When It Rains

Chapter 01

THEY SAID, when it rains, it pours. Just like the tears in her eyes. No matter how hard she try for it to stop, it's still continue to pour. Hearing the sound of the heavy raindrops with the loud clap of the thunder, she stood there—staring at nothing blankly, letting the rain soak her wet.

Hindi niya alam kung ilang minuto na siyang nakatayo roon. It was raining the whole night and she can't sleep. As usual. Wala nang bago.

Napapikit siya nang sinabayan ng malamig na hangin ang malakas na ulan. It's so cold but she doesn't mind. She hates the rain for it reminds her of the people she misses but it's also the only thing that calms her.

I miss mom... I miss dad.

As memories invade her mind, her tears continuously fell until she's quietly sobbing.

Bakit niyo ba kasi kami iniwan?

Patuloy lamang siya sa pag-iyak. Hindi mawala sa isip niya ang mga pinakamamahal niyang magulang. It was raining that time, just like now. And her heart...it's aching.

Dapat sanay na siya pero hanggang ngayon ay masakit parin. It's been years but she still can't forget. It's like the memories were stuck into her heart and it's hard to let it out.

Sinapo niya ang dibdib at ilany beses na huminga ng malalim. It's okay, heart. You're okay.

Closing her eyes tight. She smile sadly. It's always like this. Her heart will always ache...when it rains.

AS EXPECTED, the next morning, Serenity woke up with a fever because of the rain last night. Pero binalewala niya lang iyon at bumangon upang mag-ayos. She stayed up outside till the rain stopped and walk back to her room very wet. But she didn't mind at all. Hindi naman iyon ang unang beses na nangyari iyon sa kan'ya. And she's also glad that her sister is asleep.

After changing her clothes and do her morning rituals, she didn't bother putting any make up. Sa lahat ayaw niya ang mga kahit anong palamuti o kahit ano pang paartehan sa mukha. Pakiramdam kasi niya ay mabigat iyon at hindi siya komportable. Even lip tints and blush on.

It's okay since her lips are naturally pink. Even if she's burning with fever.

Nakuha niya yata ito sa ina. She's very like her mother while her sister is very like her father.

Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng lungkot, pero bago siya lamunin ng lungkot na iyon ay kinuha na niya ang bag tsaka lumabas ng silid.

It's just 5:57 a.m. so the house is still quiet. At sigurado rin siyang tulog pa ang ate niya.

Sighing, she walk towards the kitchen and open the fridge, at nang makita ang hinahanap niya ay agad niya itong kinuha at ininom.

Yakult. Kahit kailan ay hindi sila nauubusan ng stock nito. Kahit noong nabubuhay pa ang mga magulang nila. Pareho kasi sila ng ina na mahilig rito kaya palagi may ganito sila sa fridge.

Pagkatapos ubusin ang dalawang maliit na bote ay lumabas na siya ng bahay at naglakad papalabas ng village. Before riding a taxi to her school, she stopped at the coffee shop nearby. Naging kaugalian na niya ito tuwing umaga. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay parang hindu buo ang araw niya kapag hindi siya nakakainom ng yakult at frappe.

After paying and getting her drink, she walk outside the coffee shop and grab a taxi. Nang makarating sa school ay sakto ring naubos ang iniinom niya.

It was the start of second semester and she's on her 3rd year. Pero hindi tulad ng iba, wala parin siyang kaibigan na palaging nakakausap. At wala rin siyang interest na magkaroon. She doesn't need someone. She's contented being on her own.