The Rain in Summer (Summer Series #1)

42

"Ay, sorry po!"

Napatingin ako sa babaeng nakabunggo sa'kin. Agad na nagsalubong ang kilay ko na tiningnan siya mula ulo hanggang paa. This girl looks like someone who doesn't shower. Ang gulo ng damit, ang gulo ng buhok, ang gulo ng mukha. Is she in a hurry?

"Hinahanap ko si... Ate Kelisha. I can't see her. Wala kasi si Mama sa bahay! Gutom na si Ate... K-Kailangan ko po siyang mahanap."

"Kelisha?"

She is not a student here. Iba ang uniporme niya. Wala rin namang estudyante sa school na 'to na ganyan kagusot ang uniform. Tiningnan ko siya sa mata. Para siyang naiiyak na hindi ko alam.

Sunod-sunod ang pagtango niya. "Opo! Opo! Si Ate Kelisha Callieva! SSG President!"

"Oh, the President."

I looked around. I don't know where exactly our President is. Baka si Kade alam, pero hindi ko naman kasama si Kade. Paano ko tutulungan 'to? Parang paiyak na, eh.

Hinihingal siyang tumingin sa paligid. She bit her lip. She looks pale. Is she sick?

"Do you want to go to the clinic first—"

Before I could finish speaking, she was about to walk but she almost fell. Hinawakan ko ang siko niya.

"N-Nahilo ako... Sorry! O-Okay lang ako!''

Okay lang? Sobrang putla na nga ng labi niya.

"Let's go to the clinic."

"K-Kailangan ko ibigay 'to... Kay Ate Kelisha."

Why is she still thinking about her sister if she is in this kind of state? "I will help you find her. Let's go."

Kinuha ko ang lunch box na dala niya at ang backpack niya. Inalalayan ko siyang maglakad papunta sa clinic namin. Hindi siya makapag lakad nang ayos.

"Is she okay?" I asked the clinic's nurse.

"She has a fever. She said she hasn't eaten anything since yesterday. Why did you bring her here? She is not a student from our school."

She has a fever while wearing a school uniform? Is she planning to go to school despite her condition? Also, she is here to bring her sister's food. Why is she bringing food for her sister? Where are their parents? She hasn't eaten anything since yesterday? What is going on with her?

I sat down. "She is... The SSG President's sister."

I skipped class to wait for her to wake up. I told her that I will help her find her sister. I can't even find where Kade is. He's the one close to the President. He has been bothering her like every single day. Sigurado nga ako na wala rin si Kade ngayon sa klase dahil sinusundan na naman niya 'yon. G11 na yata ang President namin, eh. Laging dinadaldal sa'kin ni Kade.

SHS na, bakit dinadalhan siya ng pagkain ng G7 niyang kapatid? What is happening to their family?

I looked away after staring at her for so long. Why do I have to care? I don't know these people. I have my own life to care about.

"You're awake."

"S-Si Ate..."

"I noticed you have lines on your wrist. Are you a suicidal person?"

Nanlaki ang mata niya at agad umupo dahil sa sinabi ko. Was I wrong to bring it up? Did it make her uncomfortable? I saw her ID inside her bag. She is in 7th Grade. She's too young. Is she having problems?

"H-Huh? Ano... Uhm..."

"No pressure. If you are not comfortable, then don't," I said. "Just... Just remember that your feelings are valid."