Under the Pouring Rain

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - False Conclusion

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As someone who lacks exercise, today was indeed hell. We were forced to stand all day habang pina-practice ang flow ng graduation ceremony. Paano ba naman kasi, a student hacked into the music operator's laptop to play Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley, and as an "act of discipline" daw, ayon ang consequence.

Dagdag pa roon ay ang tagal kong naghintay kina Trisha at Jericho, turns out, kanina pa pala sila umalis at hindi ko agad nabasa ang message nila, may lakad pa naman kami dapat after.

Sis! Nahimatay daw si mama, 'di raw kasi gagraduate si kuya susmiyo. Chika ko na lang sa'yo bukas. Sorry, bawi ako, manlilibre ka pa 'di ba? Hahaha

- Trisha

Congrats ulit p're! Sensya na, nakikipagkita kasi si Kayla sa gate kaya uunahan ko na ng uwi.

- Jekoy

It was announced that I ranked second sa buong strand namin, pero mukhang wala akong ganang i-celebrate 'yon as of the moment.

I'm physically tired, plus in-Indian pa ako ng mga tropa ko.

Realizing na wala na akong gagawin dito ay nagsimula na akong maglakad.

"Ms. Reyes," a familiar voice called me out from behind, agad akong napalingon.

"Sir."

I watched as he closed our distance up to the last two meters, medyo hinihingal pa siya pagkahinto.

"Congratulations, you never failed to amaze me, Ms. Reyes."

My heart started to race, it was certainly not the first time he complimented me but every time he does, I just can't help but giggle internally.

"Thank you po."

A brief moment of silence made me feel a little cold, until he himself broke it.

"About what happened last time. . can we just forget about it?"

Ramdam ko ang pagka-ilang sa tono ng boses niya. I've been acquainted with a bunch of adults throughout my 18 years of existence - mga basagulero at chismosang kapitbahay ko sa dati kong tinitirhan bago ako kinuha ni daddy; mga "well-educated at "well-mannered" na guests nila tita at iba pa, but never in my life did I hear them address "trivial" matters with people they consider as kids.

Such as this one.

Though I never wished for it, alam kong ganoon lang ang tingin niya sa akin - well, totoo rin naman. After what happened that time, naisip kong baka wala lang 'yon sa kaniya. He's an adult - a decent and good-looking one, I'm pretty sure na marami na siyang experience sa ganitong mga bagay to even treat my case with much seriousness - I assumed.

But it doesn't seem like it.

O baka ganoon lang talaga ang nature niya? It was his kindness and awkwardness that I fell for, to begin with.

He could have just let it be and go on with his busy life, but he did otherwise.

Even so, I must not get my hopes up - for my own sake.

I politely nodded, "Una na po ako."

He gave me a gentle smile and walked back to where he came from.

Walking past this hallway made me feel somewhat sentimental, thinking how it became both a venue and a path for new memories to be forged. This week encloses the last days of our stay here as senior high school students, maybe I should leave something? Medyas ko kaya? Char lang.

Anyway, it's already late at wala na ring estudyanteng dumadaan. I figured I should walk faster than I already am, kahit na mas trip kong mag-procession walk ngayon dahil na rin sa sakit ng paa ko kakatayo kanina sa graduation practice.

I was a step away from the school gate nang mag-ring ang phone ko sa bulsa ng coat ko. I checked on it and saw tita's name flashed on the screen kaya dali-dali ko itong sinagot.

"Hello, Gia? Where are you?" medyo chappy ang voice niya, nasa hospital pa kaya siya at this hour? I thought, mahina kasi ang signal sa office niya.

"Pauwi na po, bakit po?"

"You busy this afternoon?"

"Hindi naman po."

Well, Trisha and Jericho texted me earlier na may kanya-kanya silang lakad kahit na last week pa namin napagdesisyunan na gagala kami sa mall ngayon.

"Alright. I'll ask manong to pick you up so you can go shopping for your graduation, and for the ball na rin."

My eyes widen in surprise, "H-hala, tita, okay lang po ako. Wala naman po akong kailangang bilhin. May mga dress pa po akong hindi nasusuot."

Kahit pa binalak naming mag-mall today para doon, alam kong magkaiba kami ni tita ng idea ng "shopping": as the fashionista herself, kulang na lang ay i-reboot ko ang buong closet ko sa laki ng perang binibigay niya. Isa pa, I've already saved up sufficient amount from my monthly allowance para makapamili for the upcoming occasion.

"Then go buy more. Come one, Gia, you deserve it. Go get yourself some pairs of shoes, makeup, accessories and anything. I transferred enough amount na on your account."

"But tita-"

"No buts, consider it as my gift na rin for your achievements this year."

"T-thank you po," I embarrassingly replied.

"No worries, darling. Anyway, I have to go na, my next patient is waiting."

I genuinely admire tita's kindness, pero mas nangingibabaw sa akin ang guilt over appreciation. Studying hard itself is my way of giving back to them for letting me sleep under their roof, yet she still constantly rewards me for that - even for the smallest things. Not to sound ungrateful, but I feel like being treated as a nuisance would better put my mind at ease.

What my mother did to her was unforgivable, and as the living proof of that, wala akong rights to receive even a pinch of sympathy from her.

For that same reason, hindi ko rin masisisi si daddy for neglecting me all these years and forcing me to live up to his expectations.

***

As per tita's instructions, I spent the next 3 hours checking on each stores to shop for my necessities. Maya-maya ay nakaramdam ako ng gutom, kaya napunta naman sa mga resto ang atensyon ko.

Amidst my stroll, a group of familiar figures caught my eyes.

Above that, him.

I narrowed my eyes to make sure kung siya nga iyon.

Beyond the glass wall, I could see him with a group of ten to fifteen people and they seem to be celebrating.

I stood there watching, hanggang sa napansin kong inabot sa kaniya ang cake na may number candle.

"Birthday niya?" I stated my conclusion.

Sa dalawang taon ko siyang kakilala, ngayon ko lang nalaman ang birthdate niya. Wala naman kasi siyang social media accounts, which I heard him confirm with a fellow club member.

"Twenty . . eight. He's 28?" it didn't surprise me at all, nung una ay napagkamalan ko pa siyang college student, pero napag-alaman kong matagal na pala siyang nagtuturo. He even mentioned that he entered the medical school before.

Nevermind that, maybe I should go get him something?

***

Gia spent the night staring at the prussian-colored journal book she bought earlier, bandang huli, napagdesisyunan nitong 'wag na lang itong balutin ng gift wrapper o paper bag to avoid attracting eyes.

Attached behind it was a note:

Hi Sir!

I happened to witness your simple celebration with the faculty members yesterday, so I decided to get you something as a present while I'm shopping myself. Please do not misunderstand, this is merely my way to express my deepest gratitude to you as my former instructor, and an acquaintance - nothing more, nothing less.

Best wishes on your birthday, Sir, and for the next years to come.

Her sneaking into the wet laboratory was left unnoticed by anyone. Luckily, wala ring ibang bumisita rito and fate must have been upon her this time, as her recipient immediately perceived the presence of an unfamiliar object on his space.

He scanned the short note as he flipped the rectangular journal, although she intentionally left it without her name, Dylan could tell by the context, choice of words and handwriting.

As he did so, napakunot ang noo nito.

Then he realized; he did join the faculty members' celebration yesterday.

However, that celebration wasn't for him at all. His colleagues were informed that he will be travelling abroad next month - at mukhang doon na siya aabutan ng birthday niya so they took a picture of him holding the cake - as he'll be turning that age too.

He shook his head and bursted into a loud laughter.

"Ah - when was the last time I had a good laugh? Miss Reyes, you're — unbelievable. . . I wonder if I should just let it be. . . "

***

This morning feels somewhat refreshing. Our dryrun will start later this afternoon, on-venue na rin ang practice this time. From what I heard, it's a theater stadium. Tita commented na doon daw kami nag-pe-perform ng ballet dati.

Lumabas ako ng bahay na naka-jogging attire, kahit lakad lang naman talaga ang ginagawa ko. Ni hindi ako pinagpapawisan.

I stopped by a bench near a huge tree, at wala pang isang minuto ay may lumapit na tuta sa akin.

Hindi pa ako nakapag-alaga ng aso ever, allergic din kasi si Shin kaya hindi ko na dapat balakin pa.

Unang tingin palang ay napagtanto kong isa siyang golden retriever, kahit hindi lagpas sa tuhod ko ang taas niya ay mukhang baby pa siya.

I stroked his chin, halata ring maamo kaya sinubukan kong buhatin.

"Oh, hello. . Nick? Nasaan amo mo? 'Di ka naman mukhang asong kalye." I read the name engraved on his collar's pendant. Siguro ay dadalhin ko na lang sa guard house.

"Penny? Penny?"

Saktong pagtayo ko ay may narinig akong boses mula sa likuran ko. I turned around and saw a guy who seems to be around my age. He keeps on poking the floor with a stick at may suot din itong shades kahit makulimlim.

"Hello. Kailangan mo ng tulong?" I took a few steps towards him with the dog still in my arms.

"My pup's gone missing."

"Oh. 'Yung Penny?"

"Yes." He seems irritated, tinutulungan na nga eh.

"Anong hitsura ba?" tanong ko, kahit mukhang hindi siya friendly.

"He's a golden retriever, about this size," he pointed the stick at the level of my knee.

Napakunot ang noo ko, he seems to be describing this "Nick" guy pero iba Penny ang pangalan. Parang wala rin namang reaction si Nick sa kaniya, unlike those dogs na nakikita ko online na na-e-excite kapag nakikita ang amo nila.

"Penny talaga pangalan?"

"How many times do I have to repeat it? He has a collar with that name engraved." At aba pinagtaasan pa ako ng boses!?

"Sungit ha. Tinutulungan na nga eh," I rolled my eyes, hindi naman niya ako nakikita. Either way, I'd do the same dahil wala naman akong ginawa sa kaniya for him to speak in such manner.

"So have you seen him?" kalmado na ulit ang tono niya, pero may bakas pa rin ng inis.

The audacity ha?

"Hindi. Saan ba bahay mo, hatid na kita?" I offered.

"I can manage, I just have to find my dog first."

"Attitude," bulong ko.

"What did you just -"

"Wala."

We stayed that way for a brief moment, alangan namang iwanan ko? Accountable pa ako kung may mangyaring masama sa kanya.

Maya-maya ay may humintong kotse malapit sa amin at may babaeng bumaba mula rito. She seems to be on her early twenties, mukhang model, in fairness.

She jogged towards us and held the guy's arms.

"Ethan? What's happening? Who is this girl and - why are you holding Penny?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at muling napatingin sa asong yakap ko.

Ano raw!?

"She does?"

I was left speechless and confused for a short while. Bakit parang ako pa ang kontrabida for today's episode?

"You said you did not see him," I could sense anger in him as he took a few steps forward - pa-diagonal nga lang.

"Hindi nga," mariin kong tanggi.

The woman raised a brow at me. "That's Penny in your arms."

"You liar."

Woah and now he's accusing me?

I was caught off-guard, kaya agad naagaw ng babae mula sa akin ang asong hawak ko. "Give me that, are you from here? I don't think a resident of this place would dare steal a dog from a blind person!" she yelled.

Naloloka na ako, anong eksena 'to?

"Teka nga ho. Tinulungan ko ho siyang hanapin 'yang Penny niya, pina-describe ko at sabi Penny ang nalalagay sa collar. Eh kung marunong kayong magbasa, malinaw namang 'Nick' ang nakalagay diyaan," paglilinaw ko, nagtataka namang napatingin ang babae sa collar na tinutukoy ko.

"Nick is another dog," sabat ng lalaki.

I saw expression soften, "O-oh. My bad, I washed them kasi earlier, napagpalit ko pala 'yung collar nila. I'm really sorry."

For the second time, I rolled my eyes, may karapatan naman na siguro akong magtaray ngayon ano?

"Nagmagandang-loob na nga, tapos ganito pa mapapala ko. Sige po, may kailangan pa akong gawin," maglalakad na ako pabalik nang magsalita ulit 'yung Ethan.

"Wait, I'm sorry."

I sighed. "Ayos lang. Alis na 'ko."

"Thank you. . for keeping him safe," dagdag pa nito.

"Wala 'yon, sana 'wag niyo na siyang hayaang magpagala-gala next time," paalala ko.

"Yes, I apologize for that too. By the way I'm Ethan Chen, and this is my sister, Ella."

Now we're exchanging names, huh?

Gusto ko pa sanang magtaray pero mukhang wala akong panama sa ate niya kaya 'wag na lang.

"Gia, Gia Reyes."

Surprised, the woman spoke, "Reyes? Are you, perhaps, related to the doctor couple around here? We just moved lang kasi and we found out that Ethan's doctor is here din — the wife, specifically."

Oh, kaya pala hindi sila familiar sa akin. Malaki ang lugar na 'to kaya imposible para sa akin na maging kachikahan lahat pero natatandaan ko naman ang mga mukha nila kapag nakakasalubong ko.

"Y-yes, doon ako nakatira sa kanila," I replied, quite unsure kung ano ang sasabihin ko. We're in a complicated circumstance — kahit ako lang talaga ang panggulo — at alam kong hindi rin gusto ni daddy na maraming makaalam na may anak siya sa labas.

"I assumed you're their daughter, but I heard she's still young. So you're their . . ?"

"S-sorry, kailangan ko nang umalis."

For a split second, I saw how puzzled they were nung talikuran ko sila at tumakbo paalis.