(Alys Prov)
I was about to ask Tita Katrina about her statement that I am always messing with Drake's head when Tito Steve arrived.
"Alys! You visited!"
I immediately discarded my thought to interrogate Tita Katrina even more and just went over to Tito Steve and hugged him. Why is Tito Steve so kind to the point that even though we are done with his son, I can't put him in my past? I feel so guilty if I forget them...
I looked at Ethos who was happily playing with trains and smiled. "I just gave Ethos a gift."
Tito Steve smiled at me too. "You and Drake are the same, you're spoiling Ethos."
"He's worthy of being spoiled," I commented.
We let Ethos play with his toys for now while Tita Katrina prepared something for us to eat. It turns out Tita Katrina has stopped teaching. Good thing. Just in case history repeats itself with one of his students. Better be cautious, right?
Tito Steve and I sat in their garden. Good times.
"So, how are you, Alys? We didn't get to talk on Ethos' birthday," Tito Steve said.
I nodded. "Yes, of course. There were so many people."
We talked about Ethos for a few minutes. He was already in kindergarten. He must be cute in his school uniform! Never mind that Tita Kat is also his tutor. It's good that he's a hands-on mom.
I was hesitant to ask about Drake and Cristine but since Tita Kat asked too, I couldn't contain my curiosity! "Tito, tell me about Drake and Cristine."
Brave thing to do, you may say. But then, it takes a brave man to ask brave questions, right? It would be worse if I just made Drake and Cristine the dreaded topic. I need to face facts. Besides, Drake and Cristine seem okay. Who am I not to be happy for them and in the first place, I'm happy with Tripp.
"Drake and Cristine?" he said and then paused. "You're the one I really want for my daughter, Alys, but don't be disappointed, okay? Cristine is also a good girl and she didn't leave Drake. Don't feel bad because I'm happy for them, okay?"
I gave Tito Steve a smile.
"Of course, Tito. We're over. If they're happy, I am happy."
Tito Steve smiled back at me. "That's good, Alys. That's Cristine, Drake's best friend. But they didn't become best friends right away, maybe a few months after you and Drake broke up."
"After we broke up?"
Uncle Steve nodded. "Ah, yes. Because Drake and Cristine are actually classmates. They often come to my house because, I don't know, they want to do a project with their group mates. But the next few days, only Cristine comes. And what's even better, Cristine got Drake involved in an organization. Cristine is a good influence on him, so I feel good about that, huh."
I just fell silent. It seemed a little painful. Wasn't I a good influence on Drake?
What did Drake and I do before? I don't remember doing anything that made Uncle Steve think I was a bad influence on Drake. I didn't teach him to drink, smoke, or do drugs. I didn't just excel academically, but that doesn't mean I was a bad influence!
"Uhm, when did they become one?" I said after beating around the bush.
Uncle Steve shook his head. "I don't know either, eh. I was just surprised that they were getting married," he said then he shrugged. "But I agreed, they're a good match. They're both smart and I don't know, those two really get along."
Aunt Katrina arrived with a tray with a pitcher of juice and two slices of cake. I looked at her but she looked away.
ⓘ
"And you, Alys. How are you? You've been gone for four years!"
I smiled at Tito and started telling him about my happy memories in Paris and New York. I didn't mention my sad memories. I didn't want them to think I was miserable while Drake was here, happy with Cristine.
"Ate Alys is gone..." I said then I picked up my things. I was playing with Ethos in his playroom a while ago. "Bye, baby Ethos," I said then kissed his cheek.
"Bye, Alys."
"Aww. Call me Ate Alys, will you?"
He shook his head. "Don't like."
"Why, baby Ethos?"
He didn't look at me and just played with his robot. "Alys mean. You're the reason why kuya used to cry. Alys is bad."
I bit my lip to prevent myself from shedding a tear. I don't even know why I'm crying. D-amn!
I tried to compose a smile and then patted Ethos' head. "Ate Alys is not bad, okay? I'll explain it to baby Ethos next time."
I stood up and walked away.
"I don't want to see you, Alys. You will make my brother cry again. I don't like that."
And there. A tear fell. D-amn, Drake! You hurt me before but I'm the bad guy now?!
"Oh, why did you call SOS?"
We're in a bar now. I don't know where, just somewhere high end. Ugh!! I'm still frustrated with Ethos and I talking earlier! How could a four year old kid get me so frustrated?!
I ordered another round of cosmo.
"I need someone to get me home later," I said to Tofer. SOS means duh, emergency. When I was in Paris, when I had a night out, Tofer would pick me up. Tripp was in New York. And then I wasn't allowed to go to bars. That's grandpa, huh.
He snickered. "Back to being a b-itchessa again, Zyril?"
I rolled my eyes. When we were in Paris, I made my friends there call me Zyril. And by being Zyril, I was kinda bad assed. Yes. I know, it's hard to imagine but please do. My life when I was in New York was pretty messy. I tried to be excellent with my courses but I just couldn't! What the eff' was Drake's reason?! Did he think that poof I'll be smart just because he asked me to?! After two semesters, I transferred to a culinary school in Paris. I knew no one there so I took the opportunity to reinvent myself. Gone was the sweet and naive Alys. I tried to be different. You wouldn't want to know what I became while I was there. Even Tripp was mad at me when he saw me after months. I was... worse than ever.
It took him months of begging and bugging bago niya ako napahinto. I took a break from all the partying and the drinking... when he's around. When he's not around, it's just an endless pit of darkness. After school, direct to bar. What could I say? That's the only consolation I got for myself. I pitied myself so much.
Once, Tripp caught me crying inside a stall holding Drake's picture. Those months horrible. Ayoko nang balikan. were
Once was enough.
Twice will be a mistake. A big, big mistake.
I turned to look at him and gave him my loopsided smile. "Am I back? Yes, Tofer. Meet Zyril, my doppelganger."