning in love, right? This was simply a form of adoration.

"Tanga lang ang naniniwala diyan." saad ni Drexter.

"Tanga lang din ang pabago-bago ng babae sa isang linggo." I retorted.

Drexter was completely silent.

"Iyan ang tunay na tanga. Dapat iphase-out na ang mga taong ganyan." pag-sang ayon ni Jethro.

Drexter raised his middle finger at him.

"Nakakatanga naman talaga ang pag-ibig..." Jethro added, randomly.

"Tanga na kung tanga, masarap naman. Ngumingiti ka ng wala sa oras. Kahit anong paraan, gagawin mo makita lang siya..." Russel replied like a fighter who was ready for a war.

"Paano ba magpapansin ng hindi siya naiinis?" I asked myself.

"Tikom mo lang bibig mo, Drake. That's the technique, brother." Jethro countered.

"I wasn't asking you, monkey." pakli ko sa kanya.

The truth was, I like clinging in this phase. I liked this feeling she radiates to me. It was heartwarming. It felt great as if I'm sprawled in a satin sheet while feathers dropping on me.

Hindi pa naman siguro ako lunod na lunod nito.

PERIEDOT