When The Rain Stops

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

“Uh-huh? I know. So what?”

“You’re not allowed t---“

“I’m twenty, Archer. And you don’t tell me what to do! And what’s allowed and not.” I giggled again at the end of my statement.

“Excuse me. Restroom.” I said as I stand up.

“I’ll go with you.”

“Shh. Shh! Stay! Stay with your FRIENDS!”

Mabilis akong naglakad palayo kahit nahihilo na ako at hindi sigurado kung saan pupunta. Naramdaman ko na lamang na may humawak sa aking braso at tinulungan ako para hindi tuluyang matumba.

“Hannah. Did you have fun with your kiss with Vince?” another giggle escaped.

“You’re drunk, Amy. Was that your first?”

“Yup.”

“Are you really going to the restroom?”

“Why are you here? You left Vince there alone. Baka malasing yon, walang maghahatid sayo pauwi.”

“Bahala siya don.”

“I’ll book a room, I don’t have my car!” napalakas kong sabi dahil sa tama ng alak.

“Alright. Alright. We’ll get a room.”

“Don’t tell to Archer the Great Asshole of the Century, okay?” I gestured putting my finger in front of my nose and lips. I can’t walk straight and my eyes are now sleepy.

“That girl, she’s a b***h. I noticed Riel earlier and at least he respects your relationship, but that b***h half-sister of yours is thick-faced.”

“No. No. Not a sister.”

“One room, two beds please.” Rinig kong sabi ni Hannah sa front desk, inabot rin nito sa kanila ang kanyang card saka kinuha ang card para sa room namin.

Pag pasok namin sa kwarto ay agad akong nahiga sa kama.

“Hoy, maghilamos ka muna, yung make up mo.” I lazily walked up to the restroom and washed my face to remove the make up, wala kaming make up remover dito kaya sinabon ko nalang ito ng maayos saka gumamit ng wipes.

Medyo natauhan ako sa paghihilamos na ginawa ko at bumalik sa aking alaala ang nangyari kanina at agad na sumikip na naman ang aking dibdib.

This is why people should not love. We become sensitive at everything. I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable here, I understand that they’re friends, but that b***h knew that I’m with Archer, yet she has the guts to do that in front of my face? And Archer, the asshole, he just let her, yeah he protested a very little, but, but, but, he could’ve just turn it down and made everyone that his girlfriend is present and that would be wrong. But no, he let her, sa gilid pa ng labi.

Humiga na ako sa kama at kinumutan ang sarili hanggang dibdib.

“Tulog na ‘ko.” paalam ko lang kay Hannah na nagaalis narin ng make up.

“Girl gising, tanghali na.”

I groaned when I felt the throbbing of my head. I just drank a half glass yet my head is aching already. Is this normal? I sat on the bed and leaned on the headboard while trying to massage my head and ease the headache.

“Someone brought this. She said her name is Lea.” Kinuha ko ang paperbag na inaabot ni Hannah at naroon ang swimsuit kong puti at ang skirt na gamit ko noong dinalhan ako ng pamalit nung Madam Regine.

“I’ll go take a bath.” Mabuti na lamang at may damit na akong pamalit.

“Oh wait. Alam ba ni Archer na nandito pa ako?”

“I don’t think so. Kung alam niya pumunta na sana yon dito.”

“baka umuwi narin yon kagabi.” I’m still a bit hurt of what happened last night, but it’s done already and I can’t do anything about it anymore. Like I said…

It’s part of the process

Sino ba kasing nagsabi na mahulog ako sa taong yon, tatanga-tanga rin e. Matapos kong maligo ay isinuot ko ang ruffled off shoulder bikini top at high-waisted bottom saka ko ipinatong ang aking skirt.

“Maligo tayo sa dagat,matagal na ‘kong hindi nakapag beach.” Excited na sabi Hannah. Sana lang talaga wala na si Archer dito, pero hindi ko naman pwedeng iwasan siya habang buhay diba, and besides it was just a kiss, and they’re friends.

Yeah right

Am I being unreasonable and immature for acting that way last night?

“May pamalit ka?”

“Bumili na ako kanina. Kumuha narin ako ng sunblock.”

“Sige tara.” Habang nasa elevator ay naalala kong tanungin ang sa kanila ni Vince.

“Kagabi kay Vince, nagkausap na kayo?”

“Badtrip parin ako don, magnanakaw. Sampalin ko yon pag nakita ko, walang hiya.” Natawa ako sa panggigigil ni Hannah.

“Ikaw? Yung bruhang half-sister mo, nanghalik sa jowa mo kagabi.”

“Pwe. Half-sister? Wala akong ganon. Bahala sila, “friends” daw e.” I raised my hand to quote the word “friends” and rolled my eyes. I can taste the bitterness in my voice.

“Unreasonable ba o immature ako kapag nagselos ako don?”

“So inaamin mong nagselos ka nga?”

“Oo nga.” Lumabas na kami ng elevator pagkarating namin sa ground floor.

Pagkaraating namin sa dalampasigan ay dumiretso kami agad sa tent at upuan na nakapwesto sa tabi ng dagat. Mabilis lamang akong naglagay ng sunblock.

“Una na ‘ko don. Ang tagal mo girl.” Paalam ko kay Hannah na tumawa, ang bagal maglagay ng sunblock.

Nang hanggang beywang na ang tubig ay lumangoy na ako palayo dahil mainit ang sikat ng araw na tumatama sa aking balat. Malinaw ang tubig at medyo malakas ang alon ngayon ngunit okay lang din naman. May natanaw pa akong nag s-surfing kanina sa hindi masyadong kalayuan.

Umahon ako nang medyo malalim na ang tubig at hanggang leeg ko na ito. Sumasabay ako sa alon sa pagbaba at pagtaas ko sa tubig.

Lumusob ako sa tubig nang may malaking alon ang paparating upang hindi iyon tumama sa aking mukha ngunit sa pagbaba kong iyon ay naramdaman kong may tumusok sa aking  paa. Tumingin ako sa buhanginan sa aking paanan at naroon ang dalawang sea urchin na naapakan ko. Nagsimulang mamanhid at kumirot ang aking kanan na talampakan at lumakas ang alon at hatak ng kuryente sa tubig.

Sht.

Sinubukan kong umahon ngunit bumagsak ang malaking alon sa aking mukha na siyang nagpabalik sa akin sa ilalim ng tubig. I’m running out of breath, and the current is pulling me, I tried to swim towards the shore but my foot is burning and getting numb. Umahon ulit ako para huminga ngunit sunod-sunod ang pagbagsak ng malalakas na alon at hinahatak ako ng kuryente pababa. I felt the tightening of my throat as my lungs pleads for air, tears are threatening to come out from my eyes.

I don’t want to think that I’m gonna die here. Ang pangit naman ng pagkamatay ko pag ganon.

But I guess, I’m really gonna die here.

I tried to open my mouth only to be filled with seawater. I gathered my last strength to try to swim up and have some air, but I failed. The burning of my foot spread on to my legs. I can’t.

Please help.

Just as I was to pass out, I felt an arm grabbed my arm and the other on my waist.

Vince.

He helped me up to breathe, and I gasped for air. My eyes sting and I felt a tear rolled down my cheek. I put my arm on his shoulder.

“I-I can’t swim, m-my foot.” Tears aren’t stopping from pouring. He took a glanced at my foot and it’s already red.

“It’s okay. You’re okay, Amira.” He helped me get to the shore and carried me when we’re on the shallow part already.

Hannah immediately approached us and worry is evident on her face. Mabilis na naglakad si Vince habang buhat ako nito. Ngunit mas nabigla ako nang sumigaw si Vince.

“f**k you Kean!” napatingin ako sa kanyang tinitignan, at doon sa hindi masyadong kalayuan nakita ko si Archer na napunas ang ngiti nang makita kami kasama si Karylle na nakalingkis sa braso nito.

“You’re having fun with that girl while Amira’s f*****g drowning!” galit na sigaw ni Vince. Mas sumiksik ako sa dibdib ni Vince at lalong mas lumakas ang pagbuhos ng aking luha.

He’s here. And he’s with her.

The pain from my foot, mixed with the pain from my chest, and the fear that I almost drowned. I silently cried and I tried to bury my face from his chest to hide the tears.

“Shh. It’s alright little Amy. We’ll take you to the clinic.”

“W-what happpened?” I heard Archer’s voice as Vince continued walking.

“Fck off bro! Go back to that girl!” malakas na sambit ni Vince at halata rito ang galit sa kanyang boses.

“I-I didn’t k-know.”

“How would you know when you’re with that girl instead of looking out for your girlfriend!” tumigil si Vince sa paglalakad at nakipagsukatan ito ng tingin kay Archer. I don’t want to look at him so I closed my eyes as tears still trying to escape.

Matagal na hindi nakasagot si Archer at iniwan na lamang namin ito at diretso akong dinala ni Vince sa clinic ng resort. Agad akong dinaluhan ng nurse.

“What happened?” aniya ng nakatingin sa aking paa. Nasa tabi lamang namin sila Vince at Hannah.

“Sea urchin.” Maikli ko lamang na sagot dahil sa kirot ng aking paa. Madali rin namang naglapat ng first aid ang nurse. Binuhusan niya ito ng suka at ibinabad ang paa ko roon to help dissolve any sea urchin’s spine that are possibly remained in the deeper layer of my skin.

“To relieve the pain do a hot compress later when we’re done with the vinegar. But I suggest you to go to the hospital para mas macheck iyan. First aid pa lamang ang ginawa ko at baka hindi ka pa masyadong makakalad ng maayos ng ilang araw dahil sa pamamaga ng paa mo.”

“Thank you po.” Ani ko lamang bago ito umalis.

“Girl, nag alala ako sayo. Buti nalang nandoon si Vince, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko sayo sis.” Aniya na medyo naluluha ito. Tumawa nalang ako ng mahina at sinubukang asarin ito.

“Kayo a, anong ginagawa niyo ni Vince?”

“W-wala. Kinausap niya ako about last night tapos yon napansin namin na wala ka na sa kinatatayuan mo kanina tapos nakita namin na sinusubukan mong iangat yung ulo mo pero bumabalik ka sa ilalim. Kaya ayon.” Tahimik lamang si Vince sa gilid at nakakunot ang noo nito at masamang nakatingin sa aking paa.

“Thank you, Vince.” Tumingin ito sa akin saka tumango lamang at saka mabilis na pumunta sa pintuan ng clinic. Sa pintuan ay naroon ang papasok na Archer na agad sinalubong ni Vince ng suntok sa mukha. Napasigaw sa gulat si Karylle na nasa likuran ni Archer. Pinanood ko lamang sila, wala ako sa mood na magulat o ano man. Hinayaan ko na lamang si Vince na gawin yon, I think he deserves it anyway. Such an asshole, as always.

“f**k you bro! I told you!” pinaulanan niya ito ng suntok at hinayaan lamang nito ni Archer.

“Tulog muna ako. Hayaan mo lang yang mga yan.” Sabi ko kay Hannah na ikinatawa naman nito ng mahina. Inabot niya sa akin ang malaking towel ng resort at ito naman ang pinangtakip ko sa basa kong katawan. Ilang segundo lamang akong nakapikit ay hinatak na ako ng tulog dahil narin siguro sa pagod at stress na naranasan ko kanina.

You’re so messed up, Archer.