Time and Fallen leaves

She's in the rain

Today had been raining non-stop. Sobrang dilim ng panahon at sobrang lakas rin ng bugso ng ulan. Erin could only watch from the window of their classroom. Minsan ay titigil ang ulan ngunit minsan ay babalik nanaman. It was unpredictable.

Hindi na ito nakikinig sa lesson ng kanilang guro, no one actually did, they were too busy trying to keep awake dahil talaga namang nakaka antok ang panahon ngayon.

"Parang masaya maligo ngayon sa ulan" rinig niyang saad ni Keen sa katabing upuan niya.

It wasn't a bad idea actually. Milo and Erin used to secretly play in the rain during their orphanage days, nakasanayan na nilang lumalabas agad para magtampisaw sa tuwing bumubugso ang ulan. It's been ages since she last experienced the rain pouring on her face, she suddenly had the urge to go out and feel the water from above and play as if no one's watching.

The long awaited bell finally rang. Everyone scurries out of their seats at dali-daling nagsilabasan ng classroom papunta sa kanilang designated clubs. Keen and Erin parted ways, Keen went to the debate club while Erin went to the familiar yellow-bricked room, the very room where she feels most at peace —the film/photography room.

Despite the odd combination of Kai and Parker's personality, pakiramdam niya ay mas nailalabas niya rito ang totoong siya without the fear of being judged. Kai is weird in his own way, and Parker didn't even care — your existence is nothing to him anyway. Kaya ganito na lamang ka komportable si Erin whenever she's inside the club room, she can be her self, she can admit her flaws here.

"Hola! Let me see if your pitik has improved" bati sakanya ni Kai as soon as Erin step inside the worn out room. Kabadong napatingin si Erin sa pwesto ni Parker na nakaupo sa may bintana — his usual spot. Surprisingly, nakatingin ito sakanya as if expecting what her response would be. It's like Parker could hear her internal screaming dahil nagkibit balikat ito as if telling Erin na bahala siya sa buhay niya.

"Sige" mahinang saad ni Erin at kinuha ang camera sa kamay ni Kai. Sinubukan niyang alalahanin ang mga turo sakanya ni Parker at nagsimulang pindutin ang shutter. Hindi na sila gaanong nakaka bisita sa club room nila dahil busy rin bilang student council, Erin's busy with her personal affairs as well (Leeon) kaya hindi na siya gaanong natuturuan ni Parker. All she could do is cross her fingers and hope that Kai would be satisfied with her work.

Kai may be an easy-going guy but he takes his passion seriously, hindi nito basta-basta palalampasin if Erin still doesn't know how to take the simplest photo despite being a member for more than a month. A disgrace if you call it.

"Let me see" kinuha ni Kai ang camera mula kay Erin at inassess ang mga pitik ni Erin, Parker looked at them expectedly. Erin's fingers were crossed, hoping that Kai would take a liking to her photos. "Hmm..not bad" saka na lamang nakahinga ng maluwag si Erin nang iapprove ni Kai ang kanyang pitik. She immediately look at Parker's direction — who nods in approval, a slight smile carved in his perfect face.

"Pwede ka na sumama saamin every shoot" Erin's face lighten up. Naririnig niya lamang mula kila Keen ang ginagawa nila Kai whenever there's a shoot. Ang club nila ang laging nasa field, mostly covering events from wedding to runway fashion show. Despite being a team of two, laging nakakakuha ng gig ang photography / film club dahil sa galing nilang pumitik.

"Really?" Tila nagni-ningning ang mata ni Erin dahilan para mapatawa ng mahina si Parker na nanunuod lamang sakanilang dalawa ni Kai.

"Really, it's time for you to be out on the fields. Kailangan rin namin ng pangatlong kamay" ngumiti na lamang si Erin sa isinagot ni Kai. All her efforts have been paid off, may alam rin pala siyang gawin.