When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 12

A sigh of relief.

Natakasan ko siya. I'm riding shotgun in Johen's car now. He seemed nice. Tahimik lang siyang nagmamaneho habang nakadungaw lang ako sa wind shield.

While we were on our way home, the rain poured down on the city. Another bad weather again. Buti na lang nakauwi na ako at hindi kasama yung isang makulit.

Natauhan naman ako nang nasa harap na kami ng bahay. Nagtaka naman ako dahil sinabi ko lang naman yung subdivision namin hindi yung exact address.

"Wait, how did you—"

He then points to the bungalow directly across the street from ours. "That's my uncle's house; I stay here occasionally. And, I actually live here as well; mine is across the street."

Does this mean that he has been seeing me all this time? And the guy who saved me in the middle of the night is his uncle?

My mind can't take every single thing I have discovered right now.

"Hey, your mom is waiting for you," sabi niya saka may inabot na payong. "I noticed your umbrella is too small for you."

"Thanks," matipid kong sagot saka lumabas sa kotse at binuklat ang payong.

"See you tomorrow!" rinig kong habol niya bago ko sinara ang pinto ng kotse niya.

I waved goodbye and the car started to move away. I didn't mean it when I said, I can only have Lori as my friend.

Sinalubong naman ako ni Tita Alice sa pinto, halatang nag-aalala na naman sa akin. "Flynn, nak, sa'n ka ba nanggaling?"

"Sa school po. Bakit naman po?"

"Eh kanina ka pa hinahanap ni Kuya Patrick mo. Hindi ka ba niya sinabihan na susunduin ka niya?" pahabol na tanong ni Tita.

"Ah, nakalimutan ko po. Kala ko po hindi po niya ako susunduin kaya umuwi na lang ako," sabi ko na lang.

"Sige, sige. Tawagan mo na lang ang Kuya Patrick mo na nakauwi ka na," bilin niya saka ako dumiretso sa kwarto ko.

Nang nakapagbihis na ako, sunod-sunod naman ang pagtunog ng phone ko. As expected, it was a series of messages from him. I didn't dare to read them all. Kulang na lang, iblock ko na 'tong number niya. He's too annoying.

A moment later, I heard a few knocks on my door and was hesitant to open it. I was expecting him at first, but Kuya Alrey was the one who knocked on my door. "Why are you ignoring him?"

I knew he was referring to him. "I'm just tired," throwing a blank face on him and was about to close the door when he leaned his hand to stop it.

"Nakailang tawag na siya sa akin. Kinakamusta ka niya. Why don't you pick up your phone—"

"What do you think you're doing, Kuya? Kanina, ang sama ng tingin mo sa'kin dahil sa nangyari. Tapos, ngayon, gusto mo 'kong tawagan siya. Ano ba gusto mong mangyari?"

Mukhang hindi na siya nakatiis at kaagad pumasok sa kwarto at kinuwelyahan ako. "Wag kang sumbat ng sumbat! Wala ka namang ambag dito sa bahay! Sumunod ka na lang!"

My fist clenched as I heard those words come out of his mouth. I tried so hard to hold back. Ayaw ko pa naman ng gulo dito sa bahay lalo pa't nakikitira lang ako dito.

"Follow every word I say, or else I'll punish you again."

Binitawan niya ako at agad lumabas sa kwarto. That's it. Pinagbabantaan na naman ako ulit ni Kuya Alrey. Kailan rin kaya ako makakatakas sa kanya aside sa brother-in-law niyang ayaw pa rin akong tigilan?

Tutal tumila na ang ulan sa labas, nagdesisyon akong lumabas muna saglit at pumunta sa tambayan ko.

I tried not to be bothered by those waters that is still not yet draining. Kaya ayaw kong lumabas kapag tumila na ang ulan kasi eto agad ang bubungad sa akin. Pero ayaw ko namang manatili muna doon sa bahay.

Nakarating ako sa walang taong playground. Padilim na rin kasi wala na yung batang palaging naglalaro dito. I went straight to the swing and sat on its seat.

I do unwind here. This became my comfort place aside from my bed. I have thrown out a million unsaid thoughts here. Just me in this swing, under the blinking streetlight. Kung may dadaan dito, pagkakamalan talaga akong multong nagsswing dito.

"What seems to bother you?"

I gasped in shock when a voice came out of nowhere. It was just Johen, again, who threw a giggle when he saw my quick reaction. "Sorry for scaring you."

He sat on the other swing. I wasn't expecting his presence in these hours, but he somehow took away the loneliness I felt a while ago.

"I'm not gonna answer your question."

"Well, it's fine. But you know, you have a friend in me," he said.

"Huling beses na may nangungulit sa akin, hindi ko na pinapansin ngayon."

"Sorry."

The silence stayed between us. I was just watching the cars passing by as the gush of wind kissed my cheeks. The night was getting colder and darker.

"You know, there's a better place that I know. Wanna come with me?" Johen asked, breaking the silence.

"I don't think I'm in the mood to go somewhere else."

"Promise, you might feel better when you see this."

I was still hesitant to go, but in the end, I went with him. Hindi ko alam kung saan niya ako dadalhin pero gusto kong lumayo. We walked on the uphill road, catching my breath, with my hand holding his.

Nakarating kami sa isang gate na hindi ko pa nakita sa kay tanggal kong nanirahan dito. He went to the wicket gate and opened it. Hindi ko masyadong maaninag ang labas dahil sa dilim. "Teka, sobrang dilim naman dyan."

"Trust me," he said, and lent his hand to me.

I never trusted anyone like this aside from Lori, but somehow, I felt safe with him, as I took his hand and went in too.

As I took another step, I felt some grass beneath my slippers. I could hear water rushing in somewhere. "Nasaan tayo?"

"We're actually at the back of the residential area. Doon naman yung creek, but not a clean creek kung saan ka pwede ka maligo," sabi niya.

"So, what are we going to do here?"

Tumingin siya sa relo niya. "It's almost time."

He snapped his fingers and looked around. I did the same, expecting something to come out of nowhere, but a minute passed, nothing happened. "You seemed to break your promise."

I was about to leave and return to the residential area when a tiny flash appeared in front of me. I thought it was just one, but as I wandered around, the glittering objects started to appear one by one and floated in the air.

"Feel better?" he asked.

Mas lalong gumaan ang pakiramdam ko at mas sumaya pa dahil sa natatanaw ko. "More than that," I replied.

Too late to realize, my tears were already rushing down my face. My mind didn't stop me from reminiscing about my shallow-buried memories. This was the same happiness I felt before it happened.

I was about to break down when a pair of arms wrapped around me. The warmth from him was something I didn't think I needed. "I'm here for you."