She's not the main character

i.

"Rain."

"Goodbye, Tin!"

"Ingat ka, Tin!"

"See you tomorrow, Tin!"

I smiled and waved back. "Ingat din kayo." Nakangiting pamamaalam ko sa grupo ng mga babae.

They eyes sparkled as their smile widens. I secretly heaved a sigh under my smile, even my eyes are smiling.

"Lakas talaga." Kumento ng lalaking kasama ko. Nakasabit sa balikat niya ang itim niyang backpack na wala namang laman. Agaw pansin ang undercut niyang may apat pa na linya. Sinuway na siya ng teacher namin niyan, hindi pa rin nakinig.

Mapang-asar akong inakbayan ni Mat. "Lakas sa babae." Natatawang dagdag niya.

"Ang daming iiyak kapag nagka-girlfriend 'yan si Tin." Dagdag ng isa ko pang kasama. Busy na busy si Regio na ibalik ang hikaw niya na tinatanggal niya kapag nahuli at binabalik kapag uwian na.

"Parang magkakaroon, masyado mataas ang standards nyan." Walang ganang kumento ni Leo bago ayusin ang salamin at magpatuloy sa pagbabasa.

Mat and Regio laughed, I did the same. Pilit akong tumawa sa mga pinagsasabi nila.

"Ano ba kasing breed mo, Tin? Bakit naiiba ka?" Natatawang tanong ni Regio.

Hindi maipinta ang mukha ko nang malipat ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Ginawa pa 'kong aso.

Pasimple akong napabuntong-hininga. Tsk, bakit ba nila sinasabi 'yon?

For pete's sake, anyone will do. As long as she's kind, will love my mom and my sister as much as I do, and at least has average grades, I will gladly date her.

Sila lang ang naglagay ng standards sa akin at sa dapat na i-date ko.

Sabay-sabay kaming naglakad papalabas ng gate ng school at doon kami nagkawatak-watak dahil iiba kami ng mga daan pauwi.

"Ingat mga tol!" Pagpaalam ni Mat sa amin.

Nagsikawayan kami habang naglalakad sa sari-sarili naming mga daan. Pinanood ko silang mawala sa paningin ko bago magpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Walang gana akong naglakad pauwi. Tsk, everyone at school thinks I'm perfect when I'm not, to be exact, my sister thinks I'm a weirdo.

I always watch and read romance stuffs at home.

Huminto ako sa isang convenience store bago umuwi. Magmo-movie marathon ako mamaya, kailangan ko ng snacks.

Well, not really a movie marathon. I'm just going to rewatch Love, Rosie for the nth time.

Awtomatikong nagbukas ang pinto nang tumapak ako sa tapat nito. The cashier greeted me and I smiled back.

I immediately went to chips' aisle to get some potato chips. Kaswal lang akong namili ng mga flavors nang marinig ko ang biglaang pagbagsak ng ulan.

Napasilip ako sa labas at doon ko nakita ang biglaang pag-ulan. It's a good thing that I always bring an umbrella with me. Mas mapapaganda pa lalo ang panonood ko mamaya dahil umuulan.

After picking some chips, I went to the cashier and paid them. Nagpasalamat ako nang iabot sa aking ng cashier ang pinamili ko at kaswal lang akong lumabas.

I was greeted by a cold breeze when I got outside. Malalakas at malalaki ang bawat pagpatak ng ulan.

Umangat pa ang tingin ko sa makulimlim na langit. Mukhang lalakas pa ang ulan mamaya. I should go home now-

I was about to take my umbrella out of my bag when someone caught my attention.

Natigilan ako at napatulala sa babaeng hindi ko napansin na nakatayo sa gilid ko.

She has a medium length black hair and fair skin. Her eyes looks so tired and she looks like she doesn't give an F in anything. Nakasuot lang siya ng malaking itim na hoodie at skirt, at dalawang pares ng puting sneakers. May itim na backpack din siya sa likod na may mushroom na keychain.

Napakurap-kurap ako habang nakatingin sa kaniya at hindi ko napansin na nakatitig na pala ako. Nakatingin lang siya sa ulan at walang ginagawa.

At this moment, I don't know what happened. Maybe the Gods are watching us right now knowing that this will be the the beginning of our love story.

Maybe this is a scene in a movie, a chapter on a story, a moment in life, where the male lead finally meets the main character and fell in love with her for the first time...

I snapped back to my senses after a couple of seconds. Madali kong iniwas ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

W-Wait, I already saw this scene before in a drama-

S-So... in this scene, I should hand her my umbrella, right?

Napalunok ako nang malalim bago nagmamadaling kinuha ang itim na payong ko sa bag. Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago kumilos.

I-I shouldn't get nervous. It's only natural for a guy to hand an umbrella to a lady when it's raining, right?

At isa pa, gusto ko lang naman tumulong. She looks like she's on the same age as me. I don't look like a creep or something... right?

Napatikhim ako bago ilahad ang payong ko. T-This is it, this is the scene in a love story where the male lead meets the main character.

I showed the most sincere smile I have, even my eyes are smiling. I handed her my umbrella.

"Here, you can have mine." I gently said.

Muling humampas ang malamig na hangin. I don't know if it's just me, or it felt like time slowed down. L-Literally slowed down.

Nakaramdam kaagad ako ng pangangalay habang nakalahad ang kamay. Pasimple akong napalunok nang malalim habang hindi pa rin nawawala ang ngiti sa labi.

I looked at her. She's just staring at me, expressionless.

H-Huh?

I-Isn't this the time where she blushes as she takes my u-umbrella?

Then she'll say that we should go together instead, because she doesn't want me to get wet-

W-What-

"I'm good, thank you." She said in a monotone voice.

I didn't immediately processed what she said. Naiwan pa ring nakalahad ang kamay ko at ang payong.

E-Eh?

Natauhan ako nang walang kaemo-emosyon niyang binuksan ang bag niya at may kinuha ritong isang bagay. Unti-unting napaawang ang bibig ko habang pinapanood siya.

Nagsusuot siya... ng dilaw na kapote.

Kusang bumaba ang kamay ko habang pinapanood siya isa-isang binotones ang kapote. May design pa itong mga kabute.

Nang matapos siya ay muli niya 'kong tinapunan ng tingin. She slightly bowed as a sign of respect before running towards the rain, leaving me behind.

Naiwan akong nakatayo roon, tulala.

I haven't read or watched a romance before about main characters, at the age of 18, wearing raincoats with a mushroom design.

I-It's... it's not romantic. We should be sharing one umbrella under the rain instead.

This is a rare opportunity that can only be found in movies...

And here I thought... I thought that I've found the main character.

_________