Hero is a Father

ANGELLE

WEEK HAD PASSED and the science fair was getting closer. But even though Link was participating, he didn't let it take away from our time together. I felt like he intentionally made time for us because he didn't want me to get upset and think that he had no time for me. I understand his situation now. I understand what he wants to achieve.

"Arrrrgh! This is so frustrating! Why do we have to some house and ask for bottle?!" Ate Jove grunted.

I sighed and licked my lips.

"You should be used to it by now, Jove. It happens every year," Russel commented.

"But it's just so annoying! It's my first time ever going to some house with my classmates for Science!" she complained.

I glanced at Link, who was sitting next to me, busy with his homework. Geez, what was he doing the whole day that he didn't do his assignment at home? I wondered.

"Ate Jove, it could actually be fun, you know. It's a bonding experience," Lica said with a smile, as she took a bite of her spaghetti.

I chuckled and looked at my food. And now, I felt out of place because the guy next to me was preoccupied.

"Ugh, it's such a terrible bonding experience!" Ate Jove exclaimed.

"You're being too dramatic!" Lica retorted, rolling her eyes.

"Angelle, I heard you and Ernest are going houses by houses to ask for bottle together?" Kervin said, lifting his head and looking at me, confusing me.

"What?" I asked, puzzled. I received a "just go along with it" look from Kervin, which I immediately understood.

I looked at Link, who was already looking at me. Did Kervin intend to make Link jealous?

"Is there a problem with that? We're just doing it for Science fair," I said, biting into my fries.

"Is it really just for Science fair?" John teased, being his usual intrusive self.

"Tch!" I exclaimed, not paying any attention to them.

I wanted to enjoy Kervin's attempt to make Link jealous, but it was frustrating and uninspiring when I could see that he wasn't bothered at all.

"Hey, Link. Is it okay with you if Ernest and Angelle go together?" Wendell asked Link.

We both looked at Link, who was still focused on his homework, but he answered Wendell.

"Why would I be jealous?"

I swallowed hard at his response.

"Bro, you're courting Angelle. Of course, if I were courting her, I wouldn't want any other guy around her except me," Wendell said.

"I'm still courting Angelle, she's not yet mine," he replied and glanced at me, giving me a smile. "But I know she wouldn't replace me." He winked, and I smirked back at him while giving him a playful glare.

"Yeah, right!" I muttered, which he quietly chuckled at.

"So, is there a possibility that you would replace me?" Link asked, his question sounding serious.

"Tch! What if there is? What can you do about it?" I retorted.

He stopped working on his assignment and leaned closer to me, something he often did.

"Can you do it?" he provocatively asked.

I grinned. "Do you want me to?"

He sighed and went back to working on his assignment, while I rolled my eyes and gave him a side glance.

"Just remember, you're just going together for fair," he said with a frown.

I smirked and took a bite of my spaghetti.

AFTER A long day of studying, we finally arrived home. I went straight to my room to rest, while Lica, after changing her clothes, went to Link's place. And now, here I am in my room, giving myself some rest.

"Ate!" I looked towards my bedroom door and saw Hero standing there, staring at me.

"Yes?" I asked.

He entered my room and sat on the edge of my bed. I looked at him, wondering why he was in my room. What's his problem, and why does he seem troubled?

"Hey, what do you need? Ten pesos?" he asked, pouting. "Oh, why are you here?" I asked, grabbing my cell phone and typing my password.

"I got someone pregnant, Ate," he said, causing me to sharply look at him.

What is he saying? That he got someone pregnant?

"Stop with your nonsense," I retorted.

He lowered his head, and I sighed in response. Kids will say anything.

"Don't do drama here. If you got someone pregnant, tell Mom," I said.

He lifted his face and stared at me, his eyes filled with tears, which made me smirk. What's wrong with him?

"I don't want Mom to find out; she'll get angry with me," he said.

I sighed and approached my younger brother, gently patting his back. I'll just go along with his craziness.

"Okay, as you said. If you got someone pregnant, you have to take responsibility for the girl, and you need a large amount of money for her check-ups. Where will you get it?" I asked as he looked at his LEGO toys.

"I'll just sell my LEGO toys," he replied, his face and voice reflecting his sadness.

Quietly, I chuckled. Is he really serious about what he's saying? Because I'm not.

"It depends on you," I said.

He got off my bed and left my room, looking like a troubled dad. Haha, I can't imagine Hero selling his LEGO toys for his silly actions. Those LEGO figures are his life, and he's been saving them for display.

I sighed and returned my gaze to my cell phone when it suddenly rang.

When I checked who was calling, my eyebrows raised.

Kervin calling...

"Hello, Kervin?"

"Angelle, it's Kervin."

I raised an eyebrow in response.

"Yes, I know, you're Kervin." I said sarcastically. I heard him chuckle softly.

"Hehe, sorry. Anyway, can we hang out?"

"Who else is with us?"

"Just the two of us. We can just go to the market nearby. I wanted us to have a date."

"Okay."

"Come out, I'm already in front of your house."

I furrowed my brow and walked towards the window. I glanced down and saw Kervin standing outside the gate.

"Hey! Is it now?" I asked.

"Yes, while Link is still busy. If he finds out that I asked you out, he might get mad at me," he replied.

I chuckled softly and turned off my cell phone. Then, I went downstairs to where I found Mom watching TV.

"Ma!" I called, catching her attention.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I'm going out with Kervin. We'll just be at the market nearby," she nodded as her answer.

After bidding my goodbye, I was about to leave the door when I noticed Hero coming downstairs, carrying a small box. Oh? It seemed to be the box where he kept his LEGO figures of Superman, Batman, and others. Why did he bring it out?

I didn't pay much attention to it and just left. I greeted Kervin with a smile, and he greeted me with a "sup?"

"Why did you decide to ask me out for a date at the market?" I asked as we walked.

They preferred to call it a "date" instead of just hanging out. They thought that calling it a date would make it more acceptable to their parents.

"Timothy mentioned that you went on a date. So I thought I'd be the one to ask you out to get to know you better," he said.

"Ah."

After 15 minutes, we arrived at the market. Kervin immediately pulled me to the playground and made me sit on a rock chair. He then went to buy hotdogs with bread.

When he came back, he placed the food on the table and sat in front of me.

"Um, Kervin. Can I ask you something? Because, you know, you're one of those hype beasts that I don't really know well." He nodded as he sipped his chocolate drink. "Is it true that among your group of friends, you have the most girlfriends?" He took a bite of his hotdog before answering.

"Yes."

"That's why Wendell calls you a playboy beast?"

"Um, yes."

"But I've also heard that you make girls cry." He smirked before nodding.

"It's because I can't be content with just one," he said.

So, Ate Jove was right? Hype beasts aren't capable of being content with just one. And Kervin was the first one to prove that.

"Why? So, is Link the same way?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I don't like girls, that's why I am like this," I furrowed my brow.

"What do you mean?"

He smiled softly and looked at the passing cars. "I believe what my dad said, that when you love someone, girls will only hurt you and leave you."

"Why did your dad say that?"

"It's simple. My mom left us and went with her lover."

I remained silent after hearing his words. So, while he smiles and acts happy when he's with us, he carries a burden.

"If I like my friends' girlfriends, I don't want to cause any conflict because of my past experiences. And I know not all girls are like my mom," he said while taking a bite of his hotdog.

"Um, sorry to hear that. So, how is your dad?" I asked.

"He's okay, just busy with work."

"What does your dad do for a living?"

"He's a manager," I nodded in response.

I fell silent, unable to come up with any more questions for Kervin. But my companion didn't run out of them.

"I have a question, Angelle. What do you like about Link?" he asked while looking at me.

"It's not hard to love Link. He's kind, cheerful, and he's also boyfriend material, so to speak," I replied, making him nod in agreement.

"Gipsy said the same thing, why she liked Link."

I became speechless when he mentioned Gipsy's name. It's fine with me, but when I remember what she said to me in the Maxine bathroom and her disrespectful behavior. It annoys me!

"Hey, are you okay?" Kervin asked, noticing my silence.

"H-huh? Sorry, um."

What is wrong with me? I'm not myself right now.

I no longer dwelled on it and continued my conversation with Kervin. Perhaps he noticed that I didn't want to talk about Link and Gipsy, so he changed the topic and made himself the subject.

We spent almost two hours hanging out at the playground, talking about his flings and how he would fool them. Well, Kervin is handsome. Whenever he approaches a girl and asks her out, if she goes with it, he immediately follows through.

I learned a lot from Kervin, from their childhood memories to awkward moments like when they were all circumcised together. THE BEST STORY EVER! Haha.

"Um, Angelle. It's getting late and Link might get mad at me. He's still sensitive when it comes to you," he said, pulling me up.

Once I was on my feet, we walked home while still chatting. We didn't realize the time passing because of our conversation, but that's okay. The date was worth it because I learned a lot about them.

"Wow, bro! Watch out for that chicks!" one of the three guys spoke harshly as Kervin and I turned our heads towards the dark side of the street.

My eyes narrowed as I saw the three men standing there.

Kervin held my hand and pulled me away from them. I wondered why he didn't want me to get closer to those guys.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked as he continued to pull me along.

"We can't mess with them. They're gangsters," I furrowed my brow in confusion.

Gangsters?

"Those three guys are gangsters? They look like beggars," I commented.

"They're from Buras. Gangs are prevalent there. They think they're cool by being in a gang," he explained.

So, gangs are not only in Wattpad stories but also here in Buras. But they're different from fictional gangsters. They look completely different, especially in their appearance and style. The appearance of a hype beast is different from that of a gangster. And the appearance of a handsome gangster is different from that of a poor gangster.

"What gang were those three guys from earlier?" I sighed before we continued walking.

"They're called Bros. Typically, their members are all males and have a big build," I nodded in understanding.

It sounds like I've heard of them somewhere before.

"So, there are also gang wars here?" I asked, and he nodded.

"If you go to the barangay, you'll see many young people hanging around there. They often clash with the barangay tanods," he explained.

"Wow, what are their parents doing about it?"

"Nothing, they're stubborn kids. They prefer getting into trouble," I pressed my lips together.

"Do you guys have a gang too?" I asked, looking at the guy beside me.

"No, we're just hype beasts. And we're happy with that," he replied with a smile.

As we passed by Link's house, Kervin didn't bother to stop and continued walking until he reached my house, where we saw Hero sitting on a small chair, facing a small table with his LEGO toys on it. But what really blew my mind was a piece of paper with something written on it that he had in front of him.

"Buy LEGO $10."

Hero did make it true.

"I wonder if anyone would buy his LEGO if he's selling them for dollars," Kervin curiously asked.

"No, the dollar sign is referring to pesos," I nodded in agreement.

"But why is he selling them?" I shrugged.

He said goodbye to me and gave Hero a 100 peso, which made the latter happy. I approached my younger brother and raised an eyebrow as I looked at him.

"What came into your tiny brain that made you sell your LEGO?" I asked.

"You told me earlier. I need to get a large amount of money for the girl I supposedly got pregnant, so I'm selling them," he replied, making me chuckle softly.

"Do you actually believe that? Hey, Hero, you can't get anyone pregnant because you're not even circumcised," I said, which made him frown.

"Why should I believe you?" he raised his eyebrow.

"You should. Because I'm your older sister and I know better," I said.

"Mom is older than you too, but you believe her," I sighed in response.

Ugh! I'm getting confused with this kid. Why does he react like this? I mean, he's still young to talk about pregnancies.

"Clarify it for me. Why did you say you got someone pregnant?" I asked sincerely.

He didn't immediately answer. He lowered his head and then lifted it up, looking at me.

"Mama told me that when you kiss a girl, she can get pregnant," he said.

"And then?"

"My classmate kissed me on the lips."

My eyebrow raised. And wait, who was the one who kissed him first?

"So, what did the girl say?" I asked.

"She said I have to take responsibility for her," he replied.

My eyebrow raised even further. This is becoming more confusing.