When Rain Falls (Friend Series #1)

Chapter 23

"Hey." Bungad sa akin ni Ace nang makalabas ako sa classroom. Nang makalapit sa kanya ay ibinagsak ko ang katawan sa kanya at nagpakawala ng malalim na buntong-hininga.

"How's exam?" he asked and snatched my bag and books from my hand.

"Draining!" I exclaimed.

Aming binagtas ang mahabang pathway ng unibersidad papunta sa parking area. Yakap-yakap ko ang baywang ni Ace habang nakaakbay naman siya sa'kin.

Many things happened. I celebrated my Christmas and New Year holidays with Mom and Miko. I already expected Dad wouldn't stay with us for the rest of the holidays. I'm fine with that. Georgina and Mira could have him all. For all I care.

It still hurt but acceptance helped me a lot to release the pain away. Ang sa akin lang ay sana hindi na niya itinago ito sa amin ni Miko as he will never be a perfect father figure to us. And all his pretensions made it even worse.

But then, I don't care about that. I'm happy and very much contented with my life. Ace's with me, my friends, Mom and Miko. They're all that I ever wanted. Wala na akong mahihiling pa.

Huling araw ng exam namin ngayon. I'm so tired and drained. Ang dami kong nakalimutan na sagot at ngayon ko lang naaalala ulit. I scratched my head looking at my reviewer to check how many mistakes I made.

I was pulling my hair nang bumalik si Ace galing counter. He snatched the reviewer away from my hand and hid it.

"It's already done. You could no longer correct the mistakes you've made so stop sulking."

I pouted.

"Do better next time." he added.

"Okay." I beamed.

I sat properly when our orders are served.

Chicken wings! God. I'm salivating already. I wet my lips as I stared at the chicken. Ace then put my gloves on.

Siya ang bahala sa pagputol ng chicken wings. Wala akong ambag kung hindi ang kumain ng mga pinuputol niyang chicken wings para sa'kin.

We usually eat together. Hindi mawawala sa isang araw na hindi kami magkasamang kumain na dalawa. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. I'm delighted that we still have time for each other kahit na busy kami pareho sa studies namin.

"Eat slowly," paalala ni Ace saka inabot sa'kin ang isang baso ng tubig. I cough before I drink the glass of water.

Ang dami kong kinain. I almost ate three-fourth of the chicken wings we ordered. Kahit si Ace ay nagulat din sa katakawan ko.

He smirked. "Seems your exam really worn you out."

Well it is! I am so drained, tired and hungry. Parang ngayon ko lang nararamdaman lahat ng pagod ko sa isang linggo kong pakikipagsapalaran sa exam ko.

My days in St. Joseph went just like the usual with Ace. We'd spent our lunch together but we rarely meet in the library anymore dahil hindi na gaano kaluwag ang schedule namin kagaya ng dati. Sagad na ang dami ng mga subjects na kinukuha ko ngayong semester at ganoon din naman siya. But we still manage to meet everyday.

"How's your exam?" Mom asked me.

Tonight, we're having our dinner date in a restaurant. Pagkatapos kong sagutin ang tanong ni Mommy ay nagsimula na kaming kumain.

Natakam agad ako nang makitang ang paborito ko ang nakahain sa hapag. Kinuha ko ang chicken leg. I sliced a small portion of it and about to eat it when Mom stopped me.

"You're gaining weight, Raniyah. Avoid meats for now." she said.

Am I?

I scanned my body. It looks like the same. Hindi ko naman pansin na tumataba ako. Mom's just being perfectionist and meticulous kaya kung anu-ano ang napapansin.

Sumimangot ako at sumandal sa aking upuan nang maalala ang gustong mangyari ni Mommy. Kaagad siyang tumawag ng waiter at sinabi na ibahin ang dish para sa akin. Mabilis ko namang inurong ang pinggan ko para makuha ito ng waiter dahil natutukso ako habang tinitingnan ang paborito ko.

I heard Miko chuckle so I turned to face him. He stuck his tongue out to tease me. He knew that chicken's my favorite.

I frowned at my brother.

Mom just ruined my good appetite when she forbade me to eat chicken. Ang masama pa ay vegetable salad ang ipinalit sa chicken ko.

God knows how much I hate veggies. Mabubusog ba ako ng damong ito?

I looked at Mom with puppy eyes but she just shook her head. Hindi ako pinagbigyan. She's still strict as before. Isang bagay na hindi namin mabago ni Miko.

"You should start taking care of your figure, Raniyah. Do a healthy balance diet." she suggested and began talking how to have a healthy lifestyle and its importance to my life.

Mommy is busy giving lectures kaya hindi niya napansin na patago akong binibigyan ni Miko ng karne sa ilalim ng mesa gamit ang tinidor niya kaya napapangiti ako habang pasimple itong sinusubo at hindi 'yon napapansin ni Mommy.

"Thank you." I mouthed at my brother when he almost gave me half of his dinner.

Ace and I got busier with our studies kaya pakaunti nang pakaunti ang oras na inilalaan namin sa isa't isa. Minsan ay hindi na niya ako nahihintay at nakakasabay kumain pero walang palya ang paghatid niya sa'kin sa bahay.

Isang araw bago ako pumasok sa unibersidad ay napagpasyahan kong bumili muna ng kape sa isang coffee shop malapit sa St. Joseph. I am certain with my plan until I saw him.

Kaagad na nagtama ang tingin naming dalawa. He smiled and waved at me. I turned my back and closed my eyes. This guy is really infuriating me.

I shook my head and decided to continue with my plan. Dumiretso ako sa counter para um-order ng kape.