When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 10

Tita Alice's family got back to home after the incident. Buti na lang, cleared na ang bahay pagdating nila. As expected, sobra ang pag-alala nila sa akin, but what matters the most is I'm alive. Thanks to the neighbor who saved me that night. His name was Sir Ethan, and he probably works for the local police department. He's living in the house in front of ours, that's why he quickly knew something was going on that night. Nasa labas rin siya ng bahay no'n nagpapahangin nang makita niyang may dalang baril ang driver na nakasama ko.

Patrick came into the scene also, pero pinagsabihan siya na tumawag na lang muna ng pulis bago sumugod, dahil alam niyang may nangyayari sa loob.

Tita offers a reward to him, but he insisted not to receive it. Ginawa lang niya ang trabaho niya bilang pulis. He's cool, and he even praised me for having the courage to steal the gun from the suspect. He reminds me of someone, but I didn't hold onto my memories too much.

Meanwhile, they questioned Patrick about how I got myself into a trouble. He apologized for what happened but I admitted it was my fault. Kung hindi ko lang pinagkatiwalaan ang driver na 'yon, hindi talaga aabot sa puntong 'yon. Guess, I'll never trust strangers again.

Simula no'n, hindi na kami nagkausap pa ni Patrick. Good to hear, I don't need him in my life either.

Dahil rin sa incident, may hinigpit na rin ang security ng subdivision, which could've been done in the first place. Ewan, nag-aantay lang siguro sila na may mangyari sa neighborhood para kumilos sila.

When I went to school, every one was checking on me, and maybe some were surprised to see me alive. I heard the incident was featured on TV news, and Lori was in tears again as she went to me. "I thought, hindi na kita makikita pa ulit," she cried.

"I'm totally fine, Lori."

I just realized I'm having a tough week. Sunod-sunod ang mga unfortunate events na nangyayari sa akin. Well, parang normal lang sa akin, but the amount of worry that people gain because of me is greater than the fear I have. I don't just suffer alone but including the people around me. Nakakabahala rin.

But, ever since I met Patrick, nangyayari ang mga 'to. I totally don't blame him, but that's I've noticed. It doesn't make sense, perhaps. Maybe, it's just coincident. That's it.

We took our lunch near the riverside. May concrete benches kasi rito, tapos ang presko pa ng hangin kaya dito namin maisipang kumain. Tsaka malapit rin dito yung library. Iniwan kasi namin doon ang mga plates para kumain muna saglit.

Umalis muna si Lori dahil may bibilhin lang saglit sa canteen. While she was away, someone approached me and sat on Lori's seat. I don't know him but he's wearing the same uniform as me. Schoolmate, for sure.

"Hi," he greeted but I gave him a bitter smile, just to respond.

"Are you alone?"

"Actually, no, kaya nga nilagyan ng gamit dyan sa upuan mo kasi taken na."

Agad naman siyang tumayo at lumayo sa space na intended kay Lori. "Oops, sorry."

"Tell me what you want, patapos na akong kumai—"

Natigil ako saglit nang inabot niya sa akin ang isang pamilyar na payong. "Is this yours, right?"

"How..."

"Well, long story—"

"How dare you."

Kinuha ko sa kanya ang payong, at napaatras naman siya. "Yow, chill, sorry, okay? It's my girlfriend's fault— I mean, my ex-girlfriend's fault. Siya yung umagaw sa payong mo that day. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nakuha pero alam niyang sa'yo 'to. Pero kapalit no'n, she broke with me," he explained.

"So, you mean, kasalanan ko pa?"

"No, no, I'm not saying that. I want to apologize on behalf of her," sabi pa niya.

He offered his hand. "I'm Johen."

"I'm not interested to make friends."

"Well, okay. That's fine."

"Thanks."

I heard Lori's voice calling me, but after I looked back, the stranger named Johen just disappeared in front of me. Was he a ghost?

Napatanong naman ako kay Lori kung may kilala siyang Johen pero wala siyang alam. Pareho talaga kami, walang alam sa mga tao at kaganapan dito sa campus. We're too busy to enjoy talking about campus heartthrobs or any rumors circulating here. Guess, we're really from architecture department.

I check my weather app, and it says there's no rain to be expected in the next 2-3 hours. Sana accurate 'to this time.

Umuwi ako sa bahay after my class, and I didn't expect some people to come over the house. It was Ate Trisha's family. Nadatnan ko silang nag-uusap sa sala. I just greeted them to pay respect before going to my room. Ayaw ko namang sumawsaw sa usapan ng mga matatanda.

Abala ako sa homework ko nang pinatawag ako na bumaba muna saglit. Hindi ko namalayan ang oras at gabi na pala, at mukhang pauwi na ata ang pamilya ni Ate Trisha except kay Ate na sumalubong sa akin sa hadgan kasama si Kuya Alrey. Ningitian lang nila ako bago nila ako nilagpasan.

"Ah, Flynn, Ate Trisha will be staying here for awhile. Ang Kuya Patrick mo naman, gusto munang manatili din dito. Pwede bang mag-stay muna si Kuya Patrick mo sa room mo? Wala na kasing vacant eh."

Pagkasabi ni Tita na sa kwarto ako ni Kuya Alrey ay bigla akong nangamba. Nasa tabi lang niya si Patrick at ang laki ng ngiti. I had no choice but to agree. "Yes, Tita."

"Oh siya, ikaw na bahala sa kanya. Matutulog na rin kasi kami," paalam niya at dumiretso sa kwarto nila ni Tito Renzo.

Naiwan kami sa sala at palitan lang kami ng titig. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa ang nagsimula umakyat sa hagdan. Sumunod naman siya. It was just silence between us. When we reached the second floor, we could already hear laughs from Kuya Alrey's room.

Pumunta na lang ako sa room ko at pinapapasok si Patrick.

"You can sleep on my bed. I'll be doing my plates. Mamaya pa ako matutulog."

Just before I could sit on my chair, a hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to him. Our eyes fixated for a sudden, and the silence took over again between us. A minute passed and I decided to push him away from me. "Are you drunk?"

His look went serious. It was the first time I saw his face turning blank. He was just staring at me the whole time until he took few steps towards me. "You look like her."

I really don't know who is he referring to, and I don't know what's going on with him. "Who?"

He gave me a bitter smile, and threw a small laugh. "Forget about it. I just wanted to apologize for what happened."

"You're acting weird. You're already forgiven," I said and went to my desk.

While I was finishing my plates, he was taking a bath in my bathroom. Hindi ko napansin na natapos na pala siya at nakatapis lang siya ng tuwalya sa ibaba niya.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin sa katawan niya. He got a good body shape. Suki ata siya sa gym. Just before he could catch me staring, I quickly looked away.

After I finished my things, I went to the closet to get some extra bedsheets. Ayaw ko namang makatabi ulit siya sa pagtulog. I mean, hindi ko naman siya nakatabi doon sa condo niya. I just don't want someone else sleeping beside me.

He seemed tired. Nakatulog na siya agad, at may yakap-yakap pang unan. Bago pa ako makahiga, nakarinig ako ng mahinang katok sa pinto. Pagbukas ko ng pinto, si Kuya Alrey bumungad sa akin.

"Kamusta siya 'jan?" agad niyang tanong. Kahit sobrang hina lang ng boses niya ay may halong inis pa rin sa tono niya.

"He's sleeping."

"Remember what I told you, Flynn. Don't make any mess."

After that, he went back to his room. Binabantaan pa talaga niya ako in the middle of the night. As if I'm doing something wrong.

Sinara ko na ang pinto at tinalikuran pero bumungad naman sa akin ang bulto ni Patrick. He's staring back at me again. "Don't make any mess, did I hear it right?"