Mas lalo pang gumulo ang relasyon namin ng kapatid ko, umuuwi na nga ako sa bahay ngaun at minsan na lang sa dorm. Gusto ko kami magkaayos pero pakiramdam ko siya mismo ang lumalayo sa akin, kapag nasa bahay ako lagi naman siyang wala at may pictorial daw. Kung anong ginulo namin ni Jade siya namang inayos ng pakikipagkaibigan ko sa magkapatid na Teng. Lagi kaming lumalabas nitong mga nakaraang araw, labas ng buong barkada.
“Maddison ayos lang ba ito?” pakita ni Sam sa akin ng na-drawing niyang Thomas daw, tinigil ko muna nag pagbabasa ko at tinignan.
“Ok lang. Medyo hawig naman.” Sa totoo lang kamukha talaga ni Thomas, magaling din kasi talagang magsketch itong si Sam mas lamang nga lang ang katamaran niyang skill.
“Gosh! I really hate rainy season!” maarteng nagpunas naman si Alex ng panyo parang basing sisiw kasi.
“Oy bruha, why are you late?” buti na lang wala pa ung prof. namin.
“Well, blame it to the nature, Sam. I was stuck near in Vincent Cruz st. for almost two hours because of the fvcking rain. Baha na kaya!” Inis na inis na sagot ni Alex. Malakas kasi ang ulan, actually nitong mga nagdaang araw pa umuulan-ulan.
“Chill lang. You don’t have to curse the nature. I heard may bagyo daw lakas din ng hangin.” Sabi ko naman at patuloy sa pagbabasa ng libro.
“Nothing’s new. Lagi naman eh.” Napailing naman kami ni Sam sa inaasta ni Alex. Ano ba talaga problema nito? Hindi lang ata bagyo ang pinu-problema nito.
“If my dad finds out na inilusong ko na naman sa baha ang kotse ko..he’s gonna kill me. I’m sure.”
“Oh.. Poor Alex. Don’t you worry, we won’t tell it to Tito.” Sam assured Alex. When it comes in Alex car Tito Armand is so over protected, ikaw ba naman kasing gumastos ng paulit ulit sa pagpapaayos ng kotseng laging lunod dahil sa baha.
I felt my cellphone vibrated on my pocket. Kinuha ko agad ito at nakitang may message.
From: Archer Jeron
Hi Madds. I would like to tell you that I’m gonna pick you up later. Medyo malakas ang hangin at ulan. So, do not take a cab, okay? Just wait for me. Text mo na lang sa akin ang labas mo, magsstart na training namin. Bye. Keep safe and miss you : )
I can’t help but to smile while reading his message. He really cares about me. Sweet and caring side of Jeron Teng. This is the longest message he sent to me ever since pwede naman siyang tumawag but I understand may training daw eh. Hindi kaya hassle sa kanya iyon, he’ll be driving from taft to espanya and baha pa naman.
“Anyare te? Baliw lang? Ngumingiti nang mag-isa, delikado na yan. Naku!” Sam said while shaking her head, I just give her you-don’t-care lookand she walks away from our seat while screaming.
“Jusmiyo. Inlove na nga talaga si Maddison. Push na yan. Right classmates?!” everyone laughs and stares at me. I did not mind them, I texted back Jeron ang oras ng labas ko mamayang 6:30pm.
I was waiting for his reply but twenty minutes have been past at wala pa ring reply. Siguro nagstart na ang training nila, they been working hard these past few weeks for incoming finals. Nag-aantay na lang kais ng kakalabanin ang growling tigers. You read it right. Ganyan ka lupit ang school namin, waiting na lang plus twice to beat pa. On other side, FEU Tams and Green Archers will be fighting for the position one spot on finals – they will be the challenger of growling tigers.
“That’s all. Class dismissed. Ingat sa pag-uwi class. The UST ocean park is now open, so becareful going home. Ang laki na ng tubig.” Our prof. messes around. Almost of the student calls our school ‘UST Ocean Park’ everytime there’s a flood.
Heavy rain and sturdy wind, goodluck sa amin na naman. Naglalakad na kami palabas at sobrang lakas talaga ng ulan kaya siguro mukhang gabi na kahit ala-sais pa lang.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay here?” Tanong sa akin ni Alex na mukhang nag-aalala.
“Oo nga, Madds. Ang lakas ng ulan and for sure tataas pa lalo ang tubig , maybe later wala ka nang masakyang taxi.” Sam anxiously asked also.
“No I’ll be fine. Go on. Jeron will be here in any minute.” I told them. They look in each other as if they are having second thoughts.
“Then will join you here, you said any minute he’ll coming. So let us wait for Jeron.” Alex said with finality in her voice. Sam just nodded with a smile on a face. They’re so sweet, na touch naman ako sa mga kaibigan ko.
Sa sobrang katigasan ng ulo ng dalawang ito wala akong nagawa, all of us are waiting for Jeron here in guard house. Maaga naman kasi kami pinalabas kanina, we were just having a little chat pero hindi maikakaila na lumalakas ang ulan but until now wala pa ring Jeron kanina ko pa tinitext.
“Naku mga hija, umuwi na kayo hangga’t kaya pa ng kotse niyo. Pataas pa ang tubig baha, bahala kayo mahihirapan kayo.” One of the guards told us. I saw how Alex changed her expression, talking about car I know she don’t like to sacrifice her car again for the nth time.
“Baka naman manong tumila na ang ulan maya-maya.” Sam said.
“Impossible yan ineng. Tingnan mo ang ulap ang dilim-dilim, ibig sabihin madami pang iuulan.”
That’s it. Nag-aalala na din ako para sa kanila. It’s already 7:30 in the evening maybe Jeron just stuck on a heavy traffic and Taft is miles faraway in Espanya. I get my phone and pretended that Jeron replied me and I read it fakely in my mind, Sam and Alex staring at me. After reading I faced them with a smile.
“Girls, Jeron is already here but he was lost and parked his car on the other gate but I texted him this place. You can go now.” Liar Maddison. I saw how Alex smiled.
“Thank you God.” I heard her muttered.
“So mauuna na kami ah. Baka matirikan kami ng kotse. Paki batok na lang kami kay Jeron ah.” Alex said and I just laugh. Alex and Sam hug and kissed me on the cheeks before they left.
I texted again Jeron if where is he now? I’m starting to worried about him. I tried to call him but his not answering his phone. Mapupud-pod na ang daliri ko kakatype at kaka missed call sa kanya. Halos wala nang estudyante dito, lalo pa rin tumaas ang tubig. My mom called and asked me if where am I. I told them that I was in our dorm now, but my plan a while ago was that I’m going home on our house at dahil dito doon na lang ako ulit sa dorm.
“Hija, wala pa rin ba ung sundo mo? Aba’y maalas-dyes na. Baka hindi ka na kauwi kapag nag-antay ka pa ng kinse minutos dito.” Pagbabanta ni Manong na may pag-aalala na rin.
Umiling na lang ako kay manong at binasa na lang ng paulit-ulit ang text ni Jeron kanina.. Medyo malakas ang hangin at ulan. So, do not take a cab, okay? Just wait for me. I will never doubt Jeron’s words, were dating for quite long and he never break his promises. I’ll wait here because I’m sure his coming, he promised and I believe him.
“Hija ano na? Kahit mga empleyado ay pinagsiuwian na kasi nasa signal number three na pala ang buong ka maynilaan.” Manong asked me again.
“Manong, I’ll wait for him here. Darating siya.” I said, napailing na lang si manong at iniwan akong parang naaawa. Sht! Bagyo na pala talaga, I decided to wait twenty minutes more.
“Where the hell are you now?” I whispered to myself. Ang bilis ng oras.
I called his phone again and again. Damnit! It’s ringing but he’s not answering. I wanted to cry because right now I felt pity on myself, in my entire life this is the first time I waited for nothing. I stood up and rushly wipes the tears streaming in my cheeks.
“Manong thank you for accommodating me. Uuwi na po ako.” I hurriedly turn my back on him, I don’t want other people see me crying.
“Hindi na ba dadating ang sundo mo? Delikado na ah—“ I did not mind he’s been talking, I just walk on the rain.
“Maybe something happened on Jeron that’s why he did not make it.” My mind told to myself. I don’t want to think that way but I’m wishing na ganun nga kasi hindi ko matatanggap kung mababaw man ang rason niya.
While I’m walking my tears are automatically stopped. Siguro napaluha lang ako because of frustration. Nagsisisi ako kung bakit pa ako nagpaiwan kila Sam kanina, I’m sure they’re going to laugh me if they were going to see me like this later.
“SHT!” I was cursing here for several times.
Why there’s no cab here? Kahit jeep wala na din. I’m feeling cold and my body started to shaken. Mukha akong sirang naglalakad ng nakapaa dito at hanggang legs ko na ang baha. Habang nagmumuni-muni naman ako ay biglang may tumigil nna crosswind sa tapat ko, unti-unti namang bumababa ang bintana nito.
“Maddison?! Oh God!”
I was surprised when he hastily went out on his car with umbrella and walks toward me. I saw on his face how he concerned seeing me like this, kahit sino naman ata eh. He guided me on the passenger seat and opened the door, letting me sitted. He ran on the other side of the car and sat down beside me – driver seat.
“Why are you walking on the rain with no umbrella? And at this hour? Huh, Maddison?” No words dare came out on my mouth. I felt like crying again.
“Hey, are you cold? You look pale.” He said and gets a towel on the back seat then handed to me.
“Don’t worry malinis yan. I didn’t use it. Nacancel ang training namin dahil sa ulan that’s why the team decided to hang out. Buti na lang pala dumaan ako dito.” Ang daldal talaga ni Jeric, I’m not asking anything on him but he just can’t help his self talking, I guess.
He started the engine and slowly driving. I let the towel hugs me, Jeric did not asked again maybe he gets tired talking. Wala pa naman akong gana magsalita. I’m really thanking him for saving me on that situation a while ago.
“Is it Jeron?” I looked at him, he’s eyes are glued on the road. I found myself nodding on his question. Naiiyak na naman tuloy ako.
“What did he do to you?” he hurriedly stopped the car exact in front of my dorm. He looked at me worriedly. We we’re now staring each other.
“He—“ I was searching for my voice when he unexpectedly pull me and hug me tight.
My eyes slowly grew wider and I did not feel anything cold because Jeric Teng is now giving me a warm and tight hug. And for a while I found myself hugging him back and my eyes started watering, I really don’t know how to explain what am I feeling right now.
“Shhs. Hush now, Madds.” He’s the one who let go on our hugs. He cupped my face and wiping the tears. Our face is now that closes on each other, I even feel his breath.
“Now tell me what happened? Did Jeron hurt you?” he asked again I just shook my head and sits properly. He’s just looking at me
“Jero-n, he’s a liar!” I said between my sobs. Ang sama-sama talaga ng loob ko. Ikaw ba naman pag-intayin ng ganun katagal. But what happens between me and Jeron are private matter for us, Jeric shouldn’t be interfere.
“Why? He did what?” he curiously asked. I can see in his eyes a little anger maybe his going to scold his brother about this.
“Not-hing. It’s just.. I missing him.” I said without thinking.
“Maddison, why the hell are you saying that on him?!” I thought. It’s too late to get my words back, I already hurt his feelings.
“Is that all? Because you missed my brother? Haha.” He said in let a faked laugh. Napatigil naman ako sa pag-iyak and glared at him. Is he pretending that it’s okay with him to talked about Jeron when the truth is .. he’s hurting inside?
“I’ll tell about this on him.” He mess my hair and smiled. Siguro nga nawala na yung feelings niya sa akin.
I was just assuming many things about Jeric – on how he treated me and giving me a spare of time with him but the truth is he already moved on. And it’s a good thing for me hindi na ako mahihirapan manghinimbang. He’s still going be my friend, he and his brother.
“Thank you, Jeric. You’ve been a good friend to me.” I held his hand and smiled to him. He smiled back.
“Just don’t mention on Jeron what happened to me – I was just trap on that freaking flood that’s why inabot ako ng gabi.” I lied again. I’m becoming a good liar. I opened the door and went outside, Jeric as well.
Mayerie was a lucky one, having Jeric on her life before I think she’s the happiest lady on entire planet for four years, I just hope that they’re together.
“Thank you for the ride.” I told him again. I was walking slowly entering the dorm when I heard him shout.
“Wait Madds.” I turn around just to face him. And he told me that make the moments breezed.
“If Jeron let you cry again. This Tiger will growls for your love just to win you over him.”
---
A/N: Comments and Votes :)