—Never be afraid of the rain.
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Sky's POV
Ilang araw makalipas ang nangyaring 'yun, wala na ulit ni isang litrato ang nakikita ko sa utak ko. I guess, it is just some sort of imagination, 'no?
Baka, my mind is making things out of nowhere. Bored lang siguro ako.
It's lunch time and nandito kami ngayon sa cafeteria ng school.
"Sky" pagtawag ni Viya sa akin habang ngumunguya ng pizza na binili niya.
"Why?" Sabi ko sa kaniya at uminom ng juice. Yuck, juice na lasang tubig amp.
"Anong plano mo? Malapit na birthday mo, 'di ba?" pagtatanong niya sa akin.
Oo nga pala. My birthday is near, and I have no idea what to do. These past years, hindi ako excited sa birthday ko. Feels like may kulang na hindi ko maintindihan.
"Ewan. Maybe stay at home na lang" walang ganang sabi ko sa kaniya.
"Boring mo naman. Out of town na lang tayo" excited na banggit nito.
"Wow, makapag aya, libre mo ba, ha?" panghahamon na sabi ko sa kaniya.
Lakas mag-aya nito. Akala mo pera niya gagamitin sa out of town na 'to. Tho wala namang problema sa akin na ilibre sila.
"Hindi, hehehe. Suggestion lang naman." malungkot na pagkasabi niya.
"Hmm, sige. Pero, saan?" tanong ko. Simula nung umuwi kami rito sa pilipinas, i haven't really travelled a lot. Wala akong gana.
"Sa favorite place ninyo, i mean, mo. Hehe" sabi niya sabay iwas ng tingin sa akin. Weird.
"Niyo? Who do you mean by that? Tska saan 'yan?" curious na tanong ko.
"Sa Tagaytay" she said.
"Yep, pwede. Pero sino 'yung tinutukoy mong "niyo"? Tanong ko sa kaniya. Pero tahimik lang itong kumakain. Problema nito?
"Ah wala 'yon. Ang sabi ko, favorite ninyo, like kayong family" mabilis na pagkakasabi niya.
Something's wrong with her, pero hindi ko na lang pinansin.
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Bumalik na kami sa classroom namin. Habang nagtuturo ang professor namin, biglang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan.
Shit, wala akong payong.
Sana lang huminto bago i dismiss ang klase. Uulan kung kailan hindi ako nakapagdala ng payong, sana man lang ininform ako. Hahaha joke, okay corny.
Someone knocked on the door and Miss Gray comes in.
She walked inside at nagtama ang mga mata namin. Nginitian ko ito pero iniwasan lang ako nito ng tingin. Kahit saang anggulo talaga tignan, ang ganda niya. She screams authority with her white longsleeves and a pencil cut skirt, idagdag mo pa ang 2 inches heels. Woahh, perfection.
"Attention, everyone" said by our Professor which is si Miss Tan.
"Miss Gray is here to announce something. Listen first" she said at sinenyasan si Miss Gray para pumunta sa gitna.
"Good Afternoon. As you all know, Hamilton's Foundation Day is coming. This year's celebration is thru a pageant of all courses in this school" she said which makes the whole room excited for this.
"Now, i need 1 representative for the Nursing Department" she said at tinignan ako. Haha no.
"Miss, Si Sky po!" sabi ni Miller, isa sa classmate ko.
"Opo, Miss. Si Sky na lang!" pagsuporta naman ni Viya. Tinignan ko ito ng masama pero natawa lang ito. Hay nako, yari 'to sa akin.
"Yes, go Sky"
"Go Sky, keri mo 'yan"
"Dalaga na ang Sky namin"
Hindi ko kinakaya ang sinasabi nila. Ako? Magp'pageant? Tara away na lang oh.
"Miss Valeria" pagtawag sa akin ni Miss Gray.
Nako po, ayan na.
"Y-yes, M-miss?" Kinakabahang tanong ko. Before she even talk, i saw how she smirked pero agad din itong nawala. Ano 'yun?
"Come to my office after your dismissal. We'll talk about the pageant. I will be your coach for this since I'm a professor in this department. Got it?" she asked while directly looking at me.
"Yes, Miss. Noted po" sabi ko at hindi na lang umangal.
Ni hindi manlang tinanong kung okay sa akin, pero si Miss Gray na 'yan eh, siya raw ang coach, sino ako para tumanggi?
After that, she left our room and the discussion continued. Hindi ko alam pero hindi ako kinakabahan. I felt happiness knowing na makakasama ko si Miss Gray.
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Nandito ako ngayon sa harap ng office ni Miss Gray. Almost 5 mins na akong nakatayo rito pero hindi pa rin ako kumakatok.
I looked at myself sa screen ng phone ko. Inayos ko ang sarili ko at akmang kakatok na ako ng biglang may nagsalita sa likod ko.
"You look stupid, you know?"
Nang lumingon ako, I saw her.
"M-miss Gray" i said.
"Kanina pa po kayo nandiyan?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.
"Yes. Do you still have the courage to knock or go inside? Its been 5 minutes. Get in." She said at naglakad na papasok sa loob.
Ito na nga eh papasok na oh.
"The Foundation Day Pageant is in 2 weeks from now. We have to practice everyday" she said without even looking at me. Nakaupo na siya sa table niya at nagaayos ng gamit.
"Ahm, what time po everyday, Miss?" tanong ko.
"Depends when I want. It could me at the morning, lunch or after class" she said and she look at me. Napaiwas na lang ako ng tingin dito.
"There will be Casual Attire, and Evening Gown. You also have to perform a specific talent of yours which is singing. You're good with that" she said na ipinagtaka ko.
"How did you know i'm good at singing, Miss?" I said na ikinatahimik niya.
"I saw it on your records. There's a section in there that talks about what you're good at. Got a problem?" tanong niya sa akin.
"Nothing po" ayan na lang ang sinabi ko. Meron ba no'n sa records? Shocks, nagiging makakalimutin ako.
"We'll start tomorrow. Bring an extra tshirt and pants. Tomorrow morning. I don't like someone being late" sabi niya while looking directly at me.
"Yes, Ma'am. Copy" saad ko.
"Okay, come on. We'll leave now" she said.
Tahimik ko lang siyang sinusundan sa parking lot. It is still raining.
Bago kami makapunta sa parking lot, kailangan muna naming pumunta sa kabilang building. But it is an open space and I don't have an umbrella with me.
I also noticed na walang payong si Miss Gray kaya pareho kaming naghihintay na tumila ang ulan. After a couple of minutes, may naalala ako.
"Ahh, I have an umbrella in my car. Wait me here, Miss" akmang tatakbo na ako nang hawakan ni Ma'am ang kamay ko.
"You'll run in the rain? Are you really that stupid?" Naiinis na sabi niya sa akin.
I smiled.. Her hands are soft..
"Yes, Miss. Kaysa naman tumunganga tayo rito at maghintay na lang. Mamaya pa po titila 'yan" i said at tumakbo na.
Parking lot is a bit far in our department kaya basang basa akong nakapunta sa kotse ko. I get the umbrella at bumalik na kung nasaan si Miss Gray.
"Here" i said.
"You really are stupid. You'll get sick because of that" she said.
Ramdam ko ang inis sa boses niya pero mahahalata mo ang pagaalala. Ang cute..
Binuksan ko na ang payong. "I'll be fine, Miss. Let's go?" I asked.
Inirapan ako nito and she said "Fine".
While walking, no one dares to talk between us. It's just the sound of the rain ang maririnig mo.
Nang makarating kami sa parking lot at dumiretso si Ma'am sa kotse niya at may kinuha siyang kung ano.
"Wear this. Don't ask. Just do it. Drive safe" she said and she left me. Pinanood ko na lang siyang pumasok sa kotse niya at umalis na.
I looked at the jacket she gave. I smiled at sinuot ko na lang ito. Pumasok na lang ako sa kotse ko at umalis na para umuwi.
You really are something, Miss Gray.
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Don't forger to vote!🖤