When The Rain Stops

Chapter 3 - Stuck with the Guys

Chapter 3

"I did not." my voice got more quiet, because I'm not used to lying. Tinulungan ko lang naman yung bata e parang naiiyak na kanina e. Pilitin ba naman kasi e ayaw nga ng bata.

He raised his eyebrow as if taunting me.

"I was just trying to help." I gave up.

"Didn't you saw your sister? she was on the verge of crying kanina."

"I'm sorry kuya, I just don't like it. But I promise kuya when I grow up I'll get used to eating broccoli"

"You will not grow up if you don't eat them now."

"You will still grow up even if you don't eat broccoli right now Sofie," I said plainly while looking at Archer, then I turned to Sophia to continue "just make sure to eat other vegetables and fruits too so you'll grow strong and healthy." and I smiled at her.

Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Archer and his jaw was clenched, masama siyang nakatingin sakin at yung mga mata niya parang mangangain ng tao. Kung nakakamatay lang ang tingin siguro duguan na ako ngayon. But nah, di mo ko matatakot sa mga tingin na yan Archer.

I just noticed that everyone has finished their food already and they are looking at us, and Vince was trying to stifle a laugh.

"Little Amy is now a lady, indeed" Vince said and bursted out laughing at his friend who just got roasted by my statement.

'ba't mo kasi sasabihin sa bata na di siya lalaki pag hindi kumain ng broccoli diba? Anong kinalaman ng broccoli don. Don't tell wrong information to kids. Medical course pa naman ata itong si Archer tas di alam pinagsasabi.'

I just don't know what his course is, I just figured out that it is a medical course since he's wearing their white uniform because of the ceremony earlier, it's just that I'm not sure which department the uniform belongs. Iba rin naman ang uniform ni Vince and not a white one so I don't know.

"By the way, I have to go back at the Uni. for a picture and get my I.D" I told Mom.

Friday ngayon at sa Lunes na kasi ang pasukan, nagpa-late akong mag-enroll kasi akala ko mas kaonti yung pila sana pero ang haba parin naman pala kanina.

"Oh. Di mo pa nakuha kanina?"

"Hindi pa Mom, sabi po ng council na bumalik ako after lunch to get it, apti rin po yung schedule ko makukuha ko ngayong hapon."

"Alright then, kami nalang ng Dad mo ang pupunta sa mall para bilhin yung mga kulang sa condo mo, ihatid ka nalang namin sa school at sunduin ka nalang pagkatapos."

"Malapit lang naman po sa school ang condo, kahit maglakad nalang po ako mamaya wag niyo na po akong sunduin" the distance is just 400 meters or so, but not 1km. Malapit na yon sakin since sanay naman ako.

"but you're not familiar with this place" sambit ni Dad

"that's why I'll walk and look around to familiarize the place po Dad."

"are you sure? Paano kung may mangyari sayo sa daan?"

Here we go again. I understand them being protective, pero kailangan ko rin namang masanay diba kasi pagbalik nila sa probinsya maiiwan akong mag-isa dito and independently. They are not going to be at my side forever.

"I'll be fine"

"but..."

"should I just go back home then and study there?" I tried to say it calmly but the annoyance is evident on my voice.

I don't like it because Dad doesn't trust me. I know Mom believes in me, but Dad? I don't think so. Hindi nga niya ako pinapayagang lumabas ng bahay para lang bumili sa mall ng walang kasama. Nung una nga ayaw niya akong lumayo ako at dito mag-aral, but I insisted because it is my life, I will be the one who will live my life in the future and not them, not him. So I should be the one making decisions for myself what I need from them is guidance and not a control over my life.

"Don't worry about it Tito, babalik pa naman kami ni Archer sa school for some stuff. We can just drive her at her condo after." Saad ni Vince.

"Magkaibang direksyon ang mall at school. Sumabay ka nalang kaya kila Vince, Little Amy" saad ni Tita. And she keeps on calling me Little Amy.

I hope Mom or Dad will gonna say no. Ayokong sumabay sa kanila please? Baka patayin ako ni Archer, at itapon nila ang bangkay ko sa daan. Hindi ko rin sila ka-close so ba't ako makaksabay, that would be suffocating.

"Oo pala. Sumabay ka nalang sa kanila anak" sabi naman ni Mommy

'oh no'

"Can I come with you ate?" excited na sabi ni Sofie

"No, Tita Martha will drive you and Karvin home now" Nalungkot naman ang bata sa turan ng kanyang kuya.

"It's already past 1pm, we should go." Vince said at nagpaalam na kami sa kanila.

Pagkarating sa parking lot ay pinatunog na ni Archer ang kanyang sasakyan saka ako pumasok sa likod at silang dalawa sa harapan. I noticed a pile of papers and some books beside me. Pharmacology books, NANDA, Maternal and Child Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing etc. I took a 5-page stapled paper and read it. I figured out then that he's taking the same course as mine, and based on the books here he may be in his second year or third year already.

"Third year" napatingin ko bigla kay Archer, ba't alam niya nasa isip ko.

"Did I say that out loud?" I asked and I heard Vince chuckled.

"yes, and don't touch my stuff" Archer added. Paano niya alam na may hawak ako e, may mata ba siya sa likod ng ulo niya? Nakakagulat e, di naman nakatingin. I put back the paper and quietly stared at the window.

Why am I getting a feeling that I'd be stuck with these two throughout college?! Can't be or it would be a disaster to me.