Mist and Moonlight

CHAPTER 30: An Angel Descends

Artemis POV

Palabas na ako ng school ng tumunog ang cellphone ko. Isang unregistered number ang lumabas sa screen.

I should be aware na the last time kong sinagot ang isang tawag may nangyaring masama. Nagdadalawang isip ako kung sasagutin ko ito.

My intuition tells me it's okay yet my brain tells me not to.

In the end I chose to do the former. I trust my instinct.

"Hello?"

"Hi!"

The voice on the other line is familiar. Where did I hear it?

"Art si Rafael 'to."

Art?

"Baka mali ka lang ng tinawagan."

"Nope. I read it on your athlete information sheet."

"Rafael?!" gulat kong sagot "I'm sorry... I just—ah nevermind. Napatawag ka?"

"I heard nawawala si Naia."

"O-oo..."

"Can we meet?"

"Now na?"

"Yup, I'm close to the school vicinity. I'll pick you up."

Tatanggi na sana ako nang dumaan ang isang puting kotse. May sticker ito ng kanilang school.

He rolled his window down.

I sense a person—no two—is staring at me. Dan and Jared. The former's forehead is creased the latter wears a pokerface.

Lumapit ako sa bagong dating. Still in his uniform he opened the door of the passenger seat. The girls gawk at him others tried to take a photo.

Pinaandar niya ang kotse hanggang sa makarating kami sa town center. Pumarada siya sa isang book cafe.

Webster's Cafe ang nakalagay sa signage sa itaas.

"Sorry about that."

"Oh the staring of students. It's okay." he smiled showing his pearl white teeth

The smell of books and coffee welcome us. The only vacant seat is near the window.

Other students stare at us. His clean looking uniform and apperance caught their eyes.

Hinila niya ang tiffany chair na uupuan ko bago siya umupo.

"Let me take our order first. My treat!" he offered.

"I.. Uhm."

"Please. "

"Just this once. Okay?"

"Alright!"

Tumungo siya sa counter para umorder. Maya-maya'y dala niya ang isang tray na may tig-isang slice ng  strawberry cheesecake at chocolate cake, at chamomile tea.

"Hindi ba mahal 'to?"

"Don't worry... Para sa'yo talaga yan." he beamed at me.

Ang classical na background music ay bumagay sa atmosphere ng cafe. May mga estudyanteng nagbabasa ng libro ang iba ay nagkukwentuhan enjoying the whole place.

"I'm sorry about what happened."

"Okay lang. Kinakausap ko na minsan yung kisame makabalik lang si Naia."

Malungkot kong tinignan ang ang cake. Ininom ko ang tsaa bago lumamig, the same tea that I drank on the old man's house.

"I heard about your play."

"Oh that..." nahihiya akong sumagot.

Ngayon lang nagkainteres ang iba sa play na kasali ako.

"I'm watching it."

"About that. Hindi pa sila naglalabas ng ticket."

"Got mine already."

Kinuha niya ang ticket sa uniform pocket niya. A VIP ticket. He will be close to the stage.

They release this already. First 150 person lang ang pwedeng mag-avail nito. Libre na sa mga magulang namin ang iba since Academy namin ang gagawa ng play.

His smile never fade. It's so contagious I am smiling also.

"I brought this for you." the paper bag has the sign of the book cafe.

"What's this for?"

"To cheer you up!"

"This is too much." tinulak ko pabalik sa kanya ang paper bag pero tinulak niya ito sa akin. "Thank you!"

Isang lalaking nakashades ang nakita ko sa labas. Mukhang may pinapanood sa loob. My eyes roamed the area where we are but no suspicious person is inside.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, don't mind me."

He told me about the party for them. Their coach's red angry face when they told him about the sports fest.
I laugh my heart out.

Kailan nga ba ako huling tumawa ng ganito? I can't remember it already.

I told him how coach punish us for what happened. He is angry but we know he loves us. Sinabayan niya kami sa papupulot ng basurang naiwan sa sports fest. Napagkamalan siyang maintenance ng ibang estudyante.

Noong paalis na kami ay naunahan niya akong kunin ang mga gamit ko.
I let him do it I can't get my bag when he's taller than me.

"Thank you I enjoy today!"

"No, thank you for giving me this chance."

He waited until I lock the gate.

Bago ko mabuksan ang pinto ay nakabantay na si Kuya dito. His eyes squinted, letting me go out of his sight when I reach the stairs.

"I saw that!" He screamed down stairs.

Pagkakain ay tinignan ko ang laman ng paper bag.

Brothers Grimm's Fairytales.

I leave it at the study table. The curtains shadow elongated.

I forgot sadness because of him. He made me smile—laugh—again.

"Dont trust him."

My eyes glowed, a shadow move in tje corner of my room.

"And trust you?" I smirked

"Just don't. I'm warning you."

"Who are you to tell me that?"

Lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako.

"Don't let sadness eat you."

"I... don't know... " naluluha kong tugon.

I really can't forget things that easily, huh? Hanggang ngayon sinisisi ko ang sarili ko. Sana maibalik ng pagsisisi ko ang pinsan ko.

I thought we will have a row because of this but I ended up crying to him.

Umalis lang siya ng tumahan na ako.
Sinarado ko ang bintana pagkatapos noon.