When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 4

According to the news, after a string of rainy days, our place will see some sunshine. Thank goodness, I'll be fine for a few days, if not weeks. Wala na rin akong narinig na balita sa Villamore na 'yon. It's been 3 days since I left him at that place, but I shouldn't be bothered by him now. There are a lot of things to do instead of having a stranger in mind.

Antlophobia, that's what it is called. For years. I suffered from having an irrational fear of floods and rushing water. Not just that— once I get contact with rainwater, it triggers my fear also which I find odd but it somehow might be connected to my phobia. I had undergone sessions after having this which started years and years ago.

What's more scary, yung binibisita ako ng bangungot tuwing gabi. It happens frequently, but every time I have a nightmare, my sleeping habits deteriorate. I have to deal with this on my own for the simple reason that I don't want to rely on anyone else's comfort when I need it most— for my survival. I'm still figuring out how to get through this. Ayaw ko namang magdusa pa hanggang sa pagtanda ko dahil dito.

Napakakatawa lang isipin, kasi yung pangalan ko Rainer Flynn, tapos rain sa Rainer, pero may takot ako sa tubig-ulan which is connected sa flood. Ang galing.

Tambay muna ako sa window seat. All I wanted was to bathe myself in the sun's light. Sunny mornings always make me feel better, reminding me of new hopes after a storm. How I wish the sun could see how it makes me smile.

Since mamaya pa naman ang klase ko, I decided to go outside and take a ride with my bike Tita Alice bought for me last Christmas. Isang beses ko lang nagamit 'to dahil sa masamang panahon. I wouldn't risk myself to ride a bike in the rain. If I did, baka mapahamak pa ako at dadagdag na naman sa problema nina Tita.

Nag-ikot ako sa subdivision, minsan lang naman rin ako gumala sa neighborhood namin. Most of the residents here, napakatahimik at simple lang ang pamumuhay. Their home was the safest place for them, and it was something I wished I had had in the first place. Seeing them bonding with their family made me feel empty like I lack something in my existence.

In the middle of a mindless state, a single loud beep from a car brought back my alertness, surprising me and causing me to tumble on the ground. Napadaing na lamang ako sa pagkabagsak, saka ako nakarinig ng pagbukas ng pinto ng kotse. A woman approached, her face worried. "Oh my gosh, are you okay?"

Inalalayan niya akong tumayo at tinignan ang braso at paa. "May sugat ba? Do you feel something na masakit?"

"Ayos lang po ako," I replied, though medyo masakit yung braso ko pero mawawala lang rin naman yun.

"Sorry po, hindi ko namalayan na may paparating na sasakyan pala."

"Oh dear, ako dapat mag-apologize. I wasn't even watching dahil kinukulit ako ng kapatid on phone. If may masakit sa'yo, I'll send you to the hospital—"

"No, no, I'm totally alright. Thank you for the concern po," sabi ko sabay tayo ng bike at agad na sumakay at lumayo.

I decided to leave the place and went back to home. Sana hindi na lang ako naglibot. Nakakaabala ulit ako ng buhay ng mga tao.

As usual, pagdating ko, tahimik ang bahay. Wala na sila Tita at Tito nang madatnan ko. Ako lang ata naiwan dito, hanggang sa nakarinig ako ng ingay sa hagdanan. It was Kuya Alrey, my cousin. Nakasalubong kami sa pagbaba niya. Siya ang panganay nina Tita Alice at Tito Renzo. He's 4 years older than me, and does have stable job, kaya nakakatulong rin siya sa kina Tita sa gastusin, lalo na pag-aaral ko.

Ilang segundo lamang iyon nang nagtagpo ang mga tingin namin bago niya ako nilagpasan. He still ignores me, pero okay ra na rin sa 'kin, kung iyon ang sa tingin niya ang tama.

Somethings happened between us, while I was in the process of fixing myself long ago. Nadala lamang ako sa emosyon ko noon, kaya ako pumayag sa kagustuhan niya. Everything is still kept as a secret, or else, itatakwil ako nina Tita Alice kapag nagkataong nalaman nila.

Nang nilagpasan niya ako, I heard someone's coming. Bisita ata niya, kaya minabuti kong umakyat na lang at magtungo sa room ko.

Just after I prepared myself, may narinig naman akong tawanan sa baba. I guess, bisita nga ni Kuya Alrey 'yon. Dumungaw naman ako sa bintana at nakita ko ang isang pamilyar na kotse na nakaparada sa labas.

Pagbaba ko, nadatnan ko si Kuya na may kasamang babae na akbay-akbay sa couch. Napansin nila ata ang presensya ko, at nagulat na lang ako nang makilala ko ang kasama ni Kuya.

"Oh my gosh, ikaw yon!" she pointed at me with a surprised face.

Lumapit siya agad sa akin at biglang hinawakan ang mga pisngi ko. "OMG, okay ka na?"

I just nodded. "I guess."

"Wait, do you know him, Trisha?" agad na tanong ni Kuya sa kanya.

"No, but siya yun! Yung sinabing kong nabangga ko kanina! Didn't know na brother mo pala siya!"

"He's not my brother."

She looked at me once again. "Oh, pansin ko nga. Hindi kayo magkamukha. I haven't seen you before. Katulong ka ba nila?"

"Trisha, let go of him. May klase pa yan," sabi ni Kuya na sinunod naman ni Trisha.

Kahit hindi pa maririnig ni Kuya ay nagpaalam na ako na umalis. Kinda caught off guard when she asked me kung katulong ba nila ako. Although normal naman 'yon sa akin dahil it happens all the time whenever there are guests, but I guess, people still haven't figured out my existence sa bahay na 'yon.

Right after my class, I received a call from Tita. Matatagalan raw sila sa pag-uuwi dahil may family gathering daw sila together with Kuya Alrey's fiancé. Humingi pa ng pasensya si Tita dahil hindi nila ako sinama. Magagalit raw si Kuya kapag hindi raw sila makapunta on-time kay hindi na nila ako inantay pa. I mean, it's fine for me kung hindi nila ako ininvite.

Saka isa pa, dagdag lang ako sa gastusin kapag sasama pa ako do'n. Sapat na ang pagpapa-aral nila sa akin. That's it.

Nasa labas na ako ng gate nang may tumawag ulit sa phone ko. This time, the call's from an unknown number. "Hello, sino po 'to?"

"Long time no see."

The voice was familiar. Across the street was a familiar figure that I'd seen before. Hawak niya ang phone habang nakatingin sa akin. As he walked on the pedestrian lane until he reached a spot a few steps away from me, he suddenly cracked a smile.

May kinuha siya sa likod niya at pinakita sa akin ang isang payong. I was quite confused. Binuklat niya iyon at isinilong kaming dalawa doon. Tatawa na sana sa ginawa niya hanggang sa biglang bumuhos ang ulan. "What the hell."

He looked at me with a grin on his face. "I've never been wrong, Flynn."