Ang kaninang malakas na ulan ay unti-unti nang nauwi sa ambon. Bawat malulungkot na patak ay nararamdaman ko sa aking balat. Yes, I relate rain to sadness. I have all the reasons to. Every time I'm sad, it rains. Besides, to feel it is not enjoyment unlike feeling the sunshine. It's cold, the more I feel alone. And yet, it's a part of life so I want to feel it just the same. Maputik at madumi ang daan papasok sa park, dahil iyon sa walang tigil na pag-ulan. Another reason not to love rain. It's mirroring my mind and soul. Chaotic and wild. It's as if nature looked right into me and pulled the weather out.

I sat on one of the benches without minding if my jeans get wet. I pulled the black hood over my saturated form as I saunter in the soft rain, sinasalo ng aking mga palad ang maliliit na patak ng ulan ang karamihan ay dumidiretso sa maputik na lupa. Decorating the asphalt. Through one of the pools of rainwater, I saw a silhouette of a man. I managed to lift my head up just a bit.

"Why are you crying?" Asked by a baritone voice.

He's wearing a black shirt and trousers of the same color. His rich chocolate hair is wet from the rain. He had strong arched brows and eyelashes so thick, it could be illegal. And then his eyes are deep and catastrophic. His distinct cheekbones, angular jaw and a sun-kissed skin made him look devilishly handsome.

He's Aidan Castañeda, I know him. His brother is my friend, Alaric Hermes. Though we never really talk so I'm not sure why he's here, following me.

"No, I'm not crying." I shook my head and denied.

"Liar." He tsk and take the spot next to me, letting himself soak under the heavy rain like what I'm doing.

"Why are you here? I want to be alone." I said in a distant voice.

"Bakit ako ang tinatanong mo? Ako dapat nag-tatanong sa'yo. Bakit ka nandito? Bakit ka nagpapaka-basa? Bakit gusto mo mapag-isa?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong sa'kin.

I didn't bother myself answering his questions. It's not my responsibility to tell him why I'm doing what I'm doing.

Funny how people sees me as a primadonna living life to the fullest. Ang alam ng lahat o kung hindi man ay ng karamihan, isang pribelehiyo ang mapabilang sa angkan na kinabibilangan ko.

Maybe it is. But being a Dela Paz-De Salvo Santa de Leones is both curse and a blessing. Blessed that you can have everything that money can buy, blessed that you're provided with your needs and was sheltered in the most extravagant way. But there's always a but...

"Paris? Baka magkasakit ka dito." Mahinahon niyang sabi saking tabi.

"Leave me alone." Tanging naging tugon ko.

"There's no way I'll leave you here alone." Sumandal pa ito sa kinauupuan, tila ba balewala rito ang papalakas ng papalakas na buhos ng ulan. "Not in a place like this, Paris. Ilang sandali pa'y gagabi na, kung ayaw mong umalis hindi kita pipilitin. Kung ayaw mong sumilong, ikaw ang bahala. I'll just stay here and soak with you."

Naiirita ko siyang nilingon, teardrops mixed with raindrops flooded my face. I'm sure that the tip of my nose is as red as a rose petal because of my tears but I just can't stop crying.

"Dito lang ako..." he whispered as he looked at me gently. "sa tabi mo."

I never heard those words from someone in my entire life. I've met several faces alright, some of them shows interest on me but no one has ever told me that they're on my side. Not until today, not until now.

"Why?"

"Because..." he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "you need me?"

"I don't need anyone." I said and turned my eyes back into nothingness ahead of me.

"Lalagnatin ka bukas-"

"Later when we reach a dry place, the water gradually evaporates and takes away the body heat. In order to compensate for the heat-loss, the body increases its temperature, causing a temporary fever. But, that cannot really be classified as fever as such." I answered mindlessly.

"Okay..."

Hindi na siya muli pang nag-salita nang hindi ko narin siya imikin pa. Lumakas pang lalo ang buhos ng ulan, narinig ko na ang pag-ubo ni Aidan saking tabi. Surely he'll be getting cough and colds. What an immune system he has. I shook my head and turned to him.

"Go home, Aidan. Before you die here." I said. "I don't wanna be responsible for your death-"

"I said I wont leave you here." Matigas niyang sabi kasabay ng pangungunot ng kaniyang noo. "If you don't want me to die and you want me to go then come on, let's go. Because there's no way I'll let you be."

"Aidan, I'm okay here. I can manage-"

"Then I'm also okay here. I can manage too. So you go on with your momentum there." He smiled at me, yet I find it weak.

I sighed, I may seem heartless and all but I can't let someone be harmed because of me. Kung bakit ba kasi may katigasan din ang ulo nitong Aidan na to!

"Fine!" I stood up. "Let's go."

His lips curved a smile that immediately broke when he coughed. He stood up.

Tinalikuran ko siya at nag-simula ng mag-lakad papalabas ng park, I can hear his footsteps behind me.

I almost slipped on the ground when he immediately caught my arms before the fall.

"Careful, it's slippery." He said.

I nodded my head and get away from him so I could continue walking ahead.

We reached the spot outside the park where he left his matte black McLaren. He opened the car door for me.

"I'm soaking-"

"We both are." He said, motioning the leather seat again. "At mas lalo tayong mababasa kung hindi ka pa tutuloy sa loob. I have some spare shirt, nasa trunk kukunin ko lang."

I nodded my head, iniwasan ko ng makipagtalo pa at sumakay na lamang sa loob ng sasakyan. Not a minute after, Aidan rode the driver's seat with a duffle bag on his hand.

Pinanuod ko siyang ilagay iyon sakanyang kandungan at buksan, mula roon ay nilabas niya ang dalawang piraso ng t-shirt at iniabot sakin ang isa.

"No, I'm fine." Tanggi ko.

"Go on, change. I'll close my eyes." He said.

"Aidan, hindi na-"

"Change, Paris." Pag-pipilit niya, he then closed his eyes.

My lips twitched a little. "How can I be so sure that you wont open your eyes?"

"May isang salita ako, Paris. There's nothing I honor more than my words." He said with great assurance in his voice.

"I don't wear cheap clothes, Aidan..." I said, trying to get an excuse so I wont be needing to fit in his shirt.

"Oh, me too." A stupid grin curved his lips, his eyes remained shut.

Inangat ko ang puting t-shirt na inabot niya sakin. It's a round neck printed adidas shirt, from the 80's hiphop music that still moves head today. It was printed in red bold letters, RUN DMC.

"You done, para ako naman..." sabi niya, nananatili paring nakapikit.

I sighed. Alright. Alright. I gave in. Walang salita kong hinubad ang hoodie ko at ang panloob na sando bago isuot ang t-shirt ni Aidan. As expected, it's huge. It can fit two me.

"Done." I said and started folding the clothes I removed.

"Looks good on you." He quietly commented with a smirk.

Agad akong napabaling sa bintana nang walang sabing hubarin niya ang kaniyang pang-itaas. I heard him chuckled and calling me prude, but whatever.

Later on, he started the engine. Doon ko lang siya binalingan. He's smiling like an idiot as he maneuvered the car. I let my eyes be stuck on the rain drops and moist sticked on the window.

"Ihahatid na kita sainyo." He said with a little sneeze. "Excuse me."

Through my peripheral vision, I saw his arm extended on the dashboard to reach for some tissue paper.

I shook my head. He experienced cold that quick. I wont wonder if he'll be having fever tomorrow.

"I don't wanna go home." I said.

Talking about going home causes a harsh squeeze in my chest. He turned to me with a frown, I looked back at him.

"You can just drop me on a café nearby and I'll take it from there-"

"No way. Baka mapahamak ka pa." Tutol niya.

Why would he care? No one cares about me. I bet if anyone else noticed that I'm not home.

"What is it to you?" Hindi ko mapigilang tanong.

"Anong what is it to me?" He smirked. "Paris Amanda, every being's sake is important. If you don't wanna go home then you'll come with me. I wont drop you off anywhere."

His voice was laced with finality. Oh how I hate hearing commands! I'm about to haul back an answer when he coughed so I decided not to.

I blew an air and shook my head, zipping my mouth. We reached his condominium building, Tore de Castañeda. He parked his McLaren on a spot, I supposed, was made for him since they own the place.

We both went out, he guided me on the back of the building. It's like a secret passage, like those secret entrance I've seen in movies.

We rode a lift, he's sneezing and coughing from time to time. I twitched my lips and sighed, okay I'm a little bit guilty.

Nilingon ko siya. "You have medicines in your flat?"

He nodded.

I sighed again, that's when the elevator door opened. We both went out. He headed me to a white wood door with a gold knob.

The whole house is beige. Beige walls, beige and cream curtains, beige carpets.

He got a nice dark wood coffee table and a sideboard as well. Dark red accent color, red cushions, lampshades on two small lamps, big red glass bowl on the coffee table. On the mantle-shelf two huge vases are sitting along with some tea-light holders with long stems, they look great as the candles reflect in the mirror behind. My eyes widened a bit seeing a statue of a Chinese terra-cotta warrior next to a cherub who sits on the edge and held on with blue-tack. And a green glass snail.

"You have a nice place." I commented when he went out of the door I suppose was his room. Ni hindi ko na nga namalayang pumasok pala ito roon.

He held out a huge towel for me. Sa balikat niya'y naroon ang isa pa. He's using it to dry his hair.

"You can use the comfort room." Tinuro niya ang isang pinto sa di kalayuan. "Do you want to change first so we can dry your clothes?"

"Hindi na, I'm actually fine." Tanggi ko.

"You don't look fine to me, wait up I'll get you something to wear."

"Aidan hindi na-"

Tila hindi naman niya narinig iyon dahil nag-tuloy-tuloy na siya sa silid na kanina ring nilabasan. Maya-maya pa'y nasa harap ko na siya.

"Here, it's clean and unused. A spare bathrobe good for my size, sorry." He smiled sheepishly. "Go take a bath baka magkasakit ka, ako rin."

I sighed once more. Wala na akong nagawa kundi sundin ang sinabi niya, maybe he's just concerned that I might got sick under his roof. Isa pa'y dahil din naman sakin kaya siya nabasa ng ulan.

After I took a quick shower and wrapped the bathrobe around my body, I felt a little okay.

Sneezing Aidan is what greeted me soon as I stepped out.

"You're done." He said, already wearing a black sweatpants and a brown shirt. "Akin na, let's laundry it."

Agad akong umiling. "Saan ang laundry area mo? Ako nalang."

"Marunong ka?" Patuya niyang tanong.

Okay! I haven't laundry my own clothes or anything, but who says I can't try?

"It's over here." My eyes squinted a little, I can sense him smile as he leads the way.

A huge machine divided into two parts is in front of me. I turned to him. "You wash your clothes?"

"Sometimes." He shrugged. "Mom taught me how to operate.."

"I wasn't taught of anything about this machine so bear with me a little." I said.

That's true. No one has ever introduced this thing on me, well not even a broom though. We have someone to do things for us.

And so, he taught me the basics about operating the machine. It's not that hard to learn naman pala, it's actually pretty easy.

"Hoy! Don't touch it!" I gasped and immediately took away my bikini on his hand and dropped it inside the machine.

I can feel my cheeks burning when he turned to me with a playful smile. He then raked his eyes on me.

"Bantayan mo yun! Don't look at me!" I snapped.

Doon naman siya natawa, ngunit hindi naman na rin nagsalita pa. He turned to the washing machine.

Ilang sandali pa ay natapos na namin labahan ang aking mga damit, I didn't let him touch my underwear though. Palaging iyon ang hawak ko, sakanya nama'y ang shorts at sando ko maging ang hoodie.

When my clothes are already dry and ready to use, I excused myself and head over the cr again so I could change.

My hair is slightly damp. Nang makalabas ako'y naabutan ko siyang nakaupo sa sofa habang hinihilot ang sentido.

"You okay?" I asked.

Tumango siya atsaka binalingan ang tasa ng kape sa center table. "Coffee?"

"I'm fine-"

"You're always fine, Paris." He said.

Naupo ako sa tabi niya, I placed my toes above the sofa and when he moved a little, our elbows touch.

"Mainit ka!" I snapped.

Mabilis kong dinama ang bahagi ng leeg nito bago ang noo.

"Nasan ang medicine kit mo?"

"I'm fine-"

"Where is it?" I cut him off.

He sighed in defeat and pointed the wooden drawer near the window. "On the third layer."

Tumayo ako upang tunguhin ang itinuro niya, doon ko nakita ang isang transparent box labeled as the med kit.

I immediately look for a tablet that suits his condition, nakialam narin ako sa kusina niya upang kumuha ng tubig. Then I went back to him. 

"Inumin mo to, tapos magpahinga ka na." I said. "Ang bilis mo magkasakit."

"Yun nga din sabi ng mommy ko eh, sakitin ako." Even his chuckles sounds weak. "Siguro dapat akong mag-asawa ng doctor."

"Siguro mas dapat kang mag-vitamins. Hindi ka naman he-healthy kung mag-aasawa ka ng doctor." I rolled my eyes.

He shrugged and made a face before he drinks the medicine I handed him.

Umangat ang tingin nito sakin, a soft smile curved his lips.

"Happy birthday, Paris."