When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 47

We went to Lori's graduation day. She invited me, pati rin si Patrick. I was supposed to sit next to her, wearing our toga and cap, but things have changed. Wala na rin akong planong tapusin ang pag-aaral ko. All I did was to show moral support, since she went through the last two years without me.

The rites ended. Sinalubong namin si Lori at kaagad niya akong niyakap nang makita niya ako. "I brought some flowers! Congrats!"

"Thank you! Hays, kasama sana kita ngayon sa stage eh. Pero, at least, may asawa ka na, 'di ba—"

"Anong asawa?! Ikaw talaga!"

Tumikhim naman yung katabi ko. Nakalimutan kong kasama ko pala siya. "Congrats nga pala, Lori," sabi niya.

"Thank you rin! Pero, ipapaalam ko sana sa 'yo. Pwede ko muna makausap si Flynn saglit?" tanong niya kay Patrick.

"Sure!" sabi niya kay Lori tsaka tumingin sa akin. "Antay lang ako sa parking."

Bigla naman akong hinila ni Lori at nilagpasan namin mga tao sa court hanggang sa nakalabas na kami at dinala sa garden namin. Hiningal naman ako sa pagtakbo namin. "Teka Lori, hiningal ako."

"Sorry. Madali lang naman 'to eh!"

Nang makahinga na ako ng maayos ay hinarap ko siya. "Ano pala sasabihin mo sa 'kin?"

Mukhang dadalawang-isip pa siyang magsalita. Bigla siyang nanahimik hanggang sa huminga siya ng malalim. "Actually I kept a secret from you. 'Di ko na sana sasabihin pero ayaw kong matago ng sikreto sa 'yo."

She looked at me and smiled. "Naging crush kita, Flynn."

There, I was surprised by what she just said.

"But wait, my feelings were short-lived naman. 'Di nagtagal kasi may—"

Naudlot ang sinabi niya ng may dumating bigla. "Lori!"

He went to her. He looked familiar to me, until I was able to recognize him. He was her crush, she'd been telling me about back then! I was surprised and confused at the same time.

"Flynn, this is Reece, my boyfriend," she introduced me to. He offered his hand for a handshake, which I quickly accepted.

I just gave a you-better-explain-this-to-me look to Lori. "It's a long story, Flynn. I'll tell you everything later! Mauna na muna kami," sabi niya saka sila nagpaalam sa akin.

That Reece, I wouldn't deny, he's a pretty guy. I couldn't believe she could pull out a pretty guy like him. Back then, tinutukso pa siya ng mga classmates namin dahil sa kapal ng eyeglasses niya. Well, guess who's winning today? I mean, she's really taking home the bacon.

A week later, we attended Johen and Donnabelle's church wedding. We were both the ushers for the event, guiding the guests to their seats before the ceremony started. Today's theme was dusty pastel, and everyone was looking good in their dresses and suits. Some of the guests were able to recognize me, and Patrick, too. But, not all of them know what's going on between us.

I've noticed that some female guests were acting weird. They were sitting just behind me, and they were looking at him, who was on the other side of the nave. Tumingin naman si Patrick sa akin, at mas lumakas pa tilian nila sa likuran ko.

Lumapit naman siya sa akin. "Nasa wedding tayo. Ba't ka nakasimangot?"

"Ewan ko sa'yo."

Patuloy lang ako sa guide sa mga guests habang napansin ko na lumingon siya sa likuran ko. Tumawa naman siya, "hay naku, tinotoyo na naman ang asawa ko."

Apakalakas pa ng pagkakasabi niya no'n, sabay hinawakan ang kamay ko. Sinamaan ko kaagad siya ng tingin. "Pasalamat ka, andito ako sa simbahan. 'Di kita mabatukan."

Pansin ko naman ang pananahimik ng mga babae sa likuran ko. Buti naman, kumalma na sila. Baka mahagisan ko pa sila ng mga bouquet sa tabi ko.

The ceremony started with the processional. The special guests, loved ones of the couple, walked into the church and down the red carpet. The groom walked in, and we greeted him as he walked down to the altar. Johen's looking good, although he's been a pretty guy since then.

When the bride finally entered the church, everyone was astonished to see Donnabelle wearing a beautiful white dress. Her face was covered with a veil, but as she walked past us, escorted by her father, I may have barely seen it, but she's very pretty.

Her father gave Donnabelle to his future son-in-law. There, Johen took her hand and they stood together at the altar with smiles on their faces. Everyone was so happy to witness them exchanging vows and securing their marriage with a kiss at the end of the ceremony.

After the ceremony, we headed to the reception. Akala ko nga club yung pinasukan ko. Ang lakas ng tugtog at may DJ pa. Well, party goer rin naman si Donnabelle, as far as I know, kaya 'di na rin ako medyo nagulat.

Nasa table lang ako, tahimik na kumakain. Bigla namang kumalabit sa akin, at paglingon ko, isang bata pala. It was a pretty girl, which I remembered, who walked down the nave as a flower girl back in the ceremony. "Kuya, I'm lost."

That immediately reminds me of my little sister. Bigla akong nag-alala sa bata at kinarga siya. 'Di ko pa naman kilala kung sino parents nito. "Where's your mommy?"

Pinunasan ko muna yung icing sa mukha niya. "She told me to wait on the table, but I'm scared so I tried to follow her."

"Did she tell you where she went?"

She shook her head. "No, but I heard from her friend that they'd go outside."

Ano ba 'yan, napakapabayang nanay naman. Dapat nasa hotel rooms na yung mga bata. "Okay, we will go outside. Let's look for your mommy."

Pumunta kami sa labas ng venue. It was just a garden, pero madilim na rin kasi gabi na. Nilibot ko ang garden at may nakita naman akong dalawang babae na nag-usap. "Mommy!" sigaw ng bata at humarap naman ang mga babae.

"Oh baby, sabi ko, wait ka muna sa 'kin doon? Hays, buti pa ipasok na kita sa hotel room mo," sabi ng mommy ng bata.

May kumalabit naman sa akin, isang bata ulit. "Kuya, can you bring me inside?" It was a little boy, pointing to the reception venue.

Kinarga ko naman siya. It's weird, parang pinaglalaruan ata ako ng mga bata ngayon pero 'di ko na lang muna iniisip at dinala ang bata sa venue. Tahimik lang siya, tas bigla namang tumawa. "Is there something wrong?" I asked.

"Wala naman po," sagot niya.

Pagpasok ko ng venue, nagtaka ako dahil naging tahimik at madilim na. Mukhang natapos na ata ang party.

Gusto namang bumaba ang bata kaya binaba ko siya pero hinala naman niya ang kamay ko. "Saan tayo pupunta—"

Nasa madilim na parte na kami ng venue at bigla na lang ako binitawan ng bata pero may humawak na sa kabilang kamay ko. Akala ko bata pero ramdam ko na medyo malaki yung kamay na nakahawak sa akin.

Bigla na lang may spotlight na tinutok sa aming dalawa, saka ko nakilala kung sino yung humawak sa akin. "Hi," sabi niya.

"Anong nangyayari? Nasaan na yung mga bisita? Sila Donnabelle at Johen?"

"Ssh, it's just the two of us here," he said, and held my hand. I'm still confused about what's happening to him. Our eyes were fixated on each other, standing in the middle of a dark room with a light above us.

"Ang corny naman kung magsspeech pa ako, 'di ba?"

"Ewan ko sa'yo. 'Di ko nga alam anong balak mong gawin ngayon."

Tumawa naman siya na parang engot, pero nagulat ako ng bigla siyang lumuhod sa harap ko. "Ahh, kaya pala pinaglalaruan ako ng mga bata ha," sabi ko sa kanya.

He grabbed something from his pocket and showed me a box. There, he opened it in front of me, revealing what was inside of it. "Mister Rainer Flynn Toralba, will you marry me?"

Natawa na lang ako. I never imagined this moment would happen in my entire life. Akalain mo, one stranger would totally change my life. It may be a rough start between us, but he showed me the world that lies beyond what I've seen. Through storms and sunshine, he was there. I became who I am today, because of him.

He made me feel the love I never thought I'd need most, and he became the one who always makes everything possible.

I smiled, as he waited for my words to come out of my mouth. My tears ran down my cheeks in no time. "Tumayo ka nga jan!"

Pinilit ko siyang pinatayo. "So will you mar—"

I reached for his lips—a kiss that lasted for seconds yet was a very special one. "Yes," I finally spoke.

A loud cheer started to fill the room once again. Pinaghahampas ko naman siya, akala ko wala ng tao sa venue, t*ng*na. Binati naman kami ng mga bisita pati sina Donnabelle at Johen. I was supposed to enjoy the moment, but that was f*cking embarrassing. Umiyak pa talaga ako. Buti na lang mahal ko 'tong engot na 'to.

May mababatukan talaga pag-uwi namin sa condo.