A Reason to Believe (Agravante Series #5)

KABANATA 6

Kabanata 6

Umbrella

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"Samantha," he called.

Of course, he knew my name. Kaibigan nila si Lyane at ang iba ko pang mga kaklase. Hindi ko ma-imagine kung ano ano nalang ang kinukwento sa kanila nina Lyane tungkol sa akin.

I turned to him. My phone is still in front of me.

"Samantha ang pangalan mo, tama?" mahinahon niyang tanong, para bang naninimbang.

He's one of the members of Hero. Siya ang nakabangga ko noong nakaraan dahil sa pagmamadali ko.

I looked at him coldly. Hindi ako nagsalita. He realized I won't speak so he licked his lower lip.

"Gusto ko lang magsorry sa kung ano man ang ginawa sayo ni Jayden," panimula niya. "Nagtatalo kayo kahapon sa canteen at kilala ko 'yong kaibigan kong 'yon kaya kung ano man ang nasabi niya sayo, ako na ang humihingi ng pasensya."

I raised an eyebrow. Why would he do that just for his friend? Well, sabagay. Kaya nga friends, e.

"Ayos lang," tanging sinabi ko at binalik ang mga mata sa phone.

I know it's rude but I have nothing more to say. Sa tingin ko rin naman ay iyon lang din ang sasabihin niya.

I was right, though. Hindi na nga siya nagsalita. I saw him turned around and went back to his motor. Akala ko aalis na siya o papasok ulit sa loob ng school para siguro may sunduin pero nasulyapan kong binuksan niya ang upuan ng motor niya. He took something from there and I quickly turned my gaze back to my phone when he closed it and looked at me.

He walked back towards me. Nanatili naman ang mga mata ko sa phone pretending that I can't see him. Kinunot ko pa ang noo ko dahil hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit kailangan niya pa akong kausapin tungkol sa kaibigan niya.

Well, he was so nice for saying sorry even when he's not at fault pero sino ba ako para magsorry pa siya sa akin? And also he's out of whatever in between me and Jayden. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit maraming ganitong kaibigan na nakikialam.

Okay. My unreasonable self is waving again. I should stop being too annoyed with this group.

"Here," I heard the man.

I turned to him. And then to the umbrella he was holding. That's what he took earlier inside his motor. Sandali ko pang hindi naintindihan ang gusto niyang mangyari at kumunot ang noo ko.

"Umaambon. Baka lumakas ang ulan maya maya habang naghihintay ka ng masasakyan..." paliwang niya nang nakita ang kunot ng noo ko.

Tumingin ako sa itaas ng waiting shed at nakitang may bubong naman doon. What's the use of an umbrella if I'm here? Kahit bumuhos pa ang malakas na ulan ay hindi ako mauulanan.

"Take it," the man said.

Tinignan ko lang siya. When he realized I won't take it, he took my left hand. I wanted to protest but I was too surprised by what he did. He placed the umbrella on my hand and glance at me once before he turned around and went back to his motor.

Napakurap kurap ako. Nakabawi agad ako sa gulat at tatawagin na sana siya para sabihing hindi ko na 'to kailangan ngunit nakita at narinig ko bigla ang mga kaibigan niyang palabas mula sa gate ng school, nagtatawanan at nagkukulitan habang may mga hawak na payong para hindi mabasa ng ulan. Mga babae at lalaki 'yon. Naroon ulit sina Lyane, Nicole at Cheska at iba pang mga babae. Naroon din ang mga member ng Hero.

Kaya tumigil ako. Instead of returning the umbrella to the man, I just put it by my side. I went back on my phone and pretended that we didn't talk at all. Ayokong mas lalo pa akong mapansin ng mga babaeng 'to. For sure, this man giving me an umbrella is a big deal for them.