XVI
WHO doesn't love rain?
Me? I love rain. The sound of it, the smell of the air because of it, the atmosphere it gives, the wind it blows, the gloomy sky it brings.
But not today!
"Ugh! I hate you today!" Naiinis na sigaw ko habang nakatanaw sa sobrang lakas na ulan.
Ang dami kong folders na dala and pinagpahinga ko si Kuya Lito kasi kararating lang no'ng anak niyang laging nasa dorm!
Paano ako uuwi?!
"You hate who?"
"The rain!" Sigaw ko at nanlaki 'yong mata. Lumingon ako sa likuran at nakita si Kriho. "What are you doing here?"
"Nasa tapat ka ng room ng Journalism." Sarkastikong sagot niya. "Why do you hate rain? That's sad, I love rain." Ngumuso siya at tinanaw 'yong ulan.
Anong kailangan ng lalaking 'to?
"Where's your driver? Or your two best friends? Ba't 'di ka magpasundo pauwi?" Kunot-noong tanong niya at nakapamulsang tumabi sa'kin.
I rolled my eyes. "Kung makapagsalita ka parang hindi ikaw ang dahilan na nandito ako sa school. See this?!" Inilahad ko 'yong folders. "Kaya kong lumusong sa ulan kung wala 'to. I didn't bring my bag with me so these shits of papers are my only problem."
Nawala 'yong ngiti niya at kumunot 'yong noo. "Curses, young miss."
I groaned because of frustration. "Sino ba kasi ang matinong presidenteng magpapapasok ng isang miyembro kapag suspended ang klase? Take note, member lang ako. What happened to your co-officers?" I breathed heavily. "I'm so stupid, ba't hindi ko 'yon naisip no'ng tinawagan mo 'ko kanina?"
His face softened before fixing his glasses. "I'm sorry." He sighed. "Hindi kasi pinayagan 'yong officers. Ikaw lang ang medyo kalapit ko sa mga members."
My brows narrowed and calmed down because of his apologetic expression. "Kalapit? We're friends?"
He looked at me with amusement in his eyes. "We're not?"
"We are?"
"I thought, we are..."
"Really?!" I chirped.
He blinked and blinked. We stared at each other while I'm smiling. He shook his head, bit his lip and chuckled. "Too innocent for the outside world."
I laughed. "We're friends." Napalingon ulit ako sa ground at unti-unting napawi 'yong pagtawa ko. "Pero bad timing ka. Naiinis pa rin ako."
"Alright, stop frowning. I have my car, ihahatid na lang kita." Natatawa niyang sabi.
"You have your license?" May license na siya? Tapos, ako wala? Ugh, Dad.
"Yup. Student pa nga lang."
I sighed. "At least you have one. Daya."
"Of course your father won't let you drive because you're still minor, and a girl." Paliwanag niya at nagsimulang maglakad. "Let's go. Hindi titila 'yang ulan, we should hurry home. Sa'n ka ba?"
A girl my ass. People love using that as a reason for everything.
"Do'n sa McKinley." Sagot ko bago sumunod sakaniya. "Ayos lang ba? Pwede naman siguro 'kong magtaxi."
Umiling naman siya at inayos 'yong salamin niya. "Pagkatapos mo 'kong sumbatan, magtatanong ka ng ganiyan? And it's really my responsibility because I'm the reason why you're here."
