Rainy Days

Chapter 5

Sad. . .

Low. . .

Anxious. . .

I heaved a sigh as I watched the raindrops falling from the dark clouds onto the surface.

No one knows how much I hate it when rainy days comes. Actually I don't hate it. . .

I'm scared of it. . .

"Sigurado ka ba na 'di ka talaga sasabay sa'kin?" ate Kairene broke the silence between the two of us.

I looked at her. "Hindi na 'te kai, hihintayin ko na lang ang sundo ko," pagsisinungaling ko.

"Paano kung hindi dumating ang sundo mo ha? Wala ka pa namang payong!" bulyaw n'ya. "Dadaanan ko lang din naman bahay nyo e. Sige na," she worriedly added.

I just looked at her with all of my will. "Ano. . . Kase-"

"Ok fine," she's so quick to cut me. "Ingat na lang sa pag-uwi, chat mo ako 'pag nakauwi ka na, ha?" she said as I just continuously nodded at her.

I watched her as she stood up from the mini bench here in the waiting shed, in front of the gate of our school. Minsan pa nya akong nilingon pero ngumiti lang ako sa kanya. Pumara sya ng tricycle at sumakay na roon para umuwi.

I heaved a sigh again. The truth is, I just wanted to be alone. Gusto ko lang makapag-isip-isip at makapagpahinga na alam kong hindi ko magagawa sa bahay namin.

I closed my eyes and felt the breeze as it lingers on my skin. And then, I opened my eyes. I heaved a sigh again.

Walang katapusang problema, walang katapusang lungkot, walang katapusang hinanakit. 'Yan ang nakikita ko ngayon sa ulan na wala na ata pang balak huminto sa pagbuhos.

Habang patagal nang patagal ang ulan, palakas na rin nang palakas ang pagbuhos nito. Kasabay naman din no'n ang palakas na palakas na ring pagdaloy ng kaba sa sistema ko.

I checked the time on my watch. It's already 2:27 in the afternoon. I think it's time to go now. Wala naman na ata talaga pang balak sumipot ang driver ko. Sigh. Actually, I already knew it.

I stood up from my seat and as soon as I am ready to face the rain, I felt nothing. Wala akong naramdamang ulan. Ni hindi man lang ako nabasa.

Am I hallucinating?

As I motioned my head to face the floor because of confusion, I saw a silhouette of a person holding an umbrella on my back at mas mabilis pa sa alas kuwatro ang ginawa kong paglingon dito.

I got semented on the place where I am standing when his dark brown eyes met mine. I swallowed hard and don't know what to say on the familiar man who's now standing in front of me.

"Kanina-"

"Ihahatid na kita," putol n'ya sa sasabihin ko.

He led the way and although confused, I just followed. He held my back gently para masabayan ko s'ya.

Nang naaayon na ang pwesto naming dalawa sa katamtamang payong na dala n'ya, tinanggal na rin n'ya ang kamay n'ya sa likuran ko.

I suddenly felt comfortable with him and it feels weird, thinking that we are actually both strangers. Although, madalas ko naman na s'yang makita sa school. Lalo na magkatabi pa ang rooms namin. But still, weird pa rin e.

Along the way, silence eaten our crowd. No one dared to talk. Not until he stopped walking and faced me. "Saan ka nakatira?" he asked.

"Uhm. . .doon nalang," turo ko sa may red gate na malapit na lang din naman.

"Let's go." I just nodded and he gently caressed my back again so we can walk the same way.

"Thank you sa pagshare ng payong mo sa'kin ha," I genuinely smiled at him but I just received a nod. "By the way, I'm Elyza and you are?" I asked, still smiling gently.

He rewarded me a glance and quickly looked up for the sky that made me do the same also.

Wala pa ring tigil ang ulan sa pagbuhos nang malakas pero ang lakas nito ay hindi na ganoon kalakas katulad kanina. Bumalik na naman yung pakiramdaman na nakapagpapahina sa akin.

"Just look up on the crying sky that's surrounded by so many dark clouds, by looking at the weather you'll recognize my name," he said.

It's raining. . .but I seriously don't know what he is talking about. I looked back at him but he already vanished.

As I roamed my eyes around, I saw him walking in a distance. Right hand on his pocket and left hand holding his black umbrella. I smiled. I know him, actually, not by his name but by his face.

As soon as I look up for the crying sky again, my smile vanished. Making me think of the negative thoughts again. I don't know but I just feel dejected, by merely looking at the pouring rain that's continously falling on the ground.

Nagising ako sa mga patak ng ulan na nararamdaman kong dumadampi sa mukha ko. Ang lakas ng ulan at kaya pa nitong pumasok sa bintana namin para abutin ako. Pinagmasdan ko pa muna ang ulap na umiiyak at tinanong ito "Nalulungkot ka rin bang wala ako sa tabi mo?". Mahina akong natawa sa sarili ko at bumangon na para isarado ang bintana.

Wag ka munang pumasok sa ngayon, hindi pa ako handa para sa pagdating mo. Isa pa, may pasok pa ako kinabukasan at kailangan pang humabol sa mga kulang ko. Kaya wag muna ngayon, ulan.