1 'Pag Umuulan

"Bakit ba na 'pag nakikita ko ang painting na 'to, palagibg tumitibok ang puso ko?" tanong ng isang babaeng may brown na buhok habang tutok na tutok sa isang malaking painting na nakasampay sa Museum of Great Artists.

"Baka naman imagination mo lang." sabi naman ng isa pang magandang babae na may straight at maitim na buhok.

Lumingo-lingo naman ang babae. "Hinde, eh. Kahit anong gawin ko, may nararamdaman parin akong kakaiba 'pag tumitingin ako sa painting na 'to, Lei." sabi niya na may halong kalungkutan. "Para kasing may pinaghuhugutan ang painting na 'to."

Tumawa naman si Lei. "Title pa nga lang may pinaghuhugutan na. 'When It Rains' nga, diba?"

Napatawa naman siya. "Oo nga, 'no? Nacucurious nga ako kung anong naging inspirasyon ng painting na 'to."

Lei sighed at tumingin ulit sa painting, bakas sa kanyang mga mata ang kalungkutan pero agad naman itong nawala.

Kahit na sinong tao ang tumingin sa kanya, hindi pa rin nila malalaman ang iniisip nito.

Ang painting na nasa harapan nila ay isang painting ng isang babae na nasa ilalim ng ulan, hawak ang isang pulang payong at nakatalikod na para bang hindi na babalik pa. Ang background nito ay para bang napapalibutan ang babae ng kadiliman at kawalang pag-asa.

She sighed and smiled bitterly. Ang hindi alam ng kaibigan niya, kilalang-kilala niya kung sino ang taong nagpainting ng painting na 'yon. At ang painting na 'yon mismo ang dahilan kung bakit narito na siya ngayon.

Nahalata naman ni Lynn na mukhang napatahimik ang kaibigan niya. "Anong problema, Lei? Napatahimik ka 'ata."

Lei shook her head at tumingin sa kaibigan. "Wala." sabi niya sabay tingin sa exit. "Tara umuwi na tayo bago pa tayo maabutan ng dilim."

Tumango naman si Lynn.

Eksaktong paglabas ng dalawa, bigla namang bumuhos ang ulan.

Nagulat si Lynn ng makita niyang umuulan na at tumingin sa kaibigan na nakatayo sa gilid niya. Hindi niya maiwasang hindi matakot sa nakita niya.

Lei was as pale as a white sheet of paper. Bakas sa mga mata niya ang takot at pagkabigla. But most of all there was undeniable grief hidden in her coal colored eyes, an undisguised panic.

Nakatingin pa rin si Lynn sa kanya ng bigla na lang natumba at nawalan ng malay ang kaibigan niya, her pale body now thoroughly drenched in the pouring rain....

🌹

Long ago, almost ten years ago, everything began and at the same time, it all ended as well...

In just a blink of an eye...

Nang araw na 'yon, umuulan rin ng malakas. Bawat patak ng ulan at bawat kulog ng kidlat ay parang nanunuktok sa bawat dibdib ng mga tao. Lalong-lalo na nagmamadali noon si Lei dahil magiging late na siya sa klase.

Nakakainis kasi ang ulan, trafic na, madulas pa, basa ka pa talaga.

Habang madali siyang naglalakad patungo sa classroom niya, may napansin siyang tao na parehong nagmamadali.

Nang titigan niya ng maigi, isang pamilyar na mukha ang nakita niya. Hindi niya aakalaing ang Campus Crush, si Zeno Skye pala ang nasa harap niya!

Hindi naman sa kung may gusto siya sa kanya, in fact, wala talaga siyang gusto sa lalakeng 'to, she even hated his arrogance. He was surrounded by girls all the time so it was no wonder she detested him.

She absolutely hated those playboy types.

Hindi alam ni Lei kung anong napasok sa utak niya at kinuha ang cellphone sa bag. Binuksan ang camera at kumuha ng video. Pero ang hindi niya inasahan ay ang madulas ang lalake at nakunan niya pa ito!

Hindi na niya mapigilan ang sarili at tumawa ng malakas, hawak-hawak ang tiyan habang nakavideo parin ang phone niya.

"Aaahh... grabe...kahit late na ako, that was worth it!"

Napatulala naman si Zeno ng marinig niya ang tinig ng isang babaeng tumatawa. Lumingon siya at hindi niya mahirapang matulala mismo sa kung sinong nasa harapan niya at humahalakhak ng malakas sa kabila ng ulan, hawak-hawak ang isang payong na kulay pula.

Napaisip siya na napakabagay ng kulay na 'yon sa napakulay niyang personalidad.

He broke out of his trance when he noticed that he was now thoroughly drenched, his uniform sticking into his well-built body. Nahalata rin niya ang phone na nasa kamay ng magandang babae na nasa harapan niya, si Lei Fierre, ang babaeng matagal na niyang gusto at ang sekretong inspirasyon niya. Sayang lang at mukhang kinamumuhian siya nito.

"That was epic! I didn't think that would happen!" sabi ni Lei sabay tago ng phone niya. "By the way, are you alright?" tanong niya pero hindi man lang binigay ang kamay para mamigay ng tulong.

Ngumisi ng mapakla si Zeno at tumayo. "No." sabi niya sabay lahad ng kamay, ekspresyon niya blanko na para bang hindi dumaan sa mukha niya. "Your phone."

Napahawak naman si Lei sa bag kung saan nakalagay ang phone niya at bahagyang lumayo kay Zeno.

"No way! This is my baby!"

Napahinga nalang ng malalim si Zeno at lumakad palayo. He couldn't help it. He knew he wouldn't win against her in an argument. It seems like this is what unrequitted love does to you.

Napatulala naman si Lei habang nakatibgin sa papalayong pigura ni Zeno. Bakas sa kanyang mukha ang pagkalito.

"Has he gone nuts?"

🌹

Simula no'ng eksenang 'yon, parati na nilang nakikita ang isat-isa, at sa bawat pagkakataon, hindi maiwas-iwasan ni Lei na hindi tuksuhin si Zeno ng sekreto. She still gloated iver the fact that she had something to blackmail him.

Ang hindi alam ni Lei, wala naman talagang pakealam si Zeno kung ipagkakalat man niya ang video nung nadulas siya. He just acted enraged to make her smile and laugh at him. To be honest, he was quite pathetic, but he was also quite amused at her. Napaka-cute kasi niyang tignan pag nangungulit.

Dumating ang isang araw na hindi niya niya mapigilan ang sarili at kinurot ang mga pisngi nito.

"'Bat ba napaka-hyper mo?" tanong niya, with a small smile hanging upon the edge of his lips.

Lei just rolled her eyes and swatted his hands away, hindi umiimik sa kanya. Pero bakas sa mga pisngi nito ang hiya.

Tumawa naman si Zeno. Napaka-cute talaga ng babaeng 'to.

🌹

Ang mga araw ay naging lingo ang ang mga lingo, nagung ilang buwan. Bawat oras ay para bang hangin na madaling dumadaan at lumilipas ng 'di mo namamalayan, hanggang sa malaman mo na lang na ang nararamdaman mo no'ng nakaraan ay lumipas na rin kagaya ng panahon.

Sa mga panahong 'yon, hindi maipagkakaila ni Lei na kahit paunti-unti, nahuhulog na ang loob niya kay Zeno, the person she once hated. Hindi na siguro niya namalayan na sa paglipas ng panahon, huli na ang lahat at nalaman niya na lang na mahal niya na pala ang lalake.

Isang araw, no'ng pinapunta si Lei sa bahay nina Zeno para mag-aral, hindi niya inakala na doon niya malalaman ang isa sa mga sekreto nito.

"You paint?!" taning ni Lei kay Zeno na may halong gulat at excitement. Hindi niya inakala na pumipinta pala ang lalakeng kaharap niya!

Zeno sighed. He knew this would be her reaction.

Lumakad naman si Lei at agad-agad na tumingin sa painting na pinagkaka-abalahan ng lalake. The first thing she saw wasn't the picture he painted but his signature.

"Y-you're...the famous painter Basila?!" she asked with a trembling voice. Halata sa mukha niya ang excitement na siya namang ikinagulat ni Zeno. But that question wasn't the one he wanted her to ask!

Mukhang nabasa ni Lei ang iniisip niya dahil tumingin naman ulit agad sa painting si Lei. At nang nakita na niya at nasuri ang painting ng masinsinan, hindi niya maiwasang hindi matulala sa nakita niya.

It was a painting of a woman, holding a red umbrella amidst the rain, facing forward with a wide grin.

"Y-you...painted me?" tanong niya at tumingin sa gwapong lalake na nakangisi sa kanya.

"What do you think?" Zeno asked with a gentle smile.

"I-I, Y-you..like me?" Lei asked shakily. She really couldn't believe it!

Tumango naman si Zeno, naka-smile pa rin.

Tulala parin si Lei habang nakatingin sa lalake. "Since when?"

Zeno sighed. "Even since before you took that video of me." sabi niya and raised his hand to rub her head in assurance. "So, what's your verdict? Will you be my girlfriend?"

Napatawa naman si Lei. "Do I have a choice?"

Zeno shook his head at tumawa. "No, no you don't. You can either agree or agree."

Tumawa naman ng malakas si Lei. "Hindi ko alam na may pagka-domineering ka pala."

Zeno smiled indulgently. "I'm only domineering because I love you."

Napatingin naman si Lei sa kanya with wide eyes but soon calmed down. She always knew that he qas honest angld srraightforward. Might as well be blunt, too.

She smiled back at him, her eyes twinkling with happiness. "I love you, too."

It was obvious na hindi inakala ni Zeno na sasabihin rin ni Lei na mahal siya nito so he was quite speechless when she said it. Which in turn made Lei laugh quite loudly.

Ahhhh... so this was the feeling of getting your love reciprocated...

It was truly...indescribable.

🌹

Dumaan ang ilang buwan simula noong nagkatuluyan ang dalawa. Ang hindi lang nila alam, ang kasiyahang nararamdaman nila ay mawawala rin sa isang iglap, na para bang ninakaw bigla ng hangin ang kaunting apoy na umiilaw sa kanilang mga kandila...

Sa mga panahong 'yon, kagagaling lang ng dalawa sa mall dahil may binili silang mga gamit para sa project nila, as well as nag-date na rin para ma-sulit nila ang mga panahong magkakasama silang dalawa. Naging busy kasi sila dahil sa mga project na kaylangan nilang gawin.

"Nag-enjoy ka ba ngayon?" tanong ni Zeno, may masayang ngiti sa mga labi. He truly missed this, spending time with his beautiful girlfriend. Girlfriend, until now, he still couldn't believe that she really was his girlfriend.

Tumawa naman si Lei. "Anong klaseng tanong ba yan. If course I had fun!" sabi niya sabay halik sa mga pisngi nito.

Zeno wasn't contented with only a kiss on the cheeks, so he then gently grabbed the back of Lei's head ang kissed her deeply on the lips.

Both their hearts beat fast, their actions spoke of urgency. Na para bang kung hindi nila hahalikan ang isat-isa, huli na upang magsisi. It was like they felt something was about to happen subconciously. They just didn't know what.

Humiwalay naman sila kaagad. Nervous someone would see them. They were currently in the underground plaza of the mall, and were surrounded by plants so they weren't that noticable but they were still in a mall after all. Malaki pa rin ang tyansa na may makakita sa kanilang naghahalikan.

Kahit na kedyo nanghihinayang si Zeno, he still stood up ang offered his hand to his girlfriend.

"Let's go?" he asked, the lights behind him. Nang sandaling 'yon, Lei couldn't help but think that she was really lucky to have a boyfriend like him that was not inly handsome but loved her wholeheartedly as well.

Lumabas sila ng mall ng bigla namang bumuhos ang napakalakas na ulan ang umihip ang maginaw at malakas na hangin. Agad namang binuksan ni Zeno ang malaking payong na dala nila. It was the rainy season so they especially brought this umbrella with them.

Hindi naman mahirapan ni Zeno at tumawa ng mahina. "This reminds me of the first time we interacted with each other and you laughed at me."

Tumawa rin si Lei ng matandaan ang eksenang 'yon. That was one of her most memeorable memories. "Yes. If it weren't for that we both wouldn't end up together."

Tumango si Zeno and patted her head indulgently and smiled gently at her.

But unknown to them, that will be the last moment the both of them will get to see each other...their last touch and... their last moment...

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A series of gunfire shots filled the air, causing the people to flee in panic. It also caused the both of them to be swept by the crowd but luckily, they didn't get separated from each other.

Tumingin-tingin naman si Zeno sa paligid, hinahanap kung sino ang posibleng nagpaputok ng balang 'yon.

Bigla siyang lumingon at may nakitang isang babaeng magulo ang buhok at may nakakatakot na tingin. Nakatutok ang baril nito sa nakatalikod niyang nobya na nakatingin pa rin sa kanya, may halong kaba at takot ang itim nitong mga mata.

Hindi niya alam kung pa'no nagawa ni Zeno ang ginawa niya pero nung narinig niya ang bawat putok ng baril, naramdaman niyang may mga bagay na bumaon sa likuran niya habang hawak hawak ang nobya. It was also then that he forgot the pouring rain at nabitawan ang payong na hawak-hawak niya. He was entirely focused on protecting his woman, even if it meant exchanging his own life.

Huli na ang lahat ng mapansin ni Lei na si Zeno ang tinamaan ng mga bala. Agad naman siyang napatingin sa mukha ng nobyo, blood dripped from the corner of his lips. But even so, he still smiled gently and indulgently like before, hugging her tightly. The rain dripping over his face, making it hauntingly beautiful amongst all things.

Hindi niya na lang namalayan ang mga luhang pumapatak kasabay ng pagpatak ng ulan. Hindi niya na magawang maihiwalay kung sa'n doon ang luha at kung saan ang mga patak ng ulan.

"Y-you.."

Zeno knew na may gusto siyang sabihin pero pinutol niya ito dahil alam niya, kaunti nalang ang oras na natitira sa kanya. He could already feel his strength draining away and his vision blurring.

He smiled, one last time and leaned against the crook of her neck and whispered. "N-no matter w-what, no m-matter when and no matter wh-where, I-I will a-alw-ways love you...Lei.."

After those words, his entire body collapsed against her, his arms giving out as his life left the body of the one she loved...

It was then that whenever she saw the rain, the wounds that she kept hidden would re-open, the feelings that she kept hidden would gush out and the pain she burried would unleash within herself with a vengeance...

And with that painting at the museum, the pain resurfaced, she was reminded that even before she knew, he already loved her. And that painting was proof. It was painted when Zeno still longed for her, when he felt they weren't meant to be.

But that painting held a different meaning to her. It signified her loss, the loss of the one she loved with all her heart and the one who still held it. She was really quite pathetic herself...she didn't even get the chance to say "I love you" back to him, when she does, deeply.

When she woke up at the hospital, she cried loudly, schocking her friend Lynn.

Lei cried, cried hard like all the world will be lost if she didn't, like all will disappear if she didn't. The pain she felt was unbearable but only four words were uttered from her mouth, almost unheard, like a fleeting whisper amongst the pouring rain.

"I love you too, Zeno..."