Crazier [a text talk novel]

26

"Ah, shit!" Adaline cursed. She immediately searches for her umbrella.

Umuulan. Broad daylight. Tanghaling tapat. Langya naman eh.

"Bui, uso pa pala to? May kinakasal na tikbalang?" bulong sa sarili, making different absurd facial expressions as a reaction to the sudden rain. "Ri..ver.. may.. dala.. ka.. bang.. pa..yong? U..muulan kasi. May.. dala.. ako. Ma..ba..it.. ako, share.. ta..yo. Send!" she narrates as she sends River a message to inform him about the rain. She then waits under the rain, until a famillar figure shows up from Archer's dorm without umbrella and only hiding under his bag.

Kumunot ang noo ni Ada para sipatin whether or not she's sure of his identity. Yes, his. "Si... Ricci ba yon?" she asks herself at dahan dahan lumapit sa mabagal na naglalakad na figure from a distance. Still, she held the umbrella firmly above her head. "Sino ba 'to? Uso sumilong ah, bat di ata siya updated?"

Unti unting luminaw ang kanina'y malabong figure mula sa kanina. Matinding nanlaki ang mata ni Ada nang makita niya si Ricci na mabagal na naglalakad sa ilalim ng ulan, pilit na gumagamit ng cellphone at hindi nakapihit ang atensyon sa dinadaanan.

Natigilan si Ada sa kinatatayuan nya at napabagsak ang panga. Both in shock, starstruck at irita, all at the same time. Nang dahil don ay hindi siya nakagalaw hanggang sa nalampasan na siya ni Ricci ng hindi man lang siya nakaimik o pinansin at nagpapansin.

Nilingon nya ito at mistulang nakatigil si Ricci. Nakatigil lang. Nakatayo, nakayuko, nagcecellphone.

"A-aray? What?" Ricci reacts. Ada has already hit his shoulder and forced him to stay under his umbrella. "Ricci Paolo, di ko po alam na hobby niyo maligo sa ulan ng ganito." she says in full sarcasm before she makes him take hold of the umbrella and walk away alone slowly under the rain. "Sayo na yan. Magkasakit pa babe ko, jusko naman, heavens! Bawal yun! Bawal yun! Bakit ba naman kasi di to nagpapayong ha? Mapipilitan pa ko magtrike nyan papasok ng village! Kuh!" bulong ni Ada sa sarili niya habang pinipilit ang sarili nya na wag ipahalata ang pagimik magisa kay Ricci.

"Miss!" Ricci shouts and tried to walk after Ada. "Miss!"

Lumingon si Ada and grinned fakely. "Sayo na. Pauwi narin ako tsaka malapit lang ako sa sakayan ko--"

"Miss, share na tayo. Kahit hanggang sakayan mo lang." He offered and finally brought the umbrella above their heads, eventually sharing. Ada could melt and scream right at that moment, but she knew she couldn't. "S-sa sakayan?" she mumbles in doubt, asking Ricci the question she never thought she'd ask. He nods and awkwardly smiles before heading on to walk. "S-saan ka pala sasakay?"

"Sa labas ng Andrew." Ada shyly responds. Ricci nods and follows her as she leads the way.

Reaching Andrew Hall, yung sasakyan ni Ada na route ng jeep approaches. He noticed her getting ready and tumawag ng atensyon ng driver kahit nasa malayo pala. Pinahawak lang kaagad muna ni Ricci ang payong kay Ada and removed the bomber jacket he was wearing before he placed it on Ada's shoulders. "Baka malamig--"

"I-I'm fine, Ricci." she tried to give it back yet he insisted still. Pilit na nagtitimpi si Ada sa kilig. She can burst already— mukhang mukha na talaga siyang kamatis sa sobrang pula. "Its all I can offer. Babalik ko umbrella mo tomorrow--" sabi ni Ricci.

Ada sighed, "Titila din 'tong ulan. Sayo nalang din muna yan. Bilin ko nalang sa guard ng dorm mo to bukas."

They both nod in agreement and smiled. Ricci then left without a farewell to Ada while Ada chose to part ways with him, turning her back at diretso sumakay na ng jeep.

She watched Ricci walk back into the campus with her umbrella, like a little kid still trying to step on puddle of rain water.

"What the hell just happened again?" she asks herself at hinawakan ang jacket na suot nya. His smell lingered and all she got to do was to keep the enotions all in bago niya finally ilabas ang lahat with a scream sa loob ng kwarto niya— the usual place— and ichat kay River who seems to be half-half interested with this matter all the while she tries to rant about it to him.