First Rain Of Summer | COMPLETED

Twenty Four

THERESE'S POV

How could someone's smile shine so bright? How could someone bring so much comfort when his life was falling apart? How could someone so warm as the sun begged to end his life because he can't bear the pain?

I can't remember how the call ended. I learned what happened to Xavier enough for my tears to fall down continuously on my cheeks and covered my mouth to sob silently.

I heard a knock and I instantly wiped my tears but there's no use. I looked at the door and to my surprise I saw him, holding two paper bags. I wanted to look away so that he couldn't see my embarrassing and messy face. Instead, I stared at his face.

His face that once was full of bruises and wounds. According to Stephanie, he had broken ribs and joints. There was a time that he couldn't walk due to a broken ankle. I must admit, I now know how Madam Eula felt when she found out that Xavier was abused.

The world is cruel to him and his father deserves torment. I couldn't imagine what the young Xavier has been through. I couldn't imagine na araw-araw siyang umuuwi sa bahay na naging impyerno niya. I couldn't imagine how he begged to be dead because he can't take it anymore.

I now understand why he always flinches whenever I just raise my hand and how he's so careful whenever he's with someone. I know now how he's so gentle whenever he grabs my wrist or my shoulder. I get it now, when he always talks to me with such a warm and calm voice, as if that's the way he wanted to be treated as a child.

"What— okay ka lang, Therese?" his voice is rattling.

Now that my hand is now on my bed, I couldn't keep sobbing. I sobbed while trying to keep my breath steady, but I failed.

"You stay there..." I stuttered when I ordered him to stay right where he was standing because he was about to approach me.

"Did I do something?"

I rapidly shook my head. You did nothing wrong, you silly. You did nothing wrong, Xavier.

"Then, why..."

Mas lalo lang akong naiyak dahil sa guilt na nararamdaman ko. I felt so horrible for using him for my own gain. His father abused him, while his mother left him and he was denied to the whole world. I'm so wrong for sulking and for being so upset when he avoided me; as per Stephanie, he was afraid to make friends because of his father.

He avoided me because he's scared that his father might harm me.

He has the very right to be a bad person, or maybe blame the world, or maybe take his own life, however, he's here instead. Asking me if he did something wrong and worried about me. In that instant, 'yong tampo ko sa kaniya dahil sa pag iwas sa 'kin noong mga nakaraang araw ay nawala.

I sniffed and tried my best to speak. "You should've at least told me. Hindi 'yong nagtatampo ako dahil iniiwasan mo ako."

I almost died and I think the aftermath of it is to become so emotional like this, as if I'm not afraid to show him my vulnerable side.

I heard him softly chuckled, "Can I have your permission to move? Nangangawit na ako rito eh, at saka ang bigat nitong dala kong paper bag."

I nodded swiftly, and pointed to the table beside the sofa for him to put those paper bags.

When he was done with the paper bags, he walked towards me.

"Ang cute mo pala kapag umiiyak. Your nose is now red." Then he proceeded to sing Rudolph, the Red-Nose Reindeer to, maybe annoy me or perhaps, he just wanted to lighten up the mood.

"Whatever," I rolled my eyes.

"There you go, the Therese that everyone knows," he casually and softly patted my head. "Nakakatakot kang umiyak, cara. Para kang magsusumbong sa tatay mo na inagawan kang lollipop ng isang kalaro."

"Shut up, Xavier." I managed to chortle.

When I'm done crying, he gave me his handkerchief. I really like his choice of scent, it's so fresh. I wiped the remains of my tears and my forehead because I sweat a lot when I cried.

"Lola's schedule is so packed today kaya hindi siya makaka-visit, pero she sent me here and she sent you these dishes." He showed me three food storage containers.

"What are those?" I asked.

"Mga paborito mo, syempre."

I felt my eyes glittered when he mentioned my favorite dishes; tempura, bicol express, and Mongolian beef.

"I'm about to order pa naman Japanese dish," excited na saad ko.

He let me stay on my bed and watched him prepare the food he bought.

"Ako na rito, Therese. Steady ka lang diyan."

As we're eating, he mentioned Andrew.

"You were the talk of the town," panimula nito. "I heard that he bullied you when you were young and now that you're in senior high school, he was trying to bully you, too."

"Well, what can I do? I'm sort of a celebrity at school." I proudly said.

"I also heard that you stabbed him in the hand," he looked at me and that made my heart beat so fast for some reason. Is he mad? Is he going to drop me because I used violence?

"I won't deny that. He deserved it kasi ginawa niya rin 'yon sa 'kin." Depensa ko.

I waited for his reaction but he just smiled.

"You should've told me, para ako na ang sumaksak sa kamay niya. In that way, you don't have to use violence and open the wound you tried so hard to treat."

I sighed in relief with his response. He's not mad and he's not going to drop me.

"But you were avoiding me," those words slipped out of my lips. I pressed my lips into thin lines due to recklessness with my statement.

"I'm sorry..." his voice was low.

I shook my head and grinned, "Don't be and beside where's the thrill kung ikaw ang sasaksak sa kaniya?"

After we ate, he tidied up the table.

"Magkano ang utang ko sa 'yo?" I blurted out that question.

Kumunot ang noo nito, "Bakit?"

I shrugged and leaned. "I just want to pay you and I don't like this set-up."

"What do you mean? You don't need me anymore?"

I nodded with his question. "I'm now your Lola's apprentice. Nakuha ko na ang gusto ko."

I don't want this set-up anymore, wherein I'm telling make-believe stories about our friendship.

"Oh, that. Congratulations nga pala. I heard it from Lola." He tried to hide his disappointment with his smile.

Inilahad ko ang aking kamay, "I'm Therese Allouette Morgan."

I wanted to laugh because of his adorable confused face but I must prevent myself from doing so.

"Silly, I'm making friends with you." I chortled when I saw him froze from where he stands. "Nangangawit na 'yong kamay ko rito."

He accepted my hand, and shook it.

"I'm Xavier Vincent Easton, nice meeting you."

This silly introduction made us hysterically laugh as we shook our hands.

"Thanks for saving my life, Xavier." I softly thanked him.

With what I stated, he just smiled. Stephanie told me that Xavier risked his life to save me.

"Let's be happy in this lifetime." I smiled at him, a genuine one.