When It Rains

Chapter 19

A MONTH AFTER the issue appeared, everything went back to normal. It was actually pretty normal back there, but she can say that her heart is more stable than the past few weeks. Hindi nga niya alam kung ano ang kan'yang irereact sa mga nakalipas na araw na 'yon. Parang napakabilis.

In just a week of its released, the article was turned down and discarded like a trash. Serenity doesn't know how Dean pulled it off in a short period of time but he just says that 'articles are just for temporary gossips. People will forget about it in no time". And it did. Nobody even knows that it's her.

Just like the wind blows by and is gone.

She finished her final exam, so as the last semester and she's having her summer break now. Her sister's wedding was the other day, kaya siya lang mag-isa ang nasa bahay ngayon. Dahil wala naman siyang ginagawa at ayaw niyang mabored ay pinagdiskitahan niya ang mga ingredients sa mesa at nagluto ng kung anu-ano.

After all that, she suddenly wonder what will happen to their house now. Like the tradition, her sister will surely live with his husband. And she'll be left all alone.

Err—not really the case, though.

Two weeks ago, she applied on a Culinary School abroad—fully supported by her sister. And she got accepted. Hindi pa niya ito sinasabi kay Dean. Ang kapatid palang niya at asawa nito ang may alam.

An opportunity opened and it also happened to be at her dream school. She grab it and took the exam without giving it any second though and luckily, she got in.

Kinain niya mag-isa ang mga niluto sa sala. Nasa Maldives ang ate niya para sa honeymoon. Ayaw niyang makadistorbo.

And she's very excited to see her soon to be niece or nephew.

She turned on the television and scan through the channels. Hininto lang niya nang mapadpad siya sa isang channel kung saan live ang National Cooking Competition. She would love to be one of the contestants pero saka na siguro siya sasali kapag graduated na niya.

It'll boost her more confidence and she have more knowledge.

Dean's one of the judges. More than enough reason for her to focus more on the channel.

He's wearing a black turtle neck and covered it—not fully—with his black suit. Partnered with black bottom jeans and italian shoes.

When the camera was focused to him, she blush but still smile. His not paying attention to it after all yet his sideways looks very attractive.

Appealing enough to make her squeal inside. She couldn't help but to be proud of being his girlfriend.

She sips on her barley tea without taking her eyes off the TV.

Exactly when the show ended, she just realized that she finished all the food. Umawang ang kan'yang labi at pabalik-balik na binalingan ang mga walang laman na plato.

"Did I really...finished it all?" Wala sa sariling tanong niya sa kawalan. She let out a unbelief air laugh and decided to just clean the dishes.

Pagkatapos n'on ay binuksan niya ang ref at kumuha doon ng limang yakult tsaka sinalin sa malaking cup at bumalik sa living room. Kakaupo palang niya nang magring ang kan'yang phone.

When she saw the caller is her sister, she answered it right away.

"Hello, Serenity. How are you today?" Bungad ng ate niya nang sagutin niya ang tawag.

"Doing fine." She answered.

Dahil kausap na rin niya ang kapatid ay tinanong niya ito tungkol sa bahay. "Oh, I don't plan on selling it. Kahit wala ka na diyan, I'll keep track to the house and would visit there every weekend. Para pagbalik mo ay wala ka nang poproblemahin."