Artamiel: The Black Angel

Chapter 4| Artamiel's Masks

"Nix?" I plastered an innocent smile as I approached my cousin. 

Nasa mga labi n'ya pa din ang tipid na ngiti n'ya nang lumingon sa akin. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa paper bag na tinanggap n'ya mula sa babae. 

"Right, it's your first time to meet each other," Nixon started. "Luca, this is Artamiel, my cousin. Pangalawang anak ni Tito Nex."

The girl smiled at me. Damn! She's too beautiful.

"I remembered Tito Nexiel," she smiled. "Hi, Artamiel, it's nice to meet you," she offered her hand. 

I blinked twice before I dropped the bags I'm carrying and accepted her hand. 

Her hand was soft and warm. Her voice was too feminine but not too soft. And she looks confident with herself. 

"Lucasha Fuentes," she introduced herself. 

"The pleasure was all mine," I smiled at her. 

I bit my lip when she giggled. "Oh!" she exclaimed then let go of my hand. She opened her bag then took out a chocolate bar. She got this huge smile then handed me the chocolate. "Hindi ko kasi alam na may pinsan pa si Nixon dito kaya hindi ako naka-prepare ng para sa'yo. Don't worry, hindi 'yan bigay sa akin, ako ang bumili n'yan," she cutely said. 

I chuckled. "Thank you," I gave out a sweet smile.

Nakita ko ang pagbaba ng mga mata n'ya sa mga bags ng mga regalo sa akin. "But... mukhang hindi na kailangan."

"Wala nang bawian! Binigay mo na," I quickly said. 

"Oo naman," she giggled once more. Her huge grin slowly faded into a meek smile. "Oh, my cousin's here," she announced then looked at my back. 

Napalingon din ako at nakita ko ang isang mahiyaing babae na nakayuko habang mabilis na naglalakad. Sa likod n'ya ay may ilang mga schoolmates naming lalaki na mukhang hinahabol s'ya. They have gifts on their hands. 

The first day I met her, I was annoyed. She's too shy and timid. I can barely hear her whenever she talks. S'ya 'yong tipo ng babae na madaling ma-bully. 

Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak n'ya sa handle ng shoulder bag n'ya gamit ang dalawang kamay. Halata na natatakot s'ya sa mga humahabol sa kanya. 

Mula sa panonood sa babae ay napatingin ako kay Nixon nang kumilos s'ya para salubungin na ang babae. 

Nixon... he's always like that when it comes to that girl. Protective. 

Isang masamang tingin pa lang ni Nixon ay umiba na agad ng direksyon ang mga nakabuntot na lalaki. My cousin's not the type who will throw punches. Ilag lang ang mga tao sa kanya dahil masyado s'yang matalino. His wits were intimidating. 

"T-Thank you," the timid girl uttered in a shaky voice. 

Nixon glared at her. "If they're making you uncomfortable, why not shoo them away?" 

She simply bit her lip then bowed her head. 

"Hey," Luca hooked her arm with the girl. "Stop scaring her, Nix!" she rolled her eyes.

Nixon shrugged then looked at me. "Luca's inviting us to her party. Would you want to come?" he asked.

My forehead creased. 

"Oh, yeah!" Luca exclaimed. "Today's my fifteenth birthday. It will be a pleasure to have the two of you as my guests."

I looked at Nixon. He nodded his head. 

I averted my eyes back to the cousins then smiled charmingly. "Of course."

"Thanks!" Luca giggled then looked at her cousin. 

Hindi mapagkakailang mag-pinsan sila dahil magkamukha sila. Papasa na nga silang kambal. Ang pinagkaiba lang ay ang pagdadala nila sa mga sarili nila. 

"I have a dress prepared for you! I already called Tita Eri that I'll be picking you up. Sa bahay na tayo dederetso kasi nasa kama ko na 'yong mga damit natin," Luca beamed. 

Nakita ko ang pilit na ngiti ng babae at dahan-dahang tumango. 

Luca pouted. "Come on, Prudence! May mas i-e-excited ka pa ba kaysa d'yan?" reklamo n'ya. 

"Text me the place, Luca. We'll be there," Nixon said then started to walk away. 

"See you later," I winked at Luca.

Medyo natigilan ako dahil sa ginawa ko na pagkindat sa kanya. I shouldn't be my flirty self today. 

Nakahinga lang ako nang maluwag nang makita ko na mukhang nagustuhan naman n'ya ang paglandi ko. She bit her lip then gave me a knowing look. 

Bahagyang nainis lang ako nang makita ko si Prudence Villamonte na titig na titig sa akin. 

Nang magpaalam si Luca na mauuna na sila, saka lang ako sumunod kay Nixon sa sasakyan namin. 

"Miel, Luca will bite on your flirting. If you won't be serious with her, tigilan mo na lang," sermon ni Nixon sa akin, 'pag sara ko pa lang ng pinto. "Their family and our family were friends right from the start."

Kinunutan ko s'ya ng noo. "I like her."

Ilang sandali na tinitigan ako ni Nixon, na tila binabasa ang nasa isip ko, bago s'ya tumango. 

"You're kind of sweet with her, you like her?" I asked him. 

If he happen to like Luca, I won't make my move on her. It will be Nixon over anyone else. 

"I do," he answered right away. "But not on that level. I like her as a person and as a friend."

I kind of expected that answer. 

"And Prudence?" I asked in a careful tone. 

Nixon threw me a glance but didn't answer. He looked out the window. 

Of course. Prudence is special. 

Kaya naiinis ako sa kanya. Bakit s'ya espesyal kay Nixon, samantalang nakakainis naman s'ya. 

Nakakainis ang ugali n'ya. Nakakainis na palagi s'yang nakayuko at parang tanga na natatakot sa lahat. Nakakainis na wala s'yang tiwala sa sarili. 

It was frustrating that she's shy, when she got all the reasons to be confident. 

She's pretty. She's rich. She's talented. 

I can't name a single thing negative about her, aside from her timid personality. 

And I hate how she can mess with my mind. 

I settled for a white sleeveless shirt and above the knee khaki shorts. Nasabi kasi ni Nixon na pool party ang dadaluhan namin. The party will start at eight pm and will last until midnight. 

"Luca?" Kuya Kipp's brows knotted. 

Skipper Clint Vergara is my cousin. He's the eldest son of Tito Neil, my father's younger brother. 

I saw Kuya Skipper on the garden so I went to him and ask him about Lucasha Fuentes. He's four years older than me and Nixon, but I know that he knows about the girl. Kung kilala ni Nixon, mas malamang na kilala ni Kuya Kipp. He's a social butterfly. Sobrang bihira ng mga tao na hindi n'ya kilala. 

Nixon was confining himself in his room and he left the door locked. That's his way of telling me to f**k myself off because he's not in the mood. And of course, the reason was Prudence. 

I don't know what Nixon saw in her. Why does she has that power to affect him that much? And why was he being in denial? If he likes the girl, why not go after her? 

I'm sure that Prudence will easily fall for Nixon. Why not?

Behind her mask of a timid girl, I know there's something lying within. She's hiding something, for sure. 

And I want to know what's that something is. That will be a way to save Nixon. He doesn't belong to someone like her. She's a schemer, I can feel it. 

"Yes. Do you know her? Nixon said she's a family friend," I nodded at Kuya Kipp. 

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Kuya Kipp at nakisabay na sa ginagawa n'yang sit-ups. This cousin of mine was really a health buff. At the age of seventeen, he already got the cuts on his arms and he formed his six pack abs. And the protruding veins on his hands and arms added boost on his charisma. 

Girls were drooling over this asshole. With his flirty nature, smooth sweet talks, and charming personality, he can easily pick from the girls waiting for his attention. But he's staying loyal to one girl. And I don't get him. Why would he want to stay with a single girl, who's being hard to get and demanding too much from him, when he can play with other girls? He's young. He should enjoy life. 

"I know her by the name and I know her family, but I don't know her personally," Kuya Kipp replied after a set. He reached for his tumbler then gulped down. He smirked at me. "Interested?" 

I shrugged. "She seems easy," I chuckled. "She got this playful aura on her."

He roared a laughter. "Tangina, Miel. Akala ko nahawa ka na kay Nixon. I thought you two were prudes," he shook his head. "Well, you can't deny the Nexiel genes on you," he let out another crispy laugh. 

I snorted on him. I positioned myself for some push-ups. 

Among my cousins, si Nixon talaga ang palagi kong kasama. Aside from the fact that we shared the same age, he's the one who talks less. And he understands me. The real me. 

It was fun hanging out with Kuya Kipp, but he's too active. He simply can't stay in one place. Minsan, nakakapagod din. And I was always worried that he'll see something wrong with me. 

Kay Nixon lang talaga ako komportable. 

"Luca grew up abroad," Kuya Kipp started. "Ang alam ko, kakabalik lang ng pamilya nila just last year. Kilala mo sila Prudence, 'di ba?"

I tasted something bitter on my mouth at the mention of her name. 

"Well, their fathers were cousins. That made them second cousins," Kuya Kipp added. "From what I heard from Cady, magkamukha daw sila Luca at Pru. Kamukha daw nila 'yong Lola nila. They can be mistaken for being twins since they also have the same age. And almost same birthdays."

As expected from Skipper Clint Vergara, he knows every vital things. Masyadong tsismoso. 

"Are you going to hit on her?" he smirked at me. 

I grinned back at him. "I'll see," I replied with a smug smile. 

He laughed. "Should I suggest not to bring Nixon with you?" he raised a brow. "We got an invitation for her party," he explained.

"Impossible. I'm just a plus one for Nixon," I grinned. 

He tapped my shoulder. "Good luck to that, kid," he winked at me. 

Nixon once said that I am like a second copy of Kuya Kipp. Thinking about it now, I really did got the inspiration from him for one of my masks. The happy-go-lucky, flirty guy. And most girls love that Artamiel. The one who will compliment them even on the smallest things. 

"But you can always keep Nixon occupied," he threw me a knowing look.

In my head, I am cursing the world. But in front of my cousin, I gave out a sarcastic smirk. 

"Prudence," we said in chorus. 

He chuckled. "All you have to do is to ask for Prudence to keep Nixon a company. And Nixon will shut the world around them, no doubt." 

Hell, yeah. Everybody know that Nixon's in love with Pru. I don't know if that's love, or something shallower, but it's an obvious thing that she's special for him. Nixon was just being in denial. 

I spent the rest of the day with Kuya Kipp until dinner time. 

"Miel, daan ka sa kwarto ko bago kayo umalis," paalala ni Kuya Kipp matapos ng dinner namin. 

"And why, Skipper?" Mama raised a brow. 

Ngumuso si Kuya Kipp. "It's our business, Tita."

Mama squinted her eyes on my cousin. "Skipper Clint, may mga itinuturo ka na ba sa mga pinsan mo?" she asked with a suspicious tone. "They're just fourteen," she almost hissed. 

I bit my lip to keep myself from laughing. 

Kuya Kipp rolled his eyes. "Oh, please, Tita. They're fourteen, not four," he grinned. "This is the twenty-first century. Mas liberated na ang mundo ngayon. It's better safe than sorry. Lamang ang may alam," he laughed. 

"Skipper!" Mama hissed.

"Let's not be hypocrite. Ask Tito Nexiel when did he lose his precious V." Kuya Kipp raised from his seat. "Saka lalaki naman sila Miel and Nixon. Si Casey ang bantayan n'yo," he playfully winked then left. 

Both Papa and Dada burst into laughter. Hindi ko na din pinigilan ang sarili ko na tumawa. 

Mama was fuming mad when she slapped Papa's arm then took Elai with her. 

"Why, Nixon? Are you getting laid tonight?" Dada asked his son.

Nixon's face crumpled then he walked out. 

I turned my head on Papa. He raised his hands on the air. "I'm not gonna ask," he chuckled. 

I shook my head while smirking. Tumayo na ako at maayos na nagpaalam kila Papa at Dada bago pumanhik sa kwarto ko para maligo. Nang makaligo ay sinuot ko na ang mga damit ko na hinanda ko kanina. I completed my look with an outdoor casual shoes and a floral polo. 

Before I went out of my room, I faced the mirror. I am thinking of which mask should I wear tonight. Would it be right for a sweet, charming boy? Or a serious, snob will fit better? Or maybe a flirty boy with a playful smile plastered on his face?

I took a deep breath then pointed myself in the mirror.

"You're not that little boy anymore. You can play with them, you can play this game better than any of them. You're now in control," I uttered like an incantation. 

Another deep breath, then I wore the mask of a playful guy. I smirked at myself in the mirror then I went out. 

Bago katukin si Nixon ay dumaan na muna ako sa kwarto ni Kuya Kipp. 

"Nice outfit," he smirked after checking me out then he opened the drawer beside his bed. He got a box from it then threw it on my direction. 

It was a reflex to catch the box. Natawa na lang ako nang makita 'yon. 

Kuya Kipp winked at me then dismissed me. He was on a video call with his girlfriend. 

I slipped the box on my pocket then I went on Nixon's room. 

I found him in a white shorts and baby blue dress shirt rolled to his elbows, which showed his expensive watch. He got blue Crocs for his feet and a white fedora hat. 

"Ready?" I smiled at him.

He shrugged then went out of his room after snatching his phone from his bed. 

It was ten minutes before eight when we reached the venue. Few cars were parked in the spacious parking lot. We can hear the faint sound of the music coming from inside. 

"Manong, Kuya Nexus will drive us home. 'Wag n'yo na po kaming intayin," Nixon said then shut the door of our car.

Kuya Nexus is our cousin too, we shared the same great great grandfather. I heard from Kuya Kipp that he's currently dating Luca's other cousin, kaya nandito s'ya. And he'll be driving us home. It was Kuya Kipp's suggestion. Para daw hindi maputol ang kasiyahan namin ni Nixon, kung ipapasundo kami sa curfew na ten o'clock. Dada agreed, kaya wala nang nagawa si Mama. 

Nixon gave his name on the registration table and we were given shots then we're led inside the clubhouse. 

The loud music were booming from the speakers. There's a DJ's table on a makeshift stage near the pool. There's a tiki bar set on a side and tall tables were scattered on the area around the pool. May mga round tables din na medyo malayo sa pool at may long buffet table. 

I can't believe that this is a party for a fifteen years old celebrant. 

Nakasunod lang ako kay Nixon nang pumasok s'ya sa loob ng bahay. 

"Tita Lacey," he called the attention of a woman on a white maxi dress. 

"Nixon!" the woman looks very pleased to see my cousin. "Look at you, hijo! You look so handsome," she kissed his cheek. 

Nixon meekly smiled then returned some compliments. "By the way, I'm with my cousin, Artamiel. Tito Nexiel's son," he introduced me. "Miel, this is Tita Lacey, Luca's mother."

My jaw clenched when she gave me sympathetic look. If they're family friends, of course they knew what happened to me. 

"How are you, hijo?" she asked with so much concern. 

My hands balled into fists. 

Nixon cleared his throat. "I don't want to be rude, Tita Lacey, but we're looking for someone. We just approached to greet you."

Without waiting for a response, Nixon pulled me. We settled in a round table, away from other visitors. He raised his hand and ordered for some drinks. 

"Thanks," I murmured after composing myself. 

He sighed. "Don't give out that face, Miel. I thought you're getting laid tonight?" 

Yeah. I will be. 

And I am going to screw the daughter of that witch who brought me back to my dreaded day.