CHAPTER 12

The next day was a Saturday. No CAT so it was a chance to wake up late. Robert held the pillow over his head. Someone moved his drapes aside, letting the morning sun shine in the room and disturb him in his slumber. It didn't bother him during school days for he was up before the sun rose, but today was a Saturday, his Saturday, and he was too lazy to pull it back in place. He turned the other way, the pillow still covering his head and tried to sleep some more. There were voices downstairs, calling him. Something about late and here and ready... He was too sleepy to pay any attention. There it came again. It was his mother calling. Robert pulled the pillow tighter to cover his ears.

"...still early..." he mumbled. She called yet again.

Robert took the pillow off his face and threw it across the room. "Hmngr..." he mumbled, loosing his temper early in the morning. He sat up in bed and saw Yang sleeping peacefully on top of his slippers. He took a deep breath and smiled, picking the kitten up and placing it on the bed. Yang had grown a bit, he was bigger than Robert's hand now, heavier too. Robert wore his slippers and went to the toilet.

"Robert!" called Mrs. Cordero in the kitchen, "Really, that boy, he sleeps like a log during weekends!" she held a colander on one hand and a whisk on the other. Beside her sat Angela, watching her eagerly. "Honey," she said, looking at her, "why don't you go up stairs and wake him up?" she asked.

"Me?" replied Angela surprised.

"Yeah," she said mixing the batter. "Just bang on his door or something, tell him to come down."

"Okay..." said Angela, she left her stool and went up the stairs.

Angela hummed as she went, her arms swaying to and fro. Yesterday's fight seemed long ago, and she was glad that Robert and her are friends now. Not that she didn't consider him as a friend back then. But what really made her happy was what Robert said about Glenn.

"He liked you too..."

Angela smiled despite herself. Thinking about Kuya Glenn liking her was really lifting up her spirits. She finally reached Robert's room, Glenn's face still lingering in her mind.

"This was kuya Glenn's room." she said to herself. "I remember he brought me up-stairs here once to play video games." she lifted her hand and was about to knock when the door suddenly swung open. Angela's fist went 'thump' on something soft.

"Ow." said Robert. Angela looked up and was face to face with him.

Robert looked down at her. He held a towel to his damp hair, his face still wet. The water trickled down his chest and he smelled of soap and mouthwash. He was wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and looked just as surprised at she was.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

Angela stared at him, then at her hand that was still on Robert's bare chest.

"Gyaaaa!" she screamed, backing away, her face turning bright red.

"What?!" asked Robert, stepping out of the room.

"What's going on here?" said Mrs. Cordero. She ran up stairs after hearing the scream, the whisk still in her hand.

"Don't know, she just screamed!" replied her son.

"I-it's nothing..." said Angela, feeling silly, "Just got caught by surprise..." she looked down on the floor and averted her eyes from Robert. Her heart was racing inside her chest.

"Robert!" said Mrs. Cordero, noticing her guest's reaction, "where are your manners? How can you wear something like that in front of a visitor, a lady even!"

"What?" asked Robert, a little confused, "What did I do?"

"Just go wear something decent!" with that, she pushed her son back inside his room. "Sorry about that," she said, turning to Angela, her face still red. "Did I just expose you to something horrible?" she smiled.

"Not really," replied Angela with a weak smile, "it's just that... I've got 12 sisters... and my father's the only man in our family and..."

"Oh, don't worry," said the other, cutting her short, "You'll get used to it." they went back to the kitchen. There where trays on the table lined with cookie wrapper, ready for the batter. "Would you like to help me with the cookies while we wait for Robert?" asked tita Glo.

Robert sighed. "That's right, she was supposed to come over today, how could I forget?" He looked at Belle's picture and sighed. "You girls could be so much trouble..." he took a shirt from his closet and started to dress up.

"That's it, just a spoonful." said Tita Glo as Angela placed a lump of cookie batter on a tray. Her first try was a little too big, the batter lumped in the middle of the tray, as big as a ping-pong ball. "There, that way the cookie would cook nice and even, now try again."

"Okay, I think I've got it now." she took another spoonful and slapped the batter down on the tray, patting it flat. She was really enjoying herself. She never did learn how to cook back home, and she found Mrs. Cordero to be a very patient teacher. She was going for another spoonful when Robert slumped down the kitchen yawning.

"What's for breakfast?" he asked. Angela felt her heart racing again.

"There are eggs in the breakfast table." said his mother, "hurry and eat it before it turns cold." she took a spoon and placed some batter on another tray expertly. "When you finish eating, why don't you and Angela go up stairs and sort things out in that room?" she added, "I think there are still some furniture we could use in there."

"Mmm, okay..." replied Robert with a piece of bread in his mouth.

Angela snatched a fleeting glance at him. "Why am I feeling nervous?" she asked herself. "Was he really that scary back there." she took another glance. Robert rolled the scrambled egg and popped the whole thing in his mouth. "He seems to be as stupid as ever..." she thought, "but just a while ago... I was really... scared..."

Mrs. Cordero looked at her, then at his son who ate in a corner, oblivious of their stare. She smiled and went back to her cookies.

"That one's still bigger than the others." said Robert, pointing at a big lump of cookie batter on Angela's tray, he finished his breakfast and helped out with the cookies. His tray was already full and he kept criticizing Angela's work. "That one's too small." he added, pointing to another.

"Hey, mind your own tray!" said Angela annoyingly. She pats at the small lump with a spoon till it was as big as the rest. It looked thinner though.

"Now that's gonna get burned while the others get half cook!" he said, pointing at the flat batter.

"Oh, get off my case will you?" said Angela, hitting him with a spoon.

Mrs. Cordero smiled, "Why don't you two head up stairs? I'll go finish up here and follow you later." she said.

"'Kay, mom..." said Robert, placing his perfect looking tray on top of the stove. He washed his hands and wiped it on the jeans he wore. "C'mon, better get it over with before lunch time..."

Angela looked at the clock. It was past 11 and they haven't started with the room yet.

"Ah, I almost forgot about that!" she said as she washed her own hands and followed after Robert.

She found him waiting on top of the stairs. He looked at her and smiled. "You really want that room that badly, huh?" he asked. "Different room though, cousin used to sleep in the room I use now. That other room belonged to our Grandfather."

"Yeah, I know." replied Angela, avoiding his gaze, "I was up here once when I was a kid." they went to the end of the hall and turned left to the spare room. Robert opened the door and led her in.

The room looked exactly as it did that Monday afternoon. The boxes piled around the room and the dust rose as they entered. Even the letter 'A' in the windowpane was still there.

"So," asked Angela, "Where do we begin?"

"Let's see..." said Robert rubbing his chin, "We can start by moving these boxes..." he made his way through the maze of boxes and went to the door that led to the balcony. "We could put them outside while we clean the room."

"What's in these boxes anyway?" asked Angela, opening one. It was full of old books.

"Just stuff my aunt couldn't take to the states with them." replied Robert. "Some belong to my grandfather, like the old clothes and magazines, other boxes came from my cousin's room." he picked a box and carried it. "I placed them here when we moved."

"Eh?" said Angela. She opened another box and found it filled with toys. "These are kuya Glenn's toys!" she thought, going through the box, "How lucky!"

"Hey," Robert called to her, leaning on the door "you can go through those later, take it out the balcony first." Angela placed the toy gun she held back in the box feeling embarrassed.

"Sorry..." she said beneath her breath. Robert was out in the balcony carrying his second box and didn't hear her.

Angela took the box. It was a little heavy, but she got it out the balcony and piled it on top of another. Robert have already taken 4 out. Angela looked at him and frowned.

"He sure is strong." she thought as he went out carrying two boxes placed one over the other. "For a wimp." she added.

He saw her staring at her and stared back. Angela blushed and looked away. She looked at the old mango tree instead. There were blossoms all over it, filling the air with a sweet scent.

"Tired already?" asked Robert, standing beside her. Angela's heart started to beat faster again.

"I'm just catching my breath..." she replied as she slowly inched away from him. "The mango tree's blooming..." she found herself saying.

"Yeah, in July too..." said he, "It'll all be destroyed when it rains."

"I hope not." said Angela, the cool air making her feel more comfortable. "I remember that fruit from that tree are real good, especially when it's ripe straight off the tree."

"Yeah," replied the other, "my cousin and I used to stay in the tree house and eat all the mangoes we could gather. I remember once, I ate so much I had to stay in the toilet all day!" he said with a laugh. Angela's uneasy feeling was gone and she was glad that she could talk to him like this again.

"Hey, can I ask you a question?" she asked, "How come I've never seen you around here?" she looked at Robert, his eyes still on the old tree. "I mean, I only see your cousin every summer since he went to some boarding school, but I don't think I've seen you before."

Robert was silent. His gaze still kept on the ancient tree. Angela waited for his reply.

"I didn't go out much when I lived here." he replied. "Grandfather wouldn't let me, especially when there were other people around."

"Eh? How come?" asked Angela. It was then that she noticed it. Robert wasn't smiling anymore. He wouldn't look at her either. "Should have kept my big mouth shut!" she told herself. "Anyway," she said instead, turning back inside the room, "We'd better get these boxes out if we want to finish before lunch time."

She went inside the room, chose a fairly smaller box and lifted it. "It's a little heavy." she thought as she braced it against her chest.

"Here, let me help you with that." said Robert, approaching her.

"Don't worry I've got it." she said stubbornly. She supported it with her knee and made her way to the balcony, holding the bottom with her left arm. Robert followed behind her with a much bigger box. "Show off." she found herself thinking. She bent over on a corner to place the box down, when the bottom suddenly gave out, the contents dropped on the ground in a loud crash. It was full of old picture frames, the glass shattering as it fell.

"Ah, I'm so sorry!" said Angela in a panic, she went down on her knees and started picking up the broken pieces. She suddenly felt two strong arms lift her. She looked up and saw Robert frowning at her.

"Leave it!" he said, "You might hurt yourself with the glass." Angela stood aside and watched as Robert picked the broken glass and placed it in the old box. He was still frowning. "I told you to give the box to me." he said without looking up at her, "Now sit right there while I clean this up." he looked up and pointed at a garden set at the far end of the balcony, then looked at Angela to make sure she understood.

"Okay, okay, I'll just get out of the way like you want..." said Angela pouting. She looked at Robert. He was staring at her, turning pale. "What?" she asked. He pointed at her knee.

She was wearing a t-shirt and walking shorts and her bare knee was visible. It was bleeding from an open wound, the blood trickling down her leg.

"Y-you're bleeding..." said Robert weakly.

"Ah, when did that happen?!" she exclaimed as she touched it. A throb of pain suddenly shot through her leg, putting her off balance. Robert was suddenly beside her, taking her hand.

"To the bathroom. Quick." he said weakly, pulling her along.

"Wait..." said Angela in pain, her leg was shaking and she couldn't put her weight on it. Before she knew it, Robert picked her up in his arms and brought her in the room.

Angela's face flushed. Robert's arms were strong, his chest heaving as he breathes and his face was so close to hers. She felt her heart racing again. "Why am I scared?" she asked herself.

Robert went into the bathroom with Angela and put the toilet cover down.

"Sit." he ordered her. He went to the medicine cabinet and took out some gauze and antiseptic. He placed them on the bathroom floor and kneeled in front of her, looking at the wound with a groan. "I-I think there's still a piece of glass in it..." he said, taking deep breaths.

"It hurts..." moaned Angela, her leg was still throbbing. She wondered why she didn't notice it earlier.

"I'll try to take it out..." said Robert. He touched her leg and looked closely at the wound. "Uhh..." he groaned, turning away, "I'll wash the blood off first..."

"Anybody home?" called Danny. He rang on the doorbell again and decided to let himself in. Mrs. Cordero was just about to get out of the kitchen when he entered it. "Good morning tita!"

"Hey, Danny, what brings you here?" she asked smiling.

"Well it was so hot today that I decided to clean your pool for free!" he exclaimed. "Where's Robert?"

"Upstairs with a friend, they're cleaning out one of the rooms." she took out a purse and looked at Danny, "Why don't you go ahead up stairs, I'll just go to the store to buy something."

"Okay." said Danny, licking on a spoon with cookie batter still on it. He placed the spoon on the sink and went upstairs.

Robert took the water dipper and poured some water on Angela's leg. His hand was shaking.

"Cold..." said Angela beneath her breath.

"Put your legs apart..." he said, "You're getting all wet." He touched the wound gently.

"Ow!" said Angela. Just as he feared, there was a piece of glass left in the wound, and it looked pretty deep. "Please get it out! It hurts!" said Angela in the verge of tears.

"Okay, just stop squirming, it'll only sink in deeper..." he took a pair of tweezers and pulled the glass out slowly. Angela hissed in pain.

"Is it over yet?" she asked.

"J-just a little more..." said Robert. The blood was beginning to flow again and he was starting to see double. He took deep breaths to steady himself.

"Ow..." said Angela wincing in pain. Just then, the door swung open and in stepped Danny, a frown in his face.

"What the hell are you doing?!" he yelled at Robert.

Robert turned around, surprised, so did Angela. She didn't notice the glass slip out of her wound. The blood began to ooze out as it did, flowing down her knee freely.

"Danny?" Robert asked, when he suddenly looked down at the bloody knee. "Oh God..." he groaned, his eyes rolling up his head, he slumped down on the floor, unconscious.

"Ah, Robert!" cried Angela.

Danny went to his friend and shook him, "Man, I thought you guys were doing something weird!" he said with a laugh.

Angela looked at him questioningly. "What's that suppose to mean?" thought she, "Is he okay?" she asked. The boy was slapping Robert on the face now.

"Ei, wake up!" he said. He looked at Angela. "What happened to you anyway?" he asked, motioning at her knee.

"Just... had an accident with some broken glass."

"Stupid kid, he knew he faints in the sight of blood." said the boy. Angela was taken back by this.

"So it was true that he's afraid of blood..." she said.

"Yeah, gets all dizzy..." he was now holding Robert's nose closed.

He suddenly looked at Angela. In his squatting position, their faces were right next to each other. "Hey, who are you anyway?" he asked.

"My name's Angela..." she replied, moving back, her face blushing. "I live next door."

"You're still bleeding." Danny suddenly said, pointing at her leg.

"Ah..." gasped Angela, covering the wound with her hand.

"Here, let me see that." said the boy beside her. He pushed her hand aside and cleaned the wound with some antiseptic. "So, you're that girl he's been telling me about." said the boy, . "I'm Danny, Robert told me a lot of things about you."

"He did?" asked Angela suspiciously, thinking of their first meeting.

"Yeah, I heard you had a fight with him last time..." he continued as he placed a gauze on top of her wound and held it in place with two band aids. "Something 'bout him making you wait all night... were you suppose to meet for a date or somethin'?" he looked up at her grinning.

"Of course not!" said Angela turning red again, this time, with anger.

"Well, anyway, thought it might be right if I told you sorry..." he said, still grinning. He picked up the medicine on the floor and stored them away. "It was 'coz we took so long to come, he had to run around the construction site twice before we got there..." he laughed haughtily and turned to face her again, beaming. "But we sure scared that jerk silly!"

Angela looked at him, totally lost. She had no idea what he was talking about. "Scared who?" she asked.

"That kid with a large head and a tiny d-..." he looked at Angela, "Well, anyway, he just called us up and told us to scare this guy who's been harassing a friend of his, he sounded real upset so we said, 'what the heck, for old time's sake'." he sat down beside Robert and filled the ladle with water. "I think it was for that Tony." he continued, "They were classmates back in grade school ya' know. He feels kinda guilty bout him. He gets bullied around a lot"

Angela was quiet. She remembered how she told her friends about the Head harassing her but she never thought Robert would give a damn about it, but then again, he did look a bit upset back then. "So that's why he disappeared." she thought. "I wonder what really happened..." she looked at Robert. He was still unconscious, lying motionless on the bathroom floor, a peaceful look in his face.

"Rise and shine, buddy!" said Danny with a grin. He poured the ladle's content's on his friend's head.

"Waa! Cold!" said Robert, waking up and shaking his head. Beads of water went flying around the room.

"Hey, how come you never told me you'll be having a girl up here?" said Danny, holding his friend down and messing his hair. Angela was blushing again.

"Ow, stop that Danny..." the other said, "what brings you here anyway?" asked he.

"So hot outside. Let me use your pool." he said straight out.

"It still needs cleaning." replied Robert. "Besides, we're busy cleaning that room next door."

"Yeah, your mom told me." Danny rose to his feet and pulled Robert up after him. Angela stood from the bowl too. Her leg was feeling better, but she still can't keep her weight on it.

"Hey, your leg, how is it?" Robert suddenly asked, looking at her.

"Much better," said Angela, looking at the bandaged wound. "Danny cleaned it while you were out cold." she looked at Danny, "Thanks by the way."

"Don't mention it." he replied with a grin, "Got a lot of practice with him." he said, pointing at Robert.

"You sure it's okay?" asked the other, "It was bleeding real bad back there..." he leaned closer and looked at the bandage, then touched Angela's leg. Angela shivered. "You might be needing stitches..."

Angela raised her arm and sent her fist down Robert's head. Danny stood there grinning.

"Pervert!" she yelled, stepping back.

"Ow! You little..." said Robert, rubbing his head.

"Serves you right." said Danny beside him.

Before he could react, his mother's head appeared behind the door. "What are you three doing here?" she asked, she saw the bandage on Angela's knee and gasped. "What happened to your leg?" she asked.

"Oh, it's just a little accident." she replied, smiling weakly.

"Anyway, lunch is ready," she said, placing an arm around Angela, "Why don't you guys take some bite to eat before you finish with the room?"

"Good, I'm hungry!" exclaimed Danny. He placed an arm on Robert's shoulder and pulled him along. "Nice girl." he whispered to his friend, "Way to go pall!"

They were going down the stairs when the doorbell rang, followed by a loud ruckus.

"Oh, almost forgot," said Danny, "I called the guys up before I came here. Hope you don't mind."

"It's ok." said Mrs Cordero with a grin. "Good thing I prepared enough food to feed a battalion."