16 July 2015, Thursday
Rain. The light pitter patter on the roof, the cool breeze of the wind, the feel of tranquility it brings being under the gray area when the skies decide to water the earth, the memories coming back either as slowly and surely as falling in love, or just as fast as one falling out of it. There's just something about the rain that makes me love it. It calms me down. It lulls the monsters inside my head to sleep. Even just for a bit. Ma, I know you're here.
The cloud was a darker shade of gray than it was before when RJ stepped out of the office and onto the hallway. It was pouring hard. The weather forecast that morning didn't prepare him for this heavy rain. Good thing, he never dared remove his umbrella from his sling bag. Checking the skies again for a sign of the sun and despite seeing just gray, he stepped out of the building sheltering him from the rain and began to trudge his way home under his trusty black umbrella.
He was about to turn by the corner block when a speeding car passed by, splashing his side wet, his white dress shirt splattered with bits of mud. Upon acquired reflex since he chose his profession, he checked the canister slung across his torso, looking for any signs of water seeping up inside and that if the papers and blueprints did not get wet. Forget about the newly bought shirt, those papers were due by the end of that week and although he needed to revise at least half, he could not afford losing them now.
"Rain?"
RJ was so startled by the voice he nearly dropped both his umbrella and canister. Mentally scolding himself, he grasped both tighter this time. He turned around and saw a girl looking so grim while staring up at the sky.
"Rain," he confirmed.
The girl, now facing him, pouted. How could a distressed human being look so unbearably... cute?
"Ayaw mo sa ulan?" he asked because he does. Despite how much it is against his chosen profession, he can't help but adore it as much. He feels at peace, relaxed. He feels home.
"I'm not a pluviophile, but I don't not like it. Do you get me? It's refreshing and all sometimes. It's just that..." The girl looked down. She was wearing a loose white shirt with black drawings at the front (a size too big for her), black tights, and oh, white kicks.
"Oh."
"Yeah," she sighed dejectedly as she sat by the stairs inside the building.
"Bat nakasimangot ka?" RJ asked, following the girl's lead. He was in a rush, those papers and blueprints he needed to submit that very week won't revise themselves. But there was something about this girl that intrigued him, and so, he wanted to stay a bit longer.
The girl looked up at him questioningly but answered anyway, "Gutom na 'ko."
RJ laughed his deep manly laugh. No one has amused him this much for a long time. He grabbed his sling bag, took an unopened pack of crackers, and sat beside her. "Heto, tira ko kaninang break."
She looked at the food uncertainly.
"Walang lason yan," he answered her unvoiced question. He opened the pack, broke off a small piece and ate it to prove his point. "Ayan, oh, aaahh, di bumubula bibig ko aaahh."
She smiled and he grinned because he did that. He had made her smile.
"Sigurado ka na walang leftover laway 'to ah," she said before taking the offered food from his grasp and stuffing her mouth with it.
"Meron ata.."
"Wah?!"
"Wala! Walang laway! Wag mo na iluwa, grabe sya. Kailangan lawayan muna bago kainin? Nakita mo ng kakabukas lang eh."
