Caught up in Your Storm

Chapter Two

"Ang init, oh my god!" I exclaimed habang pinapaypayan ang sarili ko. "Sana umulan."

I was sitting on a bench in the path walk of my school, doing nothing. I rarely go home early nowadays because I have to wait for my brother to finish his classes para sabay kaming uuwi.

"Canteen tayo," sabi ni Tasha. I sighed and rose from the bench. The heat made me tired and to add to that, gave me a headache. Kulang na lang ata maheatstroke ako.

We walked to the canteen, accompanied by Tasha's ramblings that I couldn't make myself listen to wholely. Tungkol na naman sa isyung nahagip niya galing sa ibang school. Apparently, may transferee daw dito sa amin na-expel dahil nakipagsuntukan sa teacher.

What would possess anyone to commit such a thing?

The canteen was empty, mukhang pagod na rin ang mga tindera't tindero pero nang nakita nila kami, may lumapit agad sa counter. I bought water for myself while Tasha scanned over the limited choices of food they have left. In the end, she bought turon.

"I heard he's gwapo, though," she continued as we sat at a table. "Pero medyo red flag yung reasons for his expulsion."

"Or maybe it's exaggerated, you know how rumors spread," sagot ko. She shrugged and continued eating.

"Alam mo, I think I saw him sa comlab kahapon, STEM ata," patuloy niya. "Feeling ko type mo 'yun. Moreno na matangkad."

"Shut up, ayokong magkajowa right now," sabi ko at umirap.

"Girl, I'm not telling you to date him, fling lang or something. You know, if hindi ko boyfriend si Vince ngayon, linandi ko na 'yon," sabi nito sabay tawa kaya natawa rin ako.

"Alam mo, there's gonna be a time where someone's gonna hear what you say tapos maka-cancel ka," sabi ko. She just laughed and took a bite of her turon.

I mean, my friends already have quite a stained reputation, palibhasa masasama rin ugali nila from time to time. But I wouldn't hang out with them if they're evil. They can be a bit rude sometimes but they're not bullies.

I don't really like involving myself in dramas and issues. Mas gugustuhin ko pang maging invisible na lang kung gano'n. But my name can't help on being included kaya minsan masama tingin sa akin nung iba d'yan.

"Speaking of guys, may kilala akong nagkakacrush sa'yo," she said with a mischevious smile. I scoffed because I already have an idea who she's talking about. "He's just too much of a pussy to confess. Sayang."

"Sino?" I acted clueless.

"Secret... ano, clue na lang, his hair is black," she said and giggled.

"Whatever!"

We stayed in the canteen until the senior high school students were dismissed. It was better than staying in the pathwalk because there were fans to keep us cool kahit na wala masyadong ginagawa 'yon para labanan ang init.

Pumunta ako ng parking lot at narealize na wala 'yung pickup ni Kuya Ansel. I asked one of his friends na namumukhaan ko at sabi nilang umuwi siya kasi masama raw pakiramdam niya.

I could feel my nose flare. I couldn't believe it! He left me with no prior reminder! Paano na ako uuwi nito? I never commute kasi my parents never allowed me to begin with!

It rained just as I hoped. Pero kanina lang 'yon, nung init na init ako sa school.

Hindi na nga makauwi kasama si Kuya Ansel, biglang bumuhos pa ang ulan! How great!

It was so unexpected, wala namang ambon kaninang umaga o kagabi. It suddenly poured at the most unfortunate time. The world felt like being against me for the day, huh?