CHAPTER 22

"Okay, so who discovered Africa again?" asked Bernadette. It was a hot sunny day and the preliminary exams were fast approaching. The unscheduled vacation due to the storm seemed to be ages ago.

"I think it's ~~~~~~~~~~~~~" said Mia. She was sharing notes with Tony.

"What about Canada?" asked Angela. Before anyone could answer, Robert entered the classroom and approached the small study group.

"Hey, guess what?" said Robert as he sat beside Angela, "The schedule for the prelims were just posted outside. Seems we'll be having Saturday classes..."

"Oh, great, there goes my date..." said Bern beneath her breath.

"So we have two days more to study, huh? said Tony.

"Yeah, starting tomorrow..." said Angela.

"By the way, Robert," said Mia, "How come I never see you study?"

"Oh... um..." said Robert. Angela's eyes were suddenly in his direction, "I do all my studying at home." said he.

"Then would you mind telling us who the prime minister of Burma is?" said Angela. Robert looked at her.

"Of course... it's... um..." he said, looking around for someone to give him an answer, "Okay I give up, who is the prime king of Burma?" he asked with a grin.

"It's---" said Mia.

"Shh!" said Angela, tapping her friend on the arm. "I thought you said you've been studying at home?" she asked with a frown.

"Well, I plan to do so, you see..." explained Robert.

"Take your notes and join the group." said Angela.

"Oh, but the bell is about to..."

"NOW" she growled.

"..." Robert went to his seat and took a battered violet notebook from his bag. There was a sign across the front reading 'Social Studies - World History'. He certainly took his time. He went around the chairs to reach his friends and sat down behind Tony.

"Sit beside me." said Angela. Robert hesitated for a while before he finally stood up, gave a deep breath and sat beside Angela.

"So, let's continue..." said Tony with a little laugh.

"Okay, my turn," said Bern, "When was America discovered?" she asked with a beaming smile at Robert.

"Um..." replied the boy, scratching his head, "Let's see... 18... 18..."

"You can look at your notes if you like." said Tony. Robert looked pale.

Angela took the notebook from Robert's hand and opened it. The 1st page had Robert's full name written on it, the second page, their teacher's name, but that was about the only thing in the notebook. She flipped through the pages and reached the end, in which several doodles were drawn, and here and there, a fine sketch of a girl with out a face. Robert suddenly took it from her.

"E-he-he-he...." he said smiling, "I never was good at social studies..."

"All the reason why you must study it!" said Mia.

"That's right, Robert, the exams start on Thursday, we hardly have a week left to study!"

"Don't worry, I'll get to it!" he replied, tucking the notebook under his arm.

"Here." said Angela, handing her notebook over to the boy beside her. Robert took it gingerly. "Copy the notes and return it to me tomorrow."

"Thanks!" said Robert with a smile.

"If you don't get it done by tomorrow, I'll kill you." she added in a whisper so as her friends wouldn't hear her. Robert froze.

"But then again, you need it to study too, right?" he asked with a weak grin.

"Angela aces History, you know?" said Bern, "She doesn't need to study."

"Yup, also with Physics, English, P.E.H.M., T.H.E, Religion..." said Mia, "Almost everything."

"Almost?" asked Robert.

"Well, she sucks in Math." said Bern in a low whisper.

"I do not!" said Angela defensively. "Now, let's get on with the next question..." she continued with a frown.

The bell suddenly rang; the students went back to their respective places. Angela looked at Robert beside her but the boy was already running to his seat. With a scowl, she faced front as their teacher entered the room.

"I guess he wasn't joking when he said he's good at disappearing..." said Angela to herself as she looked for Robert after class. "He's probably headed home already..."

She took her bags and left the classroom, thinking of what she would do to the stubborn boy if he fails to copy her notes when she remembered tita Glo.

"That's right!" she thought, "Today's the day tita comes back from Italy." she frowned and stared at the crowded hallway. "Maybe Obet went to the airport to meet her... but then, why didn't he tell me anything about it..." Angela felt irritated about this. "I guess I don't count much after all, eh?" she mumbled to herself.

Angela went straight home, looking at Robert's house next door as she passed it. It seems like the two were still out. She sighed and went inside their house instead.

"Whew....!" sighed Robert as he peeped from behind the curtains, "I thought she was going to look for me..."

"What you looking at?" asked his mother behind his shoulder. Robert jumped beside himself.

"Nothing..." he said with a nervous laugh, "So, you had enough sleep?" he asked his mother.

"Yup, the jet lag seems to be gone now." she replied with a yawn.

"So tell me, how's your trip?"

"It was great!" she said excitedly, "It was so beautiful there, though we hardly had time to look around 'coz of the terrible weather!"

"So, it was raining there too?"

"Yup, I did get to visit the Eiffel tower though! Wait here while I get the pictures..." Mrs. Cordero hurriedly fumbled through her luggage that were still scattered all over the floor and pulled out a pack of pictures. "See," she said, handing it over to her son, "Here's the tower, and these are Monsieur Versant with your aunt Gina..."

"Monsieur Versant?" asked Robert.

"He's that designer I told you about," she said, pointing at the tall man in a designer suit. He seems to be in his late 30's with light brown hair and warm blue eyes. "He has his own designing firm, you know. He kept praising my designs and bought me all these pretty clothes..." she went back to her luggage and gently pulled out a lovely black nightgown. "It's a little wrinkled, though," she said, straightening it out a bit, "He insisted I wear it to our dinner meeting, and he insisted in giving me a new one every day."

Robert looked at his mother and smiled. She looked as if she was 10 years younger. Her eyes shined as she told Robert more stories about Monsieur Versant.

"Sounds like a real nice guy... this Monsieur Versant..." he told her with a smile. He was surprised to see his mother blush.

"E-he-he... I guess so..." she replied. "Anyway, what say we ordered some takeout for dinner?"

Robert slumped in bed and rubbed his tummy. They had quite a feast, with his mother blushing as she told him all about Monsieur Versant.

"Hmm... " he thought to himself, "Guess my mom's still young after all..." he looked at his side as Yang jumped on the bed and curled up into a fluffy ball beside him. "Ah, you full too eh?" he grinned. "Well, goodnight!"

"So, did you copy it?" Angela asked as Robert neared the mango tree.

"Eh?" replied the other, "Copy what?" he suddenly remembered the notebook Angela lend him and froze.

"Ha! I knew it!" said Angela, pointing a finger at Robert, "You forgot to study again, didn't..."

"Here." Robert held a small glass globe to the fuming girl in front of him. "Mom told me to give this to you." he said with a grin.

Angela looked at the globe and took it from Robert. It was a snow globe with a miniature Eiffel tower inside. She shook it and watched the snowflakes flutter around the small dome.

"Hey, c'mon, we're gonna be late for school!" called Robert. He was already at the end of the block, waving at her. Angela looked at him and frowned, then at the small globe and went on her way.

"There goes the bell..." thought Robert, "Better hurry before Angela catches me."

"And where do you think you're going?" said Angela from behind.

"Ah, well, to lunch of course..." he replied with a grin.

"You can eat lunch here, let me see your notebook in history first."

"Ah, hey, I think Mia's calling you..."

"History notebook. Now."

Robert looked at Angela. She looked serious. With a sigh, he took out his notebook and handed it to Angela who immediately flipped through its pages. It was as empty as ever.

"Just as I thought." she said as she slapped the notebook on Robert's arm. "Have you no intention of passing the class?"

"C'mon, Ange, it's just a notebook, no big deal!" replied Robert rubbing his arm.

"So, tell me, what are you supposed to study for tomorrow's test if you haven't any notes?"

"Well, that's what books are for, right?" he replied.

"Where's your book?"

"Umm... back at home..." Angela's frown deepened, "I told you, I study at home!"

"And when do you plan to start studying? Tomorrow?"

"Well you see, I didn't get to study last night 'coz I helped my mom with her luggage... so.... tonight I plan to get to it..."

"Hey, Angela, aren't you going to eat yet?" asked Bern. Angela turned around to face her friend.

"Just a sec..." she turned back to Robert to take him with her. "C'mon, let's study later after..." Angela gaped at the empty space before her. "Robert!" she called, but the other was already running out the hallway.

"Whew... that was close..." thought Robert as he entered the cafeteria. "Angela sure could be a bit too pushy at times..." he looked at the menu and sighed. "Not like I hate the attention, but... I really don't have such study habits... besides, what's the use..."

Robert took his tray to an empty table and began to eat. He remembered the first time someone told him to study hard. That was the time he decided he would like to be a better person. To change for someone in particular... but that person is now gone. Robert gently pushed the tray aside.

"I shouldn't have thought of that..." he said to himself. "Belle..."

Angela glanced at the back of the room once more. "First he refuses to study, and now he's cutting classes..." she thought out load as she looked at the empty chair. "I wonder what's wrong with him..."

"So, why did you call me out this time?" said Danny as he approached Robert. He was sitting on the gutter by the road, tossing gravel at the vacant lot behind him.

"Nothing..." he replied, "Just thought we could hang out a little..."

"So, you called me out here for nothing?" said his friend, "C'mon, just say it."

"We're having our prelims tomorrow..." said the downcast Robert.

"So?" asked Danny, "You never fail anyway, I mean, not just because the school wants to get rid of you...."

"Yeah, I know..." murmured Robert. Danny looked at his friend and sighed.

"It's Belle again, isn't it?" he asked. Robert was silent. He sat beside his friend and placed an arm over his shoulder. "C'mon, tell Danny all about it..." Robert looked up at him and smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry... I always pull you in to my troubles..." he said in a soft whisper."

"Aw, c'mon, I'm your best friend, remember?" the other replied with a grin, "I mean, who was there to give you all those leakages and nursed you when you get beat up? Or picked out that lucky shirt you wore to threads and went with you to that 3 day concert where we ran out of money and ... and found you lying around with those pills... and woke you up?"

"You did... " said Robert.

"So, what is it this time?"

"I just feel down, that's all..." he said, smiling at his friend. "It was during the prelims... do you remember that day?"

"Ah yes," replied Danny, "You got hit on the head real bad. I had to tear you away from that poor bastard."

"I almost killed him."

"Yeah, but he's still alive 'n kickin' back in Binunga, no need to worry about it." said Danny chuckling.

"Then the teachers came and we had to run..."

"Hehe, I lost track of you then...." Danny looked at his friends and messed his hair. "To tell you frankly, I was real worried about you, the bleeding wouldn't seem to stop. I looked for you everywhere..."

"She found me... and I called her a bitch..."

"You call every one bitch." said Danny smirking.

"She wasn't even scared... she was just.... worried."

"She's a tough kid too, you know.... she is your sister after all."

"If we weren't related..." he said, his voice starting to quiver, "if we weren't related... you think we'd still be together today?"

"Yeah, I think so..." said Danny, "I'm sure of it."

It was already late when Robert went home feeling just a little better. The full moon was high in the cloudless sky and the stars were brightly shining. He looked up at them as he passed the old mango tree, the darkness making them shine brighter.

"If you are now guiding me," he thought aloud, "which star would you be?"

"So, finally decided to come home eh?" said a voice behind him. Robert turned around and saw his mother standing by the mango tree's ancient trunk.

"Mom!" said Robert a little alarmed, "What are you doing here?"

"Nothing much, just waiting for my son to return." replied his mother, "Ange passed by this afternoon looking for you." she continued, "She looked worried."

"Sorry..." mumbled Robert, "Just hang out with Danny a bit..."

"Hey," said his mother approaching him, "she's the one you should say sorry to..."

"Guess so..." he said, "it's just that she keeps bugging me to do things... she could be such trouble sometimes..." Robert's mother smiled and placed her arm around him.

"I've heard those words before." she said softly, "That was about a year ago..."

"I know..." replied her son.

The next day, Angela was not waiting under the mango tree. Robert waited for a couple of minutes before he decided to go to school alone. She was already in her seat when he got to the classroom, holding a reviewer and completely ignoring him. Robert sat on the chair in front of her and stared. Angela faced the other way. Robert moved the seat and continued staring. Angela stood up, went the back of the room and sat on the corner, facing the wall. Robert sighed and took another seat, placing it beside Angela.

"I'm sorry." he said after a moment of silence. Angela was still ignoring him. "I finished copying your notebook, see?" he said, spreading his social studies notebook to a page full of scrawny looking writings. No reaction. Robert stared some more and sighed. "Okay then, if I can get a higher score than you in any subject, will you forgive me?" he asked. Still no reply. "Well?" he asked again. Angela was still ignoring him completely. Robert sighed and was about to stand up when she finally spoke.

"That and a line of nine in History." she suddenly said.

"Eh? History?!" cried Robert, some of their classmates looked at their direction. "But that's the first subject!"

"So?" said Angela, her eyes still on the reviewer.

"... o-kay...." he said doubtfully, "line of nine...." he looked sick.

"And if you don't?" she suddenly said, looking up at Robert with sharp eyes.

"If I don't, I will do anything you want me to." he replied grinning. "Deal?" he asked, offering his hand to Angela.

"Deal." the other replied, taking his hand and shaking it firmly.

The bell rang just then, and the two went back to their corresponding seats. Robert was still smiling when he got his test paper.

"Whew boy," he said when he saw the first part of the exam; identification, 30 items. "This is gonna be a tough one..."

"Time's up. Pens down. Pass your papers to the front." said the teacher. Most of the students were still trying to write answers down in a desperate attempt to come up with a lucky guess. Angela waited for the others to pass their work in front. She have already finished her test minutes ago and passed it to the teacher. She was the first who finished, in fact. She watched as Robert passed his exam and slumped on his seat.

"He sure looks exhausted." she thought to herself. "He never should've made that deal." Robert felt her stare and looked her way, smiling at her and giving her a thumb's up sign. Angela quickly looked away with a frown.

"Man, that was tough!" said Tony beside him.

"Yeah, you can say that again." replied Robert. "So, what's the next exam?"

"Physics..." replied Tony, "then Chemistry..."

"Two hard ones..." groaned Robert, "I wonder if I could last the day..."

"And tomorrow, the first subject is Math!" Tony groaned, "I still have to study later, but my sisters are all counting on me to tutor them in their subjects!"

"Tony, Robert!" called Mia, "We're gonna review Physics in the library, wanna come along?"

"Sure, c'mon Robert." said Tony.

"You go ahead, I still have something to do." he reasoned, scratching his head. He saw Angela staring at him but she quickly frowned and looked away.

"C'mon Mia, let's go." said Angela.

"We'll see you after the break, Obet." called Tony.

Robert waved at his friends as they left. He sighed and sat by the window, looking at the passing clouds in the blue sky.

"Hmmm..." he thought, "I guess I could sleep a bit till the next test..." with that, he leaned on the window sill and took a little nap.

Students go home early on examination days. The teachers say that they should use the extra time to study for their other subjects and to rest their mind. Some students do just that. The rest use it to watch tv shows they can't usually watch during school days and thinking up of other things to do but study. Robert is part of the latter. Angela was still ignoring him, and she probably will continue doing so until the exam results came back. He doesn't mind much, actually. No one was bugging him anymore, and it was kind of fun to watch Angela's eyebrows twitch when he stares and tries to talk to her.

"Today's the last day of your exams, right?" Mrs. Cordero asked her son as they sat on the dining table that night.

"Yup!" replied her son, helping himself to a platter of nilagang baboy.

"So, regular classes resume on Monday right?" she asked again.

"Yup!" replied Robert with his mouth full.

"Then, it's ok if I leave on another trip, 'ne?" she looked at her son and smiled sweetly. Robert looked back at her and swallowed.

"Where to this time?" he asked.

"Back to Italy," replied his mother, "Monsieur Versant called this morning and asked me to visit Paris again; it would be just for a week... just like last time!"

Robert looked closely at his mother with a smirk. She was positively beaming, she got a bit conscious though and frowned at her 16 year old son.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing..." Replied Robert, hiding a grin, "There's no problem 'bout that, I could always ask Danny to sleep over if I feel lonely..."

"Oh, honey, I didn't think you'd feel lonely..." said his mother with concern.

"Hey, it's nothing, I was just kidding you know..." he said with a laugh, "just say hi to Monsieur Versant for me and bring back some of those croissants again!"

"Robert! Thank you! I'm glad it's okay with you!"

"And bring back more photos! Ask kuya Glenn for a picture of his monastery for me."

"Okay, I'll do all that!" said his mother. "Anything else?"

"Hmm... let me see..." he thought with a frown, "Angela seemed to like that globe you gave her, what about buying her another one?" he looked at his mother, "An angel in a snowy globe would be nice..." he said.

Mrs. Cordero looked at his son. He had such a soft smile in his face.

"He's slowly coming back..." she thought to herself, "my old Robert..." she leaned over and hugged her son. Robert was a little surprised, but he didn't complain. "Just a little more time..." she reassured herself, "a little more and your eyes will reflect your smile... the way it was back then... the way it was when you were with her."