When Everything Turns to Gray

Chapter 5: Chasing Rainbow

I ran after Grent and Rainbow, feeling so tired and sweaty under the scorching heat of the sun. I know I was the least athletic man in the world. Ni wala nga akong alam laruin na sports. My only exercise is jogging. At minsan lang 'yon.

I tried chasing them but I failed. They're nowhere to be found. I stopped for a while and clutched my chest, feeling how my heart beat so fast. I was catching my breath. Perhaps, this is the payment for living a sedentary lifestyle.

Where did they go? Ang bilis naman nilang nawala. Nakalayo agad sila.

It seemed like a golden opportunity slipped away from the grasp of my hand. I was getting there to the truth and finally uncover the identity of Rainbow. Then, mystery would be solved.

Rainbow... that's her name.

Did I hear it right? Or not? Siguro nga nagkamali lang ako ng dinig. I couldn't imagine that motormouthed woman having a crush on me.

But trying to think of it, I also couldn't deny the possibility na siya nga 'yong secret admirer ko. Her attitude towards me might be a cover-up. Nahihiya lang siguro siyang umamin nang harapan. Napangisi ako sa ideyang 'yon.

Napagdesisyunan kong maglakad na lang dahil nakakapagod tumakbo. Pero sa lawak ba nitong campus, mahanap ko pa kaya sila? O kahit si Rainbow man lang.

I looked to the left and to the right, all around. Ilang minuto rin akong nagpalibot-libot. Then lo and behold, luck's really on my side.

Nakita ko si Rainbow, nagtatago sa malapad na katawan ng puno. Pasilip-silip pa siya't tinitingnan kong nasundan ba siya ni Grent. She leaned her back against the tree. I saw her sigh in relief.

I scoffed. Hindi ka nga nahanap ni Grent pero nahanap kita. You're not safe yet.

Wait, that sounded wrong. As if may masama akong balak sa kanya when in fact I just need to confirm my assumption right from her mouth.  

She caught me looking at her. Kumunot ang noo niya nang makita akong papalapit. She turned around. Aalis na sana siya, but I immediately blocked her way.

"Oh, ano na naman ang problema, huh?" sabi niya sa tonong tila nanghahamon ng away.

"Ikaw," I answered.

"Me? Anong ako?" Tinuro niya ang sarili. Then she rolled her eyes and said jokingly, "Oh, please. It's not me. It's you."

I arched a brow. Wala akong time makipagbiruan sa kanya. "I'm serious. Aminin mo na lang kasi."

Yeah, that's right. Spill the beans, woman. Wala ka nang kawala. Everything is pointing to you. You're at the center of the web.

She rolled her eyes again and uttered annoyingly, "Ugh, kairita. If this is about earlier, sinasabi ko sayo. Hindi kita ini-stalk."

Naman, oh. Nagmamatigas pa. Ba't ayaw pang sabihin ang totoo?

"Rainbow," I mumbled.

"Huh?" She looked at me in confusion.

"Rainbow," I uttered again so that she could hear it. "'Yon ang pangalan mo, 'di ba? I heard Grent called you by that." I gave her a victorious smile.

"Rainbow?" she repeated.

Paulit-ulit? I was getting impatient. Just tell the truth, please.

"Fine. Ako nga si Rain Bo. Without 'w', take note," she admitted. "And yes, I'm your stalker?"

There was silence that ensued for a moment. Natulala ako sa biglang pag-amin niya. Whoa. Did it happen? Did she really confess?

"I know it's wrong of me to stalk you but I only did that because I have a crush on you," pag-amin niya. She even bit her lip and lowered her head na parang nahihiya.