Caught in the Rainy Season(COMPLETED)

Chapter 4

As I descended the stairs during our free time, a sudden jolt knocked me off balance. I turned to see him, the last person I wanted to face right now.

"Taniesha!" His voice sliced through the air, and I felt my heart race, a mix of anger and confusion flooding my veins.

"Let me go. Hindi kita kilala," I snapped, trying to shake off his gentle grip, but he held on, his fingers warm against my skin.

"Galit ka because of the things you know. Tell me," he said, his voice low and earnest, the concern etched across his face only infuriating me more.

"Of course I'm angry! Nag-sisinungaling ka!" I shot back, frustration boiling over like a volcano ready to erupt. The hurt in my chest felt unbearable, a heavy weight I couldn't shake.

"Calm down, please. This isn't good for you," he urged, his eyes searching mine. "Do you want to talk?"

"Where are we going?" My pulse quickened as he began to pull me toward a quieter corner of the hallway.

"To a place where we can talk without being interrupted. I promise I'll explain everything," he insisted, raising his hand like a solemn vow.

I hesitated, my heart a battlefield of conflicting emotions. "But one thing I want to clarify: I don't have a girlfriend, Taniesha."

My breath caught in my throat.

"Meron. I saw the photo of you two at the coffee shop yesterday," I challenged, feeling my resolve crack under the weight of the truth. I scrutinized his face for any sign of deceit, desperate for something, anything, to prove him wrong.

For a moment, he froze, the light in his eyes dimming. "I do have a girlfriend, but..." His voice faltered, and I could see the struggle within him, the pain of unspoken words.

"Why can't you just be honest with me?" My voice trembled, raw with emotion. "I read everything in that picture, Dameon. You love her. Why would you lie to me?"

"I wasn't lying. I swear. But... I can't tell you everything right now," he confessed, shaking his head in frustration. A single tear escaped his eye, and I felt my heart fracture.

"Why is it so hard to tell me the truth? Wouldn't it be easier to just let me go?" I felt a wave of anguish crash over me, threatening to pull me under.

"Because sometimes, there are things we can't say-not because we don't want to, but because we're scared of the pain it will cause," he said, his voice steady yet filled with sorrow. "And I'd rather bear this weight alone than hurt you."

"Maybe it's better if I'm the one who's hurting," I whispered, the vulnerability of my words hanging between us like a fragile thread.

"Just go, Taniesha. You have class, right?" His tone softened, and I could see the conflict etched in his features. "I don't want to keep you."

I nodded slowly, feeling like I was walking away from a piece of my heart.

"Maybe it's not the right time. I hope you know I haven't given up on you," he murmured, and his words felt like a gentle touch, a reminder that hope still lingered in the air, even as I turned away.

As I walked down the hallway, the world around me blurred, the sound of laughter and chatter fading into silence. I stumbled into the restroom, the mirror reflecting a girl who felt more lost than ever.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it, the ache in my chest too deep to focus on anything else. Finally, I emerged from my thoughts and headed to class, determined to drown out the storm raging within me.

When I returned to the classroom, Kalliesha was waiting, worry etched on her face.

"Ang gulo ng itsura mo. Where have you been?" She pulled me toward our seats, her concern palpable.