Through The Rain

Thirty-Four

"What took you so long?" Kio asked me when I sat down back on our table.

"Madaming tao." I lied. Pero medyo true din naman since maraming tao din naman sina Blake. Buti ay hindi na siya nagtanong pa.

We just continued making our report. Nakikita ko din si Blake na sumusulyap sulyap sa amin. Even the guys on their table were looking at us at times. Siguro iniisip nila kung jowa ko ba 'tong si Kio o hindi.

Ayos na rin siguro na ganon ang isipin nila para umiwas na sila sa mga moves nila kasi nakakaumay na mga ganyang asal ng mga lalake.

Nagkwentuhan lang kami ni Kio hanggang sa mag-hapon na at sakto namang nag-chat sa akin si Keena na papunta na raw siya, kaya minabuti kong magpaalam na kay Kio. Buti nalang ay tapos na kaming gumawa nung reporting namin.

"My friend's on her way already. I better get going," Sabi ko sa kanya, kaya naman, nagligpit na siya ng mga gamit niya. Though, hindi pa raw siya uuwi kasi sasabay siya sa ate niya na nasa taas ng cafe ngayon pauwi.

He also insisted na ihatid ako sa meeting place namin pero I refused para hindi na siya maabala pa. He was really persistent but I am as well, I was really declining his offer kaya sumuko na rin siya kakapilit at hinayaan na akong lumabas.

"Thank you for today again, Kiobear," I thanked him before going out, "I owe you this one."

"Anytime, Kayepot, para ka namang others," He said while laughing, not minding what I said. Napatawa narin ako at agad nang umalis sa cafe at nagpunta na sa meeting place namin.

Naka-upo lang ako sa isang bench kung saan namin napiling magkita-kita nang mapansin kong lumabas na ng cafe si Blake pati yung mga kasama niya. Napatitig tuloy ako sa kanila, kasi mukhang mag-iiba iba na sila ng landas. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanila nang marinig ko ang notification bell ng cellphone ko kaya kinuha ko ito at agad tiningnan ang nag-message.

Keenangina:

Sis, traffic super. I might be late. Sorry.

Awit moments. Pero understandable naman reason niya kaya tinanggap ko nalang at nag-reply sa kanya ng 'its fine', kahit sa totoo lang ay nauumay na ako.

Habang hinihintay ang iba ay nagpasya muna akong magbasa ng ginawa ni Kio habang hindi pa masyadong madilim ang paligid. I started to read my script na ginawa ni Kio for our reporting para mamaya ay konti nalang ang kailangan kong i-review at basahin since nasimulan ko na naman.

I was reading the first part of our report when suddenly, someone sat beside me here in this bench where I'm sitting at.

"Hello," He greeted me. His voice never fails to sent shivers down to my spine. It's like music to my ears.

"Hi, Blake," I greeted him as well. Maybe ito na rin ang tamang oras para pag-usapan ang mga bagay na hindi malinaw sa akin.

"Self-date?" Tanong niya sa akin nang mapansing wala akong kasama at nagbabasa lang ako.

"Uh...No..." Tanggi ko agad, kaya napatingin siya akin at tiningnan ako na parang nagtatanong at nagtataka, "I'm with the girls. They're on their way," Paliwanag ko, naintindihan niya naman agad at tinanguan ako.

Napatingin ako sa kanya at napatitig. His face is really perfect. It has a badboy vibe, and at the same time, bossy vibe as well. Ang ganda ng mga mata niya. Nakatitig siya ngayon sa malayo, at para bang may iniisip.

"Stop staring," He warned me, "It's bothering me," Napayuko nalang tuloy ako at nag-kunwari nalang na nagbabasa, kahit wala naman akong maintindihan talaga.

"I'm proud of you, Kaye," He was trying to start a conversation with me which is very unusual of him, "Why do you keep on ignoring me whenever we see each other?" He asked this time.

I was caught off-guard with what he was saying. He's proud of me and he is asking me why am I ignoring him everytime we see each other during events.

"Ano kasi," I replied, kinakabahan na. Pero I guess, this is the right time to tell him the reason why I kept on ignoring him, "I don't want to give myself false hopes, and by the way, thank you. I'm proud of you as well."

"False hope?" Pagtataka niya, "What do you mean?"

"Yung mga ginagawa mo, o yung mga pinapakita mo sa akin noon, iba ang naging dating sa akin. Alam ko namang wala lang 'yon sa'yo kasi kaibigan lang ang turing mo sa akin, at alam kong concerned ka lang." Panimula ko, nakatitig siya sa akin habang nakikinig sa mga sinasabi ko kaya naman mas kinakabahan ako.

"Pero hindi ko maiwasang umasa. Alam mo namang gusto kita diba? Dati pa. I just thought na hindi na tama yung mga pinapakita mo sa akin noon, kasi on my perspective, you were giving me mixed signals already. At isa pa, you already have a girlfriend, at ako assumera lang, kaya that's the reason why I distanced myself by ignoring you." Pagpapaliwanag ko sakanya habang nakayuko. Hindi ko siya kayang matignan, baka maluha lang ako.

"Apologies, Kaye." Sabi niya. Expected ko naman na 'tong magiging reaction niya kaya hindi na ako nagtaka. "Kung alam mo lang."

Napatingin tuloy ako sa kanya dahil sa sinabi niya. Tiningnan ko siya ng makahulugang tingin.

"What do you mean?" I asked him curiously.

"I was really concerned. Yung mga pinapakita ko sa'yo noon, lahat yun totoo. I'm sorry if you thought that I was giving you mixed signals pero I really had pure intensions." Pagpapaumanhin niya, naiintindihan ko naman 'yon. "Isa and I broke up last year," His voice sounded sad.

"I thought nag-balikan kayo?" I sighed.

"Hindi na, she broke up with me already last year." Sabi niya.

"I'm sorry," I told him unconsciously. Kaya napatawa siya at ginulo niya ang buhok ko.

"You know I liked you, right?" He asked me kaya napatingin ako sa kanya na nagtataka and shocked. Tumango-tango naman siya nung mapansin niya ang expression ko.

"H-huh?"

"Yes, during senior high. Kaso bumalik si Isa, and I was overwhelmed with her presence kaya sinawalang-bahala ko yung feelings ko sa'yo though I liked you very much." Pagpapaliwanag niya.

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko na mag-blush sa sinabi niya. He liked me? Pero Kaye, past tense na. Dati lang 'yon. Pero nagustuhan niya pa rin ako. Tanggal nanaman angas ko.

"Kaye," Pagtawag niya sa akin nung hindi na ako umimik, at nakatingin nalang sa sapatos ko.

"Bakit?" I answered, still not looking at him.

"You don't need to answer this right away. I'm not pressuring you, pero," He then said, kaya napatitig na ako sakanya at kinakabahan na.

"Can we make it happen this time?" At this point, I didn't know that a single question can send so much butterflies in my stomach. My teenage dream just came true. It was one of the best.

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