Beneath the Clouds (Beneath Series 1) - COMPLETED

Wakas

Wakas

It was ironic how destiny makes fun of me. Destiny? Do I ever believe in that in the first place? Siguro dati, hindi, but the moment my life entangled with her, paunti-unti na akong naniniwala.

I can still remember how I followed her silently during my last year in elementary.

"Sir Nova, hindi pa ba tayo uuwi?" Mang Ruben, my driver, asked me as I keep on glancing at her school's gate.

"I'm still waiting for someone, Kuya. Just a little bit."

I looked at my watch as I tapped my shoes on the hardness of the car's mat. It's unusual for her to go out late. Usually, she's out five minutes after their scheduled time. We waited for some minutes and the moment I glanced at the window, I saw her. With her usual ponytail and crinkled uniform, she walked outside while strongly grasping her back pack's holder. May isang guro na umalalay sa kanya. Sa gilid niya ay dalawa pang batang lalaking tingin ko'y kaedaran ko rin.

Her face was grim at kitang kita mo ang dilim sa mga mata niya kahit sa malayo.

I noticed that she was just accompanied by the teacher to go out. 

"Manong, can you follow that girl?" I told Manong Ruben when I noticed she's gonna head home.

Patuloy siyang sinusundan ng dalawang batang lalaki, and by the looks of it, they are bullies.

"Walang papa!" I heard the two boys laugh. 

Umahon ang inis sa akin. I looked at Raya. She just continued walking as if hearing nothing. And the boys didn't stop and continued teasing her. Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko. I harshly opened the door and went in their direction. Mang Ruben stopped me pero hindi na ako nagpapigil pa.

Humarang ako sa daraanan nila dahil patuloy nilang sinusundan ang batang babae. Medyo matangkad ako kumpara sa kanila kaya napahinto sila nang humarang ako.

"A-Ano ba!" ani ng isang payatot. I didn't utter a word and just grit my teeth.

They tried to get through but I stopped them once again.

"Huwag ka ngang h-humarang! T-Tumabi ka!"

I smirked. Even if they acted brave, the fear in their eyes is undeniable. They're just mere cats hiding in a tiger's clothing.

"T-Tara na, Jemson. M-Mas malaki siya kesa sa atin," one of the boys trembled and ran back. Sumunod na rin ang isa.

I watched them ran just like a predator is after them. I sighed and looked back where Raya was. She's small for her grade at masyadong maliliit ang hakbang. And if I started walking with my normal pace, baka pa naabutan ko siya. Hindi ko alam kung nakailang buntong hininga na ako ngayon. I can't simply go home without knowing kung nakauwi na ba siya o hindi.

I didn't have a choice but to follow her. I was watching her small back while she's busy walking. Ni hindi niya ata napapansin ang paligid niya dahil sa malalim na iniisip.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag noong nakita siya sa malapit sa gate ng luma nilang bahay. Kalalabas lang din ng mama niya na tila nagmamadali. She rushed outside but stopped when she saw her child. I guess she's gonna head out to fetch Raya.

I sighed in relief when I saw little Raya rushed to her mom. There's no sign of gloominess in her face anymore, tanging saya lang ang mababakas doon.

Naging ganon lagi ang routine ko, ang sundan siya at masigurong nakauwi ng maayos. More importantly, I had fun. May mga bago akong natuklasan sa kanya. She's really bubby and a little bit nosy.

Now, I remembered the reason why I am doing all these.

"Is this your second son?" ngiting bungad sa akin ng isang lalaking kaedaran lang ni Papa. His eyes were so innocent. Doon pa lang, nalaman ko na mabuti siyang tao. At the age of 9, mailap pa ako sa mga taong nakakasalamuha ko, especially those people na may masamang motibo. Bata pa lang ako pero alam ko na na maraming tao ang gustong mapalapit sa akin dahil sa apelyidong dinadala ko.