When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 1

A sudden roar of thunder woke me up in the middle of night. As my eyes glanced at the curtains swaying near the glass window, a flash of lightning struck somewhere outside. Nanginginig ako, hindi dahil sa lamig ng panahon, kundi sa takot. I’ve been coping this fear for years, yet I still haven’t overcome this, and I hate myself.

Just before my memories could flash in my mind, I immediately went out of the bed and ran to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Kahit papaano, gumagaan kaunti ang nararamdaman pero hindi pa rin talaga sapat ang tubig. Wala akong choice, kundi tatagin ang sarili ko. Ayaw ko namang makaistorbo ulit ng mga tao dito sa bahay.

I went back to my bed and wrapped myself with my blanket. Niyakap ko na lang ang unan na katabi ko habang patuloy pa rin ang delubyo sa labas. Kailangan kong makatulog dahil may klase pa kami mamaya.

Morning came and rays of sunlight shone through the window.

Pagkatapos kong magpaalam kay Tita Alice, lumabas na ako ng bahay at bumungad sa akin ang tubig-ulan na nagkalat sa palagid ngunit hindi ko na ituon ang pansin ko dito at diretsong naglakad palabas ng gate. Tumatagos pa rin sa suot kong hoodie ang lamig. I opened my phone and saw a notif from a weather update app. It says it will be sunny today, so I don’t have worry about the rest of the day.

“Flynn! Have you finished the two plates?” Lori greeted as I entered the gate. She just bought her new eyeglasses on, which seems suits pretty well on her.

I shook my head with disappointment. “Not yet, hindi ako makafocus kagabi dahil sa ulan,” I replied.

“Let’s finish our plates sa library later. Prof said moved daw today ang submissions, kainis,” she complained and sighed.

Guess, it’s another typical day with this Prof who’s always getting into our nerves, lalo na’t pabago-bago isip nito tulad ng panahon. Buti na lang, malapit ko nang matapos yung dalawang plates before I decided to stop because of the heavy rain last night.

After our first two classes, Lori and I went to the library to continue our plates. Nang makahanap kami ng vacant table, kanya-kanya agad kami lapag ng plates at drawing materials. This has been our routine every after class since we became friends. Lori was the one who approached me first and she seemed kind, so I befriend her.

Two hours have passed, and my tummy was starting to disturb me in the middle of our business. “Lori, kain muna tayo,” aya ko sa kanya.

“Wait, I’m almost done,” she said while finishing her plate, and looked to me as she raised her pen. “Done!”

We had our casual lunch at the cafeteria. Chit chat here, chit chat there. Napakaingay ng mga tao rito, wishing I could eat my lunch peacefully. Well, I had no choice but to deal with it. I mean, two years na ako dito sa university, and still naiingayan pa rin ako dito.

Nasagi naman ng paningin ko ang rumaragasang ilog sa tabi ng university. Nasa riverside located yung campus namin. Even the bridges can be seen here at the cafeteria, but I didn’t dare to travel my sight over the river for long. Lalo na’t naging kulay brown yung tubig ng ilog, it reminds me of my past. I shook my head and finished my food.

“Napakabrown naman ng ilog. Buti na lang, hindi bumaha,” she said out of the blue and looked to me. “Do you feel uncomfortable here?”

“No, it’s totally fine. Don’t mind me.”

She already had an idea what’s going with me. I told her about my panic attacks whenever I see any body of water. Still, I haven’t told anyone, even Lori, about the reason why I had this kind of fear. Only my foster family knew.

We headed to our Prof’s office and submitted our plates. Kahit na hindi pa do’n nagtatapos mga schoolworks namin, I didn’t stay in the campus for too long and decided to go home. We exchanged goodbyes before we parted ways. Lori was living in the other side of the city, while I don’t have to cross the river to get home.

The next day, I went to the mall to buy some books. May book sale raw kasi kaya hindi ko na pinalagpas. I haven’t spent my money I received last Christmas, so it’s the perfect time to buy something for myself. Bibili rin ako ng materials dahil nauubusan na rin ako ng supply sa bahay.

I spent hours inside the bookstore, still choosing what to buy. I paid for three books, and some coloring materials. I was so happy, may mauuwi na naman akong babasahin sa bahay. Although almost of my time were consumed on doing plates and plates, and nothing but plates. Hindi talaga ako nauubusan ng plates, but nothing stops me from reading.

Paglabas ko ng mall, mejo nagulat ako sa dami ng nag-aagawan sa mga pampasaherong jeep. Nakita kong nagbubuklatan na ang mga tao ng mga payong nila at nagtatakbuhan upang hindi mabasa. Umuulan pala.

I checked my phone but it’s already dead. Hindi nagnotif sa akin na uulan pala ngayon. Buti na lang, may dinala akong payong.

Payong.

Wala akong payong.

All I have in my bag was a water bottle. That’s it. No umbrella.

Maybe I should wait a little longer. Maaga pa naman.

I decided to go back inside the mall. Naglibot muna ako hanggang sa narating ko ang 2nd floor. Nakapagbanyo na rin ako. Nakabili ng waffle dahil nagutom ako bigla. Bumalik ako sa labas ng mall pero umuulan pa rin. At madilim na.

Kailangan ko nang makauwi.

Bibili na lang muna ako ng payong.

Babalik ulit sana ako pero hinarang na ako ng guard. “Bawal na pumasok. Magsasara na ang mall dahil may bagyo.”

“Ah, sir, bibili lang sana ako ng payong. Saglit lang—”

“Hindi na pwede.”

This can’t be.

Lumapit na lamang ako sa mga pumaparadang mga jeep ngunit nagsipagpunuan na at wala ng mga bakante. Wala rin akong pang-taxi. Sapat lang ang pera ko pauwi sa amin. Lumalakas rin ang ulan at kita kong unti-unti na ring rumaragasa ang tubig sa kalsada.

Not now please.

Isang malamig na hangin pa ang umiihip, at nanginginig na ang mga tuhod sa lamig. I was only wearing shorts, but my hoodie couldn’t still cover me enough from this cold.

My memories start to flash again in my mind. I was starting to get nervous, losing my aware of what’s happening around me. Different voices start to echo, trying to figure out where did it came from. I tried to cover my ears, but I could still them.

I ran away.

Naramdaman ko ulit ang pagpatak ng ulan sa aking balat, at unti-unting binabasa ang suot kong hoodie habang patuloy lamang akong tumatakbo sa sidewalk. My vision was already blurry when my tears start falling out from my eyes. Tila wala na akong pakealam sa mga nakabunggo ko sa daan.

I crossed the street when suddenly, I felt something was rushing. I looked down and saw the waters, soaking my shoes. I heard voices once more and went to the other side of the street. I was catching my breath as I feel this heavy weight in my chest. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan na ako.

Baha.

Bumabaha ang paligid ko.

It’s all happening again.

I was screaming in fear, asking for help.

Thunders roaring in the sky again. The lightning strikes again. All my memories flashing in my mind were just the same as I see. It’s happening again.

I screamed for help for the last time, and a figure of a man walked towards me before I totally lost my sight.