1 1.1 THE RAIN: Under My Broken Umbrella

"You like me? Are you serious?" he mocked me as he laughed along with his friends.

Suddenly, the earth shattered as I watched him crumple the paper before me and threw it on my face.

"Next time, keep it to yourself so you don't get embrassed. I hate when girls tried to get ahead of me by saying they liked me before I do. Be a little hard to get, okay? What's your name? Aina. Even your name doesn't sound sexy enough for me."

"Y-You're not supposed to see that," I stuttered as I felt myself drained of blood. This was the first time I was ever humiliated by someone in front of those seniors. I choked back the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes. My heart was so broken that I did not even know if I would be able to face anybody.

I started to run towards the corridor as I heard them laughing behind me.

Why was I so stupid not to keep that damn letter somewhere safe? Somewhere no one could ever read.. but then, I had kept it in my Calculus book, clasped in my chest and bumped to him, of all people.

I hated how clumsy I was. I was labeled as very smart, a math wizard perhaps, but for him, I was nothing but vapor. I would be sitting beside him in class, every single day and yet, he never knew I ever existed... much less looked at me.

But I admired him despite of it. His name was Leandro Carlos, the campus crush. The most popular, cooler than ever guy, that made girls faint at the sight of him. Those attractive brown eyes, and jet black hair swept nicely on the side and perfectly fair skin that make any girl swoon every time he came near them.

He was a god to many girls, a master to boys ,and he had plenty of girls that easily falls into his hands. Every girl dreamt of having him but only one girl had him. Vanessa Alegria, also a campus crush, for which many boys thought as the goddess that fell from the sky.

They were so good together and I had no intention of ever taking her spot as his "queen." I might be just the jester who was not even funny enough to entertain him.

Yet today, he had found me amusing when he read that letter. He thought I was a piece of crap that tried to level with him or his other girls.

A wanna-be.

He was a dream once but now he was my nightmare. The dreamboy turned into a demon.

The bell rang as I went inside the bathroom stall and tried not to weep but the tears trickled down my cheeks anyway. I could not stop it. I guess, it needed to come out for me to realize that the person I had admired for so long was nothing but some arrogant jerk who thought it was cool to humiliate a nerdy girl like me.

I should have known better... should have not fallen for him. But how could I not resist those sweet beautiful eyes that glanced at me once? It made me feel like I was the most beautiful girl eventhough I knew it was for someone else behind me that he was actually interested in.

Those smiles that filled up my day even if he did not bother to give it to me. I would daydream everyday and all the time, I would try to impress him to answer all the questions even if he did not even pay attention to me. His eyes never left the phone that was sitting on his lap, hidden away from the strict eyes of Ms. Rose.

I wiped my tears as I stayed inside the stall until I was able to skip my first two subjects. Two subjects that I would be sitting next to him.

Tomorrow I would ask Ms. Rose to put me at the back of the class in replacement of Celia, the fat girl who farts like crazy and who was bigger than any guy in class. No one messes with her in fear of their lives torn apart by those large hands that could fit one's jaw.

I smiled as revenge was on my mind. That was definitely the best revenge ever. I knew Leandro would never be able to complain.

Finally, after days of that nightmarish moment, I was able to move on. I was right! Leandro was not able to complain and he gave me a death stare as I exited the room everyday. I was laughing my head off as I saw how he struggled not to be disgusted by the loud farting of Celia.

At least now, he finally knew who I was.

I was someone to him now. Someone whom he should not messed with the next time. I might be unattractive but my smart ass would never let myself sink at the bottom, moping for him for so long.

I might not be pretty but I was not dumb. I would not let him do that to me.

But now, what should I do? He was sitting outside in the pouring rain, his white uniform became part of his skin due to soaking and his black pants sagged low to the ground.

I opened my umbrella, ready to face the rain. My green skirt was a bit wet from the rain but I don't mind. I was heading home anyway.

Suddenly, the wind blew so hard that the inside of my umbrella flipped over, and eventually broke one of the metal links that held it open. I tried to flip it back but that broken part won't let the fabric curved out anymore. So, it dangled on my head. I blew my face in frustration and took a step.

My conscience won't let me go home without helping Leandro.

Sighing, I went over, placed the umbrella on top of his head as I sat with him on the pavement.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, rather annoyed. "You should go home."

"I should... but.. are you really this smug and arrogant that you cannot accept any help from anyone, even to a low life human being like me?" I spat out. I could not contain my irritation anymore.

He was such a prideful person!

"Fine.." and he scooted over to me and our faces were an inch closer. I cleared my throat and looked away. Despite of what I told myself, I knew I still kept a secret place in my heart for him.

"What are you doing here in the rain anyway?"

"Vanessa and I broke up," he blurted out.

"Oh.. sorry." I suddenlt felt guilty for even hating him for a moment.

"You should be."

"What?" I turned to him, eyebrows crossed. "What this got to do with me?"

"Because you're the reason."

"What did I do to you?"

He stared at me and leaned closer. My heart raced rapidly as I stared at him, too.

Is he for real?

He chuckled. "I liked you, too, Aina..."

"Don't you dare mess with me again, Leandro! You cannot fool me anymore. You said-"

"I said those things because I don't want them to see... that I like you. That everything you did... you are smart, and if you're just going to dress up nicely... you'll be as sexy as Vanessa."

I stood up abruptly as I started to walk away from him.

What does he think of me? I don't like this. He was trying to manipulate me so I would tell Ms. Rose to put Celia back in her former place.

He was trying to be nice to me, to tell me he liked me even if it was a lie, so he could use me.

What a jerk!

"Aina, wait!" and he grabbed my arm.

I slapped his face in anger.

How dare he! Who gave him permission to play with my feelings?!

He lowered his gaze as he held his cheek.

"I had enough of you," I raged. "If you think you can play me after humiliating me in front of the whole campus, then you're wrong. I am not one of those girls that will fall into your trap. I did once and never again!"

I walked quickly away from him with my broken umbrella and left him standing alone in the rain.

Never again will I let my heart break more pieces because of him.

One broken piece was enough.. I don't need more.

But my stubborn heart won't let me go farther away, and I looked back to him. He was still there, holding his cheek, frozen to the ground. He looked miserable and I hated myself because I came back for him.

I wanted to kick myself for doing that but then, I thought, maybe I was desperate to mend that broken piece somehow...

Maybe... I believed him.

His smile returned as I came back for him, and my heart melted.

"Thank you, Aina," he said softly as he held my hand that gripped the handle of the umbrella.

Stupid as one may think, I walked home with him in the rain under my broken umbrella.