Caught up in Your Storm

Chapter Three

Kumunot ang noo ko. Law? The Law who was under the small roof with me while the rain poured?

"Kapatid ko nga pala. Anya, si Law," pakilala niya. I faintly smiled at him and he returned it. I guess neither of us mentioned each other to my brother.

They walked before me. Bumuntot ako sa kanila at pinagmasdan ang likod nilang dalawa. He was so much taller than my brother, who mind you, was already tall. Mga nasa six-two ata si Law.

When we got to my brother's car, sa likod ako umupo. I wore my earphones to drown out their voices.

Ngayong naalala ko na, hindi niya pa rin ina-accept ni Law 'yung friend request ko! Snobber!

Umirap ako at binuksan ang Facebook app sa phone ko. Pumunta ako sa profile niya at pinindot ang cancel button. Whatever. May expiration ang friend request ko!

I kept eyes outside my window as I bopped my head to the music playing in my ears.

The ride felt like forever, I wanted to listen to what they were talking about but I assumed it was all boy talk. Listening to that would give me the ick and immensely piss me off.

Nang makarating kami sa bahay umakyat agad ako sa kwarto ko habang sa sala silang dalawa pumwesto. I busied myself with assignments and started reading after finishing those.

While reading, rain started to lightly fall. The sound of raindrops falling on the surface soothed me. Tumingin ako sa bintana at mas lalong lumakas ang ulan sa ilang minuto lamang.

I got a sudden urge to go down and get food. I haven't eaten a proper meal the whole day and my stomach was hurting a little bit.

Bumaba ako at linagpasan si Law sa sala. He was sweating from what I assume playing basketball with my brother.

Pagdating ko sa kusina, nandoon si Kuya Ansel na kumukuha ng snacks sa pantry at si Ate Marcy naman na nagluluto ng ulam namin mamayang gabi.

"Ate Marcy, kasya ba 'yan for five people? Makikikain sana kaibigan ko," sabi ni Kuya.

"Aba, syempre! Kailan ba ako nagkulang sa mga ulam niyo?" she gleefully answered. In fact, that food she was preparing could probably feed ten people.

"He's staying for dinner?" tanong ko.

"Alangan namang pauwin ko siya nang umuulan," he answered with attitude. I glared at him. Ano'ng problema nito?

"Okay? Nagtatanong lang 'yung tao, my god!"

I took an apple and left.

The time for dinner came right after my parents got home from their jobs. Later than usual because of rainy traffic.

May iilang ulam na nakahanda sa mesa. I took a serving of pinakbet and rice. I ate slowly, unsettled by the atmosphere of the room.

The dining room was quiet, only the clanking sounds of the silverware and plates were produced. My eyes keeping jumping from Law, to my brother, to my mom and my father. I couldn't bear another second in this table.

"So..." si Daddy na ang bumasag sa katahimikan. I lazily looked at him, anticipating what he had to say. "Law, tama ba? Hindi pa kita nakikita rito sa bahay."

"Ah, bago po kasi ako sa San Vitores," sagot niya. He was sheepish and seemed like he had no interest in making conversation with my father but Daddy had different plans.

"Nakakatuwa ang pangalan mo, ano? Ano ba ang buong pangalan mo?" tanong niya. It was painful to listen to this. Parang ini-interrogate niya si Law.

"Ah, Lawrence Kafka Bartolome po," ani Law sabay inom ng tubig.