When The Rain Stops

Chapter 14 - Where Are You Taking Me?

Chapter 14 - Where Are You Taking Me?

"A-hehe. Please pakidala naman dito o Amira. Please?" aniya na parang nagmamakaawa kunware.

"Saan? E ang kalat ng mga papel niyo. Mababasa yan." Hindi ko na sila hinintay na sumagot pa bago pinulot ang ilang papel at nag-clear ng space para ilapag ang magiging meryenda nila.

Bumalik ako sa kusina para ilagay ang pagkain, juice at baso sa isang tray saka dinala iyon sa kanila.

"o mga mahal na hari, sana mabulunan kayo" ani ko sabay kuha sa isang papel sa tabi nila.

"Are you guys members of the council?"

"yeah." Sagot ni Vince.

"Para saan mga 'to?"

"Activity proposals for the school's foundation" sagot ni Archer sabay kuha sa cupcake.

"Where did you get these?" aniya nang maubos ang hawak.

Getting the same question again, huh?

"Masarap no?" ngiting sambit naman ni Vince saka kumuha ng cookie at cupcake sa magkabilang kamay. Ang takaw.

"Hmm." Sabay tango ni Archer at kumuha rin ng cookie at kinagatan ito.

"She baked them" saad naman ni Vince at biglang nabulunan si Archer na siyang naging dahilan ng pagtawa ng kaibigan nito

Hala, kung makareact, hindi ko naman siya lalasunin. Kung papatayin ko man siya hindi sa lason, dahil dapat respetuhin ang pagkain hindi ginaganon.

"Walang lason yan Archer." Sambit ko naman sabay abot sa kanya ang basong may laman na juice.

"You can bake?"

"You already had one. Tell me Archer, can I?"

"Nah. It's bad." Aniya sabay kagat sa cookie. Sabihing hindi masarap tapos kakain? Hindi naman ata pwede yan. Hinablot ko sa kanya ang hawak na cookie. Bahala kang magutom diyan.

"Then don't eat."

He chuckled a bit and said

"I was just kidding, Rain. You're actually good. Not only with your good voice but your baking is good too.... What else are you good at, Rain?" he said smiling with a hint of smirk.

So he heard me sing? What else am I good at, Archer? Who knows.

"At kicking your ass, Archer. Wanna try?"

"Woah." Tawa ulit ng nanonood na Vince saamin.

"Meow"

"Come here, Azlan." Akmang kukunin ko na si Azlan pero sinalag lang ni Archer ang kamay ko at ayaw bitawan si Azlan. Kumuha si Archer ng cookie at kinain ito habang pinaglalaruan si Azlan at binibigyan rin nito ng pagkain.

"Hoy pusa ko yan, Archer. Akin na."

"I paid for his bills, Rain."

"You insisted. And I can pay you now if you want. How much?"

"Nah. That's not how it works, Rain. He's with you for days; can't I have time with him too?"

Hinayaan ko nalang kung gusto niya rin si Azlan.

"Fine." Ani ko sa ka tumayo na pabalik sa kwarto.

"Thanks for the food, Amira. You're the best!" pahabol na sambit naman ni Vince habang abala paring kumakain.

Sinamahan kong manood si Sophia, nang makalipas ang isang oras ay nakatulog na ito saking tabi dito sa kama. Pinagpatuloy ko lang ang panonood at planong tapusin nalang ito nang dalawin narin ako ng antok ay pinikit ko lang saglit ang aking mata hanggang sa tuluyan akong makatulog.

A weird feeling woke me up, as if someone's staring at me again. And a finger is touching my forehead. I opened my eyes and found Archer sitting down to level me and with his index finger on my forehead.

"How dare you talk about creasing my eyebrows when you're doing it too?" aniya saka diniinan ang kanyang daliri sa noo ko. Tinampal ko ang kanyang daliri saka umupo.

"Ba't ka pumasok?"

"I've been knocking for minutes, Rain and no one's answering. I'm taking my sister now." Aniya sa pumunta sa kabilang side para gisingin si Sofie.

"Sophia? ... Wake up... we're going home now li'l sis." Malumanay na tawag nito sa bata habang hawak ang kamay nito.

Napatingin ako sa bintana at madilim na nga sa labas. I quickly reached for my phone on the bedside table and look at the time. It's 7 in the evening. Ganon kami katagal nakatulog?

Lumabas ako sa kwarto at naroon parin si Vince nakahawak sa isang papel pero malinis na ang sahig at naka pile-up na ang ilang mga papel sa coffee table.

"Tapos na kayo?" ani ko habang kinukuha ang mga baso saka nilalagay sa tray na ginamit kanina.

"Yeah. I guess so? Ipasa nalang namin siguro to sa ibang officer para sila na mag-finalize"

"Kailan ang foundation?"

"Next week, two days before the semester starts."

"Are we all required to go there?"

"Yeah. For attendance. You can leave after the attendance tho." Aniya saka tumawa. Wala rin naman kasi akong gagawin sa foundation na yan. At saka hindi naman babantayan ng mga prof lahat ng gagawin namin, so mag-ditch nalang siguro ako after attendance.

"But kuya... Please? Please? I'll behave. I have no one to play with at home, Mom's not here and you and Kuya Karvin are always busy and seldom play with me. Please?" Rinig naming sambit ni Sophia habang palabas sila ni Archer mula sa kwarto.

"Something's wrong, Kean?"

Napabuntong-hininga ito bago sumagot "She wants to stay."

"Rain? Will you please tell her?" bumaling naman sakin si Sophia and she looked at me with eyes hoping.

"Uh.. what is it?"

"She wants to sleep here and play with you and the cat."

"Pleaseeee. Ate Amy" mabilis na pumunta sakin si Sophia and since nakaupo ako sa sahig ay abot ako nito, pumwesto siya saking likod saka ito ipinalibot ang kanyang braso sa aking leeg.

Napatingin naman ako kay Archer na nakataas ang kilay sakin.

"Payagan mo nalang kaya, Bro? Wala naman kasing kalaro sa bahay niyo si Sophia."

"She can stay" sagot ko na.

"Yeeyyy!"

"Wala kang damit dito pamalit, Sophia. Next time, I'll let you." Rason naman ni Archer.

"Aww. Tomorrow then?"

"You have a class tomorrow. Next time."

Pinandilatan ako ng mata ni Archer to agree with what he's saying.

"You're Kuya's right Sofie you can't come if you have class. Maybe next time?"

"Okay Ate. Next time." Kumalas na ito saka nilaro si Azlan.

"Kean, will you check this for a while. There's a conflict of schedule for this activity." Lahad ni Vince. "I'll do it." Kinuha ni Archer ang papel saka naman ako tumungo sa kusina dala ang tray.

"You're not gonna ask us to stay for dinner, Amira?" nangaasar na tawag ni Vince.

"Aba Vince, namumuro ka na a. Di niyo 'ko nanay. Kumain kayo sa mga bahay niyo! Wala kayong mapapala dito." Sigaw kong sagot mula sa kusina ta halakhak na lamang ang narinig kong tugon ni Vince.

"Hey. Sorry we didn't know last time." Napatingin naman ako kay Vince na tumabi sakin habang hinuhugasan ko ang mga ginamit na baso at pinggan.

"What is it?"

"Um. Belated Happy Birthday?" aniya saka mahinang tumawa. Inabot niya ang nahugasan ko ng baso saka siya na ang nagpunas nito at naglagay sa cabinet.

"Are you... free tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Why?" Abot ko sakanya ng isa pang baso.

"Do you want to go out? And visit a place here?"

"Is that what you do to your fangirls?"

"No. We don't go out, we just stay at the school. And I already stopped flirting with them...Treat it as a compensation, Amira for not knowing your birthday. Besides you haven't been anywhere here, might as well I give you a tour."

"Where are you taking me?"

"See for yourself tomorrow... Are you afraid of heights by the way?"

"No. Why? Plano mo 'kong ihulog sa tulay?"

"Thanks for the idea, but no..... I'll pick you up tomorrow before lunch? at 10 probably."

"Let's go Vincent"

"And don't wear a dress or skirts. I suggest you to use a rubber shoes and pants."

"Err. Alright...?" sabay na kaming lumabas ng kusina at dinaluhan ang magkapatid na naghihintay sa pinto.

"We'll go now Ate Amy!" kumaway ito sakin bago sila umalis.

I guess I'll be looking forward for tomorrow.