Moments

Rain of Colors

1.8.17 AMACon4 - Day7: Prompt - You're gonna suffer but you're gonna be happy about it.

Rain of Colors 

"San ka na? Magsisimula na, friend"

"Sige, diretso na lang ako dyan, meet up na lang sa finish line"

Maine can't help but sighed. Pinauna na niya ang mga kaibigan dahil mukhang totally na male-late na talaga siya sa event na pagkikitaan dapat nila. She woke up early actually, but her car just suddenly malfunction in the middle of the highway on her way to MOA.

She called her dad who immediately comes to her rescue. Sumunod ito kung nasaan ang kotse nya. Habang si Dean, ang younger brother niya ang naghatid sa kanya sa MOA Open grounds where the Color Manila Run is happening.

It's a yearly running event that her friends always join. But a first for her."Friend, na-register nakita. I sent your running shirt na rin to your house. All you have to do is show up at the event. Kaya, don't ever not to show up kundi magtatampo ako sa iyo talaga ng todo. Okay?" she remember Sheena said on the phone three days before the event.

Kaya naman, ayun nga. Nandun na siya. Dean told her na dadaanan na lang din daw siya nito pauwi mamaya.

Dahil late na siya, Maine just drop her bags at the baggage counter and then proceed to the running path, mabuti na lang at naka-running shirt na siya na issued by the Color Manila mismo. Tulad niya, marami din ang na-late na nagsimulang tumakbo. Kaya naman ang dami pa rin niyang kasabay.

She smile and simply run. Soft running lang kasi di naman siya expert at di rin siya talaga ma-exercise na tao. The morning air feels so nice, it has been awhile when she has this kind of time to herself. Sobra din kasi siyang naging busy sa pag-manage ng own bakeshop niya. Kaya siguro, kinulit siya ng kaibigan na sumali sa event na yun.

Nagulat siya ng biglang may malakas na tubig ang bumuhos. Napanganga pa siya habang naghiyawan naman ang mga kasabayan nya. Apparently, it's tradition.

Ilang saglit pa ay nakarating na siya sa isa sa stop over, this year's theme is "ati-atihan". There's an arc you'll pass by while running, where men and women in ati-atihan garb are waiting, dancing while they threw colored dust to all the runners that passed by. Each arc you pass has different colors assigned. So kung nag-skip ka obvious? Haha!

First colored dust is yellow, her favorite. She took her time bathing in that color. Next is blue, then comes green and purple. By that time, hinihingal na siya. Then comes the water station.

Then, she saw that the last color is pink. Konti na lang! Tinakbo na niya ang last arc and happily bath in pink. Pero di pa pala nagtatapos roon, may ilang metro pa siyang kailangang itakbo. Pinilit niya ang sarili, if there's one thing she's good, it's trying her best in everything she do. So, when she comes to the finish line, she felt like partying.

"Congrats!" Her friends was waiting for her there. Nagyakap sila. All of there faces and body covered in colors.

"Tara! Let's get our medals!" excited na sabi ni Sheena. Hinila siya nito sa mga booth. Nakuha nila ang silver medals. And tried all the fun booths.

Maine and her friends enjoyed themselves that time. Akala niya yun na ang finale ng event, pero meron pa palang mas inaabangan ng lahat.

The rain of colors. Each runner that comes at the event are given a color packet. After the runs, everyone is instructed to stand together, loud music is playing and in a countdown, all was encourage to pull out there color packet and throw it in the air.

It literally, rain colors! Namangha si Maine and at the back of her mind, she vowed to come again next year.

Just then, she felt her leg muscle spasms. Her joyful shouts turn to painful shriek. And once the music lowered in volume, someone was already by her side aside from her friends. Bahagyang lumayo ang ilang mga tao sa paligid nila to give them space.

"I heard your shriek earlier. I'm one of the first aider around the area. Are you okay?"

Natulala si Maine sa lalaking kaharap. Everyone is covered in colors, ganun din ang binata pero ang mga mata nito puno ng sincerity at pag-aalala bukod pa sa agaw-pansin din na dimple nito sa kaliwang pisngi.

Napaubo pa saglit si Maine bago sumagot, "Yes, biglang sumakit ang binti ko"

Tumango ang lalaki. Napatingin siya sa malaking ID name tag nito, "Richard"

"Yes, I'm Richard. Don't worry, akong bahala sa iyo..." nasabi pala niya ng malakas ang pangalan nito.

Noon naman sinimulang hilutin ni Richard ang legs niya. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ni Maine, akala mo tumatakbo siya uli. And suddenly, she's thankful to all the colors that covered her body because Richard will never notice the blush on her face.

"What's your name?" tanong ni Richard habang patuloy na mina-massage ang legs niya.

"Nicomaine"

Ngumiti si Richard, "Well, Nicomaine, how do you feel now?"

Pinakiramdaman niya ang sarili. At napahinga ng malalim, "Nawala na ang sakit"

"Good. Is it okay if I carry you to our booth para ma-check ko ng mabuti?" he asked nicely.

Marahan siyang tumango. In an instant she was in his arms and he's carrying her. She turns to her friends, "Enjoy yourself, puntahan nyo na lang ako sa first aid booth after"

"Pero--" tututol pa sana si Sheena pero mabilis na nakalakad si Richard palayo habang buhat siya. Napangiti ang kaibigan at kumindat sa kanya.

Napakunot-noo siya pero tumango na lamang.

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Yes, this is my first time here"

"Ah, I figured. Don't worry. I'll give you tips to prevent this happening again" Richard said, still with a smile on his face.

Maine can't help but smiled back. The guy is very warm and a gentleman. "Thank you. I'll make sure to remember your tips for next year"

"I will be here too next year"

"So, see you again?" she asked abruptly.

Richard laugh out loud. "Yes, definitely" He look at the side for a second before gazing back at her, "I'm glad to meet you, Nicomaine"

Maine nod and smile, "Me, too. Glad to meet you, Richard"

_ _ _

A/N: Thank you for reading!

(c)chapter photo used is from EB ^-^ *isipin nyo na lang colors yan di snow, hehe* *chos!*