Can't Really Explain It

CHAPTER 2: Shared Umbrella

"They say weather changes things. Ulan. Lamig. Baha. But sometimes, what really changes everything... is who you share your umbrella with. Or worse—what you end up feeling after." -Kahlil Loui Solis

8:06 PM
Outside UST Main Gate

I wasn't even supposed to be out this late.

But the library was warm, tahimik, at sabik akong hindi muna umuwi sa maingay kong dorm. Sa totoo lang, mas sabik akong hindi muna bumalik sa realidad. So I stayed. Nag-Netflix habang nagre-review kuno. Tapos boom—ulan. Malakas. Hindi lang ambon. Yung klase ng ulan na may kasamang hangin at pangakong baha.

I opened my little black umbrella. It barely covered me, but at least it was something.

I stepped out... and there he was.

Crei.

Nakatayo lang sa labas ng gate. Walang payong. Basang-basa ang sleeves ng uniform niya. He didn't even seem fazed by the weather. Parang... normal lang 'to sa kanya.

I froze for a second, debating kung lalapitan ko ba or not.

But I did.

"Kuya?"

He turned. Slightly surprised, pero hindi naman cold. "Oh. Hey."

"Wala kang payong?" I asked with slight concern.

"Sira yung akin." He replied. Gwapo talaga ng boses niya, ugh.

I lifted mine slightly. "You can take this. I'll just... run."

He raised an eyebrow. "Don't be dumb. Share tayo."

My heart, rude as ever, skipped. SHARE?!? WITH ME??

So there we were. Walking side by side under an umbrella built for one. Shoulders almost touching. Both trying not to notice how close we were. Well—at least I was trying.

"You're soaked," I said, stupidly.

He just glanced at his wet collar. "Yeah. Not the first time."

"San ka uwi?" he asked.

"Forty minutes away. Commute."

He frowned. "Yikes."

"San ka?" I reflected the question back.

"Five minutes."

"Ah. Lapit." I answered nonchalantly.

Then he slowed his steps a little. "Gusto mong magpatuyo muna sa place ko?"

I choked on air. "Ha?"

He looked at me like I was being dramatic. "I'm serious. Basa ka. Gabi na. May baha pa. You'll get sick."

I didn't answer right away. Kasi part of me wanted to say no, out of... self-preservation. Pero yung isa pang part—yung utak kong sinapian ng rom-com fantasy—was already screaming YES, LOUI, SAY YES.

"Okay..." with a hint of both hesitation and embarrassment.

"Okay?"

"Okay. Patuyo lang ha," I added, trying to be cool kahit buong kaluluwa ko naliligalig.

He smirked. "Oo naman. Hindi kita patutuyuin forever."

8:19 PM
Crei's Apartment

Small. Clean. Comfortably lived in. Walang kalat. May mga diffused light at konting scent ng eucalyptus. Very him.

I stood awkwardly by the door, habang binuksan niya ilaw at pinatugtog ng very faint instrumental lo-fi sa speaker.

"Here," he said, handing me a towel. "Use that. You can hang your jacket sa chair na 'to."