Chasing an Angel

C1.3

"Kuya RJ when did you arrived?" asked Theo.

"Hi Theo, how are you? I came into town a couple of days ago but Dad requested me to fix some things for him so I was not able to come here immediately."

"Kuya RJ where are my dried mangoes and special otap," querried Bing who ran to the man and hugged him.

"Bunso I did not forget your favorites of course but, I have to give these to you tomorrow as these are with my things at home. I came here directly this morning straight from accomplishing my father's errand and finding none of you here, I went straight to your Kuya Leo's office."

"You were here this morning?" chorused Bing and Theo. "Then did you meet Ate Meng?"

He smirked and looked at Meng who is watching the camaraderie between him and her cousins silently at the door leading to the kitchen. "Ah yes but she was so busy so I left immediately upon learning that no one among you is here."

It was then that Leo came out of his bedroom and joined his brother and Bing at the living room while Meng left and went to the kitchen.

Leo called Meng to the living room and introduced her to Alden. "RJ this is my cousin Meng, Maine Mendoza, daughter of my father's only sister who lived and grew up in Visayas. She just graduated from college and at last was allowed by my auntie and her husband to live far from their sight," he kidded. "Meng, this is my best friend RJ to who now works in Cebu."

"But I thought he is Alden, as he introduced himself this morning", Meng commented.

"Yes, his full name is Alden Faulkerson Jr. He is Alden to most people but RJ to his family and close friends," explained Leo.

Alden seemed to be hesitant to extend his hand but finally decided to, which Meng silently accepted. Leo further stated, "RJ told me that he passed here this morning and finding that none of us are here, he went to my office instead. Then, putting his hand on his stomach declared, "come on everyone, I'm starving, let's enjoy what you have for dinner."

He handed to Theo a box full of mangoosten and carried the other box filled with pomelos. "Theo please help me bring these boxes to the kitchen." Seeing these Theo remarked, "Kuya ang dami nito ah" which Leo answered "Ewan ko dyan kay kuya RJ mo, I just mentioned when we passed a fruit stand that these are my cousins favorites then he purchased wholesale."

The three preceded to the kitchen and Theo announced to Meng who went ahead of them to the kitchen, "Ate Meng magsasawa ka ngayon sa pomelo at mangoosten, and daming binili ni Kuya RJ." Meng just gaped at Theo wordlessly and continued setting the table for dinner.

The closeness between Alden and her cousins is very evident to Meng by the way they joked, laughed and chided each other over a simple dinner of fried chicken (the only expertise of Meng and Bing) and chopsuey bought at a nearby carinderia. It is also obvious that Leo is clueless of what had transpired between her and Alden this morning.

Bing however noticed that Meng barely joins the conversation and has kept to herself most of the time. "Ate Meng bat ang tahimik mo? Magsalita ka naman, sige ka nakaka bad breathe yan." Meng laughed and explained, "Nagiisip lang ako ng mga dapat kung gagawin at asikasuhin bukas." She side-swept an irritated look at Alden when she caught sight of him looking intently at her while she's explaining to Bing.

It was then that Leo spoke to Meng, "Meng sorry if you may feel left out, it is just that this guy here rarely comes home, sometimes twice or the most, thrice a year so we really miss him a lot. Before he was posted in Cebu, no one would think that he is not family as he stays with us more than with his own family which Tito Den and Tita Ellen, RJ's parents never objected. A unico hijo has its disadvantage. Thus, he had adopted us to fill in the place of brothers and sisters he never had. Other than being a woman's headache and heartache though, he is a good man," and uttered a cry of pain when Alden boxed him at his side.

"Bro what kind of introduction is that? I thought you are friend who ought to build me up but it seems more to me that you are pulling me down, by destroying my reputation and assassinating my character," said Alden half smiling.

"Bro, my cousin here is a gullible angel still unexposed to intricacies of this world so, I am giving pointers to spare her from your beguiling charm. Despite being my best friend, my allegiance is on her and auntie will kill me for being an unfit guardian," and he laughed wholeheartedly looking at Alden's poker face countenance.

To all of these banters Meng just smiled politely and offered no comment, which made Alden raised an eyebrow and threw her an inquisitive look. This did not escape the sharp-eyed Leo.