When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 20

We packed up our things and left the cabin. Hindi ko pinahalata na medyo nahihirapan akong maglakad, baka makahalata yung mga tao.

I was expecting na pagtawanan pa ako ni Patrick pero parati niya akong kinakamusta. Inalalayan niya rin ako hanggang sa makasakay kami sa sasakyan niya. He was really taking good care of me since this morning.

I was sitting in shotgun as usual, and before he could start the engine, I just burst into tears.

"Hey, hey, is there anything wrong? Masakit pa ba rin ba?"

He held my hand and I fell into his arms again. "Thank you. I just can't believe this is all happening to me. Akala ko lang kasi pinaglalaruan mo lang ako."

"No, Flynn. Hinding-hindi kita paglalaruan," he said and kissed my forehead. "You are now my everything. I will give you the love that you deserve. I love you so much, Rainer Flynn. I love you."

I felt his lips over mine, lasted for seconds but I know it was true—so genuine I never imagined to feel in reality. He wiped my tears and gave me his smile that became my favorite view to stare. And his arms became my favorite place to comfort myself.

We drove down from the camp back to the town. Along the way, we talked about how should we deal everything before everyone finds out about us.

Until we decided to keep this secret, for the meantime.

Sasalubungin namin ang pamilya ni Patrick pati sina Kuya Alrey at Ate Reina na alam kong ilang araw nang nag-aalala sa akin. Pagdating namin sa airport, nadatnan namin sila at sobra nga ang pag-alala nila. I just told them, somehow I enjoyed the vacation.

Kuya Alrey gave me a strange look after not seeing each other for days. He remained quiet but still kept his eyes on me and Patrick.

Pinagsabihan ko na kanina si Patrick tungkol rito. Hindi kami magpapahuli kay Kuya Alrey kung ayaw namin na mabisto na maaga. I didn't give much details to Patrick about him, just enough things to warn him.

We went on a plane and travelled back to our place. Hindi kami masyado nagkausap pa ni Patrick hanggang sa nakalapag na ang eroplano.

Our families parted ways. Sinundo ng service ang pamilya ni Ate Trisha habang nag-antay na lang kami ni Kuya ng susundo sa amin. We waved goodbyes, and they all finally left us.

While we were waiting, Ate Reina went to the bathroom and left me with Kuya Alrey. As expected, Kuya interrogated me.

"What did you do with Patrick?" first question he asked.

I tried not to flinch and acted normal. "Nothing. He let me enjoyed the vacation alone, away from waters. Besides, we got separated and slept in different cabins. There's nothing you should worry about—"

"Worry nothing? You expect me to worry about nothing? Baka nakakalimutan mong magiging brother-in-law mo si Patrick. 'Pag nahuli ko kayong dalawa, hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na ibalik ka sa probinsiya mo."

"Sa umpisa pa lang, sa'yo na galing na hindi tayo magkapatid. So why would you care about your assumptions if you find out it's true?"

"Gusto mong bawiin kong lahat ng ginastos ko sa pagpapaaral ko sa'yo? Hindi ka ata marunong tumanaw ng utang na loob."

Magsasalita pa sana ako nang dumating si Ate Reina. Saktong dumating rin ang sundo namin gamit ang sasakyan ni Kuya.

I found out Tito Renzo was the one who's driving Kuya's car. We went in and we drove back to our home. Glad Ate Reina and I were sitting at the back seats. Kinamusta ulit ako ni Ate at sinabihan kong maayos lang naman ako at ang pagstay ko kasama si Patrick.

We reached home and Tita Alice greeted us. She immediately went to me with a worried look, and I told her that I was feeling fine. After that, I went upstairs to my room and landed on my bed. Na-miss ko ang kwarto ko.

I was about to sleep when I got a message on my phone. It was from him, asking if I got home safe. Magrereply na sana ako nang bigla siyang tumawag at sinagot ko naman kaagad. "Nakauwi na ako, ikaw?" sabi ko.

"Nakauwi na rin. How's Tita Alice?"

"Okay naman. Nag-alala siya of course," I replied.

"Miss na kita."

"Tsk, wala pang isang araw, miss na agad?"

"Yup. Bawal ba?"

"Tsk, corny mo. Matutulog na ako."

"You said it again! You owe me a kiss."

"Tulog ka na. Maaga pa ako bukas."

"I love you."

Those three little words woke up my butterflies in my stomach late at night. I was hesitating to answer back, but it was too late to realize that I was smiling for what he said. "I love you too."

I ended the call and threw my phone away. I kinda hope this won't ruin everything. It feels good at first, but there's still something in my mind that bothers me, resisting myself to absorb this feeling when I'm with him.

The next day, I woke up early for my class. Buti na lang wala na si Kuya Alrey sa pagbaba ko at nagpaalam na ako kina Tito at Tita. But when I went out of the house, there I found Kuya talking with someone else. I was surprised when the person he was talking with was Johen.

"Here he is," sabi niya nang mapansin niya ako at bumaling naman si Kuya Alrey sa akin.

"Didn't tell me he's your friend." tanong ni Kuya. "Andito siya para sunduin ka."

I was still processing everything until I found myself in Johen's car. Kuya Alrey seemed happy and waved goodbye, before he finally drove his car out of the subdivision.

"It's been a long time," sabi niya.

"Yeah," matipid kong sagot.

The last time that I saw him, he left me when he saw me with Patrick, but it seemed that he doesn't remember that. Johen looks fine, annd he even fetched me.

"He told me you were out for a vacation. Kaya pansin kong hindi ka lumalabas sa bahay nyo no'ng nakaraang araw. How's vacation?"

"It's fine."

"You good?"

I looked at him and nodded, giving back a smile. I almost forgot about him because of Patrick. Then my mind flashed back to when he was talking with Kuya. "How long have you been friends with Kuya Alrey?" I sudddenly asked out of blue.

"Well, we were always playmates in leagues during fiestas. He's a good player by the way."

"Oh."

So he's been friends with him for a long time. I didn't expected that. What a small world. Hindi ko rin naman siya nakikita dahil hindi ako nakikifiesta sa lugar namin.

"How about you? Hindi kita nakikita during fiestas natin. Ano sinasalihan mo?" he asked.

"I just kinda stay at home during those days and do finish my homework."

"Well, you definitely join us. Palapit na rin ang fiesta natin. It's fun!"

I was hesitating to answer. I haven't join any fiesta since I started living here. Nasanay na akong sa bahay lang at magpahinga aside sa gagawa ng tambak na homework. "Maybe. Pag-iisipan ko."

We reached the university and went out of his car. It was too late to notice that there were students watching at us until my eyes caught a group of girls, surprised of what they saw. One of them was familiar—the girl who stole my umbrella. His ex.

"May I know why she's staring at us?" I asked Johen.

Nakatitig rin siya sa gawi nila. "Probably because you're with me. Just don't entertain them if you bump onto them."

We parted ways and I went to Architecture building. When I went into the room, Lori immediately greeted me. Kaagad niyang sinabi sa akin ang mga nangyari habang wala ako. She was lonely for days, she told me. But what surprised me is when she revealed there was rumor about me that she overheard from our blockmates.

"Sabi nila, nagpunta ka raw sa States at nagpakasal," she said and I find it very hilarious.

"How come? I don't even have any wedding ring. That's the funniest thing I've heard, Lori."

In the middle of our conversation, someone interrupted us and a guy went to me. "May naghahanap sa'yo sa labas," sabi niya at nagtaka naman ako.

I nearly panicked when I thought of Patrick, that made me went out of the room so fast but I was wrong. I was shocked when I saw her.

"Excuse me, is Johen into you?" diretsahan niyang tanong.

"Well, excuse me, who are you?"

"Don't pretend you don't know me like you lived under a rock for years," sabi niya.

"Well I don't really personally know you aside from being the one who stole my umbrella at the cafeteria."

She gasped in shock and got pissed off. "All that I can say, you better stay away from him. Babawiin ko siya!"

"As if I care. We're just neighbors kaya pinasakay niya ako, psh," I rolled my eyes and went back to my room. She just wasted my time for nonsense things. Ang dami ko nang problema sa buhay, nagawa pa niyang dumagdag.