Arise

Chapter 2: When it rains, it pours

“Hi Miguel, here’s the weather report today: it will be really hot today. The temperature is raging 58 degree Celsius, and the heat index will be 62 degree Celsius. Make sure to wear light clothes today.”

“Hi Miguel, here’s the weather report today: it will be really hot today. The temperature is raging 58 degree Celsius, and the heat index will be 62 degree Celsius. Make sure to wear light clothes today.”

“Hi Miguel, here’s the weather report today: it will be really hot today. The temperature is raging 58 degree Celsius, and the heat index will be 62 degree----

“Hnngg, shut up!”

I woke up with the weather report today that is coming through my smart phone, I usually grateful that I’m receiving those reminders but I stay up late yesterday because I watched a lot of documentaries and stories about the different creatures that Carlos mentioned.

And also, today is Tuesday! And Tuesday means my class will start at 10PM so I don’t need to wake up early. But, since I’m already awake maybe I should get ready.

At exactly 9PM, Carlos is now knocking on our house, we’re just going to walk today since Kuya Dos already left with my sister and his wife.

“The heat is really crazy, can we stop for a while and buy some refreshment?” Carlos asked.

“I know, my tumbler is now empty. Maybe next time let’s go to school early so we can hitch hike to Kuya Dos?”

“I like the idea but good luck if you will wake up early!” and with that Carlos chuckled like his imagining some scenarios, me not waking up early and not getting free ride.

“That’s why you’re there, dude! So you can wake me up.”

“Not a chance haha, you’re going to be grumpy all day if I wake you up early.”

“Well, I’m not grumpy today even though I woke up early.” I shrug.

Once we arrive at the school, we decided to go change our clothes because it’s really wet. Fortunately, all students are required to stock some clothes in their locker in case of emergency, like today.

After we changed, we’re now walking to the corridor leading us to the 2nd floor. Actually each building here only has 2nd floors but it’s a huge university there’s 15 to 20 well-lit buildings here. From our building you can see the Student’s Park where a lot of students are doing their activities or projects. The president’s hall is located near the main entrance, the high school department is on the right side of our building, and there are also two libraries here the Rizal library, which is located in front of our building, and Balagtas library which is located on the left part of the university. If I’m not mistaken the University hospital is also located ther—

“Hey dude! Migs!!!” Carlos shouted.

“Huh?”

“You’re spacing out! Our classroom is here. What are you thinking?”

“Nothing, just trying to remember how many building we have here in school.” I said.

Carlos just shakes his head with disbelief and enters our classroom after that and I just follow him.

While waiting for our Professor in Foreign Language and Culture, Carlos starts to ask about Ate Gab.

“Ate Gab is a multilingual right?”

“Yes, she can speak and understand different languages. One time, when we were in Negros she’s the one who converse with the locals there. It still amazes me whenever I think about that.”

“Yes, and she still surprises me every day.” Carlos agreed. “Like yesterday, I heard her speaking different language again.”

“I know, and it’s good that she learned it because she lived for that certain province for months when she’s still a teenager and until now she knows how to use it.”

“I didn’t know that Ate Gab lived— ohhh, our professor is here.”

While Professor Dimalanta is entering, loud booming sounds envelop the whole university.

“booooommmmmm”

“booooommmmmm”

“booooommmmmm”

Everyone is shock and covering their ears, then my one classmate ask

“Is that a thunder?”

“It sounds like a thunder, but it’s too loud!”

After that, a light rhythmic tapping sound is heard.

It’s raining!

Everyone is happy because of the rain, especially when it’s summer.

But rains in the middle of summer, sounds like a joke to me. Well, yeah climate change.

“So, it’s really a thunder?”

“Well, it looks like it. I thought it’s a bomb since it’s too loud.”

After that commotion we start again for a new lesson.

-------------

Our class for this day will end at 3AM. Our Professor is just wrapping up the class when my seatmate speaks.

“It’s weird, it’s still raining.”  She said.

“I know, I thought it’s just a thunderstorm that will end for an hour or two. Is there a storm?”

“None that I know of, and in fact it’s summer, it’s very unlikely to have a storm.” Tin said while still looking at the window.

Since our professor is just talking to one of my classmate, I get my phone and check social media. Every post I see is about the weird weather today but what I found strange is the latest weather updates.

“Tin.” I call the attention of my seatmate. “Look at this, the meteorologist said that they don’t know where the rain is coming from. They even show a short clip of the Philippine today that is very visible, no clouds formation but there’s rain.”

“What the f? That’s impossible. Why—oh my gosh! I actually don’t know what to say.” With that, she gets her phone in her pocket and starts to read some news about the weird weather today.

“WHAAATTTT???” Tin shouts.

It caught the attention of our Professor and our classmates.

“What’s the matter Christine? Why are you using your phone?”

“I’m sorry sir, but you need to see this. This is unbelievable!” She said then approaches our professor.

It caught the attention of everyone and now listening to a news report on Tin’s phone.

“An unexpected rain fell today in the Philippines, It’s been 5 hours when it started raining while some of the people is relieved because of the coldness that it brings, our meteorologists are still puzzled why is it happening. And it’s just not happening in some parts of the Philippines, the whole country is experiencing a heavy rainfall. The scientists and meteorologists are now teaming up with different organizations to explain this unusual phenomenon. This is Ella of One News, Philippines.”

Everyone became quiet after that, our professor also decided to dismiss us 5 minutes earlier after reminding everyone to stay safe.

Carlos and I decided to hail a tricycle so it will be safer for us. We’re just quiet and both looking at our phone the entire ride.

Once I got home, I saw my parents’ car outside of our house. They usually go home at 5AM but its just 3:15AM, what’s happening?

“Hey Mom and Dad, you’re early.” I said while kissing their cheeks and offering my hands so I can bless to them.

“Our office closes early because of the rain. We are all afraid that there may be a flood because of this.” My mom said. “Go change first, your dad will just call your Kuya Dos to fetch your sister.” She continues.

Everyone in our house is wondering to what is happening today, it makes everyone anxious.

Every time there’s a flash report, we all hurry in front of the TV to have a factual update about the phenomenon that is happening and we still don’t have an answer.

As the time’s passing by, we get a lot of horrible updates like flashflood and landslides on the different parts of the country.

That’s why for the next two hours my family along with our neighbors are now preparing are things and evacuation plans once things get out of hand here in our area.