Raindrop's Tears

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4

The sound of raindrops falling always fascinated me. Malungkot kung iisipin ng iba, tila umiiyak ang langit pagkatapos ng masaya at maaraw na panahon.

It made me feel the world had sad days too. Na hindi lang ako ang malungkot. Na sa kabila ng liwanag, may darating na ulan...na bagyo. It would make you feel stress, you'd get wet with it but you will soon realize sometimes the sound of rain falling was therapeutic. It was as if it would wash away all your worries.

The warmth of the cup of coffee felt good on my palms. Pinagmasdan ko ang langit na kanina lang ay maliwanag pero ito na ngayon at madilim na naman.

Umuugong ang langit sa tunog ng kulog at bilis ng kidlat.

"Zeus is mad, I guess." I stopped when I heard that voice. It was faint because of the rain but I knew who it was.

Tumayo ako mula sa pagpapahinga sa upuan at sinilip siya sa kabilang terrace. He was only wearing his white sando now and khaki pants, his guns flaunting boastfully on my view.

Napalunok ako nang matigil siya mula sa pag-angat ng kamay at pagsalo sa ulan para mapabaling sa pwesto ko.

"Who's there?" he asked, totally aware even from the slightest movements.

Hindi ako umimik at kinagat lang ang labi, nag-e-enjoy na panoorin lang siya.

Mas nakita ko na nag bigote niya, I bet hindi ito nakakapag-shave. Even the nurse said he had been a timid one, ni ayaw daw magpatulong man lang sa pagkilos at kaya daw niya.

Tss...I didn't think so. I could see him losing his balance, madalas pa ay halos madapa na pero ayaw talaga patulong.

Marcus was doing his best not to look weak in front of other people and I think he wasn't. He was a brave man and I think asking for help was a brave thing to do. Asking for help did not mean weakness.

His jaw clenched a bit and proceeded into his plans. Parang wala lang na inangat niya ang kamay para saluhin ang tubig mula sa ulan na nahuhulog at pinagmasdan ko kung paano iyon mahulog sa ibaba o kaya'y mula sa palad niya ay mahuhulog iyon ng paunti-unti sa...

I gulped.

I noticed how the raindrops fell from his palm and crawled down his wrist to his biceps, unti-unti kong inangat ang kapeng hawak para sumimsim.

Pandesal na lang ang kulang!

Then, as if the Gods heard my prayer, he suddenly lifted his other hand and lifted his shirt a little to scratch his stomach, making me have a glimpse of his hardened abs.

Nabuga ko ang kape at napaso pa ng kaunti. Pumasok ata iyon sa ilong ko kaya ang lakas ng ubo ko, dali-daling ibinaba ang cup sa may barricade ng terrace at pinalo-palo ang pader.

"Storm?" Mas lumakas lang ang ubo ko nang nasa akin na ang pansin niya.

He was totally facing my direction now while I was coughing like an idiot.

"Are you okay?" he asked me seriously, nakaangat pa ng bahagya ang puting sando na suot. His hair was a bit long now and messy. Inaabot na iyon sa may likod ng tainga niya at kahit may putting bandage ang mata ay hindi iyon nakaapekto sa angking kagwapuhan niya.

"Storm." He called impatiently. "Are you okay? I'm going there—"

"H-huwag!" I exclaimed and coughed again. "A-ayos lang...ayos lang," I uttered repeatedly to let him know I was fine.

"But you are coughing..." His forehead creased.

"N-nabulunan lang a-ako..." I said, "but I'm fine now."