When The Rain Fell, So Did I

Chapter 10

"I thought you were gone. I thought you left me again."

***

SAMANTHA

I entered the Ice Cream Parlor and bought some ice cream.

"What flavor, ma'am?" the cashier asked.

"One chocolate, and one..." I couldn't continue what I was going to say.

Wait, what’s Chester’s favorite flavor? I don’t know why I’m buying him ice cream, but I guess it's just my way of thanking him.

"One...?" the cashier asked again.

I looked around and my gaze froze on the ube ice cream. I think he might like that, I just don’t know why.

"One chocolate and one ube," I said.

"One chocolate and one ube," the cashier confirmed, and I just nodded. "Okay, please wait for a moment, ma'am," he added before walking away.

I sat on a stool and waited.

"Hey, why are you slamming the door like that?!" I asked Chester as he angrily opened the door! Even the cashier and a few customers were startled by him!

But I was confused. He was out of breath and sweating. Did he run?

"Samantha," he called out to me breathlessly, and hugged me.

I could feel the heat of his body and his sweat. But even so, he still smelled good. I wanted to inhale that scent.

I took a deep breath when he wasn’t looking.

Ay Sammy, you’re so naughty!

I looked at him as his hug tightened. Maybe he thought we were in the middle of a shooting.

"Uh, Chester," I called softly.

"I thought you were gone again. I thought you left me again," he said sadly.

I gasped when I felt his tears falling on my shoulder.

Why?

"Here you go, ma'am, sir," the cashier said and handed us our ice creams.

But the order was wrong. He gave me the ube, and gave Chester the chocolate.

"Ube? Yuck," I said.

"Chocolate? Gross," he replied.

We stared at each other, and soon it felt like there was an electric current flowing through our eyes because of how badly we were glaring at each other.

But after a moment, we both decided to switch the ice creams.

"Uh, will you be paying?" the cashier asked shyly.

"Oh, sorry. Wait," I said with a smile, reaching for my wallet, but Chester grabbed my hand.

"I'll pay," he said coldly.

I frowned. "I’ll pay."

"No, I will."

"But I bought this, right?" I reasoned with him.

"I'm the man, and I don’t let a woman pay for the bills," he insisted, not backing down.

"So what if you’re the man? I don’t care, Natividad," I said firmly and took out my wallet.

"Tsk. Why are you women like this? We insist on paying, but you still act hard to get?" he asked as he handed the cashier a hundred pesos.

What?! Did he just say I'm acting hard to get?

"Keep the change, miss—ow! What the—stop!" he yelped as I slapped him with my left hand.

He tried to stop me from slapping him, but I couldn’t hit him because, come on, he's much stronger than me.

"You're really something, Chester," I said to him.

But the jerk just laughed.

ARGH!

I was about to slap him again when the cashier spoke.

"You two look good together," she said, giggling.

I immediately smiled at her comment. Chester just grinned.

I gave the cashier a smile before walking out of the ice cream parlor. Just thinking about Chester... I was shivering! Right!

And that’s when I realized we were in the park. Our house is nearby, so I wasn’t going back to his car. I sat on a bench and started eating my ice cream.

"Ouch!" I complained as my teeth suddenly became sensitive.

"Pft," the person beside me laughed softly.

I ignored him and just held my teeth.

I glanced at him and saw him grinning at me. Then, a moment later...

"Hey!" I shouted as Chester smeared ice cream on my nose.

What the fudge?!

"Hahahahaha!" he laughed before running away.

I bit into my ice cream before running to catch him.

"Hey! You i***t, come back here!" I shouted at him. I wanted to smear ice cream on his nose too so we’d be even!

I ran faster, but he sped up even more, and I still couldn’t catch him. Until we reached the fountain.

"Hey! Chester! Stop running! I won’t smear ice cream on your face, don’t worry!" I yelled and sat next to him while catching my breath. But of course, that wasn’t true. I’m vengeful, you know!

He grinned and started eating his ice cream. Of course, I finished mine too.

But after a while, I changed my mind. I didn’t want to smear the ice cream on him anymore. I’d just be wasting food.

I finished my ice cream and looked at Chester.

I smirked at him, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Chester..." I called out to him and pushed him into the fountain. I only changed my mind about the ice cream, not about getting revenge on him!

But I didn’t expect him to do what he did.

"Ah! You jerk!" I yelled as he pulled me into the water with him.

"You're really something, Chester!" I shouted while hitting him on the arm. He just laughed in response.

Now, we were both soaked. I quickly climbed out of the fountain and hugged myself. It’s so cold! My body was so weak.

I looked around and raised an eyebrow when I saw everyone staring at me. But they quickly looked away when I glared at them.

Damn it.

"Samantha, are you okay?" Chester asked, who had gotten out of the fountain too. I thought he was really enjoying the swim.

I frowned. What kind of question was that?

"Okay? How can I be okay when I’m freezing?" I said grumpily, trying to warm myself up.

I took out my phone and checked the time.

Time Check: 6:47 p.m.

Oh no! It’s already getting late! I need to go home before my brother starts a search and rescue operation if I get home later.

Like before.

Because when I was in first year, my brother called all his cop friends and sent them to look for me. Not knowing I was just at a classmate’s house, sleeping because I was too tired to travel. I forgot to text her.

"I’m going home, Chester."

I was about to leave when he suddenly grabbed my arm.

I felt a current flowing through both of us, almost like it was draining all my energy.

He whispered. A whisper that made me feel even weaker.

"Are you leaving me again, Samantha?" he asked sadly.

I gasped and looked into his eyes, but I quickly looked away. I couldn’t meet his gaze—it weakened my knees.

I closed my eyes as images flashed in my mind.

"Samsam! Samsam!"

"Oh, King!"

I immediately ran to him and gave him a tight hug.

"I missed you! How was the trip to America?"

"It wasn’t happy. You weren’t there."

I laughed at his response. "You’re so dramatic. You should be getting water poured on you!" I teased, spraying him with my water g*n.

He immediately closed his eyes, and I laughed at the sight of him.

"This is how you greet me now, Samsam..." he said, grinning, before tickling my sides.

"Hahahahahahaha, stop—hahahaha! I swear, I won’t spray you again!" I said, almost in tears.

"Really?" he teased, leaning his face close to mine.

I was ready to slap him because I thought he was going to kiss me, but what happened next I didn’t expect. A gunshot rang out, and I looked at King as he suddenly stood in front of me.

I nearly collapsed when I saw his white shirt slowly turning red from the blood.

My whole body trembled as I stared at him.

"King... King!" I called out while shaking him.

I immediately called for an ambulance to take King to the hospital.

"Hello, my friend got shot here at the park! Please, come quickly!" I pleaded as tears flowed nonstop.

"Samantha..."