The Rain in Summer (Summer Series #1)

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R18. Read at your own risk

Dedicated to Francise G.

"She loves her sister more than she loves herself. For her, the only reason she could continue living was her sister. She's her life. How can she kill someone who she considers as her life?"

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before putting his hands on his crossed knees while holding his other hand. He knew Kemisha is also my life. That I love her more than I loved myself.

"You shouldn't accuse someone for crime without evidence. That could be punishable by law. Even if you won't be punished, can you imagine how much damage it already cost the person involved?"

He looks angry. Halata ang inis sa mukha ni Kien. Ang madalas na ngumiti na si Kien sa maraming tao ay kahit tipid na ngiti ay hindi nito maipakita.

"Yes, I've been avoiding to answer all those questions about her all the time. I am also aware with the words I said that leads you to think about what's our past." Bumuntong hininga ulit si Kien. "To be honest, I don't hate her. I never hated her. It might look like I did, but I never. I just wanted to... Stop all of you to keep on mentioning her. This is my privacy, and my reason for those answers is not required to be revealed to media."

"This girl... Is not just a girl. You don't know the whole story about how her sister died. You don't know how much she suffered after she lost her only reason to live. Stop spreading fake news... Please. If you really want to support me, stop hating her. She is not the one who needs to be hated..."

I noticed his tears are forming. From Elle's ipad, I could clearly see him. Ang pag-igting ng panga niya, at halata na malalalim na hinga niya para pakalmahin ang sarili niya, ang pagpigil ng pagtulo ng mga luha niya habang matapang na sinasabi sa harapan ng camera 'yon para malinis ang pangalan ko sa mga taong hinahangaan siya.

I suddenly felt the need to ask him about some of his interviews, live, or answers about me. I want to ask him... Why did he say those words even if he still loves me? Mali rin bang naisip ko na baka habang siya ay sumisikat, nare-realize niya ang totoong nararamdaman niya?

Why didn't I want to ask him about it from the start? I know that I should ask him, but I didn't. Or am I just afraid to know that all he said are all true? That... He might say something that could hurt me even more?

I looked at his facebook account. Ilang minuto ko na itong tinititigan bago ko pinindot ang unblock. I even saw our old conversation. Ang mga litrato namin na pinag-send namin sa isa't isa. Ang mga stolen na picture namin ng isa't isa. I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

Buntong-hininga na binulsa ang ko cellphone. Niyakap ko ang sarili ko. I've been waiting for him to come back. I have nothing to do since my friends doesn't allow me to go outside or anywhere else. Hindi na ako makapag-hintay na bumalik siya dahil gusto ko na siyang makausap. Gusto ko na masabi ang lahat ng iniisip ko nung mga araw na hindi kami na kami magkasama.

"Eh? Bakit umuulan? Gwy, tingnan mo. Umaambon ba?"

Nalipat kaagad ang tingin ko kay Elle na nakatayo sa may salamin at tinitingnan ang labas. Umuulan?

It's almost 7 PM. Where is he?

Natatarantang naglalakad si Gwy papunta sa gawi ni Elle at sinara ang sliding glass ng balcony bago hinawi ang kurtina. Halos mapaawang ang labi ni Elle nang napagtanto ang dahilan.

"Oh... I mean, uhm... Ang bilis ng oras! Mag gagabi na." Naglakad si Elle patungo sakin. "Hey, are you hungry or bored? Let's go somewhere? We will go with you! 'Wag lang sa condo dahil baka puntahan ka pa nila. Sulitin na natin ang bayad sa hotel. Kung kulang, ako na ang magbabayad!"