CHAPTER 23

"Hey Tony!" called Robert as he entered the classroom, "What's with that crowd?" he pointed at their classmates gathered by the blackboard.

"Oh, the test results are out." said Tony.

"Test results?" Robert asked surprised, "They post the test results?"

"Yup," said Tony, "that's the way it is here in Tomoe University." he explained, "The students with passing scores get their names listed, if you don't see your name...."

"You fail." said Angela behind them.

"Ange!" said Robert with a jump, "Did you just arrive?"

"So, the test results are here, eh?" she asked Tony, ignoring Robert.

"Yeah, the others are checking it out right now, I haven't looked at it yet though..."

"Guess I'll go look at it right now..." said Angela, "I've been waiting for these results, especially in one subject in particular." Robert twitched beside Tony.

"Hey Robert!" called Bern from the crowd, "Congratulations!" Angela and Tony both looked surprised, "You got the highest score in Math!"

"What?!" yelled Angela, "Let me see that!"

Angela made her way to the front and scanned the pieces of paper posted on the wall. She located the Math results and looked at the first name in the list. There was no mistaking it; Robert Cordero's name was on top with a 98% mark. She then looked for the History grades.

"89%..." she whispered, "Just one more..."

"Ah!" cried Robert behind her, "Missed by one point!"

"Oh, Obet! You are so wonderful!" said Bern, "I never thought you could be this good in studying!"

"E-he-he..." laughed Robert as he scratched his head

"Yeah, I guess you didn't really need to study in the first place!" Mia said from beside Tony.

"Hey, Maybe you could help Angela with her Math." said Bern.

"I do not need any help with my math." said a fuming Angela, "And you didn't get a line of nine in history." she added, looking at Robert.

"Um...." said Mia, "Angela, What's your score in Math?" she asked.

Angela looked back at the list and scanned for her name. She suddenly paled.

"Something wrong?" asked Tony.

"Hey, wait a minute..." said Bern, "I can't find Obet's name in the other lists..."

"Eh?" asked Mia, "Let's see.... He's first in Math.... he got an 89 in History.... and.... and...."

"And that's it...?" finished Tony.

"Robert, you passed only two subjects?!" said Mia. The four looked back at Robert.

"E-he-he-he...." said the blushing boy.

"Okay..." said Bern, "I take back what I said earlier.

"So, uh.... you forgive me now?" Robert asked Angela while the others looked at the lists closer.

"It's not a 90." replied the other.

"Well..." said Robert, "You don't seem to be in one of the lists...." Angela stared at him with murder in her eyes. "I-I mean... "

"Well at least I passed all the other subjects!" she barked.

"But, the deal was if I got a point higher than yours.... in any subject, remember?" Robert pointed out with a smile.

"And a line of nine in history!" she replied.

"Well, why don't we just call it quits then?" he said, "So, you forgive me?"

Angela looked up at the boy in front of her. Robert smiled at her and reached out a hand. "Friends?" he asked.

"Friends." said Angela after a moment of hesitation.

"Okay class, you heard the bell," said the teacher entering the room, "back to your seats." Angela looked at the teacher and felt Robert squeeze her hand.

"What?" she asked looking at him.

"Nothing." he replied, quickly letting go.

"Okay, back to your seats! Back to your seats!" repeated Mr. Balmeo. He waited for the class to settle down before clearing his throat. "I guess you know what month this is..." he said, writing the words 'activity week' on the board.

"Sir! The activity week is coming." said one of the students.

"Right, and what usually happens in activity week?" he asked again.

"The classes have a friendly competition with the other sections." replied another student.

"That's right. For Robert here who just transferred to our school this year, he may not be familiar with the events, but tell me, do you have something similar in the school you came from?" he asked Robert.

"Well sir, we have the sports fest and quiz bees..." he replied.

"That's right, although the sports fest is a totally different event, the activity week includes quiz bees, speech competitions, class presentations, and of course, the Mr. and Ms. Tomoe University contest!"

"Whoooooo!" cried the students, "We'll surely win this year!"

Robert looked around at his classmates, it seems that the event they most anticipated was the Mr. and Ms. Tomoe University contest. The boys kept looking at Angela who seems to be sinking in her seat.

"I guess I can't blame them, she is the prettiest girl in class," he said to himself, "perhaps even in all the 4th year students."

"Okay, settle down class..." said Mr. Balmeo, "Now, lets choose the students who will participate in the contests..."

Mr. Balmeo took a small notebook from his chest pocket and flipped through its pages with his index finger. "For most of the events, I have decided to choose the contestants according to their academic performances and have come up with the following..." The class fell in complete silence as they listened to their teacher, "First, the three contestants for the quiz bee contest are Angela Bartholomew, Tony Francisco and last but not the least, Robert Cordero."

"Eh?!" cried Robert from his seat. The other students looked at him, alarmed.

"Yes, Robert, you're part of the team." said the teacher, "I myself couldn't believe you only had 2 wrong answers in your math exam, so I thought, we could at least put your talent into good use."

"Ah... that must have been when I wrote the answers on the wrong number" thought Robert to himself, "I knew I had the equations mixed up... but anyway..."

"Next, we have..." continued Mr. Balmeo.

"B-but... sir,' interrupted Robert standing up, "Math is about the only thing I'm good at!" he said.

"Ain't that right..." thought Angela.

"True," said Mr. Balmeo "that's why there are 3 people in a group." he explained, "Take Ms. Bartholomew for example, she's good in all the other subjects, while Mr. Francisco is the highest in Physics and Chemistry."

"But...' said Robert, thinking of another excuse.

"No more buts," said Mr. Balmeo, "now for the speech competition, I chose Mia Cruz, and for the rest..." The teacher continued calling other names from his list, completely ignoring Robert who went slump into his seat.

"Man, what a hustle," he thought to himself, "Now I really need to study..."

"Now, for the Mr. and Ms. TU contest, I guess I would have to ask the class for their candidates." said Mr. Balmeo as he closed his notebook.

"Sir! Sir!" said the students raising their hands.

"Ahh... my happy evenings in front of the TV will be gone!" thought Robert, oblivious of his classmates' votes. "And I bet I'd get into another fight with Angela..." the class is shouting now, "Maybe I can decline and pretend to be sick... I can say I have typhoid or... or..."

"Mr. Cordero!" called the teacher, "I asked you to stand up!"

"Eh?" asked a dumbfounded Robert. The class was cheering and Angela was already standing in front of the class, her face bright red. "What's wrong?" he asked standing up.

"Okay class, here's our Mr. and Ms. 4-5." said the teacher. Robert felt the rest of his strength quiver as the class broke out into a load cheer..

"I tell you, I'm dead!" Robert told Tony as they went to the cafeteria. "She's a slave driver! I won't make it through a day with that girl breathing down my neck and forcing me to study!" he looked at the three girls in front of them and shuddered.

"Oh, c'mon, Obet, Ange isn't that bad," said Tony, "She just wants you to get serious with your studies."

"I am serious in my studies!" replied the other.

"But hey, that's not the problem right now." said Tony keeping his voice lower.

"What is?" asked Robert gloomily.

"You see, Ange has been a Ms. TU contestant since 1st year." explained Tony, "But she have never joined once."

"Eh?" said Robert, a little surprised, "What do you mean by that?"

"She never shows up."

"Angela, It's so sweet!" said Bern to her friend; "You really should join the contest this year!"

"No way." replied Angela. "Absolutely not."

"Oh, c'mon Angela," said Mia, "It's our last year in high school, why don't you try joining the competition at least once?"

"I would, but not with that jerk." said she.

"Hey, Robert isn't that bad, really," said Bern, "Why don't you give him a chance, I mean, he's really cute and he's nice too!"

"And he's the highest in Math!" said Mia.

"That's not my point!"

"Then why?" both asked.

"Mr. and Ms. TU is nothing but a degrading popularity contest where people with little or no brain at all try to flaunt their beauty 'coz they have nothing else to show." said Angela. "Something like that is just a waste of my time."

"O-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!" laughed someone from behind the three friends. "I see you've decided to join the Ms. TU contest again this year."

The Three turned around. A girl stool there with her hands on her waist, her long straight hair fell ho her waist and danced with the wind, her shining deep brown eyes reflecting the three in front of her, the tender lips, the fine nose and the slim waist; a lovely image indeed.

"Um..." said Angela, "And you are?" The girl momentarily lost her poise.

"Hmph! Stop acting as if you don't know me!" said she, "After all, we have been mortal enemies since we were 1st year!"

"Oh... Um..." said Angela, she looked at her friends who both shrugged.

"Mona!" yelled the girl, "It's me Mona!" she paused for a while and regained her poise. "Now do you remember?"

"Hey, Tony and Robert already found a table..." said Bern.

"Hey! I'm still talking to you!" yelled Mona.

"Mona... um..." said Angela still thinking.

"Monalisa Vargas!" said Mona fuming.

"Ah! I remember now!" said Mia, "We were all classmates in 1st year!"

"That's right, she's that fa-..."said Bern.

"That's right, we were classmates in 1st year, and since day one, you have taken every boy's attention away from me!" said Mona.

"I still don't remember..." mumbled Angela. Mona looked rabid.

"Remember that time when you climbed the cabinet in our classroom and the shelf gave way?" reminded Mia.

"Ah! that's right!" Angela said brightening up, "I fell on someone sof-"

"So now you have finally remembered!"

"Ah! So that was you! Thank you, you really helped me out that day!" said a beaming Angela.

"Shut up!" yelled Mona, "Because of you all the boys in class started calling me Kutson! A-all of them..."

"So, what happened to you?" asked Bern, "How did you manage to loose your we-"

"All that humiliation..." interrupted Mona, "all these years I've been waiting for this day... for our final showdown..."

"I'm hungry..." thought Angela, "I wonder when she's going to let us leave..."

"But I guess you were too frightened to come against me." continued the stubborn girl. Angela forgot about her hunger, she faced the girl with a smirk in her face. "It's obviously the reason why you never show up during the competition." continued Mona.

"If you say so." said Mia, noticing her friend's sudden change of mood. "C'mon guys, I'm hungry...

"Hey, what's taking you girls so long?" asked Robert as he approached the group.

"We're coming," said Bern, "C'mon Angela, let's eat." she said to her friend, but Angela and Mona were still staring at each other.

"C'mon, Angela." said Mia. Angela finally tuned away.

"See you in the competition, 'Angel'." Mona called after them, "that is, IF you have enough guts to come face me." Angela flinched but didn't turn around. Mia and Bern both looked relieved.

"Who was that?" asked Robert as the three passed him.

"My name is Monalisa Vargas." replied the girl walking up to him. "Nice to meet you, Robert Cordero."

Mona suddenly reached up and aimed a kiss at Robert's cheek. The boy was too surprised to react. Especially when he felt himself falling to the ground.

"Ouch!" cried Robert sitting on the cafeteria floor. "What did you do that for?" he asked Angela. She was standing over him, a hand over Mona's mouth. Robert rubbed the back of his right knee where Angela hit him.

"My, my, aren't we touchy?" asked Mona. Angela said nothing. "Mark my words, 'Angel'." said she, "This boy will be mine. I will make him mine." With that, Mona left the room, the students, mostly boys staring after her.

"What was that all about?!" asked Robert dumbfounded. He raised himself and joined the rest on a long table, sitting beside Tony. Angela was at the far end, already eating her packed lunch. Robert frowned and started to eat the contents of his tray.

"So, what are you guys planning to do for the talent portion?" asked Bern.

"They are probably talking about the Mr. and Ms. TU..." thought Robert with a mouthful of chicken.

"Hey, Angela, you're good at singing aren't you?" asked Mia.

"That's right,' said Tony, "Aren't you part of the school chorale?"

"She is?" asked Robert, a little surprised.

"Yes," said Mia, "She used to sing solos when we were in grade school."

"That was years ago." she hissed.

"But aren't you still part of the church choir?" asked Bern. Angela was quiet.

"Hey, why don't you do a duet?" asked Tony.

"No way." said Angela flatly.

"Umm... I'm not that good at singing..." said Robert.

"Well, what are you good at then?" asked Bern.

"Um..." said Robert thoughtfully, "I used to play basketball back in Binunga High... Danny says I'm good enough..."

"What, you gonna dribble a ball on stage?" asked Angela sarcastically.

"Well, you asked me what I was good at!"

"Hey, didn't you use to play the violin back in grade school?" Tony suddenly asked.

"Eh?!" gasped Bern, "You know how to play the violin?! That's so cool!"

"T-that was back in 3rd grade!" said Robert, "I haven't touched a violin in 7 years!"

"Well, they say you don't just forget stuff like that," said Mia, "especially when you start at an early age."

"Well..." said Robert, he was still trying to back out when he saw Angela looking at him, her brown eyes wide, but suddenly looked away. "Well... I guess I could try playing again... I don't have my own violin though."

"We can borrow one from the music room." said Tony.

"We have one back home." Angela suddenly said, the others looked at her direction. "I can lend it to you." she continued, "As long as you take care of it."

"O-of course!" replied Robert with a big smile.

"I know," said Mia, "What if Angela sings along as Robert plays the violin?"

"Great idea!" said Tony, "It's definitely better than just singing or dancing..."

"Or lousy acting..." Bern added.

"My I change the subject?" asked Angela, interrupting the others, "Aren't you forgetting something much more important than that beauty contest?"

"Please don't call it that..." said Robert.

"What?" asked Bern.

"Mia, your speech contest, you guys, the quiz bee?" said Angela

"Ah, yes!" said Tony, "I was so excited about the beauty contest I forgot all about that!"

"It's not a beauty contest..." mumbled Robert.

"Well, the activity week is still 3 weeks away," said Mia "so we've still got a lot of time to study."

"And enough time for you two to practice for your talent presentation." said Bern.

"We can go to your house every afternoon," Tony told Robert, "don't you two live close together?"

"Well, mom isn't home right now anyway..." thought Robert.

"Great, that way, no one will know what your presentation will be!" said Bern, "It will be totally original!"

"I hope so." thought Angela.

"I can start making a speech tonight, I'll start practicing at your place tomorrow." said Mia, "I'd like to start early."

"And I can cheer for all of you!" said Bern with a big grin.

"Okay, It's settled then!" said Tony standing up, "We'll start tomorrow! Tell your parents about it this evening!"

"You're not saying anything," said Robert as he walked home with Angela. "are you still mad at me?"

"What's there to say?" she simply asked.

"Nothing I guess..." replied he. This went on for a while until they reached the mango tree.

"I didn't..."

"I never..."

The two looked at each other.

"You first." said Robert.

"I never thought you could play the violin." said Angela

"I didn't know you could sing." said Robert with a smile.

"You never asked." said she.

"Neither did you."

"Glenn used to..."

"Yeah, I know. My mother likes listening to him play so I asked him to teach me."

"My father used to..."

"Ah, is the violin his?"

"No. He broke his violin years ago." Robert looked at Angela. She was staring at the sky. "That one's my mother's."

"... Are you sure it's okay to borrow it?" Angela was silent.

"Can I ask you a favor, Obet?" she suddenly asked, her eyes still in the sky.

"What favor?" he asked.

"Can you teach me to play?"

"Sure," he replied, "I may be a little rusty though..."

"I've always wanted to learn to play the violin." said Angela ignoring his remark, "My sisters said my mom used to play in the orchestra with my father, it was like a hobby of theirs..." she looked down and sighed, her eyes averted from her companion. "They say that's where they met..."

"How come you didn't learn to play it yourself?" asked Robert.

"My father wouldn't let me." she replied. Robert was about to ask another question when Angela began walking away. "C'mon, it's getting late." she said, heading for their street.

Robert took a deep breath and held the bow lightly over the strings. He just got home after waiting for Angela to give him her mother's violin. It was a genuine Stradivarius, its deep red color reflecting his face as he looked at its body. It smelled faintly of mothballs since Angela had been hiding it inside her closet for some years now. He took another deep breath and closed his eyes. The bow touched the strings as his fingers found their place and danced over the violin's neck. A sad tune filled the room. Robert stopped, his eyes open.

"I wonder if I can still remember the notes..." he said to himself. He sighed and placed the violin gently on his bed and took a purring Yang into his arms. "She said her father wouldn't let her play." he told the cat, "It seems like violin music is taboo in their house."

Robert stared at the violin. He then placed Yang down and took it up once more. With a deep breath, he started playing the midnight sonata, filling the room with the poignant music.

"She wants to learn the violin even if her father forbids it...." Robert said out loud, "She's going against her father's will... She's always going against someone's will." he smiled, "Stubborn girl..."

The tune suddenly changed to a livelier pace; the Czardas. Robert played faster and faster, his fingers never missing a note. The sound traveled out the open window and reached the house next door.

"Is that a violin?" Ria asked her twin.

"Sounds like it." replied Pia, "Good thing dad isn't here."

Outside the veranda, leaning against the baluster, Angela stared wide-eyed into the darkness towards the direction of the music.

"He's good." she said to herself. "Really good."

The Music suddenly stopped. Robert stood in the middle of his room, breathing hard. His left hand trembled as the blood dripped from his ring and middle finger, the violin string hanging on both ends where it snapped, wounding him. He sat on the bed, sucking at his bloody fingers and smiled.

"Good morning Ange!" called Robert as he saw the girl waiting for him in the mango grove the next morning. "I'm glad you decided to walk to school with me again!"

"What happened to your hand?" she asked, frowning at the bandaged fingers.

"Ah, this...." said Robert, "I had a little accident with the violin..." he said. Angela stared at him wide eyed. "Don't worry! The string just broke!" he quickly added, "I'll buy new ones to replace them!"

"Oh, the strings..." said Angela, looking relieved. "Don't worry; I've got a new set of strings back home. The old ones were rusted to begin with."

"Whew, that was close..." thought Robert with a deep breath, "I thought she was gonna murder me!"

"C'mon, before we get late for school." she called to him.

"Coming!" said Robert with a grin.