CATch-Ying My Cursed Scary Girl (Complete)

Rainy Night

Max's POV

I don't know how many times I went back and fort in front of her locker that day. I went before, during, and after my classes, even at my basketball training too. But it still stood the same, hindi nya kinuha yung bag ko that day. Hindi rin nung mga sumunod na araw.

Of course, I am concerned, hindi ko pa alam kung anong kalagayan nya. I have a bad feeling na may nangyari sa kanya in her way out of my house. Pero hindi ko kailangan ng negativity ngayon dahil busy and frustrated din ako sa mga school works, projects and assignments. Lalo na dun sa social, which is yung kay Sir Rico na pinapatapos with my unknown partner.

"Hey, bro. Parang stress na stress ka ata ngayon ah." pagtabi sa akin ni Gale. We're taking a break from the training kaya nakaupo kami ngayon dito sa may bench para uminom.

I didn't answer. I was too busy looking at the benches in the other part of the court. It's been a week again, and yet hindi pa rin si Scary Girl dumadaan dyan. I think nasira na ata yung routine nyang yun. Ang tagal na nyang hindi nagpapakita eh.

JD clicks his tongue in his disapproval sa pagtahimik ko. "Max," pagkuha nito ng attensyon ko. "Your play sucks, man. You should get whatever in your head done. Baka masira mo yung mga next game natin." bulong nya bago lumagok ng inumin. I know what he's pointing. I'm too stress out sa mga pangyayari ngayon sa isip ko, kaya ang pangit ng laro ko.

No one will ever told me kung nawawaso ko man ang game, other than him. He is the team captain after all. Oo, barumbado si JD at walang pakielam sa ibang bagay but when it comes to the ball game, he'll do whatever it takes to get his whole team on the expectations. His expectations rather. Ganun sya katinde kaya sya ang naging captain. He knows his responsibilities. Hindi man sa school works, but he made sure his grades are sitting fine para makapaglaro sya. He's so different pagdating sa ibang bagay, but in basketball, he had it all.

"I'll get back soon, I just need time." I reason out before letting the cold blue liquid down my throat.

"You better be back sooner as possible." he whispered passing on my side, hitting my shoulder slightly with his.

Gale and Ryan just stared at me and at the way where JD went. They wanted to say something for sure, and I know by Ryan's look that he'll talk to me about it soon—-about my problems. I shrug my shoulders.

"Yo, tol! What was that???" malisyosong bati ni Kyle while jogging near us. He's smirking dahil nakita nya yung nangyari kanina. Tsk! I should laugh at him.

"Another punishment for you?" I sarcastically wanted to mention it. At least ako, I'm trying to get all good at my plates. Eh, etong gagong to hindi na magbabago kaya ayan, laging may parusa galing kay Coach Ray.

He just laughed. "Yeah, you know." pagsiko nito sa akin. "Masyadong mabenta ang kagwapuhan ko kay Coach."

"Seriously, dude? You should not skip practice para lang sa babae." Patrick gave him a stern look. "Ayan tuloy lahat kami nadadamay sa init ng ulo ni Coach."

"Well, it's not my fault! Hahahaha. Jogging for the whole practice hour is my most favorite thing to do." he exaggeratedly said while laughing. He even acts like as if pine-feel nya ang pagjojogging nya. I know he meant that oppositely. "But it's all worth it this time, Patrick." tinaas-baba nito ang kilay sa amin. "I just met the most different girl I could ever met! Dude, ni wala sa kalingkingan nya ang mga naka-date ko na dati!" he widely smiled.

Tinawag naman sya kaagad ng Coach namin for another round. Coach Ray cannot just let us be happy and talking kung malungkot or galit sya.

"She's so different." pahabol pa nito sa amin bago humugot ng hangin at nakatungong nag-jog papunta sa tinurong space ni Coach.

I know he's talking to us, but I had a feeling na sa akin nya yun sinasabi. It looks like may pinapahiwatig sya sa ngisi nya. Funny somehow, it landed on me and an idea kicks in inside my head. He can't be talking about the same girl I know, right?

"Hindi na titino yun, no?" lingon sa amin ni Gale. He's right. Imposibleng iisa ang tinutukoy nya at ng nasa utak kong babae.

"He also said that nung nakaraan." dagdag pa ni Ryan habang umiiling. "Anyways, bro." pagtawag nito sa akin. "Yung about dun sa kapartner mo sa scoial project, may alam ako kung paano natin sya makikita."

"I actually thought you'll give me this talk later. Hindi ko alam mapapaaga ka pala." natatawa kong pinalo ang kapit na plastic bottle sa tuhod nya. "You have a lead?"

"Oo naman, bro! Kami pa, hahuntingin natin yang babaeng yan!!!" pagsagot ni Gale at chinop pa ang likod ko. I could be more glad that they care for me. Maasahan talaga si Ryan sa idea nya. I know kinaladkad lang nya 'tong sina Gale at Patrick sa plano nya. Now, I think I could have less stress.

"Wait, babae?" it hits me late bago ko marealized yung sinabi nya. "Orquidea is a girl?"

Ryan looked at me with disbelief. "Hindi mo alam?"

Eh, magtatanong ba ako kung alam ko. "I really thought it's a nerdy tall guy with curve back and big thick glasses. And you know...." pagturo ko ng pabilog sa mukha ko. I was expecting na itutuloy nila ang sasabihiin ko.

"With yucky pimple-face!" masayang hula ni Patrick. I snap my fingers at him.

"He said that, not me." I defended myself. I can't be too judgemental. Nagpapakabait na ako eh.

"That's a typical nerd, bro." kunot noong saad ni Ryan. I don't think he likes my description. Yeah, sya kasi ang pinakang mabait dito pagnakatago ang kulo. Knowing him, he just hides it too well.

"Akala ko miracle worker eh." kibit-balikat kong binalewala ang sinabi nya.

"Yes, but we're looking for a girl." he looked at far distance, and on my muscle memory, I tilt my head across the room. Akala ko dumating na sya. It's already 7:39 pm, gladly over time kami sa practice ngayon kaya I got better excuse to stay. But my mind only put a joke on me dahil nakatingin pala sya kay Kyle na dun ngayon nagpu-push up. "It'll be better if we have him. You know, he can easily find a person."

"Yeah, basta chicks." dagdag pa ni Gale.

Yeah, basta babae. That bastard! Basta wag lang nyang makikilala yung pusang yun!

"Nah, don't include him. He's also dealing with his own things." napatayo na ako para bumalik ulit sa practice.

Katulad ng sinabi nya, tinulungan nga nila akong maghanap dun sa bwisit na Orquidea na yun nung mga sumunod na araw. We looked at some sections and classrooms. Pati na rin dun sa library at miski sa office.

That girl must be really happy hiding away from me. Siguro alam nya na kailangan ko talaga ang tulong nya kaya nya kami mas tinatakbuhan. Pagnagkita talaga kami at natapos na yung project, susupalpalan ko talaga yun ng kutos sa mukha.

Kung hindi lang talaga nanganganib ang grades ko ngayon, hindi ko talaga papansinin yun. Pasalamat nga sya, mga famous ang naghahanap sa kanya.

"Dude, parang hindi naman ata nabubuhay yung taong yun." wasong pag-upo ni Patrick kaya nagsigalawan ang mga katabi naming bangko. I glared at him para hindi kami umagaw ng attensyon dito sa canteen. "Baka naman hindi kumakain dito yan. Malay nyo umuuwi pala sya para maglunch sa kanila."

Today's plan is to wait for that person here. We have the description kung ano ba ang hinahanap namin. It turned out a girl version of my earlier description. It was insane to think we're desperate to find a girl like that. Being a jerk we are, pwedeng sasabihin naming utak at participation lang talaga ang kailangan namin sa kanya. I know, we're rude.

"Bro! Up here!" pagpalo nito sa lamesa. He is disgustingly looking at me na mas nagpairita lalo sa akin. "Aba, wala na akong makausap ng matino dito." he commented. Wala syang magagawa, bakit ba kasi nya ako sinamahan dito?! Tsk', anong akala nya, ang saya nya kausap?!

"Dude, ano ba yan?!" he scratches the back of his head. "Parang ako lang ang naghahanap ah."

Oh, yeah. Naandito nga pala sya para tulungan ako dun.

"Ano ba kasing tinitignan mo dyan?" pagsilip din nya sa may bintana na tinitignan ko mula pa kanina. Tinitignan ko kasi kung may pusa dun. Lately, I've been really obsessed sa mga pusa. I like to see one. Ewan ko ba kung bakit.

"Get back looking at the door. Ako nang maghahanap dito." pagtulak ko sa mukha nya. Sya na ang bahala dun sa Orquidea na yun, at hahanapin ko naman yung taong magtu-two weeks ng hindi pa napasok.

Ano ba yung babaeng yun, estudyante ba sya? Aba, nakaka-ilang absent na sya! Kailan ba nya balak magpakita??? Bwisit yun!

Last time, it took one week to see her. Wag lang talaga siyang magpapakita sa akin after two weeks. It'll really freak me out. Aba, pahaba na ng pahaba ang bakasyon nya! She has two more days before two weeks. Sooner or later, she should show up.

"DUNNGGGG-ONG!!!"

Everybody else's here shut down their running mouths dahil sa lakas ng kulog. It's been raining for quite a while now. If it continues until next week, it'll be raining for a whole month. May days namang may araw pero lagi kasing makulimlim. Napaka-rare nun kung titirik ng husto ang araw. Well, school days tend to be rainy seasons.

I just looked down and watch as the droplets crush into million pieces, meeting the ground. I think that's how I'm feeling right now. Everything for me does not make sense. School, pressure, game plays, grades, projects, that Orquidea, and Scary Girl really tears my mind. Lahat kasi yun ginagawan ko ng paraan, pero wala talagang naaayos.

See, wala man lang isa sa dalawa kong hinahanap ang nagpapakita.

"Yo, bro. Uuwi na kami." pagpapaalam ni Gale. They're all going home now dahil tapos na ang training, while I have to be the last one to leave so I could wait for a chance to see Scary Girl. Hay~ In such short time, I built that routine already.

"Dude, if it's about that Orquidea, forget it. We'll have another plan." Ryan taps my shoulder. He bids his bye, and so did the others. Sabay-sabay silang umalis, I could see JD's final glare bago umalis. Hindi ata makikipag-usap yun sa akin hangga't hindi nya nasisiguradong makakapaglaro ako sa game namin. What a pain.

As always, I waited for 30 minutes, at kung hindi pa ako tatawagan ni Mama ay baka nag-iintay pa rin ako ngayon. Nagbabasketball din kasi ako para makapagrelax ng kaunti. Sports are my hobbies, they de-stress me.

Nang makalabas na ako ng school ay kaagad akong sinalubong ng malakas at malamig na hanggin. Sh't, dapat pala kanina pa ako umalis. Parang may bagyo pa ata.

Sa sobrang lakas din ng bawat bagsak ng ulan ay imposibleng makita ang daan. I'm debating if magpapatila pa ba ako o tutuloy. Baka mapahamak pa ako sa daan. I stayed in my car, heating up the inside.

"DUNNGGG-GONG!"

Muling pagkulog na sinundan ng kidlat. Parang may nagflash tuloy ng camera sa mata ko sa biglang saglit na pagliwanag. It's getting impossible to go home in every passing minute. Hindi na ata hihinto pa to kaya nagsimula na akong magdrive.

Mabagal ang naging takbo ko at halos idikit ko na ang katawan ko sa manubela para lang may makita. In some point, biglang tumigil ang sasakyan ko. Buti na lang hindi pa ako nakakalayo at nakatabi ang sasakyan.

"What the hell?" pagkausap ko sa sarili. Inis kong tinignan ang manubela na para bang naandun ang makina at pinalo yun ng malakas. "Come on! Move!"

I'm really desperate to go home. I've been getting few hours of sleep dahil sa mga isipin ko ngayon and I NEED A DAMN REST! What a lucky week for me!! DAMMIT!! My frustration right now cannot be measure!!! I'm so mad!

"FVCK!!!" muli ko itong pinalo. I took my phone out and fishes some contacts kaso bigla ulit kumulog.

Oh fun!!! No one can get me!

Alangan naman tawagan ko si Mama para sunduin ako. Edi, baka high bloodin kaagad yun bago pa man makalabas ng subdivision namin. Kahit ata mga kabarkada ko hindi papalabasin ngayon dahil sa sama ng panahon. I can't take them at their parents' pagnagkataon. I can't also afford them to take a risk for me in this kind of weather.

FUDGE!!! So I'm gonna be stuck here for the rest of the night?!!!? Ibig sabihin makaka-absent din ako tomorrow. Double sh't, ayaw ko ngang umabsent. Masyadong importante na nasa school ako. Lahat ng hinahanap ko at lahat ng solution ngayon sa problema ko ay naandun.

"Now what?!" I irritatedly look at the shadow approaching near my car. Sa rear-view mirror ko sya nakikita dahil sa ilaw ng sasakyan ko. I could see na dadaanan nya ang lugar ko. Wala syang ilaw o kung anong kapit. What is this, a drunk person? Great!

Mabilis kong tinatry na buksan ulit ang makina, but it seems like bad luck is on my side.

"Come on!" I press the key more. Tumataas na rin ang adrenaline ko, cause I could die here and no one will knows! Wala ni isang tao ang narito kaya kung addict o lasing man yan ay baka magkahabulan kami ng matindi. Kahit saan pa ako dalhin ng paa ko, I would run a thousand miles now dahil sa takot na bumabalot sa akin. I'm a man, but death do not care about that so forget about gender or any sh't. I have the right to be scared for my DAMN's sake!

"Please pass the car." I repeatedly pray beneath my breath. Pero nagtigil ang anino nito at parang sinuri ang sasakyan ko, bago dahan-dahan na lumapit.

Just what I wanted, the person knocks at my window. Okay, I think mapapa-away nga ako.

For all I care pwede syang magkakatok dyan. I stayed still sa pagkakaupo ko, hoping na mapapagod din sya pero dinantay nito ang kamay sa bintana, at sumilip sa loob.

This person can't just give up, can't he?

"Labas!" sigaw nito mula sa labas na natatakluban ng ingay ng ulan. He knows I'm here at hindi lang sumasagot, I don't want to anger him more. Inangat ko ang kamay ko at pineress ang control para ibaba ang bintana.

And I saw the most unexpected person I could ever see right now.

"ANONG GINAGAWA MO DITO!!?!?!?!"