Rain (Seasons of Love Series #1)

Prologue "Aki.." Tawag ko para masiguradong sa akin ang tingin niya. Nakahinto na siya sa harapan ko ngunit may ilang metrong distansya na pumapagitna samin. "Do you need something, Miss?" He formally asked as if he didn't know me. His expression that exceeded the coldness of current zephyr reminded of the time that we're still stranger yet. "Aki.." I almost lost my voice because his words, his expression is hurting me. "Yeah? I know my name and I don't care if you're planning to utter it the whole day. Just don't do it in front of me. If you have nothing to say then I will leave. You're wasting my time." And he walked past me. I want to stop him but my feet seems glued to the floor. Dismay and frustration filled me because of his harsh remark. Kung hindi ko lang naalala ang dahilan kung bakit pumunta agad ako rito sa Pilipinas, makakalayo na talaga siya ng tuluyan. "When did I cheat on you?" Napahinto siya at napalingon pabalik sakin, nagbabaga ang mata at sarkastikong nakaangat ang gilid ng labi. "Why are you asking me for something that I'm badly curious too?" "You know most, Aki, that I can't do it to you. I couldn't cheat on you." "I thought that way too." That caught me off guard. Not on the way that he's mad but the way he believe that I'm just lying. Hindi ko alam na ganito na pala ang tingin niya sakin. "You will always choose me even I'm not in the choices? You will choose me no matter what happens? Liar!" Sumbat pa niya na hindi ko na nagawang labanan pa. Wala nang nagbadyang luha pa dahil umagos na lang ito bigla na para bang ulan na hindi na dumilim o nagpasabi na bumagsak. "Stop crying! It's not going to work anymore," he firmly said like I chose to be emotional just to get on him. He even tilted his head sideward. It defined his clenching jaw due to anger and annoyance. "I'm sorry." I languidly uttered as I wiped my tears. Huli ng napagtanto na siya ang tipo ng taong iritado sa salitang 'sorry'. He find it as an excuse rather than apology. "What was sorry for? Is that for crying or for betraying me?" At saka niya lang ako muling hinarap. "I never betray you, Achilles." Yung huling tanong niya lang ang pinagtuonan ko ng pansin. He smiled bitterly. "Ngayon alam ko ng bagay nga talaga kayo ni Ranz. Parehong sinungaling at mapagpanggap. I don't understand either why you went back here." Hindi ako makapaniwalang tumingin sa kanya. Hindi inaasahan na masasabi niya ang bagay na ito sakin. I know from the start that Aki is mean when he's mad but I can't help myself. I can't help getting hurt by his sharp words. "I want to explain my self-" "At ngayon mo pa talaga naisip ang bagay na 'yan? f**k Rain! Everybody is already moved on and here you are, acting like you just found out about it yesterday." I was. I badly want to tell it to him but my own voice betrayed me. Instead tears streamed down to my cheeks. "Aren't you tired with your lies?" He added, this time in low and languid tone. "I understand if you won't believe me. I know, I'm too late for clarification but Aki, I still tried. So please....let's fix this." I pleaded that seems nothing to him. Inilingan niya lamang ako habang paunti-unting umaatras. "If there's no way to recover our relationship, let's be friends at least-" Agad niya kong tinalikuran na s'yang dahilan para maiwan sa ere ang salita ko. I immediately snapped my self. Hinabol ko siya at humarang sa daraanan niya. "Get out in my way, Arguelles!" His voice thundered. Gulat akong napaatras subalit sinalubong ko pa rin ang titig niya. I still hope that I can find even a bit of understanding despite his hatred and resentment towards me. I still hope that he will open his ears to me for once. But things wasn't end that way. In every tick of time, hope fades. Every second that passes is the equivalent pierce in heart. At wala ng isasakit pa sa katotohanang umasa ako sa pagbalik niya. Umasa ako na pakikinggan niya na ko. Pero hindi. He went back to take away everything to me. To take the only thing he gave to me. "Befriending someone who betrayed me is a big favor to ask that even this necklace couldn't pay." And then, he walk away. With my heart, my hope, my soul in his fist. • • • • • •