Summer Rain

Chapter IV

"What are you gonna wear for later?", tanong ni Gracie na umupo sa tabi ng kama.

Kasalukuyan akong nakadapa at nagbabasa na naman ng isang romance novel.

Saglit kong hininto ang aking ginagawa at binigyan ito nang pansin.

"How about you pick it for me?"

One thing that excites my sister is to play dress-up and that includes dressing me up.

She has an eye for fashion.

"Okay then, lemme see what you have here." aniyang tumayo at binuksan ang aking closet.

After a few minutes, humarap siya sakin na nakapamewang.

"You're hopeless. There's nothing here that's useful."

Napatawa na lamang ako. I know she would say this.

I don't go to parties or any occasion that needs me to dress up less or more. My wardrobe is just composed of corduroy pants, shirts, t-shirts, at pili-piling shorts. Dresses are not my thing or anything skimpy that Annie wants me to wear.

"You're such a prude." pailing-iling pa ito. "You've got to be thankful na meron kang kapatid na tulad ko to save you from yourself." sabi pa niyang pinaikot ang mga mata.

"I am indeed thankful." sagot ko naman na tinuon na muli ang aking atensyon sa aking binabasa.

"Well, you should. You just wait here. I'm going to find something for you."

And with that, she went out of my room with a sly smile on her face.

I can't believe that I let my sister talk me into wearing a dress. Now looking at my reflection on the full length mirror, I almost did not recognize myself.

The dress she chose for me is a wrap hem cami dress na sleeveless at color yellow. She said it made me look fresh and light.

Isa ito sa mga collections nya na hindi man lang niya nasusuot pa.

I'm also not big on make-up. I only used a BB Cream, a little pink blush on, and pink lip gloss. 

I combed my hair one last time and decided that it's party time. 

Huli ko nang sinuot ang aking flat sandals. 

Lumabas ako ng pinto at binagtas na pababa ang hagdan. 

Nakakasilaw ang malalaking chandeliers ni Nana. Isa ito sa mga features ng bahay na nakakamangha. It never ceases to make me feel like a princess whenever I go down these stairs. 

Kaya naman ako ay nagulat ng pagtapak ko sa huling  andana ng hagdan ay naghihintay na sila sa sala and that all their eyes are on me. 

I felt self-conscious. Paano ba naman. Hindi ako sanay na napapansin. Sa aming dalawa ni Annie, siya ang pansinin. Ang tangkad niya at katawan na parang modelo ang unang nakikita ng mga tao. Isali pa ang mukha niyang unique tingnan. 

"You're beautiful.," narinig kong bigkas ni Mario na lumapit na sa akin. 

He is striking! 

His wavy, black hair gave him this boy-next-door look. Paired with a white v-neck t-shirt that highlighted his chest hair and maong pants, he's a treat.

His light brown eyes never left mine and for the first time, I felt seen and wanted.

He smiled showing off those pearly whites and laid his hand for me. 

"Can I be your bodyguard for tonight?" aniyang nakangisi na ngayon. 

Natawa naman ako. Ang gwapo naman ng bodyguard ko. 

Tila narinig ni Annie ang isip ko. "Ang gwapo mo namang bodyguard." 

"Andito pa kami Annie. Wag kang mag-alala." singit naman ni Levi na nakatawa pa. 

"O siya. Umalis na kayo at baka nagsimula na ang bayle." ani Nana na binuksan na ang pinto. 

Tinanggap ko ang kamay ni Mario and I trembled at his warmth. Napatingin siya sa akin na tila naramdaman iyon. 

"Are you cold?"

Umiling lamang ako. "Hindi naman. I'm just not used to holding somebody's hand like this." Pag-amin ko. 

Sincerity emanated from his eyes. "Get used to it. Nakapagpaalam na ako kay Nana."

I stopped and really looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Ask your Nana tomorrow." Anyang kinawayan pa ang aming abuela bago lumabas ng gate. 

Hindi ko alam kung kakabahan o ma-eexcite ako sa sinabing ito ni Mario. 

Nana is strict, but unlike my parents, she's cool in a sense that she can understand what teenagers go through. 

She's open-minded and wants us to enjoy our youth as long as some boundaries are being drawn ahead of time. 

If what I think it is is what it is, then, I have Nana to thank for it. 

Lumingon naman ang kapatid ko at kumindat.

"You owe me one." aniyang ngumisi bago inakbayan si Levi and John.

I'm thankful to my sister. We have our differences but beyond that, nothing else matters but the love and support that we have for each other.

Watching her enjoying this moment made me feel protective of her. I know that I will always have her back as she had mine.

It seemed like everthing's falling into their right places.

Our bond as sisters is getting stronger and I have Mario by my side, telling me things that I only imagined when I was a child.

For me, I am living a real life romance novel.