Artamiel: The Black Angel

Chapter 3| Smile That Can Heal The World

"Hey, Nix, what's with the annoyed face?" I smirked at my cousin. Isinara ko na muna ang pinto ng SUV na maghahatid sa amin sa school, at tinanguan ang driver para makaalis na kami. 

As usual, hindi umimik si Nixon. He just looked out the window. 

Parang alam ko na kung ano ang ikinaiinis n'ya. 

"Do you want to compete?" I wiggled my brows when he finally looked at me. 

Mas napangisi ako nang magsalubong ang mga kilay n'ya. "Ano naman?"

"Today's Valentine's day. Paramihan tayo ng matatanggap na regalo," I chirpily said. 

"I don't have intention of receiving any," he scoffed.

I clicked my tongue. Snobbish as always. "Come on, man. Have you seen Casey? Gan'on ang efforts ng mga babae. Plus, nag-ipon pa sila ng lakas ng loob. It will be so rude to turn them down. Wala namang mawawala sa'yo kung tatanggapin mo ang ibibigay nila," I convinced him. 

He raised a brow on me. 

I gave him a wide smile when he was about to say something smart. Inirapan n'ya na lang ako. 

It was a usual scene everyday. An annoyed Nixon waiting for me in the car. Mama never failed to mess his morning.

I busied myself with my phone. I replied to the simple chats and texts of different girls as much as I can. Nixon said it was absurd, giving them false hope and all, but I can't resist it. 

I have this craving to please them. To give them a piece of me. To pleasure them the way they want me to. 

Nixon wear his famous scowl as he alighted the car. Napaangat ang mga kilay ko nang may makita ako na mga babae na naka-abang sa amin. It's obvious that they were waiting for us because they flocked around us the moment our car left. 

"Good morning, Vergara," a girl with a confident smile greeted first. The other girls followed her lead. Medyo namumukhaan ko s'ya. She's from the tenth grade. 

"Hi," I sweetly smiled at them.

Nixon frowned. "Can you please step aside? Dadaan ako," masungit na sabi n'ya. 

Mukhang nabigla ang babae na tinapunan n'ya ng masamang tingin. 

I sighed in my mind. When will they learn? Parang palaging bago nang bago sa kanila na ganito si Nixon. 

Or baka bago talaga sa kanila? Ngayon lang kasi kami inabangan ng ganito sa gate. Madalas na hindi namamansin si Nixon, pero hindi s'ya nagsusungit. He's just snobbish. Pero ngayon na fresh pa ang inis n'ya kay Mama, damay-damay na lang. 

"Good morning, ladies," I charmed them, getting their attention. "It was so sweet of you to wait for us, but can we get through? My cousin hates being late in the class," I smiled sweetly at them. 

Mukhang effective naman. 

"Oh, of course, Artamiel," one of them batted her lashes on me. "But you have to accept this," she showed me something wrapped on a fancy pink wrapper. 

On our seventh grade, madami ang nagbigay sa akin ng mga nakabalot sa red, pero sinabi ko na ayoko ng kulay na 'yon. I politely declined their present, and so last year, panay pink na ang balot ng mga regalo nila. At mukhang natandaan naman nila 'yon dahil wala akong makitang pula sa mga nakalahad na regalo sa akin.

I gave them an appreciative smile. "With all pleasure," I bit my lip at I received their gifts. 

I heard how my cousin scoffed. 

"I personally made these," one said.

"Me too. You're on my mind as I made these," another one said. 

All I can do was to utter my thanks and to smile sweetly at them. 

Unti-unti nang nahawi ang mga babae na nakaharang sa amin. 

"Artamiel?" one called in a worried tone. 

Napangiwi ako sa kanya. Punung-puno na kasi ang mga braso ko sa dami ng mga regalo na tinanggap ko. Maging ang bag ko ay gan'on din. 

"Don't be sad, sweet," I cooed at her. "How about..." 

She looked anxious while waiting for me to finish my statement. I looked at the others who still have their presents with them. 

"I'll meet all of you later during the break? I'll wait on our room, para matanggap ko ang lahat ng regalo n'yo," I winked at them.

Bahagyang tumili pa sila at hinayaan na kaming makadaan. 

"Pathetic," Nixon commented.

A sarcastic laughter rose from my chest. 

"It's not really too hard to be nice, Nix," I said.

"Yeah. Whatever," he replied in a flat tone. 

Napailing na lang ako sa pinsan ko. 

Napatigil kami sa paglalakad nang may tatlong babae na humarang sa amin. They looked younger than us. Baka mga grade seven lang? 

"N-Nixon Vergara," the one in the middle spoke with a shaky voice. I can say how nervous she was. 

I looked at my cousin and saw him staring coldly at the poor girl. Napapangiwi na lang ako sa utak ko. 

Mas lumamig pa ang tingin n'ya sa babae nang iangat nito ang isang sulat at chocolate. "F-For you. Happy Hearts Day," she shut her eyes tightly and bowed her head. She's obviously nervous. Her friends cheered her up. 

"No, thanks," my jerk of a cousin replied right away and was about to walk pass her.

"B-But I prepared these for you," she said with a shaky voice. 

Nixon tilted his head then threw her a dagger look. He's obviously annoyed. He disgusts pushy persons. Kapag ayaw n'ya, hindi dapat s'ya pinipilit. 

"I don't care," he said then walked pass her. Bahagyang nabangga n'ya pa ang balikat ng babae. 

I saw how the poor kitten bit her lip. "K-Kahit 'tong chocolate na lang?" she pleaded. 

"I don't like sweets," Nixon said without emotions on it. Ni hindi s'ya tumigil sa paglakad. 

Agad na inalo ng mga kaibigan n'ya ang babae. 

"Hey, he just woke up on the wrong side of the bed," I tried to comfort her. 

She's already crying. Dahil siguro napahiya s'ya, o nasindak kay Nixon. 

"Can I have the chocolates instead?" I sweetly said, almost cooing. Her head snapped on me. "Mukhang masarap kasi," I added with a boyish grin. 

She bit her lip then slowly nodded. Mabilis na nawala ang kabiguan sa mukha n'ya at napalitan ng pamumula. 

"Ahm?" naguguluhan na sabi n'ya nang ilahad ang chocolate sa akin. 

I chuckled. "Pakipatong na lang dito sa tuktok," I winked at her. Hindi ko na kasi personal na matatanggap ang binibigay n'ya dahil puno na ang mga kamay at braso ko. Para na nga akong may yakap ng maliit na bundok ng mga regalo at tsokolate. The tip almost reached my chin. 

The three of them ended up offering me hands. They helped me carry everything. 

"It's a relief," I smiled at them then stretched my arms. 

Habang papunta sa classroom ay madami pa akong mga nadaan na mukhang nakaabang din sa akin. Dahil sa tulong ng tatlong grade seven, madami pa akong mga napaunlakang regalo. 

"Thank you, girls," I sweetly said as we reached my room. Naabutan ko si Nixon sa upuan n'ya. May nakapasak na earphones sa magkabilang tainga n'ya at nakatanaw s'ya sa labas ng binata. He's obviously shutting the world around him. 

Inilapag ko sa lamesa ko ang lahat ng mga natanggap ko. Nang hindi na makayanan ay idinamay ko na din ang lamesa ni Nixon, na nagpasimangot sa kanya pero hindi naman kumontra. 

Binalikan ko ang tatlong grade seven sa pinto ng room, at isa-isa silang niyakap. 

"Thank you, girls. I don't know what I'll do without you," I winked at them. 

Mukhang masyado silang natigilan kaya tipid na kumaway na lang ako sa kanila bago bumalik sa lamesa ko. Narinig ko na may kumusyon pa sa labas ng room pero hindi ko na 'yon pinansin. Mas problema ko kung saan ko ipaglalalagay ang mga natanggap ko. Masyadong marami. 

Kahit na magkaroon ng himala at mag-offer si Nixon na tumulong sa akin, mukhang mahirap pa din na maiuwi ang lahat. At panigurado na madami pa ang dadagdag dahil sa pangako ko sa mga babae kanina. 

Hindi ko pa naiisip ang dapat na gawin ay dumating na ang adviser namin. 

"Vergara," she called. Pareho kaming napatingin ni Nixon dahil hindi naman n'ya nilinaw kung sino. Ipinakita n'ya ang mga malalaking plastic bags na dala n'ya. "I anticipated the presents," she looked down on our desks. 

Ako na ang tumayo at lumapit sa harap para kuhain ang mga bags. 

"Thank you, Miss Ponciano," I said as I received the bags.

She subtly gave me a flirty wink. I bit my lip then I playfully smirked at her. 

I clearly saw how she fought the urge to bite her lips. I intentionally brushed my fingers on her hand. A soft moan escaped her lips, as if she has been electrified by my touch. But that was too soft for others to hear. 

Aksidenteng nasiko n'ya ang marker box n'ya nang bawiin ang kamay n'ya kaya nahulog 'yon sa sahig. Mabilis na lumapit ako sa gilid n'ya para pulutin 'yon. Mabilisang pinulot ko ang mga gamit n'ya at mabilisang sumulyap sa mga kaklase ko. Mukhang hindi naman nila kami masyadong binibigyan ng atensyon. Habang patayo ako ay magaan na hinagod ko ang binti ni Mrs. Ponciano paakyat sa legs n'ya, 'yong parte na natatakpan ng desk n'ya sa paningin ng mga kaklase ko. 

I gave her a smug smile as I handed her her box. I saw how she blushed at what I did. 

Parang walang nangyari na bumalik ako sa upuan ko at inilagay ang mga regalo sa plastic bag na binigay ni Mrs. Ponciano. When I was done, I looked in front and I saw her, still composing herself. 

I can't help the smug smirk on my face as she announced that she's not going to have a lesson today to give way for the Valentine's Day. 

"I know what you did there," Nixon coldly said. 

I turned to face him, he's giving me a serious look. I simply shrugged my shoulders. He sighed. 

Few minutes after Mrs. Ponciano left, I stood up. 

Since Miss Ponciano called for a super early dismissal, she got the faculty room all for herself. I carefully closed the door behind me as I entered. 

"You've been a very naughty boy, Vergara," she threw me a seductive smirk. 

I walked towards her desk then I leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her neck. "Only because you've been a temptress, Miss," I whispered above her ear then I gently bit her lobe. It earned me a soft moan. 

When I left her on the faculty room, she was trembling with satisfaction. 

"So much for not eating sweets, huh?" I gave Nixon a sarcastic grin. He's busy munching on my chocolates. Hypocrite! 

Sa aming dalawa, ako ang hindi kumakain ng matatamis. Palagi talaga na sila Nixon at Elai ang kumakain ng mga tsokolate na tinatanggap ko sa mga babae. 

I spent the rest of the day smiling at every girls, receiving their gifts and adoration, and compliment them. Some even asked for pictures together, na malambing na pinagbigyan ko naman. 

Nixon was kind enough to help me carry the gifts I received. Na dapat lang naman dahil s'ya din naman ang nakikinabang. Malapit na kami sa gate nang mapansin ko ang isang babae na mukhang may inaabangan. Napansin ko din na may ilang mga lalaking estudyante na din na nakatitig sa kanya. 

I felt a weird twist in my stomach as I watch her. She got her soft brown hair braided. Nakasuot din s'ya ng uniform ng isang all girls' school. Nakayuko s'ya kaya hindi ko masyadong kita ang mukha n'ya, pero halata na namumula ang magkabilang pisngi n'ya. Mukhang aware s'ya sa atensyon sa kanya, at hindi s'ya kumportable d'on. 

Medyo bumagal ang lakad ko pero walang pakielam si Nixon d'on. Nauna na s'ya at tumigil s'ya sa harap ng babae. Medyo malayo ako sa kanila kaya hindi ko narinig ang sinabi ng pinsan ko. 

Napaawang ang mga labi ko nang mag-angat ng mukha ang babae. She gave my cousin a sweet smile and her pink lips moved as she said something. I bet she got a sweet voice too. The freckles on her nose and cheeks even made her cuter. She obviously have some foreign blood. 

Bumaba ang mga mata ko sa kamay n'ya nang ilahad n'ya ang isang paper bag kay Nixon. 

Parang hindi ko kayang tignan na maging s'ya ay saktan nitong ugok kong pinsan. She looks so fragile and sweet to be turned down. 

Nagmamadaling lumapit ako para sana pigilan si Nixon sa matalas na dila n'ya at magaspang na ugali, pero ako ang natigilan nang tanggapin ni Nixon ang binigay ng babae at tipid pa s'yang ngumiti. 

My jaw dropped, and I heard gasped from the other who witnessed the scene. 

She must be some exceptional girl.

And I confirmed it when she gave out a sweet and warm smile, and I felt like being thrown at a fairy tale, and she's a beautiful princess, giving out a smile that can heal the world.