When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 39

For the last time, I looked back at the mansion. I will miss everything we did here, but I'll come back soon for sure.

All of a sudden, we're leaving the place. The reason? I still don't even know. He told me, may aasikasuhin muna siya pero parang may mali. Iba ang kutob ko pero sa ngayon, paniniwalaan kong tungkol sa company ang rason.

Nakatulog naman ako sa biyahe. Umalis kasi kami ng 3AM, kaya inaantok pa ako. Paggising ko, nasa city na kami. Sobrang lakas ng ulan. I checked my phone and got a notif that we're experiencing bad weather caused by an LPA.

Akala ko didiretso kami sa condo niya pero nakarating kami sa isang hotel. I was really confused, but I remained quiet and followed him until we were able to check in.

Pinapasok niya ako pero hindi naman siya sumunod sa akin. "Patrick—"

Saka pa siya pumasok at lumapit sa akin. He reached for my lips, but it felt strange. "Sorry, I have to go. May aasikasuhin lang ako saglit. Just... prepare yourself. Tonight, we'll be having dinner with them. I'll tell you everything pag-uwi ko. Love you."

He held my hand once more before he finally left. Naguguluhan ako pero iisa lang ang naiisip ko about sa dinner na tinutukoy niya—a dinner with his family.

I stayed inside the hotel room, all alone. I tried to kill my time by watching TV, but I had no fun at all.

I tried calling Donnabelle, but she couldn't be reached until, on my fifth try, she answered. "Yes, Mister Rainer Flynn Toralba, how can I help you?"

"Hey, nakauwi na kami ngayon. Nasa city ulit kami. Do you guys have any idea why—"

"Oh, sorry, I can't hear you. Hello? I'll call you back later!"

She ended the call. Apaka suspicious nila. I even tried to call Johen, but he doesn't answer either. Wala akong ibang choice kung 'di maghintay sa kanya.

Nakatulog ako hanggang sa nagising ulit ako sa doorbell. It was him, carrying some clothes and went into the room. "Patrick," I called his name.

He put the pair of clothes on the bed that I think he bought for us. He turned to me, "Flynn, I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

He embraced me. "You'll understand everything sooner. Just prepare yourself. I'm telling you now, you might not handle everything you will hear tonight."

Bigla namang kumulog ng malakas. Patagal ng patagal, lumalala rin ang sama ng panahon.

Nagbihis na kami at kaagad umalis bago pa kami maabutan ng baha sa kalsada. I'm really nervous, but as long as he's with me, tatagan ko ang loob ko.

Nakalusot kami sa heavy traffic at nakarating sa bahay nila. Pagpasok namin sa gate, nakita ko kaagad ang pamilyar na kotse sa labas ng bahay.

They're here, too.

Sinundo kami ng ilang guard at pinayungan hanggang sa nakarating kami sa front door. I took a deep breath before stepping into their home.

We headed to the dining room, and I could already hear their voices until Patrick finally opened the door for us.

Napatigil sila at naagaw namin ang atensyon ng lahat. All eyes are on us. On the right side of the long table were Patrick's parents, Ate Trisha and Kuya Alrey. On the left side were Tita Alice, Tito Renzo, and Ate Reina.

I thought I had some kind of deja vu when I thought of my first dinner with his family.

"Sorry, we're late," sabi niya, katulad rin ng sinabi niya noon.

We took our seats: I sat next to Ate Reina, and Patrick sat after me. Kuya Alrey was already glaring at me when I looked at him.

He interrupted their conversation just as they were about to continue. "Sa'n kayo galing?"

All of a sudden, the room was filled with silence. They were waiting for us to respond. Patrick spoke, "sinundo ko siya sa airport tsaka kami dumiretso dit—"

Kuya Alrey laughed. "You sure about that?"

Tita Alice tried to interrupt him. "Alrey—"

"Matagal ko ng alam, Patrick. Baka may balak ka ng umamin sa amin ngayon?"

Under the table, Patrick was already holding my hand. I didn't see this coming. Dumating ang araw na kinatatakutan ko. Hindi pa ako handa.

Gusto kong magsalita pero may bumabara sa lalamunan ko. Nanginginig ako sa kaba.

Pero naunahan ako ni Patrick. "We're dating."

Everyone gasped in shock. Kuya Alrey grinned. I looked down and tried not to look at them. I couldn't say anything, but only waited for their response until someone broke the silence.

"Oh, congrats to both of you!"

The room was filled with applause, which took my anxiety away. I looked at them once more, and I saw Patrick's parents clapping for us, and Ate Trisha, too. Meanwhile, Kuya Alrey was disappointed, and his family on my side remained silent.

I was happy, yet I was worried about Kuya Alrey's family, who couldn't even look at me.

Kuya Alrey suddenly stood, stealing their attention again. "'Di nyo ba maintindihan ang point ko? Your son is literally dating my brother—"

"Nothing's wrong with that, hijo. All you can do is to accept and support them," Mrs. Villamore said.

"I can't."

"Why?" Patrick asked.

Tita Alice stood too. "Alrey, tama na."

Kuya Alrey stared at Patrick. "Makakasira ang relasyon niyo sa reputasyon ng company. 'Di ka ba nag-iisip?"

I knew Patrick was offended by that, and that made him stand and was about to throw his fist. Buti napigilan siya. "Patrick, calm down."

"Nandidiri ako sa inyo!" sabi pa ni Kuya Alrey.

"Mag-ingat ka sa pinagsasabi mo. Kung tutuusin, kayo pa ang makakasira sa company namin kapag nalaman ng lahat ang totoo. Kung alam mo ang tungkol sa amin ni Flynn, may alam rin kami sa kasalanan nyo sa kanya."

Ngayon, naguluhan ulit ako sa sinasabi ni Patrick. Pero, pansin ko ang biglang pagtahimik ni Kuya Alrey.

"You can't say anything, right? Umamin ka rin. Ilang taon niyo na tinago kay Flynn? 5 years? 6 years?"

"Shut up—"

"Flynn's parents left millions in their bank accounts before they died few years ago. 'Di ko alam kung paano nyo nagawang kunin ang lahat ng 'yon pero gipit ang pamilya n'yo noong panahon na 'yon, 'di ba? While Flynn was grieving for his family's death, you took that chance para makabayad kayo sa mga utang nyo? What kind of relatives are you?"

No'ng una, ayaw kong paniwalaan ang bawat binitaw ni Patrick. I couldn't process everything I'd heard. My mind was still in a state of confusion. I couldn't even utter just a single word. My hands were shaking already.

"You're just kidding—"

"Oh com'on, Alrey. Nabisto ka nga, magsisinungaling ka pa. How about you, Tita Alice? Wala ka bang balak umamin kay Flynn sa lahat ng nagawa nyong mali?"

Lahat kami napatingin kay Tita Alice. She couldn't look at me straight.

"Was that true, Tita?" I finally spoke.

She stood, and walked towards me. Right before me, she kneeled down on the floor and grabbed my hand. "Patawarin mo ako, nak. Sorry kung 'di ko magawang sabihin ang tungkol rito. Pero, pangako, isasauli rin namin ang lahat ng kinuha namin," she cried.

"By letting your son marry my sister so you could easily sign deals with our company? How pathetic you are," sabi pa ni Patrick.

I didn't want to see Tita Alice crying and kneeling before me, apologizing and asking me to forgive everything they've done behind my back since the day my family died.

Now it makes sense. What he'd said in front of us makes sense. Tita Alice admitted it. Kuya Alrey is still in denial. Both Tito Renzo and Ate Reina remained silent.

"Mapapatawad ko naman kayo," I spoke once more. "Kaso, 'di ko mapapatawad ang ginawa ni Kuya Alrey sa akin."