Shadows in the Rain | FILIPINO | Completed

- Chapter 13 -

"Oh. My. God! What the hell happened to you?" Katherine asked in utter distaste.

Hinagod niya ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa ang basang-basa kong anyo. I swallowed hard as I stared back at her. Bakit siya nandito sa apartment ni Cliff?

"¿Quién está ahí (Who's there)?" asked a familiar masculine voice mula sa loob ng unit.

"No one, hon'! Just a stupid brat na walang magawa. Hah! Kawawa naman," she scoffed.

"Who is it?" he asked again.

His footsteps were getting nearer to the door this time. May narinig din akong iba pang mga boses na nag-uusap mula sa loob ng unit pero hindi ko kilala ang mga iyon. Somehow, I felt relieved to know that at least they were not alone together.

A hopeful smile escaped my lips when Cliff came into view beside Katherine.

"Cliff," I whispered.

Nanginginig ang boses ko dahil sa magkahalong lamig at kaba na nararamdaman ko at that moment.

Cliff's eyes landed at me. Bumahid ang surpresa sa mga mata niya. Then his expression shortly turned into confusion nang mahagod niya ng tingin ang kabuuan ko. I knew I looked like a total mess. Frantically, he stepped out of the doorway and into the rain. Huminto siya sa tapat ko.

"You're soaking wet. Nababaliw ka na ba? Magkakasakit ka sa ginagawa mo! Wait, you've been drinking," he said. Siguro ay naamoy niya ang wine at nakita ang mantsa nito na tumilapon sa shirt ko a while ago.

My gaze travelled to Katherine behind him. Mukhang napansin niya iyon dahil sinagot niya ang tanong sa isipan ko.

"May ginagawa kaming group research paper sa loob," he said.

Looking at me, he shook his head in disbelief. I gazed back at him.

Silent tears fell down my cheeks when I saw him take off his jacket. Pagkatapos ay maingat niya iyon na isinuot sa shoulders ko. I bit my lower lip to gather my courage. And then, without a word, my hands slid around his waist. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili na yakapin siya ng mahigpit.

"Fiona," he whispered.

He didn't hug me back. Pero hindi niya rin ako itinulak palayo. He just held my hands gently at his sides as he stared at me. Nakita ko sa mga mata niya na nag-aalala siya sa akin.

"I didn't mean it... Hindi ko sinasadya ang mga nasabi ko last time... I'm... I'm sorry... Pakiusap, Cliff, kausapin mo naman ako o," I said in between sobs.

"Fiona! 'Andito ka lang pala!" David's worried voice called from behind me. Sinundan niya pala ako shortly after I dashed out of my apartment.

I felt Cliff's hand dropping to his sides. Binitiwan niya ako nang nakalapit na si David sa kinatatayuan ko.

"You, slut! Lumayo ka nga sa kanya at bumalik ka na sa pinanggalingan mo," Katherine ridiculed.

"Kath, will you please... stop it," Cliff said.

She stepped out angrily into the rain. Pagkatapos ay marahas niyang hinila si Cliff palayo sa akin. He just looked down as he stepped back. He didn't utter another word.

"Fiona! Why'd you run into the rain like that? Tingnan mo, basang-basa ka na tuloy ngayon," David commented as he stood beside me.

Agad akong inakbayan ng kaibigan ko at hinapit palapit sa kanya para makasilong ako sa ilalim ng malaking payong na dala niya.

"Cliff, please... I miss you so much," I cried, begging for his attention.

But Cliff didn't look at me this time. Nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa baba, staring blankly into nothingness. Then he silently walked backwards. Hinawakan siya ni Katherine sa isang braso at iginiya siya nito pabalik sa loob ng apartment.