Chapter 1

Angel was out of her mind while she’s staring at her older brother things. She doesn’t know what to do first, that’s why she’s just staring. She doesn’t know what to do first if she will cook for their dinner or she will help his brother packed his things. Still, packing her brother’s thing is the winner because they don’t have rice to be cooked. What a shame!

She pressed her lips while stopping herself to cry. This is always the scenario if don’t really know how to fix their problem or she don’t know where to get their food. Why does it always to be like this? Why does it’s so hard to be live? Why does she belong to a family like this? Why does the world seem to be unfair? Why? It’s always why!

"Ate Angel?"

She suddenly stopped thinking when she heard the voice of her sister. It’s Mika, one of her twin sisters. She rapidly wiped her tears and put the two shirts of her brother in the bag then looked to her younger sister.

“Yes, baby?”

"Ate, Manang Cora is asking for the payment—"

“Payment for?” she asked. Mika their youngest and this is also the most talkative of them all. Not like the other twin who will not talk to you if you don’t talk to him first.

Sh e even saw Mika swallow before answering her. "They say it's payment for the sardines we owed a while ago."

That’s one of her problems; they are in debt that she doesn't know how they can pay. She didn't have a job and she don’t have any degree. Even though she might have finished her studies, she wouldn't be able to get a job if they were imprisoned on this island.

“Hey, Angel, are you done packing my things?” that’s the voice of their oldest. When she looked to her brother, he’s ready to leave. "It's getting late, Mang Kardeng might have come here."

"Kuya Gelo! Kuya Gelo! Don't forget to look for the mermaid, huh?" The twins squealed and hugged their big brother. "Because Teacher Sara said mermaids are beautiful."

"Oh! Don’t believe to your teacher. It's not true that there are half human and half fish. I've been around the entire ocean and I've never seen anything like that. That’s only in the fairytale," Kuya Gelo said to the twins and looked at her. "Are my things in order?"

She nodded and handed over the bag. "You're bringing too much, Kuya. When are you coming back?"

She always prepares his Kuya’s things when he goes fishing with the men of their island. And just now she prepared a lot of clothes for his Kuya.

"Maybe next month. We're traveling quite far, Gel." Kuya Gelo put the bag on his shoulder when they heard Mang Kardeng's voice calling his Kuya. "Oh! He’s already here, I'll leave you for now. You'll take care the twins, okay? Be careful, Angel, and you know where my coin holder is hidden.” Kuya Gelo hugged her and the twins. “When you need to buy something, just go with our neighbors who are going to town."

She just nodded as an answer and they watched their Kuya Gelo.

This is always their scene when his Kuya leaves and they are the only ones left in their little house. Since the loss of their parents, she and their older brother have been the mother and father of the twins. They have no choice but to continue living even though they don't know if their parents are alive or dead.

They did not gather any information about the disappearance of their parents. But since the two said goodbye saying they were just going to buy something in town, his parents never came back and the only rumor is that they might be a disaster in sea. And after that tragedy, they are in debt, and until now she doesn’t know how to solve their problems.

"Ate?"

Her meditation was interrupted when Mika called her. The two are already sitting at the table and are ready to have dinner. Mika even lit the lamp which was almost empty of gas.

"What is our dinner, ate?"

Dinner? She even asked herself. They don’t even have a rice!

She just bit her lower lip and approached the twins. How long are they like this? If their parents hadn't disappeared, what would be the state of their lives now?

“I’ll just go to Manang Cora. We’re running out of gas,” she lied. She’ll look for a way so that they will have food for dinner.

"Ate? Manang Cora is already asking for the payment, because the list of our debts to her store is already long."

*****

While walking on their dark and small road, Angel kicks every stone she steps on. This is what she hates the most when her Kuya isn't around, she doesn't know where she will turn to. She hates this feeling, when she doesn’t know what to do.

She will borrow and then she doesn't even know how she will pay.

Hey, life! She whispered as she looked up at the sky. She was greeted by the dark sky with twinkling stars.

'Ma, 'Pa. If it's true that you're really gone, are you already in heaven? Help us, please. Honestly, I can't do it anymore. I don't know what I should do. It's been four years since you two disappeared but we still haven't recovered. It seems that as time goes on, we are buried in the ground. It's hard to stand without the both of you.

It’s been for your years when their parents disappeared like a bubble but it seems like yesterday. She feels like it was yesterday the twins are always waiting at the shore to wait their parents to return. And maybe that was the reason why Michelle can’t talk until now. Michelle is very close to their parents and obviously has not yet accepted the loss of their parents.

Even her, she can’t accept it. Four years are already long and until now it’s hard for her to accept it. She can’t digest it into her system that their parents are already gone. Until now she’s hoping that this is only a dream and she’s waiting to open her eyes. She’s still hoping that one day, she will go to the shore and she will see her parents smiling.

She’s still on the road until someone walk with her. As soon as the smell hit her nose, she knew who it was. Even if she was blind and only had a sense of smell, she would still be able to recognize him. The guy who still hoping he will get her "yes".

"Bucho! Oh, it’s you." She really wants to cover her nose but she’s afraid that he will be offended. “You didn’t use the perfume I give it you?” she was able to give him a fake smile

She remembered the perfume she gave to him. She actually owed that to her friend. It's because she doesn't really like the perfume that he uses, plus the fact that he acts like a dog who always followed her like an owner.

"Actually, I don’t want to use it, Angel. I mean, I don’t want to waste it, I want to treasure it, cause that’s your gift." Bucho even smelled his clothes. "And one more thing, my perfume is good."

You really think it’s okay when it’s not. Duh!

“Don’t worry, if I’m with you, I’ll gonna use it. I just didn't expect to see you tonight." He stopped walking and held her hand. "You're really beautiful, Angel. You are truly an angel."

And you’re the demon.

She doesn't really know why she's still paying attention to this guy. Actually, she doesn't want to, but her parents' order is that she should talk to him. That's what she's been doing to this night. Because if not, his parents will be angry. His parents’ word is the law to this island. They think that they owned this island, because they are the captain.

"Ah, eh, Bucho—" She restrained herself while slowly pulling her hands that were still holding by him. "Aren't you going to go with them?"

"I am—"

"OMG! Thank you, Lord" she whispered to herself.

"Are you saying something?" He asked.

"Ahm, I.. I said be safe.” She said with a sweet smile.

“Of course, I will. We’re getting married, right?”

In your dreams!

"By the way, has your Kuya Gelo left yet?" he asked and she just nodded. "Alright, I'm leaving. I'm going to the dock."

"Be careful."

He quickly ran away from her but immediately stopped and looked at her again.

"I forgot something."

"What is it, Bucho?"

“To kiss you," he said and quickly robbed her a kiss on the cheek.

Lord, why? Why did you let this crazy man kiss me! What a big nightmare!