When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 2

“Flynn, wake up!”

Someone shrugging my shoulders startled me awake. It was Tita Alice, who seemed worried as I looked at her. “Binabangungot ka na naman.”

“Sorry sa istorbo, Tita. Hindi na po mauulit,” I apologized.

“Flynn, you don’t have to apologize. Naiintindihan ka rin namin. Tell us if you’re not feeling well. Rainy season pa naman, at alam kong hindi lang ‘to ang huling beses na mangyayari ulit ‘to sa ‘yo.”

Tinanaw ko ang bintana at nakita kong umuulan na naman. “Tita, I can handle myself. I promise, magiging okay rin ako.”

Niyakap naman niya ako. “Flynn, lagi mong tatandaan, hindi ka nag-iisa. Andito kami para sa’yo,” bilin ni Tita Alice saka siya umalis sa kwarto ko.

It’s two hours passed midnight.

Two days ago, may nangyari sa akin. It was a nightmare I thought would never happen, but it did. I passed out in the middle of a park, completely soaked in the rain. Buti na lang may nakakita raw sa akin saka ako dinala sa ospital. That’s what Tita Alice told me after I found myself in a hospital bed.

Dahil do’n, nilagnat ako at bumubuti na ang kalagayan ko. I must attend my class, and I know Lori has been worried about me. She’s sending me updates via Messenger.

About sa books ko, luckily, they were safe. According ni Tita, naiwan ko raw ang paper bag sa paradahan ng jeep at may concerned citizen na dinampot yon at sinundan ako. Hindi ko na siya naabutan sa paggising ko, dahil umuwi agad yung nagsauli ng bag ko. Siya rin daw yung naghatid sa akin sa ospital. I didn’t have the chance to thank him for saving me.

I questioned myself.

Why do I have to suffer like this?

Umabot na sa puntong inaabala ko mga buhay ng iba dahil sa nangyayari sa akin. I'm trying to live a normal life, like everyone else, but this trauma is dragging me back to my past. Every time this fear visits me, I lose control of myself.

Sana sumama na lang ako sa pamilya ko. What’s the point of living in this kind of life? What’s the point of living a life without them?

Tita said I have them, but they can’t be the same people I had before. The people whom I never had the chance to save. I was the only one who survived, yet I still feel like I’m slowly dying inside. Wish I could talk to them. I miss them more than anyone knows.

Another morning came. Tita Alice called me for breakfast. I ate together with her family: my cousins and Uncle Renzo. Kamag-anak ko sila sa side ni Mama, at sila ang umaapon sa akin pagkatapos no’ng may nangyari sa pamilya ko. Sila na rin ang nagpaaral sa akin, pero scholar rin ako kaya hindi na ako pabigat sa kanilang gastusin.

They were checking me if I was feeling better. I can skip class, but I have a lot of activities I must comply. Two days is enough.

I went to school and as expected, Lori was very worried. She told me she was sad after hearing I was sent to hospital. Wala raw siyang makausap habang wala ako. “You should’ve meet new friends while I was gone,” I told her.

“Don’t talk like that. You sounded like you’re going to die.”

“If I did, edi forever ka mag-iisa.”

"Look, Flynn, if something's bothering you, you can talk to me," she said, turning to face me. "I'm sure there's a reason you were admitted to the hospital. Please don't make that mistake again. I don't want to lose such a good friend as you."

I hugged her. "Thank you, Lori," I said.

Lori is the sweetest person I've ever met. I could see myself wandering around the university for years, but I never imagined I'd have someone to cheer me up when I'm down. When I have her by myself, I don't need a group of friends.

Classes have begun. I heard noises outside while listening to my professor and realized it was raining. I shook my head, attempting to return my focus to the discussion. I calmed myself with a heaving sigh. I'd never want to have another panic attack in the middle of a class.

Pagkatapos ng class, nag-alaala naman si Lori sa akin. “Flynn, kaya mo ba?”

“Maybe.”

Nilabas ko ang payong ko at binuklat. “I’ll just make sure, not a single raindrop gets onto my skin.”

It's not the first time I've gone for a walk in the rain, but it's never been easy. Every time I do it, the fear creeps up on me, trying to get a hold of me. To avoid looking at the wet street, I have to close my eyes and run. Nakaboots pa ako para hindi mabasa ang sapatos at mga paa ko.

I went home safe. Tita Alice sighed a relief, seeing me okay. Nagpumilit sila kasi sa akin kanina na susunduin nila ako kapag may ulan, pero nangako ako sa kanila na hindi na mauulit ang nangyari two days ago. Ayaw ko pag-aabalahin nila kanilang sarili para sa akin.

Nadatnan ko naman silang nanonood ng balita sa TV. Dumiretso naman ako sa kwarto para maiiwasan kong marinig ang nasa balita na alam kong tungkol sa panahon ngayon. I’ve been avoiding hearing news since then. Sapat na sa akin yung weather app ko na binibigyan ako ng notif kapag masama ang panahon.

Agad akong nagpalit ng damit at nagbihis pambahay. Dinalhan naman ako ni Tita Alice ng hot choco na tinimpla niya para sa akin. I thanked her and she went downstairs afterwards.

I was sipping my hot chocolate when I decided to read one of the books I had purchased. The books were fine and still wrapped in plastic cover, even though the paper bag was partially wet. Something fell on the floor, along with my art materials, as I stacked the books on my study desk.

I grabbed it with my hand outstretched. It was an ATM card, which I discovered by reading the name out loud. "Arthur Villamore."

The next day, Lori and I decided to stay in the library during our break. We were supposed to be studying for our upcoming exam, but I couldn't get my mind off the ATM card I saw the night before. Lori saw it and asked how I could return it to its rightful owner.

“Maybe you can give back to the bank. You can reach out the owner online, pero baka wala ‘yang social media account. Let me try,” she said and scrolled down on her phone, but later found nothing.

I was trying to figure out how did this card went to my bag when a sudden flash of memory struck in my mind. I remember the time again when I was surrounded by waters, and a man walked towards me before I lost my sight.

That’s it.

Luckily, the weather was quite fine. The app said it’ll be cloudy today, and I hope it won’t rain.

After class, I headed to the place where I lost my consciousness. It was an elevated park. I stood where I laid myself and screamed for help. I can imagine the waters surrounding me, but I immediately calmed myself down.

Now what?

I looked around to see if there’s any store named after or just related to the owner of this ATM card.

Pero wala.

I can wait a little bit longer, but I’m afraid that a rain would downpour again. Nakakarinig na ako ng kulog, binabantaan na ako mismo ng langit. Siguro, isasauli ko na lang ‘to sa bank.

To my surprise, someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me when I was about to leave. I found myself under an umbrella held by someone standing behind me. All the sudden, a rain started to downpour right before my eyes.

I stood still, watched the raindrops falling on the ground, thinking the fear would creep in again, but it feels weird.

As the cold wind blew and gave chills to my body, warm arm suddenly wrapped around me.