When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 44

Isang buwan ang nakalipas, bumalik na ang katawan ko sa dati. I can finally move around all by myself. Gumaling na ako.

Now, we can start everything we have been preparing for so long. It's been a year since the incident happened at Villamore's house. Nakalimutan na siguro ng lahat ang nangyari sa amin, pero hinding-hindi ako makakalimot. Naalala ko ang bawat detalye ng nangyari no'ng gabing 'yon.

It's raining hard, yet my agenda for today should go on.

I'm fully dressed with my beige trench coat over my casual outfit. And of course, I got my shades on.

Johen was the one who drove me down to a "well-known" local restaurant. I know, he's kind of worried about me. "There's nothing you should worry about. I can handle myself."

I spoke with much confidence that I hadn't learned back then. I'd been hanging out with Donnabelle for a long time, and she taught me well on things I should learn while I was healing, just to prepare myself, and now here I am, at this moment I've been waiting for.

Paglabas ko ng kotse niya, kaagad kong binuklat ang hawak kong payong. Tsaka naman ako dumiretso sa entrance at binati ng isang staff.

"Hello po, welcome to Reina's Kitchen!"

Reina's Kitchen, full of customers. Eto na ba ang pinagmamalaki nilang restaurant? Ang init ha.

Mukhang nag-eenjoy pa ang mga customers nila dito, not knowing na mga kriminal ang may-ari ng restaurant na 'to.

Hinatid niya ako sa isang vacant table at binigay sa akin ang menu. They've got plenty of food being offered here. Naaamoy ko rin ang mga niluluto nila sa kanilang kusina. Pero, may iba rin akong naaamoy akong baho.

Ang baho ng mga Heralde.

"Isang bulalo," order ko.

"Okay po. May iba pa po kayong oord—"

"Wala na. Make sure mainit yung bulalo ha."

"Okay po."

Tsaka siya umalis sa harap ko.

Gusto ko ng mainit na bulalo. Malamig kasi ang panahon, but actually pwedeng 'di na ako mag-order ng mainit na bulalo.

Kumukulo na rin kasi ang dugo ko.

Nag-antay ako ng ilang minuto para lang sa bulalo nila. Dumating naman ang waiter na halatang natataranta dahil sa akin.

"Heto na po ang order nyong bulalo—"

"Sa sobrang tagal ng order ko, nawalan na ako ng ganang kumain."

I stood, leaving the food on the table, and was about to walk out when the waiter blocked my way. "Ah sir, kailangan nyo pong bayaran yung order nyo."

"Do I have to? You can actually call your manager. She knows me WELL. She can pay it for me."

Tinitigan pa niya ako saglit. Maya-maya, may tinawag naman siya mula sa likuran ko at nanatili sa daan para harangin ako. 'Di nagtagal, narinig ko na may lumapit patungo sa amin.

"Good afternoon, sir. Is there anything I can help with? "

That voice. After a year, I finally heard her voice once more—that voice of an opportunist and a liar.

Humarap ako at nakita ko si Tita Alice, or should I say Aling Alice. She was never a Tita nor a relative to me. At first glance, she doesn't recognize me. Natawa naman ako. Binaon na ba talaga niya ang lahat sa limot?

I had no choice but to take off my shades and look at her once more. I gave her a sweet smile first before I finally spoke. "Oh, nice to meet you again, Aling Alice. Do you still recognize me?"

Natulala na lang siya nang magsalita ako. Parang atang nakakita siya ng multo. Oh, she might've thought na patay na ako dahil sa nangyari.

"Flynn—"

Niyakap ko na naman, as if namiss ko siya. "Your business is doing well, Aling Alice."

I laughed. "'Di mo ba ako namiss, Aling Alice?"

Parang siyang nabingi. Walang balak na magsalita. Tinignan lamang niya ako. Well, for sure, she didn't see me coming. I mean, she never did, maybe.

"Oh, by the way, magbabayad pa ba ako sa inorder ko? I was thinking na baka libre ako dito."

"U-Umalis ka na dito," panginginig niya.

"Aalis naman talaga ako. Kaso, hinarangan ako eh," sabi ko, tsaka ako may nilabas na folder mula sa loob ng coat ko.

"I'm actually here to give you this personally. See you in court, Alice Heralde. Pakikumusta kay Reina. Thank you."

I walked past the waiter and went out of the place. Feeling ko tuloy nasa impyerno ako dahil ang init sa restaurant nila. Well, kinareer talaga nila ang pagiging alipores ni Satanas.

Bumalik ako sa kotse ni Johen. "Mission complete?" kaagad niyang tanong.

"Of course, ako pa."

Hinatid naman niya ako sa bahay ni Donnabelle. She even congratulated me, dahil successful kong nagawa ng mag-isa ang agenda ko. Naging parang tunay na kapatid ko na rin si Donnabelle sa tagal kong pananatili rito sa bahay nila.

Earlier this morning, we had already filed a case against the Heralde family. Nalikom na namin lahat ng mga ebidensya na hinanda namin habang nagpapagaling ako. May mga magagaling ring mga abogado na tutulong sa amin. This is what we've prepared—a surprise for the Heraldes.

It's too early to celebrate, so we decided to save our energy for after the hearing.

I was holding my glass of wine when I looked at the window. It was still raining hard. Medyo matagal na rin na hindi kami nagkausap ni Patrick.

Something happened, for sure.

We had a video call two weeks ago. His hair was longer than it had been before. His beard grew. His face changed, but I could still recognize him. I was initiating the conversation when he suddenly asked to break up with me.

I thought he was just joking, but he gave me a serious look. "Look for someone else." That's what he said. Just before I could speak, he ended the call. He's acting weird. Siguro, namimiss lang niya ako.

I was trying not to be bothered by that. Naghahanda na kasi kaming lahat. Gusto naming mabawi ang lahat na ninakaw nila sa pamilya ko at tuparin ang pangako kong ipapalaya si Patrick mula sa kulungan. Konting tiis na lang. Magbabago rin ang lahat.