When The Rain Stops

Chapter 1 - College Start

Chapter 1

Fields, trees, houses, they all pass in a blur as I stared outside the window of our car with my earphones on. Humming the lyrics, tapping my fingers, getting excited of what's ahead. I don't know but everytime I move into a new place, a place where no one really knows me, I'd feel really excited, I like the thrill of not knowing what's ahead of me and the challenges it brings.

I felt the car slow down and stop when the traffic light showed the red color, I looked at my watch to check the time '5 more minutes' yes 5 more minutes before we arrive at the university where I will be enrolling for my first year in college.

I watched the cars in front of us then rolled down my window to look at the sidewalk, and there I saw a little girl holding a yellow balloon on her right hand and her left was being held by a man, nakatalikod ito at kinakausap ang tindero ng mga balloons habang ang bata naman ay nakatingin sa mga nakahinto na sasakyan just like a curious cat wondering why the cars aren't moving.

Biglang sumampa sa aking hita si Fury ang aking siberian husky na aso, she's still a puppy kaya nakakasampa pa siya sa aking upuan, bigla niyang idinungaw ang kanyang ulo sa bintana at tumahol na siyang nakaagaw sa pansin ng batang babae. Napangiti naman ang bata, bumaling siya sa lalaki na abala parin sa pakikipag-usap sa tindero at pinahawak dito ang lobo bago siya kumaway kay Fury, tumahol naman si Fury at ginalaw ang kanyang buntot, akmang tatalon palabas pa sana ang aking aso ngunit pinigilan ko kaagad na siyang dahilan ng pagtingin saakin ng bata, ngumiti ako sa kanya at ganoon din siya saakin, umusad na ang traffic at natakpan na ang kinaroroonan nila.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto ay nakarating din kami sa Laurent University kung saan ako mag-aaral. Pinapasok kami ng guard sa parking lot ng eskwelahan at nang maiparada ni Dad ang sasakyan ay lumabas na kami. Kung hindi lang sana malayo at bago saakin ang probinsiyang ito ay hindi na ako sinamahan ng parents ko pero since malayo ito ay dapat nila akong samahan para narin maiayos namin yung maliit na condo ko dito, sakto lang para sa isang tao --sakin, maliit na kusina, dalawang banyo, sala at kwarto. Nang papasok na kami sa admin building upang mag-register ay tahimik na tinignan ng guard yung aso ko na kasama namin.

"Sir, allowed po ba ang pets sa loob?" tanong ko.

"Ay opo ma'am, hindi po siya pinagbabawal mahilig din po kasi ang may-ari ng school sa mga aso at pusa, minsan nga po e nagpapakain rin ang mga staff ng mga naliligaw na aso at pusa dito sa Uni. Kapag class days lang po maam hindi allowed magdala ang mga students ng kanilang mga alaga."

"Sige po sir."

"Wag na po yung Sir maam, manong nalang po baka mapagkamalan pa po ako ng iba na propesor dito e" natatawang sambit ni manong guard.

"Sige po salamat"

Nauna na akong naglakad kasama si Mommy, naiwan na pala si Dad sa guard at nakipagkuwentuhan. Mahaba ang pila sa Registrar, obviously maraming mage-enroll. Iniwan muna ako ni Mommy sa waiting area, tumawag kasi si Ninang nandito rin siya sa school kasi may program ata, ang narinig ko kahapon sa usapan nila ni Mommy e scholars' recognition, siguro scholar yung anak at kailangan ang parents para samahan sila sa stage. Actually, hindi ko pa nakikita si Ninang, or hindi ko siguro maalala, hindi ko naman kasi kilala yung mga Ninang at Ninong ko, di rin naman kasi sila nagpaparamdam sa pasko.

Bumilis ang pag-usad ng pila nang tumulong ang University's Student Council sa pagguide sa mga estudyante. Paano ko alam na council sila? Nakasulat sa table nila ang University Student Council. Nakuha ko na yung form at sinagutan ang kailangan, but my father had been bugging me to take Business para daw may mag manage ng maliit na negosyo namin, we just own a couple of restaurant, coffee and bakeshop sa province namin and they are trying to expand it. Yes I have interest in business but I want the works of a nurse too and it is my dream. Well, I can always venture in business naman even without the degree, our employees can just teach me naman siguro ng mga gawain sa negosyo namin.

Natapos na ako dito ngunit wala pa si Mommy. Naglakad lakad ako at medyo napalayo na ako sa admin building, hindi ko kabisado ang lugar ngunit kapansin pansin ang malaking gymnasium ng paaralan, naisipan kong pumunta roon nagbabakasakali na doon ko makikita si Mommy since dito naman ata ginaganap yung program. Nang makapasok ako sa loob ay maraming estudyante ang nasa bleachers, at sa tingin ko ay ang mga nakaupo sa upuan sa gitna ng gym ang mga scholars kasi katabi nila mga magulang nila. 'Graduation ba 'to?' natawa ako sa aking naisip. Iginala ko ang aking mata upang hanapin si Mommy pero di ko mahanap.

"Again, Congratulations to all of you Dean Listers and Scholars and of course to our proud parents, congratulations. Thank you very much for being with us today." Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao at nagsimula ng magsialisan ang mga estudyante. Habang tumitingin ako sa paligid ay biglang tumahol si Fury, tumingin ako sa kanya saka ko tinignan ang tinitignan niya at naroon nga yung bata na nakita namin sa sidewalk kanina, kumaway ito sa aso at ngumiti siya saakin bago tumakbo at hindi ko na nakita kung saan siya nagpunta dahil napalingon ako sa kumalabit sa aking balikat.

"Mom, I've been looking for you. Tapos na ako sa pagregister"

"Is this little Amy already? She's all grown up. Gone is the little Amy. " napatingin ako sa babaeng kasama ni Mommy, well let me guess, she's my Ninang? Ngumiti lamang ako sa kanya at nagbow ako ng konti to give respect.

"Hello po"

"Hi hija, di mo na siguro ako maalala since bata ka pa nung huli akong bumisita sa inyo."

I just smiled at her because I don't know how to respond. Ganito talaga ako, lumaking mahiyain at hindi pala-salita. I also have trouble making and keeping friends, nung high school ako may mga naging kaibigan naman, dalawa, tatlo ganon, pero di kami gaanong close, ewan. Some said that I shut people out from my life and that I am too aloof, well, honestly medyo totoo naman, I don't really socialize, I'd rather stay in my room all day reading books, drinking coffee, and movies, I don't go out to have fun. Reading is fun, but most of the people I know think that it's boring, and that makes me a boring person too. I am no fun at all. And I don't care.

Napansin ko namang may palapit sa kinatatayuan ko, yung batang babae at hawak parin niya ang kanyang balloon.

"Hi!" excited na sambit ng bata sa akin.

"Hello"

"what's her name?" referring to Fury.

"Fury. You can pet her if you want" I sat to pet Fury's head and to level my height with the kid.

"Really?" nagliwanag ang mukha ng bata at tumango lamang ako at hinayaan siyang hawakan niya si Fury. Fury wagged her tail and I can tell she's happy to find a new friend.

"She likes you." the kid giggled when Fury tried to stand and sit still wagging her tail.

"Amy" tawag sakin ni Mommy. Tumayo ako at napansin ang dalawang lalake na katabi ni Ninang. I stared at them in awe because they both look freakin'ly handsome, the other one has a soft and friendly features while the other one got rough features but in a good-looking way, his eyes are cold though. Those piercing beautiful eyes. I know that look kasi ganyan din ako palagi kaya nga ako sinasabihang masungit at maldita. I don't think naman na masungit ako, that's just how I look, and people are just intimidated with my silence kaya nasasabihan ako ng masungit. Wala naman kasi akong sasabihin, ba't magsasalita pa diba.

The stare did last only for 3 seconds, yes I am amaze by their looks but nah, I know better. I know that it's bad to judge people, but with those looks? I'd say they are a walking heartbreak. And besides I have no plans on getting myself be fooled by love.

"po?" I turned to Mom.

"Boys, mind to introduce yourselves to this young lady?" Ninang uttered.

They both looked at me not saying anything, the one with soft features looked at me with questioning eyes, and the other guy is just there, mirroring my blank expression. I kinda understand now kung ba't nila 'ko sinasabihang masungit. Nang walang kumibo sa aming tatlo ay si Ninang na ang nagsalita.

"Little Amy, this is my son Vincent Calyx" so the one with a softer look is Vincent Calyx

"and this is his friend Archer Kean Saavedra" saad ni Ninang at tinuro ang lalaking kasami ni Vincent and his expression did not change.

"and I'm her sister Sophia" exclaimed by the little girl after playing with Fury.

"Umm. Hello, I'm Rain Amira Dovante. Nice to meet you both" I said to the guys and tried to smile at them atleast. Then I turned to Sophia and said hi to her as she continued playing with Fury.

"It's almost 12, why don't you join us for lunch with the kids, Martha" anyaya ni Mommy kila Ninang.

"Sure." bumaling siya kay Vincent at Archer "Vincent, go find your brother. And you Kean, sumabay na kayo ng mga kapatid mo saamin na kumain."

Hindi pa man nakakasagot si Archer ay nagsalita na ulit si Mommy. "Yes Kean, join us too, your Mother's gonna kill me if I don't feed her children." saad ni Mommy at napatawa sila ni Ninang. "How's your Mom by the way, ilang taon na siyang di nagpapakita saamin a." tanong ni Mommy.

"She's doing fine Tita, she's in the States right now for business with dad."

Who's his Mom? Is she one of Mom's friend too? Do they know me as well?