Fire Catches Rain

Chapter 1

Vereniel

"'Bigay mo sa 'kin bag mo."

Danger.

It was a very familiar feeling that is not based on logic or reasons—a gut that something's not right. And a conscious mind can feel it in the air.

Alas-singko ng hapon. Papasok na sana ako ng drugstore para bumili ng makakain nang makita ko ang babaeng nakatayo sa tabi ng lamppost. Nakatalikod siya kaya likuran lang niya ang kita ko. But I also saw the man in black and neon-green jacket and white helmet approached the girl, isang dipa lamang ang layo ng hinimpilan ng motor nito.

"Bakit ko naman ibibigay sa 'yo, Kuya?"

Is she asking for a death wish?

Tuluyan na akong nakuha ng sitwasyon, kaya nakalimutan ko saglit ang tumuloy sa drugstore at pumagilid ng lakad, marahan, patungo sa direksiyon ng bibiktimahin ng magaling na lalaki.

"Tanga ka ba? Hold up 'to!"

Biglang hinablot ng hudas ang bag ng babae. Doon na ako pumagitna. Without warning I kicked him in the chest. Hard. Dahil matangkad ako, iyon ang naabot ng paa ko imbes na sa sikmura ko siya tamaan.

Talagang nilakasan ko na ang sipa ko, kaya napaatras ang hudas at na-out balance. Taob ito kasama ang motorsiklo nitong lumikha ng ingay pati na ang pagkabasag ng left side-mirror niyon.

Aray.

Nagsimula nang makakuha ng atensiyon ng mga tao ang nangyari.

Akma kong sanang lalapitan ang lalaki para kuhanin ang hinablot nitong bag nang makita ko ang dalawang paparating na lalaking nakamotorsiklo. Naka-black helmet pareho ang dalawa; black jacket ang suot ng isa at gray naman ang nasa huli.

Iba ang kutob ko.

Where the hell did they came from? Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay galing sila sa likuran ng nakaparadang vios sa di-kalayuan.

"What are you looking at? Let's go!" I grabbed the girl's hand and almost dragged her far away from there. From danger.

"Sandali! Sandali!'Yong bag ko!"

"Your bag or your life?" We couldn't get the chance to have her hand-bag back. Nadaganan iyon ng pesteng hudas at kung babalikan pa namin ay baka magkaroon pa iyon ng chance na bumuwelta sa amin.

'Wag mo akong kaladkarin! Marunong akong maglakad!"

"At time like this, if the situation itself tells you to fly, you fly!" We're almost running (hand in hand). "We don't know what that bullshit has he can either rose from the dead and hunt us or shoot us with his revolving pistol! And what about those two guys?"

We reached the spot where I parked my car, opened the door for her, and run to the driver's side with an alert mind.

"Seatbelt on," I commanded as I slid my body into my seat. I started the car. "We need to get out of here, fast." I stepped on the gas and reversed out of the parking spot and maneuvered my way to the road. "Where do you live?"

"It's far."

"No matter how far it is I'll take you there. Just to be sure you're safe."

"I'm not even sure if I'm safe with you."

"You're safe with me. I promise."

Three minutes later, nakarinig ako ng mga mahihinang paghikbi. A silent cry.

Gosh.

Probably it's about her bag.

I couldn't look at her. Wala akong ideya paano siya aaluin. I haven't experienced saving someone from such danger a moment ago. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na may sinagip ako. At nagkataon lang din naman na naroon ako nang lapitan ang babae ng walanghiyang hold-upper. And I am thankful that we got away from there as possible—leaving her bag.