When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 23

A voice was calling my name—vague echoes from somewhere until I was able to open my eyes. There I found Johen with his worried face, and he was still soaking wet. He held my hand as I tried to get back to my senses, but a bad headache didn't let me move for a second. A nurse went to my bed and checked me. And there she told me I had a fever.

"I contacted your Kuya Alrey, and he's on his way up here," sabi ni Johen.

Not again. Mag-alala na naman sila Tita Alice sa 'kin. Why the hell should this be happening?!

"Johen, I'm sorry. Nasira ko ang birthday mo—"

"You don't have to apologize, Flynn. 'Wag mo na akong aalahanin. Take your meds," sabi niya at inabot niya sa akin ang meds at isang water bottle.

I took a deep sigh and laid my head back on my pillow. Sana hindi niya maalaman kung bakit nagkakaganito ako. Wala na dapat pang makaalam nito bukod kay Patrick.

As expected, Kuya Alrey and Tita Alice arrived at the hospital. I was discharged the next day and continued to rest at home. Tita Alice took care of me again. It's not that I'm grateful to be taken care of. Ayaw ko nang pagkaabalahan pa nila akong alagaan kapag inaatake ako ng trauma ko.

"Nak, may bisita ka," sabi ni Tita Alice nang pinihit niya ang pinto ng kwarto.

I was hoping that Patrick would walk in, but it was Johen instead. He was in his casual clothes. I forgot he was just my neighbor.

He brought a basket of fruits and sat on the bed where I was resting. "Good morning. Do you feel better?"

I nodded. He put his hand against my forehead. "Nawawala na ang fever mo. Good to know."

Nilagay niya sa desk yung basket. "Magpagaling ka. Para may kasabay ulit akong pumunta sa school at kasama sa library."

He gave a smile before he leaned closer to me and reached for my forehead. There he blew a kiss that I didn't expect. He just threw a small laugh and left me. I was stunned by what he did.

At the door, I caught Kuya Alrey standing there with his hands in his pockets and grinning. I know he caught us. He might be happy to see me with another guy, but it won't change the fact that I still want Patrick. I badly missed him so much. I haven't seen him for weeks.

I hate this. This is why I was afraid of falling for someone. When he's not around, his absence keeps on bothering me, and I've almost gone insane thinking about him. F*ck this feeling.

I checked my phone to see today's date. It's already two days before the wedding. I bet everyone's ready for the big event. I just hope to see him once more.

The next day, the house was busier than ever. I was supposed to help them, but they insisted I leave and go to school. Sumunod na lang ako para hindi ko na sila maistorbo pa. Nadatnan ko ulit si Johen sa labas, at inaantay ako upang sumakay sa kotse niya.

"Good morning. How's your feeling?" he greeted.

"Good morning. I'm already feeling fine. Thanks for the fruits you gave yesterday."

"You're welcome."

I got into his car and he started to drive out of the subdivision. Bigla ko namang naisip yung nangyari kahapon sa kwarto. Before I could speak, he threw a question all of a sudden. "I was wondering why you suddenly passed out the other day when the rain poured. Was that because of the food?"

"No, no. The food is great. Siguro nahilo lang ako kakapuyat, you know, we have a lot of things to finish," palusot ko.

I simply looked at him to see if he was convinced, and I just saw him nodding. "Okay. Next time, sleep early. Staying up late is bad for your body and mind. Sobrang nag-alala talaga ako sa'yo that time."

"Okay," matipid kong sagot.

Malapit na kami sa university nang mapansin ko ang isang familiar na invitation letter sa lever. "Invited ka pala sa wedding."

"Ah, yes. I was supposed to surprise you there. Should've hide it," sabi niya na natawa na lang ako.

"I guess, let's see each other tomorrow."

I got off his car and parted ways with him. I went to my class and found Lori waiting for me to get into the room. I was confused. Pwede naman siyang pumasok na pero kita ko na napapraning siya.

"Hey, Lori. What happened? Ba't hindi ka pa pumapasok?"

She pointed at the inside of the room. "May nakaupo sa seat ko."

I snuck into the room and sighted a girl sitting on Lori's seat—a girl that I hadn't seen before or met along the corridors. Cross-legged, tapping the pen she held on the table again and again. I could sense arrogance from the way she was leaning against the seat.

"Let's just skip the class na lang kaya? Natatakot siya eh, kung paalisin natin baka antayin nya tayo sa labas ng gate," sabi ni Lori.

"Com'on, Lori. Do'n na lang tayo sa likod. Baka may upuan pa do'n."

We walked into the room and I didn't dare lay my eyes on the girl who took Lori's seat. Just before we could pass by her, she tapped the desk on my original seat with her pen. "Sit here."

That's the time I laid my eyes on her, but she didn't stare at me when she spoke. I was about to ignore her but to my shock, she slammed the desk with her palm. That got everyone's attention. "Sit. Here."

Lori had already run for her life and taken a seat in the back row. I decided to take a seat beside hers. "What do you want?" I asked.

"Mr. Rainer Flynn Toralba, am I right?"

"Yes. Do I know you?"

"Oh," she seemed surprised. "So you don't know me yet."

She put her pen down on her desk and crossed her arms. "But anyway, I heard that you were hanging out with Johen. Is that true?"

"Yes, as a friend—"

"Really?" she threw a laugh. "So you two are dating as friends?"

"I don't know what you're trying to say."

"That's okay. Whether you lie or tell the truth, I don't really care. 'Cause from now on, I will get back what's mine. Do you understand?"

"Take whatever is yours, I don't even know what you're saying, Miss."

She took the pen on the desk, and she suddenly raised it in the air and stabbed it onto the surface of the desk. "Sabi nga nila, 'wag kang mamangka sa dalawang ilog. Kaya, kung may nilalandi ka na, wag ka nang manglandi ng iba."

I won't deny the fact that I trembled for what she said. Kinakabahan ako sa nalalaman niya sa akin.

She raised her ID and there I saw her name. Her name was...

"Donnabelle Villamore."

She stood and took the pen from the desk. "Leave Johen or I will reveal everything about you. Sayonara."

Then she walked out of the room, and the class started to murmur again. She brought a heavy atmosphere into this room, and there's no way to take this away. Day by day, things are intensifying, and I don't think this will end up good.