Rain (Seasons of Love Series #1)

Chapter 10

SAVE

This is the second time I'm watching him playing basketball. And like the first, I'm still fascinated by his view or maybe this feeling will stay forever. It's difficult to forget how my heart beats faster, how my eyes scintillated brilliantly and how my system blazes when he's around.

Everything that happened for the past month. It feels unreal. I'm like living in my dreams. And I won't ever woke up in case it was. I will forever grateful for sleeping endlessly.

But then, it wasn't. People in dreams don't talk clearly. Places in dreams ain't vibrant and prismatic. This is one of the hundred proofs that I'm not dreaming. And enough proof that I am his woman.

I can't be entirely happy though. Kahit kasi narinig ko iyon mula sa kanya, ramdam kong hindi kami okay. Hindi na siya nakabalik pa ng classroom simula nang umalis siya. Nalaman ko na lang na dumiretso siyang gymnasium para magpractice during lunch break. Since hanggang two o'clock lang ang pasok ko, dapat ay theatre hall ang punta ko but I went to him. I chose to missed my own practice and decided to watch his instead.

Kaya nandito ako ngayon, nakaupo sa bleachers habang tahimik na pinapanuod ang paglalaro niya. Aware siyang nandito ako pero ni isang beses, hindi man lang siya lumingon sa gawi ko.

I don't know if he's too focused with his practice or he's just mad at me? Naiintindihan ko naman kapag nagkataon na galit nga siya. Maybe he thinks that I didn't trust him again. Kaya nandito ako para ayusin ang lahat.

Ala sais na ng gabi nang tinapos ng coach nila ang practice. Pawis na pawis si Aki nang lumapit sa aking puwesto. I don't get why he still smells good though.

"I'm going to take a shower. Wait me in the hallway. I'll make it fast."

At umalis na naman siya, ni hindi na ko hinayaan pang magsalita. I heaved a deep sigh as I watch his back getting farther. Pagkalipas ng ilang sandali, tumayo na rin ako at tinungo ang hallway para roon maghintay.

Nagkaroon din ako ng pagkakataon na tignan ang aking phone habang naghihintay. Maraming mensahe ang pumasok mula sa mga kasama ko sa theatre club at siguradong galit na galit na sakin si Director Shen. Bukas ko na lang aayusin ang tungkol sa pagliban ko. Today, the important thing for me is Achilles. Ayoko ng patagalin pa ang away namin.

"Hindi ko na sinabi sayo kasi...hindi ko alam na big deal pala iyon." Bahagya kong wika pagkalipas ng ilang minutong katahimikan. Hindi niya ko sinulyapan. Sadness and frustration infiltrates me. Ngunit hindi ito sapat na dahilan para tumigil ako. "Nasira ang kotse ni Manong Dan. Dapat ay magkocommute ako pero...nagvolunteer si Ranz na ihatid ako. Gabi na kasi kami natapos kaya pumayag na ko."

"I will go to a friend's party later." He interrupted that made me called his name out of frustration. My mouth swung open when I realized what I'd done. Mabilis na napadako ang kanyang tingin sa akin. I bit my lower lip guiltily the moment our eyes met.

"I'm sorry."

He sighed.

"Why are you explaining so hard?" Pagkuwa'y ibinalik ang tingin sa harapan. Hindi ulit pinansin ang sinabi ko. "You're just giving me the hint to doubt you for not telling me the truth."

Napatikom ako ng bibig at matamang napasandal sa backrest. Still, my eyes was on him. Pinapanuod ang pagmamaniobra niya sa manibela.

"I'm not mad at you, Rain. Actually..I want to thank him for sending you home, safe and sound." Then he gazed at me with assurance. Natigilan ako, hindi makapagsalita.

"So stop explaining. I would always believe you even without words."

Akala ko naabot ko na ang pinakatarok ng nararamdaman ko. Hindi ko alam na may ilalalim pa pala ito. It was very deep that once I fell, there's no way to recover anymore...

"San ka pupunta?"

Huminto ako at matamang hinarap si Nanay Edith.

"Uhh.." Nagpakurap-kurap ako, hindi alam ang sasabihin. I was still shocked because of her sudden call. My heart pounded quickly too and sweats streamed from my forehead. I'm aware that my face is like a face of person who got caught doing a crime. It's not that I'm planning to commit a crime, I just want to go out.

"Aalis ka?"

I'm about to speak when she did it first. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi at napayuko. Subalit agad din akong nag-angat ng tingin nang marinig ang mahina niyang paghalakhak. Nakakunot ang noo ko habang pinagmamasdan ang bahagya niyang paglapit.

"Pumunta ka kung saanman gusto mong pumunta pero....magpaalam ka."

Napaawang ang aking bibig at naguguluhan siyang tinapunan ng tingin.

"Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin, Nay?"

"Akala mo ba hindi kita papayagan? Matanda ka na hija. Alam mo na kung ano ang dapat mong gawin."

"Seryoso po ba kayo sa sinasabi niyo? Pinapayagan niyo po ako?" Nagagalak kong tanong, halos hindi makapaniwala na hahayaan niya kong umalis kahit gabi na. Tumungo-tungo siya na s'yang dahilan para yakapin ko siya ng mahigpit. "Thank you po."

"Basta umuwi ka ng ligtas." Pagkatapos humiwalay kami sa isa't isa.

"Opo."

It was a great intro for tonight. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na pinayagan ako. Magaan din ang pakiramdam ko dahil hindi ako nagsinungaling. At least, I can party now without burden. 'Yon nga lang hindi ako sigurado kong mag-ienjoy ako since hindi naman ako mahilig sa ganito. Si Aki lang naman kasi ang pinunta ko.

It's quarter to ten when I got through the venue. Unfortunately, guards are demanding for invitation letter and I don't have one. Buti na lang, nakita ko si Aris kaya nakapasok ako.

"Hindi mo kasama si Achilles?" He asked as we headed off inside the Fortunas Resort.

"Hindi niya alam na pupunta ako." Sagot ko habang masuring pinasadahan ang lugar at ang mga tao sa paligid.

"Ow! A surprise visit. Should I let him know that you are here to catch him?" His side lips rose with mockery. Panandalian akong sumimangot pagkuwa'y umiwas ng tingin.

"He's not like you." Bulong ko sa sarili na nakarating sa kanyang pandinig.

"I'm his cousin and you are his woman. Who do you think know him better?"

"Then can you tell me if he's just fooling around?"

"Yeah and...what if he really was? What will you do?"

"I will thank you first for telling me the truth and as for Aki, I'll still continue to liked him even he got tired with his games."

"You sounded so inlove. It's just a month had passed since he courted you. Girls really fell fast." He mocked.

"Maybe for other people, liking someone within a short period is a mere shallowness....I liked Achilles at first sight and...it happened a year ago."

Tumigil siya saka kaswal akong nilingon. It's not that I expect him to get shock by my sudden confession. Hindi ko lang inaasahan na ganito siya katipid magreact.

"You're already here." Someone intruded then quickly snaked her hand at Aris' left arm. Sabay na napadako ang tingin namin sa kanya ngunit ako lang itong binalikan niya ng tingin.

And I don't like the way she gazed at me from head to toe. I felt like I'm the one who wear bikinis inside the thin robe.

"Who is she?"

"She's Achilles' girlfriend."

"Ow? Really? I don't know that Achilles have a bad taste when it comes to woman."

"Samantha.." Agad na saway ni Aris na ikinasimangot ng babae. Pasimple naman akong suminghap, hindi makapaniwala sa naririnig. Pagkalipas ng ilang sandali, binalik ni Aris ang tingin niya sakin. "I don't know where Achilles was but..maybe you have your phone. Text him."

"Okay lang. Hahanapin ko na lang siya."

"Alright, if that's what you want." Then he turned his back away from me with the girl. I even saw how his hand lingers around Samantha's waist and it made me shook my head in disbelief.

Hindi ko na inantay pang mawala sila sa paningin ko. Tumalikod na rin ako at sinimulang hanapin ang dahilan kung bakit pumunta ako rito.

Tumungo ako sa kinaroroonan ng mga cottages nang hindi ko mahanap si Aki sa loob ng resort. Katabi lang nito ang malawak na pool kung saan nagkakatuwaan ang mga tao sa malilikot na disco lights at rock music. May mga tao rin naman sa loob pero hindi kasing dami dito sa labas.

Ngayon ko lang din napansin na ilan sa mga bisita ay pamilyar sakin. Nasisiguro kong ang iba rito ay nag-aaral sa MIU. Hindi ko nga lang sila nakakausap kaya nakakahiya naman mangalabit bigla at magtanong.

Buti nga hindi halatang intruder lang ako rito since nabanggit sakin ni Darius na bohemian ang theme ng party. Kahit papano hindi ako iba.

I'm about to roam my eyes around when I heard a loud splash. Hinarap ko ang pool na hindi kalayuan sa kinatatayuan ko dahil alam kong doon galing ang tunog.

Una kong nakita si Darius na halos mamatay na kakatawa habang nakatingin sa pool. Umahon iyong nahulog at halos malaglag ang panga ko ng mapag-alamang si Aki iyon.

The music is too loud that I couldn't hear what he told to his cousin. Nakuha ko nga lang iyon dahil kaya kong basahin ang pagbuka ng bibig niya. It was a nasty word which doesn't need to translate.

He swam towards pool side afterwards. Umahon siya at saka ko lamang napansin na suot niya pa rin ang kanyang sapatos. It seems that Darius pushed him. He looks pissed off too. Ni hindi niya nga pinansin iyong babaeng humarang sa kanya para abutan siya ng tuwalya.

And Darius? He's still laughing like a demon. Napailing na lamang ako at malalim na bumuntong hininga.

Muli akong naglakad. This time patungo sa kinaroroonan ni Aki. He's already sitting in the lounge chair. Unbuttoning his floral polo shirt annoyingly. Napalunok ako at napaiwas ng tingin ng makita ang paghubad niya.

Ibinaling ko na lamang ang aking tingin sa nadaanang tuwalya. Good thing, nakahanda ang mga ito sa bawat lounge chair. Kumuha ako ng isa at nang makarating sa puwesto ni Aki, agad ko iyong iniyakap sa kanyang katawan. Looks like he's going to bend forward to remove his shoes yet briefly paused when he felt the warm hug of a towel. Bago pa man niya ko matingala, lumuhod na ko sa harap niya.

"You should wipe your head first if you don't want to catch the cold." I instructed as I started to untie the lace of his shoes. Bumagsak ang tingin niya sakin at nagtagal iyon ng ilang segundo. Nakikita ko mula sa aking balintataw kung paano niya ko pinagmamasdang mabuti. And it made my heart palpitate. Feeling ko sasabog na ko anytime sa kakapigil ko sa aking sistema na magwala.

"What are you doing here? And how do you know this place?"

Tiningala ko siya at nadatnang pinupunasan ang kanyang buhok habang prenteng nakatingin sa akin. Even though sa mukha niya ko nakatingin, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang pamulahan ng pisngi lalo na't nasusulyapan ko ang kanyang tiyan.

Hindi ko inaasahan na ganito siya katipuno. Basketball lang naman ang nilalaro niya at ang alam ko hindi naman siya nagjigym kaya paanong ganito ang katawan niya?

"Uhh..." Nilapag ko ang pares ng sapatos niya sa ilalim ng upuan saka marahang tumayo. Mataman niya naman akong sinundan ng tingin. Kanina pa siya titig na titig sakin na akala mo'y mawawala ako anytime kapag kumurap siya. At hindi niya ba alam na nagwawala na ang mga paru-paro sa loob ng tiyan ko? "I want to go here too so I asked Darius."

"Don't tell me you escape just to go here?"

Umiling ako pagkatapos kinuha sa kanya ang tuwalya. Hinayaan niya naman ako sa gusto kong mangyari kahit kuryoso niya kong tinitingala habang pinupunasan ko ang kanyang buhok. "Nanay Edith allowed me to go here. I just need to go home safe. That's her condition—"

"Sweet!" Mapanuyang komento ni Darius pagkatapos umupo sa katabing lounge chair ng kay Aki. Parehong napadako ang tingin namin sa kanya.

Aki hissed and gave his cousin a sharp stares. Meanwhile, Darius is in his usual facade, confident and naughty. Kinuha niya pa nga iyong tuwalyang hawak ko at pinunas sa sarili niya.

"You should get out of my sight while I have still my temper." He warned that seems joke to Darius.

"Relax Kitten! Alam ko kasing pupunta si Rain at nakakahiya kung hindi ka na naman maliligo." Ngisi niya na s'yang dahilan para umismid si Aki. And the way his eyes clouded with coldness and his lips in grim line, ramdam kong totoong iritado na talaga si Achilles. Kaya naman kinuha ko na ang atensyon niya bago pa man may magawa siya sa pinsan.

"Uhh...Do you have extra clothes? You should go and change."

Pareho silang nag-angat ng tingin sakin. Aki's eyes became gentle the moment it met mine and it melted me.

"I have one."

"I loved Kitten more than you do, Rain. I won't pushed him if I didn't know that he has an extra one." Darius interrupted and barely chuckled. Aki almost rolled his eyes as he picked another towel. Pinatong niya ito sa kanyang kanang balikat kasabay ng pagtayo niya.

"I'll go now. Wait me here."

Tumungo ako at ngumiti. I thought, he will leave right away but he paused and gave me a swift kiss on my forehead. Hindi ko iyon inasahan kaya para akong estatwa. Nanigas sa kinatatayuan na halos huli ko ng napagtanto na nakalayo na siya. Sumunod sa kanya si Darius na umungol pa at minura siya dahil sa ginawa niya.

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi. Pinipigilan ang sarili na ngumiti sa kabila ng malakas na pagkalabog ng aking puso at pagkiliti ng mga paru-paro sa aking tiyan. And it's creep me out with the thought that I went back on being a high school girl.

Iwinaksi ko ang iniisip at nagpasyang umupo na lamang sa lounge chair. Nililibang ang sarili sa kakapanuod sa paligid habang inaantay si Aki.

I'm enjoying the view the whole time not until I saw Nathalia walked towards me. I swallowed the bile in my throat. Napatayo rin ako nang makalapit na siya sa kinaroroonan ko.

"What does it feel to be Achilles Mirabueno's woman?" Pambungad niyang tanong. Bakas ang panunuya at pang-iinsulto sa kanyang boses. She even took a sip in her glass of cocktail without removing her sight on me.

"You must be happy. You got a chance to attend a social party." She added that made me heaved a deep sigh. Akma na kong magsasalita nang biglang may dumaan at bahagya siyang binati. She just nodded and smiled as response.

"This is not the first time I attend a social party, Nathalia." Nakuha ko ang atensyon niya mula sa pagsunod niya ng tingin sa mga bumati sa kanya. She shifted back her attention to me with arched brow. After a couple of seconds, she chuckled mockingly as if I was lying.

"Look Rain—"

"Hey Nathalia!" Naiwan sa ere ang gusto niyang sabihin ng muling may tumawag sa kanya. Bahagya siyang tumikhim saka hinarap iyong papalapit.

"Loraine.." She greeted with sweet smile. "Happy birthday!"

"Dito ka na pala, hindi ka man lang nagsabi but...thanks anyway." Ngiti ng babae saka napatingin sa gawi ko.

Loraine? She must be the reason of this party. Realization knocks me instantly and it left me dumbfounded for a moment.

"Uhh..kaibigan mo?" Her question made me alert. Napatingin ako sa kanila. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit nagtagpo ang mga mata namin ni Nathalia.

She smirked. "No. I don't know her."

I know it. Why would she save me in the first place? I was her enemy. And she loves to destroy me in every opportunity she will get.

"Ikaw? Kilala mo ba?"

See? She's enjoying the view of how embarrassed I was. I bit my lower lip and gazed at Loraine bravely. I saw how she shook her head with furrowed forehead as an answer.

"Uhh...I'm Rain Arguelles." I introduced politely.

"Arguelles? Your surname sounds familiar." Nangunot lalo ang noo niya, tila inaalala niya ng mabuti kung saan niya nga ba narinig ang apelyido ko. "Right! Is your father the CEO of AGS Corporation?"

Bigla akong natigilan. Hindi makapaniwala sa naririnig. Buti na lang, natawa si Nathalia kaya hindi nila napansin masyado ang lubos kong pagkagulat.

"Oh come on, Lorie. Her father is just a mere businessman."

"Tss sorry naman." Loraine pouted but the moment she shifted her pair of brown eyes at me, she smiled. "I hope, you enjoy the party."

"Uh...sure." Sambit ko then matipid siyang nginitian. Tumungo lamang siya pagkuwa'y binalingan si Nathalia.

"We should go, Thalia. I have someone to introduce at you." Excited nitong wika pagkatapos hinila ang katabi. Walang nagawa si Nathalia kundi ang magpatianod sa kanya. She even rolled her eyes with annoyance and bitterness at me before she finally turned her back away.

Malalim akong bumuga ng hangin at matamang kinagat ang ibabang labi. Good thing, hindi masyadong maintriga si Loraine. Hindi na siya nagtanong pa and I'm thankful about that. She's too kind that I couldn't lie once she ask. Kumpara sa ibang mga kaibigan ni Nathalia, siya ang masasabi kong naiiba at may magandang ugali.

I'm about to go back at lounge chair when my eyes accidentally darted at the direction where Aki and Darius went. My forehead creased upon seeing that they're still not here. What took them so long? It's been fifteen minutes since they leave.

Naglakad-lakad ako at luminga-linga sa paligid. Napadako ang tingin ko sa pool kung saan kaunti na lang ang natirang tao. Perhaps because it's already late and the water and breeze is getting colder. Ang iba naman ay mukhang umahon para maglaro, uminom at makipagkuwentuhan. I'm calm and comfortable the whole time I was standing beside the pool then...

"Tabi!"

Huli na ng napagtanto ko na para sa akin pala ang sigaw na iyon. It was so sudden that it caused me to move unconsciously. I directly fell in pool and sank. And it took a seconds before I realized that I'm already drowning.

I know how to swim but not through the tearing foot. Dagdagan pa ng malamig na tubig na mabilis na pinapasok ang aking katawan. It made me shiver in pain and distress.

Ilang beses kong sinubukang umangat subalit walang nangyayari. Everything became blurry yet I'm still fighting for my life. Not until I felt that I'm just a meter away to the ending.

God knows how much I asked and begged for help. My eyes blinked many times as oxygen slowly took away from my body and then....he came. He came to save me.

• • • • • •