MY LOVELY STRANGER

CHAPTER 29: Raindrops

I turned around to face the other side of the bed. Sinubukang kong kumilos pero may parang pumipigil sa'kin. May kamay na nakayakap sa akin. I opened my eyes only to see Tristan's sleeping face.

Muntik na akong mapasigaw.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko at pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili ko.

Nothing unsual happened aside from his arm wrapped around me.

I looked at his calm face. I get to stare at him longer and nearer, just few inches from me. He's so handsome. I smiled in admiration of his face. I can stare at him all day.

He slowly opened his eyes and it's too late for me to look away or hide my smile.

"Hmm?" his eyes met mine. His sleepy eyes were so sexy. "Staring at people's face for too long is rude, you know"

"Ha" I looked at the ceiling. "I'm not staring at you"

"You are. I felt it" he murmur and closed his eyes again.

"Bakit nandito ka? And who told you to wrap your arms around me, Aber?" Tinanggal ko ang braso nya mula sa pagkakapulupot sa'kin.

"Last night was freezing cold. I could have died if I didn't come here." he yawned.

Nag inat sya at bumangon mula sa pagkakahiga.

"Good morning, Princess" kumindat sya sakin bago umalis ng kama. "I'll prepare breakfast"

Bumangon na rin ako at inayos ang bed sheet.

Sumunod ako sa kanya sa kusina.

"Ang ganda talaga ng bahay mo" I said in awe.

"Mas maganda kung may kasama ako ditong nakatira" sabi nya.

"Wala ka bang pwedeng isama? Mga kaibigan mo, or kamag anak." I pulled a chair from the table and sat on it.

He makes coffee.

"Ikaw lang ang kaibigan ko. Pero I doubt if you will live here with me" he gave me a teasing smile.

"No way" sabi ko.

"See? I knew it" he chuckled and put a cup of hot coffee infront of me.

I checked the time. It's just 5:30am. The university is 5 minutes away from here. Too early.

"Thank you" I said and sipped from the cup.

He pulled another chair next to mine. Naupo sya dun, paharap sa akin. Itinukod nya ang siko nya sa lamesa at nangalumbaba habang pinagmamasdan ako.

"Oy, masama yan" tinapik ko ang braso nya. "Ang aga aga mong mag-Ninoy ah"

Hindi sya natinag. He smirked at me.

"Do you want to hear a story?" he said with tantalizing eyes.

"About what?" tanong ko.

"About my first and only love." he watched as I lift the cup and sip on it.

"Ok, go on" I told him.

"I met her 10 years ago" he started. "In the most unexpected time of my life. In an uncomfortable situation. She basically saved me"

I blinked. "10 years ago?"

"Yep"

"Si Xyerah ba ang tinutukoy mo?" usisa ko.

Tumawa sya ng malakas. "What gave you that idea?"

"Napansin ko kasing parang close kayo nung director. I just assumed na magkakilala kayo outside the school. So probably, you've know each other for years" sapantaha ko.

"Wow" he clapped. "Nahulaan mo yun? You're amazing" tumawa sya

"So, ituloy mo na ang kwento" sabi ko.

"We've met in the pouring rain. Ang awkward lang kasi at that moment, I was crying out loud" he paused to reminisce. "I barely recall the other events at that day. All I know is that I was mourning for my mother's death. Hindi ko matanggap na kukunin na ako nila lolo at papa kaya tumakbo ako palayo sa bahay. Tumakbo ako ng tumakbo hanggang sa maligaw ako. Tumigil ako nung napagod na ang mga paa ko. Saka ako umiyak ng umiyak. Calling my mom's name. Gabi na nun at sobrang lakas ng ulan."

"So, anong ginawa nya sa'yo?" tanong ko.

"Out of nowhere, she came and wrapped a warm scarf on my neck. She held my hand. Pinatigil nya ako sa pag iyak. She assured me that everything's gonna be alright" he continued the story.

As he speak, there was blurry memory that comes to my mind. It's like forcefully sinking into my brain.

"You know, All my life, I didn't get to see my father all the time. My parents were separated because my mom is from a poor family. Bale ayaw sa kanya ng pamilya ni Dad. I grew up disappointed in him dahil di nya manlang pinaglaban si Mommy. She died of heart attack that day. Sobrang sama ng loob nya sa daddy ko."

I was left silent.

~~❤

Tristan's  POV

Flashback...

"Mommy! Mommyyyy" I cry in my little voice. It was past eight in the evening and the rain is pouring heavily.

I sat on the road. Tried from running and screaming.

Suddenly the rain stopped falling down on me. I'm already cold wet anyway so I didn't pay attention to it. I continued crying.

Somebody wrapped a scarf  around me. Tumingala ako para makita kung sino yun. She bent down to help me up and then she held my hand..

I was so cold and shivering coz the blowing wind . Tumahan ako nung nakatayo na at nakatingin sa kanya.

She smiled at me. "Nawawala ka ba?"

Tumango ako.

"Bakit? Ano bang nangyari?"

Hindi ako umimik. Ayaw kong i-share ang mga nangyari.

"Ok, walang pilitan" She said. "Pero wag ka ng umiyak. Kahit pa gaano kahirap yang pinagdadaan mo, magpakabait ka lang at magiging ok din ang lahat."

"Wala na akong kasama. Wala na ang mommy ko" I started crying again. "Kukunin ako ni Daddy. Ayaw ko sa kanya"

"Bakit naman?" hinila nya ako papunta sa isang lilim na lugar para hindi kami maapyasan ng ulan.

I was hesitant to answer.

"Hiwalay ba sila ng mommy mo?" tanong nya.

I nod in response.

"Pareho pala tayo. Hiwalay din sila Mama at Papa ko" she said. "Pero kasama ko pa ang mama ko at may kapatid ako kaya hindi ako gaanong malungkot."

Her sweet voice and smile, her warm hand makes me feel relaxed somehow. I was sitting on the bench next to her, I don't pay much attention on what she's saying. I just kept staring at her angelic face.I don't actually need sweet words and consolation right now. I just needed company to make me feel I'm not alone. Which, she provided.

She is heaven sent.

End of flashback.

"She's a lovely stranger" I said to Chelsea.

Sumimangot sya. "Eh bakit ngayon, sobrang maldita nya? Ang layo nya dun sa kinikwento mo"

I grinned at her comment "You're so rude. Ganun pa din sya. Hindi sya nagbago. She always come to light up my day"

"Whatever. Ayaw ko parin sa kanya" nakangusong sabi nya.

Natatawa ako.  She never knew.