Towel
Late na kami nakauwi because of extra paperworks. During classes, I still look at Kiro but he never looked back. I thought may progress na kami but, oh well.
It was around 5:00 when rain poured. It was in the newscast yesterday pero hindi ko inaakalang maabutan ako dito sa school. Hindi ko pa naman dala ang payong ko.
"Juls, I'll go ahead na. Nasa labas na si Kuya Joe. Hindi ka ba talaga magpapahatid?" Wendy asked.
"No. Huwag na. Iba yung daan, Wendy. Don't worry, uuwi ako maya-maya. Pag titila na ang ulan." Sabi ko.
"Okay then. Bye! Hany, sabay na ako palabas." Sabay ang iba kong kaklase, lumabas na sila ng gate. I stayed dry dahil hindi naman naaabot ang ulan sa may gate ng school. As much as I want to call my mom, I know she's busy. Day off din ng driver namin ngayon.
It's been 30 minutes at hindi pa ako nakauwi. Hindi pa din tumitigil ang ulan. I heard some voices from inside the school and saw basketball players. I guess they have practice today.
Basketball players? Kiro's a basketball player. I saw Neo in the group and looked immediately for Kiro. And there he was, habang may towel sa leeg at may gym bag na nakasabit sa balikat, his perfect face showed up. Magulo ang buhok nita at basa pa dahil sa pawis.
"Julia!" Neo shouted nang nakita niya ako. Napatingin ang ibang basketball players sa akin but my eyes stayed at Kiro's, who didn't even lifted his look. Ngumiti ako sa kanila. "Hi."
"On the way home?" Tanong ni Neo at inakbayan ako. Neon Karlos Fuentabella has been a very close friend to me. He's very friendly, total opposite to his best friend.
"Yeah. Hinihintay ko lang tumila ang ulan." I answered. Hindi pa rin humihina ang ulan pero tumatakbo na ang ibang players palabas ng school.
"Oh really? Sandali lang ha." Agad siyang tumakbo papasok sa school. Nagpaiwan si Kiro at ang iba pang players. May pinag-uusapan pa ata.
Maya-maya lang, umalis na rin yung iba. Nagpaiwan pa rin si Kiro, baka hinihintay si Neo. Because of being nervous, tatakbo na lang rin sana ako nang may towel na sa ulo ko. Nilingon ang nagpatong at nakita ko si Kiro with his usual poker face.
"You really shouldn't run under the rain. Magkakasakit ka niyan." He said and faced me. I blinked twice, thrice, maybe four times and can't even open my mouth.
"A-ah okay. Thank you!" Agad kong sabi at tatakbo na when an umbrella appeared in front of me. I saw Neo holding it.
"Sabi ko, hintayin mo ako." Neo flashed his white set of teeth. "Kumuha ako ng payong sa locker ko. Sabay na tayong lumabas."
"Pero si—" Sabi ko pero sumigaw si Neo. "Kiro! Do you still need a ride?"
"No. I can go alone. See you tomorrow at practice, Neo." He said before I can even refuse to at tumakbo papunta sa waiting shed. I looked at him and felt guilty. Sa kanya ang towel sa ulo ko, sana ginamit niya nalang ito.
Sabay kami ni Neo lumabas pero agad ding naghiwalay dahil dumaan ang sasakyan nila.
"Hey, use this. Ibalik mo na lang next time." Neo said bago sumakay sa kotse. Naiwan akong nakahawak sa payong sa labas ng gate.
Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan ang ginawa ni Kiro dahil hanggang ngayon, nasa akin pa rin ang towel niya.
