Chapter 3 WE TRY TO REMEMBER-operation twin sisters

"Mom, I'm leaving!"

Robert took his bag from the table. He had just finished his Mother's breakfast. She was having the rest of the day off. He quickly went to his room and kissed Belle's picture. "See you later, Belle."

Outside, the sun was shining, though the ground was still wet from the rain that past night. He went straight to the old mango tree and saw Angela standing under its shade. They have been meeting here secretly for about a month now. The bullies seemed to have disappeared after Angela told them to 'leave this place or die'. Robert was just too glad to stay out of trouble.

"Good morning Ange!" he greeted cheerfully. "Nice day eh? Look, the sun is out!"

Angela didn't answer. "Something wrong?" he asked.

"You like cats?" she asked.

"Eh?" said Robert, "Well, they're ok, I guess, though I never got to own one... the apartment we used to live in didn't allow any pets."

"You want one?"

"Well, sure, if you'd like to give me one." Angela started to walk towards school. "So, um..." said Robert, trying to continue the conversation, "Did your cat have kittens?" he asked, "It was a bit fat when I saw you carrying it last time."

Robert thought of the first time he saw Angela with a scared cat in her arms, she was bleeding then, due to the nervous cat's claws that clung to her, her arm seemed to have healed now though.

"Wasn't my cat." she said. "I'll give you the kitten later."

"Oh, okay, right after cla-"

"END OF CONVERSATION." said Angela.

Robert stopped. He looked at Angela, she was flushed red, not blushing, obviously, she looked furious. He smiled and followed after her.

"I'll make you smile for me, Ange." he thought to himself as they went on their way to school.

~~~

"And then, the guy said; 'I gave it to the dog'"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

Lunch break, the class is fooling around, cracking jokes. Robert looked at Angela, smiling at her friends. "Such a pretty smile," thought he, "I wonder when you would smile for me..."

"Hey, Angela, I heard some rumor that you and Obet there were seen together." said Mia. Angela spit out the juice she was drinking.

"Who said that?" she asked, trying to fake a smile.

"Secret. But it's a reliable source." Mia replied.

"I heard it too, some were even saying that you meet each other in that store across the street and go out together when you think everyone's gone home." said Bern.

"Oh, it's probably because we live in the same neighborhood, it's probably just coincidence." lied Angela, "though I hardly notice him when I go home..."

"Maybe he's been stalking you!" Mia whispered.

"Yeah, cowards like that usually have weird thoughts inside their heads!" said Bern.

"Oh, c'mon, he's really harmless you know..." said Angela. She must get the suspicion off of them. That might mean blowing her cover and her role as a 'guardian'.

"How would you know?!" the two of them said in unison.

"Just a guess..." she said, "besides, I've got you two to look after me, ne?" she smiled. She heard some of her classmates sigh.

Just then, the bell rang, signifying that classes were about to resume.

"Ahh, I have to get to the bathroom!" said Angela, standing from her sit.

"Silly girl! Hurry up before the second bell rings!" laughed her friends.

She rushed outside the room. When she came back, she secretly dropped a small note on Robert's lap. Robert noticed it at once and looked around if someone was looking. Slowly he took the note and read it. "Forget the store. Meet me at the mango tree." Said the note. He folded it and placed it inside his chest pocket.

When he reached the mango tree later on, Angela was already standing beneath the shade.

"They're getting suspicious." said she, "We can't meet in that store anymore." she paced in front of the mango tree, "Any bullies today?" she asked him.

"Nope, I was lucky today." Robert replied.

"Good. This ends here and now."

"B-but... you promised!"

"I promised you nothing."

"What about your secret?"

"What about it?"

"Well, if someone in school were to know..."

"Are you threatening me?"

"N-no... of course not.." Robert stammered, the look in Angela's eyes was really scary. "Sorry..."

Angela turned around. "... Mornings, guess it would be fine, but you get to disappear when we near the school."

"Okay, leave it to me!" answered Robert, "I'm good at disappearing!" Angela looked at him sarcastically.

"You still want that cat?" she asked.

"Ah, yes, I almost forgot!" he replied beaming, "It should be nice to have a pet!"

Robert followed Angela. They went past a small bridge, two blocks, a store... "This is the same way I take when I go home." he thought. "I wonder where we're going..." Robert can't help but smile, "Hey, are we going to your place?" he asked with a beam. Angela didn't answer; she was frowning along the way. "Here, let me carry your things for you!" Robert reached for Angela's bag. She looked at him menacingly. "Or maybe not..." he said, backing away.

"Don't push your luck, WIMP." she said.

They came in front of a big white 2-story house, Robert looked at Angela. "Umm... this is my house," he said, uncertain, "would you like to come in?"

"Over here." said Angela, she went to the next house and opened the gate. "This is where I live."

Robert's jaw dropped, "What? You mean we've been next door neighbors all the time?!" he asked, "How come I never see you round here?"

"I don't come out much." Angela simply replied. "Now stay here. I'll get the kitten."

With that, Angela went inside and slammed the gate in Robert's face. Robert gave a deep sigh, "She wouldn't even let me in..." He looked at the house instead. Their place was considered as a 'plush' subdivision, the houses around them were big and spacey, but this house always intrigued him for it was one of the biggest in their block. The gate itself was so high that you could hardly see the house inside, but he did get a glimpse of the lawn when Angela went inside, and the landscaping was marvelous! From where he stood, he could only see the top-most room, where a single window looked out to the road. "Must be an attic." thought Robert. He gave another sigh, leaned on the gate, and waited for Angela to come out.

"Sister, did you see that?!" said a voice in the attic.

"Yes, sister, it is unbelievable!"

"Yes, yes, I know, I can't believe it either!"

"I can't believe our baby sister would bring one!"

"Yes, never in a thousand years!!!"

"We mustn't let such a thing go to past!"

"Yes, yes, we can't just let this past!"

"We need to act!"

"We need to do something right now!"

Robert was still leaning on the gate when it opened.

"Ah," he gasped, trying to gain his balance, "so, how's the-" he stopped. In front of him was a tall girl in her early twenty's; she wore a lacey off-shoulder blouse and a blue skirt that reached to her knees. Her wavy brown hair was gathered in a half pony, the rest falling gently on her white shoulder and down to her back. She smelled gently of roses, her eyes twinkling, reminding Robert of a fairy in a book he saw when he was a kid.

"Welcome, welcome, are you a friend of Angela's?" asked the fairy. "Please, do come in!"

"Uh... yes... of course!" replied Robert, dumbfounded.

"Please, pardon our little sister, she is a little shy when it comes to male friends."

"Oh, it's okay, I only came here to get a kitten anyway." said Robert, smiling nervously.

"Ria, why don't you invite him inside the house?" asked a voice from behind.

"Ah, yes," said Ria, "How silly of me Pia, please, do come in."

Robert looked at the Pia, she looked exactly like Ria, from the clothes, to the twinkling eyes, even though she wore a lilac skirt. "Twins..." he whispered.

"This way, if you please." said Ria.

"So, where did you meet our sister?" asked Pia.

"Yes, aren't you the new boy next door?"

"We are classmates," Robert replied. "But to tell you the truth, I didn't know that we were next door neighbors till now."

"Ah yes, Angela only leaves the house when she goes to school, she never goes out anymore."

"Well anyway, you said something about a kitten?"

"Yes, ma'am, you see, Angela said I could have one of her kittens."

"Oh, please, just call us ate Ria..." said Ria

"And ate Pia." said Pia.

"So," Pia continued, "you're the one she said would take care of her little babies?"

"Ah yes, it was weeks ago, I think, when she brought the cat home, poor thing was dying..." said Ria.

"Oh, but don't bother about the gory details..." Pia piped in, bumping her twin a little, "She is such a caring girl after all! The kittens have gotten much better now!"

"And she's not as scary as before too!" said Ria with a smile.

"Now, if only Daddy wasn't so allergic to fur, then Angela wouldn't have to part with her babies!"

"But we're sure glad you live next door, that way our sister won't be so far from her children."

"Ah, yes, now maybe she could have a complete recovery!" Pia bumped her sister again.

"Eh?" said Robert, a little confused.

"Oh, it's nothing, nothing really..." said Pia "Why don't you get our guest something to drink?" she said to her twin.

"Don't want to," answered Ria, "I'm still talking with Robert!"

"It's okay, I don't plan to stay long anyway..." Robert piped in, "Ange's sisters sure are weird!" he thought."

"Non-sense, now you stay right there while Ria and I get you some refreshments!"

"But I don't want to..."

"Come now sister." with that, Pia pulled Ria out of the room.

"Whew..." thought Robert, "I wonder what they meant about 'better'... but to think that she saved that cat from those bullies..." He looked around the large room he was in. It was the living room, he sat in a soft couch lined with embroidery. Everything in the room looked expensive, and Robert thought of how many months allowance he would have to save if he broke just one of the vases that were displayed along the corridor. He looked behind him. On the Wall hung a huge painting of a family. It was a portrait of a noble looking man surrounded by 12 young ladies to her left and right, and on his lap sat a young girl with deep dark eyes. All the other girls had wavy brown hair and large brown eyes like the man, except for the young girl.

"That must be Angela." thought Robert, "And those must be her sisters... all twelve of them!" he looked around once more and saw another portrait. It was a painting of a lady, her deep black eyes looked straight at him with such intensity that he felt like it was burning through his soul. Her jet black hair fell to her waist in soft velvety curls, and her full red lips were parted a little. She looked alive, standing in the frame; she seemed to be breathing, a living portrait, the split image of Angela.

"That was our Mother."

Robert jumped. He was so caught by the picture he didn't notice Pia return.

"She looks just like Angela doesn't she?" she asked, "She's the prettiest of us all you know, my Mother was the most loveliest lady round here when she was still alive, we on the other hand, look more like our father... not that we blame him anyway..."

"I'm sorry about your mother..." said Robert.

"It's okay, it was a long time ago. You see she died at child birth." Pia explained, "Daddy wanted a boy, but when Angela came, mommy had some complications, the blood wouldn't stop... Daddy said the last thing she said when she died was, 'Please take care of my angel'..." Pia was silent for a while. Robert couldn't think of what to say.

"There you are!"

Robert was surprised. Pia looked at a frowning Angela by the doorway.

"Oh, dear baby sister! Where have you been?" said Pia with a lovely smile, "Your guest here have been waiting for you for so long!"

"I was looking for my 'guest' ate Pia! How did he end up in here?!" asked Angela.

"Why, where is your hospitality, how could you leave such a nice fellow outside?" replied her sister "Besides, we've never seen you bring a friend home, much less a 'boy'."

"Ahh! Leave me alone!" grumbled Angela, "C'mon, the kittens are outside." Angela took Robert's hand and yanked.

"O-ok..." said Robert, his arm hurting.

"Oh, how sweet!" said Ria, coming in the room with a tray of refreshments, "They're holding hands!"

"Gahhhh!" said Angela, dropping Robert's arm, "Leave me alone!" she then stomped out of the room.

"Wait, Ange!" called Robert as he ran after her.

"Sister, did you see? She was blushing!!!" said Pia, her eyes twinkling.

"Actually, I think it is more out of anger." replied Ria.

"This is it!" Pia continued, ignoring her twin's remark, "It's the perfect match, a match made in heaven! Such a cool looking guy for our pretty little sister!"

"Yes, the two of them looked so nice together!"

"And we shall call this, "OPERATION: TURNING BABY SISTER INTO A REAL 'GIRL'!!!" said the two in unison.

"Um, nice sisters you have there..." said Robert, trying to catch up to Angela.

"What did they tell you?" Angela asked

"Nothing much, just about the cat and your mother..."

"What about my mother?" she looked at him, suspiciously.

"Nothing really, just that she passed away..." Angela continued walking. "I'm sorry bout that."

"Don't bother. Don't remember her anyway." Robert looked at Angela, a little disappointed.

"That's not so nice you know." he said.

"And it's none of your business."

Robert tried to say something else, but he thought that Angela had a point, it really was none of his business. They went out the house, turned to the garage and went at the back. There was a large box by the wall and soft meowing was coming from it.

"There." said Angela, "That's Yin and Yang."

Robert looked inside the box. There were two little kittens, one all black, the other all white. They looked up at Angela and meowed louder. Their eyes were blue, but it seems like they couldn't see very well yet. Angela took the kittens in her hands and started to wipe them with a wet piece of cloth.

"This is Yin," she said, holding the black kitten up, it started to spit when the wet cloth was rubbed on it. "She's very touchy, you know, she hates it when I clean her." she placed the kitten back in the box and rubbed the white one next. It began to purr.

"This one is Yang, he's the sweeter one."

Robert wasn't really looking at the kittens. He looked at Angela. She was holding the kittens with such care, her face with such a peaceful expression in it. "She really does look like her mother," thought Robert, still looking at her, "I wonder if her mother seldom smiles as well."

Angela looked at Robert sideways. "What?" she asked.

"Uh... nothing." replied Robert, a little embarrassed, "So, what happened to the mother cat?"

"Dead." she said simply. "I had to cut her up to save the kittens," Robert looked at her with horror, "three died, Yang almost didn't make it."

"Then that day when her clothes were filthy..." thought Robert, "that was the cat's blood."

"So," continued Angela, "Which one do you prefer?"

"You're going to keep one huh?" asked Robert with a smile, "Your sisters said your father was allergic to fur."

"As long as I keep it out of my room." she replied.

"Okay then, I'll keep this one!" Robert picked Yang gently. The small white kitten gave a loud purr and rubbed its head on his hand. "Hey, he likes me already."

"Okay, with that done," said Angela, standing up, "Leave."

The huge gate slammed shut. Robert was standing outside the big house once again, the kitten, snuggling in his arms. "So, that's it huh?" he thought. "I really thought I could make her smile this time."

He walked the short distance to his house and opened the front door. His mother was not home yet. He turned on the lights and went straight to his room, placing Yang on his pillow. The small kitten paced around a bit and lay down, turning itself into a little puffball. It pounded the pillow gently with its paws, then closed its blue eyes and went to sleep.

"I sure did learn a lot about that girl today," said Robert to himself," I guess she wasn't such a bad person after all..." he went to his table and took the portrait he cherished so much.

"Belle," he said, taking a deep breath, "she reminds me a bit about you..." he kissed the picture and held it to his chest, his eyes closed, lips trembling. "I miss you so much."