Prologue 

Drake Wayne Mathildo

It was New Years Eve. The house was full of lights and circular fruits on the table. I felt the tingling thrill in my veins. Maybe because they were not that strict when it comes to curfew.

Holiday songs was blasting the home. Jethro was swaying his hips while buttoning his long sleeves that look way too big for him. He combed his hair with a silly shimmy.

"Saan ang lakad natin, Pastor?" panunuya ko sa kanya.

Napahinto siya sa pagsuklay ng kanyang buhok. Sumibad ang nayayamot niyang tingin sa akin. I knew so well how to annoy him.

"Yawa ka." anas niya.

Dinig na dinig ito ni Kuya Ranger sa kusina na ngayo'y hinahain ang mga pagkain sa hapag.

"Jethro, huwag ngayon. Ilang oras nalang bagong taon na." he glared at him.

"Magbabago na, Kuya."

I laughed at him when he mouthed some dirty shits on me. We had rules to follow. Just like other normal household, saying profanities was regularly controlled. Most of the time, I didn't follow those rules.

It was seven thirty in the evening when we eat our dinner. Si Papa sa pinakadulo. Si Kuya Ranger ay nasa kanyang kaliwa. Nakaupo si Kuya Gunner sa kanang gilid. Magkatabi kami ni Khalid sa hanay niya. Habang sina Russ, Drexter at Jethro ay katapat namin.

Naglalaway akong nakanganga dahil sa dami ng pagkain sa mesa. May letchon, pancit, buffalo wings, puto at iba pang mga bibiloging kakanin.

Inabot ko ang mansanas.

"Drake, wala pang alas dose." paalala ni Papa.

"Don't worry, Pa. Mamaya ko pa kakainin." Itinago ko ito sa bulsa ng aking leather Jacket.

"Baka hindi tayo swertehin niyan." biro niya.

Laughter erupted in the dining table. Alas dyes siguro magsisimula ang New Year's Eve Mass sa Santa Cruz Parish. Marami ang dadalo panigurado. Ginagawa ba namang dating center ang simbahan.

"Alam kong may kanya-kanya kayong pupuntahan. Pero magsisimba muna tayo." pagbibigay-alam ni Papa pagkatapos naming mailigpit ang aming pinagkainan.

Natahimik kaming lahat. Sina Papa, Khalid, at Jethro lang ata ang maiiwan sa bahay. Si Kuya Ranger at Gunner baka sa Farm mag-iinuman kasama ang mga Farmers at mekaniko ng Mechanic Shop.

Tiyak sa Tattoo Parlor ang bagsak ni Russel. Baka may ka-date na naman si Drexter mamaya.

Ako naman ay magpapalipad ng motorsiklo bago mag alas dose. At syempre hindi mawawala ang alak.

I texted Scorpio:

Nakawin niyo lang ako mamaya.

We decided to all go. All of them were wearing formal clothing. Even Russel with his tattoos alone, I could tell he prefer to wear tattered jeans and a simple shirt. The fact that he didn't, make narrow lines on my forehead.

I was the only one who wear leather and faded jeans. They were looking at me from head to toe as if I'm the strangest rebellious being on earth!

"Ano iyang suot mo, Drake? Pupunta tayo ng simbahan hindi sa karera ng mga motorsiklo." pangaral ni Kuya Ranger.

Bago pa sila magduda ay nakakalap agad ako ng dahilan, "Hindi naman siguro ako papagalitan o susumbatan ni Papa God, Kuya. Hindi naman ata kasalanan ang magsuot ng ganito. Did God even mention in the bible that he will not accept a man who wear leather and faded jeans? If yes, then, I'll be honored to be naked to the church. Well, I have six-pack to flaunt!"

"I love the confidence, brother." Russel complimented me.

"Ang hangin." Drexter commented.

"Pa-good boy. Na-mention pa ang bible. Hindi naman nagbabasa." Jethro said sarcastically.

Maraming tao pagdating namin sa Simbahan kahit alas otso e medya pa lamang. Mabuti nalang may isa pang bakanteng church pew. We sat there before other people could occupy it. Palihim kaming pinag-pipistahan ng mga kababaihan. I wouldn't deny the fact that good genes dripping in our blood.

Lumipat ang unggoy na si Jethro sa katapat na church pew.

"Maayong gabii, Kuya Soren, Sonya, at Tita Anne." magalang na pagbati ni Jethro.

"Maayong gabii..." They greeted back.

"Kasama mo ba ang pamilya mo?" rinig kong tugon ng lalaking may maskuladong pangangatawan.

"Nasa likuran lang sila, Kuya."

They looked over their shoulders. Maliban sa isang dalagita.

They were in the middle of exchanging pleasantries nang tumayo ako agad. Hindi ko kayang maghintay ng matagal. Kailangan kong tawagan ang mga kaibigan ko.

"Saan ka pupunta, Drake?"

"Comfort room lang, Pa."

Bumalik din ako kaagad nang hindi nila sinagot ang mga tawag ko. I was fighting not to sleep or else I'll be scolded. Dinidilat ko ang aking mga mata paminsan-minsan tuwing gusto na nitong sumara. We had to wait for one hour and a half. The priest was doing it in purpose.

Panay ang tingin ko sa likuran at sa aking wrist watch. Bakit wala man lang kahit anino ng mga ugok?

"Masyadong atat, Drake?" si Kuya Ranger nang napansin ang likot ng ulo ko.

"May ka-date ata. Nahihiya lang pumunta sa labas." Russel rolled the cuff of his sleeve.

"Wala akong ka-date ngayon. Dating is boring." I said firmly.

"So, ako lang talaga ngayon ang may kasamang mag-count down?" Drexter affirmed.

"Bahala ng walang kasamang mag-count down, basta't marunong naman akong magbilang."

One altar server rang the bell indicating that the Mass will start in few moments. Everyone rose from their seats not long enough. The Priest, Altar servers, Pastors, and readers made a grand entrance. While the choir sang a Christian song. Sa sobrang tagal magsimula, akala ko isang taon na ang nakalipas!

Nauna pa akong naupo kaysa sa kanila pagkatapos ng Introductory Rites. Hindi ko nakaligtaan ang panlilisik ng mata ni Kuya Ranger sa akin.

"Gel?" tawag ni Jethro sa kanyang katabi. "Kilala mo ba 'yon?" ngumuso siya para ituro ang tinutukoy.

"Huh? Ano iyon, Jetty?" The skinny girl beside him with a half ponytail tied in a black ribbon. She was wearing a turtle neck long sleeve with pleated skirt.

"Jetty?" bungisngis ko.

I should probably call him with that nickname!

She glanced over her shoulder. "Huh?"

My spirit left out of my body. I was starstruck and enchanted. Iyon ata ang mga tamang salita nang makita ko ang mukha niya. I gulped down the bile in my throat for two times when her eyes narrowed at me.

"Nickname mo sa kapatid ko?" Bumaling ako kay Jethro baka masyado ng halata ang titig ko sa kanya. "Bro, Jetty nalang din ang itawag ko sayo. Hindi na unggoy." pang-aasar ko.

"Diba ikaw naman iyong unggoy sa ating dalawa?" Jethro said sourly.

"Pareho tayo, bro. We share the same blood..."

She had no idea that I'm keeping my face sarcastic to hide my astonishment. Her soft brows met in one line.

"I have a question for you, pretty. Who's the most handsome among the seven of us?" I asked randomly.

Kumunot lalo ang noo niya. Sinenyasan siya ni Jethro na huwag akong sagutin. Kaya hindi na siya tumingin sa akin! I fucking needed a catchy question!

"Bro, kailangan pa bang tanungin iyan? Halata na ako masyado." Drexter meddled.

I grunted at him. Still no response from her. How could a beauty like her makes me dive into thinking just to find the right words to say?

Think again, Drake!

"What animal is the cutest for you?"

That was a lovely question. Kahit papaano ay sumulyap siya sa akin. Mariing pumikit si Papa. Kuya Ranger and Kuya Gunner clenched their sharp jaws at me.

"Do you love watching the stars?" My mouth had its own mind.

Another silence from her.

May binulong ang maskulado niyang kapatid sa kanya. Ngunit masama ang tingin ng kapatid niyang babae sa akin. Nakasimangot naman ang Mama niya sa pagmumukha ko. Their reactions didn't bother me at all.

"What's your favorite food? Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang pero masarap akong magluto." I boosted.

"Hindi ka nga tumulong kanina sa pagluto..." Russel inserted.

"Pero masarap akong magluto, bro. That's a fact."

Her head reeled at me again. I felt my heart skipped a beat.

"Am... bakit mo pala ako tinatanong?" she asked to cease my queries.

That silenced me. Her uncertainty and Angelic facade pierced my soul like an arrow.

Jethro whispered something to her but I heard it clearly, "That's our adopted..."

"Ay! Ay!" That was the last thing I could muster because she giggled at Jethro and smiled sweetly.

My head somersaulted at that.

"Gel. Gel. Gel." I chanted bravely to get her attention again.

"Drake, tumahimik ka na." Kuya Ranger nudged me with his elbow.

"Anak, nasa simbahan tayo. Please behave properly..." My Father chided me.

I zipped my mouth. She didn't look back. She was way focused on the front. I was torn between staying inside the Church to hear her breath and watch her exist in this Holy Mass. But I saw my friends waving at me from the back.

•••

I uncovered my helmet. I ran my hands over my racing leathers. I took a deep breath. Nothing smelled like new leather. The scent of fume from their motorcycles drifted to me, combined with sweat and rubber.

We were at the Santa Cruz Hill. They were more than fifty people around. Franko, my former schoolmate from Notre Dame of Maasim challenged me to a race.

No one else had dared me since Christmas. It would be a game between the two of us. A cheer went up for the superstar of the current race. I was that superstar they were cheering for! I knew my reputation in the local motorcycle race!

I walked to Macklogan, our tallyman. I tapped him on his shoulder. We bumped our fists and I gave him my bet.

My friends gathered in a circle. They handed me three shots of strong dark Tanduay to strengthen my system. I swallowed the liquor without flinching. I snatched the bottle of redhorse from Malik.

"Malapit ng mag-alas dose! Cheers sa mga bagong kademonyohan!"

I raised the bottle. I smashed it to the ground and my friends did the same.

Sinuot ko ang aking helmet dahil kahit malaki ang ulo ko hindi ko kayang ilagay sa peligro ang laman ng utak ko. Kahit wala namang laman.

"Gentlemen, start your engines!" Macklogan commenced.

The sound of revving and all that horse power was roaring and vibrating around.

"Drake! Drake! Drake!" My friends cheered for me.

"Franko! Franko! Franko!" the other team shouted also.

We sped up with one blow of the lantaka. All the people behind were shouting for our names. At first few kilometers, he was way advanced than me. So then, I accelerated and I was running at full speed. I was on top of the world at the thrilling pace with the strong wind hitting my face.

Hanggang naunahan ko si Franko ay itinaas ko ang aking hinlalato. "Ang kupad mo naman, pre! Kampante ka masyado!" Malakas kong kantiyaw sa kanya.

He tried to match my rapidity, but man I was thoroughly distant from him. I could only see his shadow from afar.

He had gotten careless and skidded his motorcycle on the wet pavement causing a pile-up on the highway. He was just damn fine for he able to ride his motorcycle back and make haste.

I focused on the road but there was a crash that make me look back and halted. He hit against the guardrail! I was about to turn and help him. Meanwhile the siren of the local Police stopped me from doing it.

"Lintik! Mga Pulis!" I resumed on driving away.

After that, his gang and my friends drove away with their motorcycles.

It was as if his friends walked past him intentionally. They did not help him. He could not figure out why no one was trying to help him.

Anong silbi ng mga kaibigan niya? For display lang? He was right just out in plain sight! He laid there helplessly trying to wave at them on the road!

He could only shout his frustration at his fake friends, watching them disappear. I drove as swift as I could. Baka makahabol ang mga pulis. I completely slowed down when I reached the San Roque checkpoint to prevent any suspicion. They were two soldiers on duty.

"Advance Happy New Year, mga Sir!" I saluted at them.

"Advance Happy New Year din. Uuwi ka na ba?" tanong ng isang sundalo.

"Oo, Sir." I lied. "Nanggaling kasi ako sa Simbahan."

Technically, I was partly lying.

"Mabuting binata!"

"Huwag masyadong mabilis ang pagpapatakbo at baka anong mangyari sa'yo." They smiled and nodded their heads.

Hinagis ko sa isang sundalo ang mansanas at sinalo niya ito.

"Adios!" Sumaludo akong muli sa kanila. Binagalan ko ang pagpapatakbo ng aking motorsiklo.

As the road was slightly ascending to the Riverside Bridge, I increased the speed of my motorcycle. In a flash, I skidded all over trying to slow down when a girl crossed the road. I came to a screeching halt. How I did it? My reflexes were faster than the wind!

She was on the ground when I turned off the engine. I'm certain my motorcycle didn't hit her! She might be too shock that's why she lost her balance!

I threw my helmet and stooped at her. "Ayos ka lang, Miss?" tanong ko sa kanya.

I helped her got to her feet. Ang malambot niyang kamay ay napakalamig tila yelo ang hinahawakan ko. She let go from my gentle hold. Her face was covered with her hair.

Bumaha ang takot sa buo kong sistema. Baka bigla nalang lumabas ang pakpak nito!

"Hey, I'm here." I waved my hand at her when she turned around. "Tao kaharap mo."

She faced me with an angry expression. "Hindi ka ba nag-iingat!?"

Doon ko lang napagtanto kung sino ang muntikan ko ng masagasaan!

Nanlilisik ang kanyang mga mata pati ata kaluluwa ko ay gising na gising sa pinakita niyang galit. Kahit sinong Santo ay hindi gusto ang ginawa ko. Kahit pa nga ang isang Anghel ay magagalit talaga!

I fully got her attention now.

"Nag-iingat naman ako. Minsan hindi. Madilim kasi dito banda. Hindi ko namalayan na may tao pala. Alam kong kasalanan ko. May pasa ka ba?" Lumiit ang boses ko.

Hindi siya sumagot sa halip pinagpagan ang sarili.

"The road is not your playground, Drake Wayne Mathildo! Keep at 62 mph!" Her big brother across the road yelled at me and dashed like he could murder me.

"Sir, it's for pony rides only!" I joked.

"What if I'll ride you to the Police Station!?" he thundered.

Sumunod ang isa niya pang babaeng kapatid at pareho nilang inawat ang kanilang nakakatandang kapatid. "Kumalma ka, kuya!"

Daglian akong napa-atras sa takot. Hindi mapagkakailang mas malaki at matibay siya kaysa sa akin.

He checked his sister's face and arms by lifting her long sleeve to find any bruise.

"Opo, Sir. Hindi ko na uulitin. Mag-iingat na ako sa susunod..."

"I don't know if I can take your apology next time. Pasalamat kang lintik na bata ka! Walang galos ang natamo ng kapatid ko!" he pointed a finger at me.

"Sir, huwag sanang umabot ito kay Papa." I turned at her. "Sorry, Gel..." I whispered sincerely.

Her eyes were dismissive. She looked at me like she wanted me to disappear in an instant to stop her brother's anger.

"I'm surprised you haven't been arrested by the Police."

"I'm-"

"Ayos lang talaga ako, Kuya..." She intervened, tugging his sleeve.

"Palalagpasin ko ito sa ngayon! Kung hindi mo gustong umabot ito sa Pamilya mo, drive at a minimum speed! Kahit regalo nalang sa Papa mo!"

"Yes, Sir!" I saluted at him as an alert response. That didn't budge him.

He eyed me with a hard look on his face. Bahagya akong umatras nang umabante siya.

Kinuha ko ang aking helmet sa sementadong kalsada at sumakay na sa aking motorsiklo.

I would probably gone crazy the entire year if I don't dare say my accolade to her, "To be honest, you're like a breath of fresh air. With one look on you, the dark clouds roll away and the birds starts singing."

"Wala na bang mas ikakapal iyang mukha mo?" tanong ng kapatid niyang babae.

"Marami ka na sigurong sinabihan. Kaya hindi ka man lang nakaramdam ng hiya..." Her balmy words of contradiction didn't match the reddening of her face.

"I'm not even kidding..." I persisted with a high lift of my chin.

"I haven't used my M16 Rifle, Mathildo. Gusto mong e-trial and error natin sayo? I'm not even kidding right now." diretsahang banta ng nakakatandang kapatid niya.

"Is it wrong now to genuinely compliment and admire someone, Sir?" I retorted.

"How can you able to compliment someone after you almost hit her? Are you out of your mind!?" Tumaas muli ang boses niya.

Nanatili akong kalmado. "Siguro, Sir."

Hinawakan siyang muli ng kanyang mga kapatid.

I was behaving like an airhead around her. But my compliments were true!

Pinaandar ko na ang aking motorsiklo nang kuminang sa dilim ang mga dog tags sa kanyang leeg.

They were usually worn by soldiers to identify themselves in a combat. To identify all the soldiers that were wounded or killed while they're in a mission. Patay talaga ako nito!

"Soren! Pumasok na kayo! May problema ba dyan!?"

They glimpsed and smiled at their mother at the entrance of their house who was clueless of what really happened. Maingay ang paligid dahil malapit ng mag-alas dose.

"Drake Wayne Mathildo, this is a warning..." he seethed at me one last time.

Ang tantiya ko sa galit niya ay hindi ako makakauwi ng buhay na kompleto pa ang piraso ng katawan ko.

"Umalis ka na, please..." Pretty begged softly.

"I'll leave now. I'm so sorry for my recklessness. I hope you'll have a good new year celebration despite what just happened. See you again, pretty..." I said hastily.

I drove off as fleet as the peregrine falcon. My mind was like floating in reverie. I felt the adrenaline rush running high in my chest. This might sound sappy, but William Shakespeare was probably a shaking skeleton hearing me right now.

PERIEDOT