Ako 'yong tipo ng tao na mapili sa taong kakaibiganin. I'd rather have a few but true friends than many fake ones.

Maliban kay Kael, I consider Ate Pinkle as my first friend. Hindi ako nagbibiro kung sasabihin kong nagkukuwento ako sa kanya dati tungkol sa akin no'ng nakatira pa siya sa amin. She would also do the same. Ganyan kami ka-close. Well, filtered sharing nga lang.

Filtered in a sense that it won't be TMI and intrusive. It seemed weird, right? Bakit kami mag-she-share if we aren't being completely honest with each other? But, that's the way it is.

After Kael and Ate Pinkle, sino pa ba? Well, there's Diggy. We're buddies, although not that close kahit pa magkasama kami sa bahay. Hindi katulad ng closeness namin ni Ate ang mayroon kami ni Diggy.

Bukod sa kanila, sa tingin ko wala na. Hindi ko close ang mga pinsan namin sa mother's side kahit pa bumibisita naman sila dito paminsan-minsan.

When it comes to my father's side, only child lang si Dad. Mabibilang lang sa isa kong kamay kung ilang beses pumunta dito ang mga paternal relatives namin. I didn't even know anyone of my age.

Outside the family circle, like neighbor, peers or former classmates, wala akong matatawag na kaibigan. Acquaintance, maybe. Friendship is really a foreign thing to me.

Hindi ako introvert. I could manage to talk to people easily if I feel like doing so. Gusto ko lang mag-isa. Yeah, I'm such a loner. I love being my own company. I'm fine with being with me, myself and I... with my personal space... enjoying the peace of solitude.

Ngayon, nakakapanibago lang. I dunno but within a short span of time, I felt comfortable with Raine as what she'd like to be called or was it me who decided that? Yeah, ako nga pala. The name seemed fitting. Ang daldal niya masyado, ang ingay. Para siyang malakas na buhos ng ulan. However, she's just a tiny droplet.

I never thought Sophia Lorraine Bo came as a package deal. And I have to accept the whole damn package. I really caught myself in one hell of a predicament.

Just like this one particular instance. It would be fine if Raine and I were the only people in this table. But seconds later after sitting, two women entered into the scene.

"Sophie!" came from a girly voice behind me. Nag-angat ng tingin si Raine sa tumawag sa kanya. Napansin kong nakalapit na pala ito sa table namin. She looked at me and her mouth formed an O.

"Hi." She waved. "Ako nga pala si Lila. Friend ni Sophie."

Lila, huh? A color-based name. O baka nickname lang. Medyo may kalakihan ang pangangatawan niya. May bilugan siyang mukha at mahaba ang kulot niyang buhok.

"Hi, I'm Ash." Tipid akong ngumiti.

"Pwede bang dito na lang kami pumwesto?" tanong naman ng kasama nitong tigasin ang pananalita at galawan. Compared to Lila, she's somewhat skinny. Maikli ang buhok nito, hanggang leeg lang.

"Ano ka ba naman, Maria Zula, gusto mo ba tayong maging 3rd at 4th wheel? Kita mong moment nila 'to," mahinang sabi ni Lila dito ngunit rinig pa rin naman namin.

"Delilah!" saway sa kanya ni Raine. "Ma-issue ka. We're just friends."

"Sa ngayon," maintrigang dagdag nito. "At parang awa mo na, 'wag mo akong tawaging Delilah."

May issue rin sa pangalan? Sabagay, medyo oldie nga ang Delilah. And shit... bakit ngayon ko lang na-realize? Siya 'yong babaeng gusto ni Kael.

Napansin ko ang pang-aasar nila sa 'min. That's another proof which supports Raine is the Rainbow. Since they're friends, alam siguro nila na secret admirer ko si Raine. Or were they just teasing me?

Raine rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Delilah."

"Pero seryoso, Sophie. Nakakatampo ka, ha. Ni hindi ka nga nagpakita sa 'min nitong nakaraang mga araw. Then, boom biglang may papi ka na," si Lila.

Busy kasi siya sa paghahabol sa akin. Whoa. When did I become so cocky?

But, what the heck? Puppy? Mukha ba akong tuta? Parang si Raine ang dine-describe nito.

I thought Lila would stop right there and then, but she continued, "Naku, naku talaga, Sophie. Baka iba na 'yan. Friends? Diyan naman talaga dapat magsimula ang lahat. It should be friendship first then you can be lovers..." She sighed. "Couples nowadays get things backwards. Lovers agad then sooner or later, maghihiwalay, they can be friends again or worst strangers with memories," mahabang litanya ni Lila.

Oh, wow! Love guru?

"'Yan po ang isa na namang Love 101 lesson. Nag-discuss na naman si Ma'am Delilah," sabi naman ng tinatawag nilang Zula. "Pero, maupo muna kaya tayo. Daldal ka nang daldal. Nangangalay na 'ko," reklamo nito. She sat beside me. Umupo naman si Lila katabi ni Raine.

Great, just freaking great! I was surrounded with women. If I were like other men who wanted to get a women's attention and flirt with them, I would be freaking happy. But, I wasn't like them.

"Hey, erp. Z nga pala," pagpapakilala ng katabi ko. Ayaw niya ng Maria Zula? Isa ring may issue sa pangalan, ah. Inilahad niya ang kanyang... kamao? Okay, she's asking for a fist-bump.

"Ash," I introduced myself to her. Nakipag-fist-bump naman ako sa kanya.

Ngumiti naman siya. "Cool," she uttered.

Nagsimula na kaming kumain. Perhaps, they didn't know about not talking when your mouth is full kasi kahit punung-puno na ang bibig, nagsasalita pa rin. Napapailing na lang ako. Kung pwede sana silang paalisin o 'di kaya'y lumipat na lang ako ng pwesto. But, I didn't wanna be rude.

Kung ano-ano ang pinag-uusapan nila. Madaldal si Raine pero mas pa si Lila. Sumasabat rin paminsan-minsan sa kanila si Z.

Ako? Sumasagot lang 'pag kinakausap. I've gathered basic infos about them though. They all came from the same town na katabi ng Arco City. Magkaklase sila noong junior high. Nagkahiwa-hiwalay lang sila noong senior high kasi iba-iba ang kinuha nilang track. Kahit ngayong college, sinusunod pa rin nila ang gusto nila. They are chasing their dreams.

Lila's taking BSED-Major in Filipino. She'd make a great teacher. Hindi dahil sa madaldal siya kundi sa sense of humor niya. Students will not get easily bored.

Z's a BSIT student. That computer programming stuff and all, just wow. What a techno-geek. I'm not really fond of what they call algorithms.

Mahilig naman si Raine sa pagbabasa at pagsusulat kaya AB Literature ang kinuha niya. Kung may AB Creative Writing na ini-o-offer sa AU, 'yon ang kukunin niya. Somehow, connected din naman 'yon sa dream course niya.

"Kumusta nga pala si Yella?" Narinig kong tanong ni Z kay Raine.

Yella? Sino naman 'yon?

"Salamat nga at okay na siya. Pinag-alala ako no'n. I think next week, pwede na siyang i-discharge. Then she can go back to school," sagot ni Raine.

"Mabuti na lang at nando'n kamo si Grent para alagaan siya. Owemji! Iba rin talaga si Yella-ghorl," kilig na kilig na sabi ni Lila.

Si Grent? Nagpapapansin 'yon kay Raine, ah. Tapos, may inaalagaan pa siyang babae sa ospital na kaibigan rin nila. Hmm...

I saw Raine rolled her eyes. "Tigilan mo nga ang kaka-ship sa kanila. Coby's a playboy. He doesn't deserve Yella."

Napailing si Lila. "Naku, naku. Konting-konti na lang talaga, iisipin kong nagseselos ka. May gusto ka kay Grent, 'no? Aminin."

Raine likes Grent? My brows arched in confusion.

Pa'no ako? A part of my mind asked.

Whoa, where did that come from? What about you, Ash? Another voice argued.

"Ako? May gusto do'n?" Tinuro ni Raine ang sarili. "Nah-uh," she denied, acting vomiting.

"Ay, grabe ka Sophie-ghorl." Lila covered her mouth using her hand. "Diring-diri? He's hot kaya halos lahat ng kababaihan dito at may pusong babae ay nagkakandarapa sa kanya."

"Luh, 'wag mo 'ko idamay diyan, Delilah," sabat ni Z.

"I'm an exception, too," Raine said. "And I think you belong to them," she teased, pointing Lila.

"Grabe ka talaga, ghorl. Hindi kaya ako member ng fans club niya. Marunong lang akong kumilatis ng kakisigan," pagtanggi ni Lila. Then, she had a eureka moment. "Ah, alam ko na ang type mo, Sophie. Ayaw mo sa hunky o kaya bad boy type. You like guys who's cute, smart, parang laging fresh at 'yong tipong ang bait-bait tingnan," sabay nguso sa direksyon ko. I nearly choked while drinking water because of those descriptions.

Agad naman siyang hinampas ni Raine sa braso. "Issue ka talaga! Friends lang kami ni Gray."

"Mapanakit!" Lila reacted. Hinaplos nito ang braso. "Pero teka, teka. Kanina ko pa nahahalata ang exclusive nickname niyo para sa isa't isa. Gray at Raine?" She looked at both of us suspiciously. "So, what's the real score? Sinong sasagot?" pang-aasar na tanong niya in a Kris Aquino tone. It seemed like we're in a hot seat, being interviewed in a talk show.

"Intrigera much, Lila," Raine commented after sighing. "There's nothing special about it."

"How about you, Ash, any comment?" Lila turned to me, placing her fist inches below my chin as an imaginary microphone.

"Well, to clear the issue," seryosong panimula ko upang sakyan ang trip ni Lila. "We decided to call each other like that 'cause..." I faltered, thinking, "para quits kami. Okay na ba, Delilah?" I added, even emphasizing the name to tease her.

"Ow-kay," Lila said, though sounding unsatisfied. "Pero, bakit parang kinilig ako no'ng tinawag mo akong Delilah?" She imitated my voice when I said her name. "I love you na agad." She tucked a loose hair behind her ear.

"Pabebe, amputs," Z commented.

"Oh, shattap, Zula-ghorl! Minsan lang magpa-cute, eh. Charot-charot nga lang." Bumaling siya kay Raine. "Kaya wag kang jelly ace, Sophie. Iyong-iyo si Ash."

Raine just rolled her eyes "Ewan ko sa'yo, Delilah."

"Pero seryoso nga, bakit ba Gray at Raine?" Lila insisted. She won't stop, huh?

"Fine..." I conceded, then tell her the short tale which left her in awe afterwards.

"Daebak! May basbas talaga ng langit!" reaksyon ni Lila, putting her palms together, as if praying.

"Hmm... Graine," sabat naman ni Z.

"Huh?" Lila looked at Z, confused. I didn't also have any idea what Z was saying.

"Graine ang ship name nila," paglilinaw ni Z. "Or pwede ring Team Butil."

"Ano ba? Tigilan niyo nga 'yang kaka-ship niyo," saway ni Raine, glaring at the two. "You're making Gray uncomfortable."

Raine was wrong though. I found it amusing. Actually, she's the one who looked uncomfortable. Maybe her friends really knew 'cause they kept shipping Raine and I.

"Witty mo do'n, Z!" si Lila na walang pakialam sa sinabi ni Raine. Nag-appear pa silang dalawa ni Toni. "Team Butil is love." She made a finger heart. "Go, Graine Team," sigaw niya pa, raising her fist.

Napatingin ang ibang estudyante sa cafeteria sa direksyon namin.

"Bunganga mo kasi, Delilah," sabi ni Raine, pero hindi naman mukhang naiinis.

"Fist, madlang pips," sabi ni Lila, "...este, peace," she corrected with a peace sign.

Whoa, napahawak ako sa sentido. Sumakit ulo ko do'n, ah. These girls and their motormouthed mouths. Unbelievable. I found myself smiling, though, seeing how they interact with one another. Pero maubos kaya nila ang kinakain sa lagay na 'yan?

"Siyete!" Z suddenly stood up. "May klase pa pala 'ko. Daldal niyo kasi. Maiwan ko na kayo, ha," paalam nito saka nagmadaling umalis kahit hindi pa tapos kumain.

"Jjinjja, sinisi pa tayo," ani Lila at napailing pa. She continued eating which should've been finished by now, if not for their talkativeness.

I rose from my seat. Tapos na rin naman akong kumain. I finished eating before Z left. "Mauna na rin ako. Malapit na rin ang next class ko," I informed them. Kinuha ko na rin ang bag ko at isinukbit sa balikat.

"Okay. Bye, Ashy." Lila smiled and waved.

"Wait," Raine stopped me. "Sabay na tayo." Inubos niya nang mabilisan ang kinakain saka uminom ng tubig. Tumayo siya at kinuha ang bag.

"Ge, ganyan kayo. Iwan niyo na 'ko," pagtatampo ni Lila.

"Bye." Bumeso si Raine kay Lila. She then turned to me. "Tara."

I nodded. Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa mga college namin.

"Sorry nga pala sa mga kaibigan ko. I know you were annoyed. 'Tsaka, 'wag mong isipin 'yong mga pang-aasar nila." she said.

"It's okay."

"Weh?" paninigurado ni Raine. "'Wag ako, Gray."

"K, fine. You girls are too noisy. Pero. na-tolerate ko naman," I admitted. "By the way, who's Yella?" pahabol kong tanong. I haven't dared to ask earlier.

"Yella's our friend and my housemate as well."

"Hmm... I see." Napatango-tango ako. "So, nag-bo-board ka pala," I stated the obvious. "That's nice. I wondered what it's like to live independently. Ang saya siguro," I added.

Tumango si Raine. "Yah, for me. Hindi ako nagbabayad ng upa, eh. Tita ko kasi ang landlady ng apartment na tinutuluyan ko. My parents and I wanted to pay pero ayaw niyang tanggapin."

"Good for you. Mahirap kaya mag-budget lalo na sa nagbabayad ng renta."

"Yeah, I know. Pero alam mo kasi kahit malaki naman ang allowance ko, I don't wanna be a spoiled brat. Kaya nagba-budget rin ako 'no. Well, minsan napapa-splurge lalo na 'pag nakakakita ng mga cute na damit."

I listened intently to what she was saying. It had always been like that. She really couldn't stop talking. I didn't see any problem with it. Now, I knew more things about her more than what she knew about me.

"Mahirap rin mag-budget ng oras para sa academics at household chores. You should also make time for leisure kahit papa'no. But so far, this whole boarding thing is fun. It gives you a taste of freedom. And it feels so good to be free. Pero, with freedom comes great responsibility," she quoted, smiling.

Wait, that's a familiar line. Bakit parang mali?

"'It should be With great power comes great responsibility, right?" pag-uusisa ko.

As a Marvel fan, I knew she's referring to the Peter Parker principle.

She grinned. "Same difference," saad niya. "Power is the ability to control people or things while freedom is not being subjected to control. In both things, there should be a sense of responsibility."

Tumango naman ako. Well, she has a point.

"At dahil nagtitipid ako ngayon..." pangbibitin niya habang nakatingin sa 'kin.

"What?" tanong ko. Napatigil kami sa paglalakad.

"...may load ka ba?" she asked, grinning.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Ngunit sumagot ng "Meron" pagkuwan.

"Can I borrow your phone? Wala na 'kong load, eh." Winagayway niya ang phone niya. "May tatawagan lang ako, please. Emergency," pakiusap ni Raine.

"Tsk." Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa bulsa. "Here." Iniabot ko ito sa kanya.

"Thanks," sabi niya sabay kuha.

Raine dialed a number. Then, suddenly her phone lit up. She smiled at me wickedly upon ending the call.

Ibinalik niya sa 'kin ang phone ko. "Oh, 'ayan. Ako na ang gumawa ng paraan para makuha number mo. I-save mo 'yong dialed number ko as contact, huh."

Napailing ako. "Trickster," komento ko which made her grin. Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad.

"You could've just asked for my number. Why go through that theatrics?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Sure ka, ibibigay mo? Parang wala ka ngang planong hingin ang number ko, eh."

"Pa'no mo naman nasabi?"

"Tingin ko lang," she shrugged. "Tsaka ano... alam mo, dahil nauso ang FB. Chat-chat na lang, kahit free data. Wala nang masyadong nag-te-text. Magastos magpa-load, eh. Marami akong kilala na walang cp numbers ng mga kaibigan nila. Pero mas maganda pa din na mayroon kang contact in case of emergency," she explained.

"Dami mong sinasabi," I commented. She really is an extra talker.

"Sorry naman. Basta save mo number ko, ah." Kinuha niya ang phone niya. "Hmm. Ano kayang pwedeng contact name mo?"

Napaisip rin ako. An idea popped into my mind. Getting my phone, I added Raine's number to my contacts with a name. Well, technically, it's not a name. I saved her number under this: 🌈

A rainbow emoji, obviously.

"Oh, 'andito na pala ako." Lorraine halted. She jerked her thumb to the direction of the building.

"Right, Carlos B. San Juan building," I uttered while looking at it.

Sa pagkakaalam ko, ito ang building ng College of Fine Arts and Design na occupied ang first two levels. The remaining two were occupied by the College of Arts and Letters.

I bitterly smiled. Nandito rin sana ako.

"Okay ka lang?" Raine asked, pulling me out if my miserable thoughts.

"Yup," sagot ko. I forced a smile. "So, see you when I see you, Raine," paalam ko sa kanya.

"Bye-e!" She wiggled her fingers, smiling, then she went her way.

"Bye."

The next day, nandito kami ngayon sa mini-forest ng AU. May mesa at table dito kaya maraming estudyanteng pumupunta para mag-aral o kaya'y mag-chill lang. The atmosphere was relaxing, indeed.

It was my free time so I went here. Raine texted me asking me if I have vacant time and where I was. Nag-reply naman ako. So here we were.

"So, bakit ka nakipagkaibigan sa'kin?" tanong niya.

"Tsk. I should ask you that. Bakit nga ba?" Imbes na sagutin ay ibinalik ko sa kanya ang tanong niya. "Para bang hindi ka pa kontento sa friends mo." I made a hissing sound in emphasizing the word friends.

She shrugged and after a moment, she responded, "Para masaya. The more, the merrier nga 'di ba?"

That's the reason, huh? So, we'll really play this charade.

Raine looked enlightened. "Now I know why you don't have friends. Ganyan ka ba talaga? When people want to be close to you, you doubt their intentions. May trust issues ka, ganern?"

"Aren't we all?" I asked back. "We just can't trust anyone. Trusting someone means giving them a chance to hurt you."

She looked at me incredulously. Her lips twitched upward. "You and your twisted thoughts. Sometimes, we should let go of the doubts and trust someone. Trusting someone also means giving yourself a chance to be understood."

"Whatever you say," was all I muttered, rolling my eyes. She's into philosophical mode again.

Bumuntong-hininga si Raine at humalukipkip. "Bakit nga ba nakipagkaibigan ako sa'yo?"

"Yeah, why would you?"

She looked at me sharply, "Eh ikaw bakit ka pumayag na makipagkaibigan sa'kin, aber? With your trust issues and all, what changed?" tanong niya

I shrugged. "I dunno. For a change," sabi ko na lang.

"Fine." She didn't argue further. "Well, do you know that people without friends are more likely to die early?" she asked, feeling proud of her trivia.

"Silly idea, I should've died a long ago," I commented.

"You must be lucky then, Harry Potter. The boy who lived," she jested.

"Whatever you say, Cho Chang," I retorted.

"Cho Chang?" Tiningnan ako nang masama ni Raine. She looked pissed off. "You're discriminating me! Ang racist mo! I hate you." At hinampas na naman niya ako sa braso.

"Chill. Can't take a joke? Overreacting ka."

"I'm not. Siyempre hindi naman ikaw ang nagka-Cho Chang moment," she blurted out quickly and annoyingly. She covered her mouth afterwards, realizing she shouldn't have said those words.

"Well, sorry if it brought back a memory," I said nonchalantly. "Now, I'm curious, though. Care to share what happened, Cho?" I crossed my arms on my chest.

"Stop it!" came from her loud voice.

"Stop what, Cho," pang-iinis ko pa.

"I hate you!" she hissed.

I chanted, "Cho Chang, Cho Chang, Cho--"

She raised her hands up, surrendering. "Fine, ikukuwento ko na."

She cleared her throat. "Ganito kasi 'yon. Since Harry Potter-themed intramurals, kailangang in a witch or wizard costume pero base pa rin sa House na kabilang kami. I belonged to the Red team which is the House of Gryffindor. So, todo effort ako sa paggaya kay Hermione during the Victory Ball."

I was all-eyes and all-ears in her story-telling. She acted theatrically. Mag-theater arts na lang kaya siya?

But, Raine as Hermione? I couldn't imagine. She really is Cho Chang.

"Pero, those mean girls na k-in-areer ang pagiging miyembro ng Slytherin, how dare they bumped me. Natumba man ngunit nagawa kong bumangon," madrama niyang sabi.

"I held my head up high. But they looked at me from head to toe and the mean girl said, 'Oh my god, Cho Chang is in the wrong house.' Then the meaner one asked, 'Oh girl, are you lost?'"

I stifled a laugh kasi iniiba-iba pa niya ang boses sa pagkukuwento. I dunno know if she really remembered the exact lines. Maybe, she was just improvising. Author siya, eh. Baka nga gumagawa lang siya ng kwento.

"Sabi pa ng meanest na may pinakamahabang linya, 'Cho Chang, I thought you're a Ravenclaw. Why are you in a Gryffindor robe? Oh dear, you got the wrong wardrobe? Or siguro, itinakwil ka na because you're a dimwit. Look how dimwit she is, girls pati costume mali-mali.' Then, they laughed at me. Hindi ako makakapayag na api-apihin nila ako. So, I answered them bravely in a mataray British accent, 'I'm not lost. I'm Hermione Granger, can't you see? That's why I'm in Gryffindor, duh.'

"The mean girl uttered, 'Hermione? Seryoso ka girl?' The meaner emphasized, 'You'll never be Hermione.' And the meanest, with what she said, made me reach my boiling point, 'Right. You'll never be. Look at those eyes. Chinese ka girl, kaya you're supposed to be Cho Chang.'

"Nakakainis talaga." She scoffed. "Porket singkit ako, may Chinese blood, Cho Chang agad. Hindi ba pwedeng maging si Hermione ako. Tsk, those discriminator bitches."

She continued, "So, I looked at her sharply and my bad, she insulted me more, 'Oh yeah, keep doing that. Wala ka ng mata. Cho Chang na Cho Chang, perfect! You're not Hermione anymore.'

"That's when I lost all of my patience and pang-Oscar na actingan went like this, 'Bakit? Wala na ba akong choice kung sino o ano ang gusto ko maging. Just because someone or something, or even the bigger society itself tell me to become who or what they expected me, it doesn't mean I need to conform. I am my own person and it's up to me on how to live my life.'

"Wow," I reacted in awe. "That was so you." Naalala ko tuloy 'yong pagiging righteous woman niya the first time we met. No'ng gusto niya kaming i-report ni Manong Guard sa admin because of a supposed-to-be bribery incident. She really stood up for what she believes in.

Bumuntong-hininga siya. I felt a sudden change of mood. She continued, "It was irritating and at the same time the proudest moment. But, I never felt so humiliated like that. Patapusin mo muna kaya ako?"

"Hindi pa 'yon tapos?" I asked the obvious. "Okay, go on." I signaled her to resume.

Tumikhim si Raine. "Hindi ko alam na naging center na ako ng attention. Matagal na pala nilang pinapanood ang eksena. Nag-video na nga ang iba. Some of them clapped at my speech. That's what fueled the anger of the mean girls. The meanest of them said with a fake smile, 'Fine, you'll be Hermione kapag ginawa namin 'to sa'yo.' Lumapit siya sa'kin at sinabunutan ako. Pinagtulungan nila akong tatlo. Mabuti na lang dumating ang dalawang resbak ko, sina Lila at Toni. 'Yown, bardagulan to the max. Natigil lang nang may umawat na teacher. Before they walked away, may pahabol pa si meanest with matching smirk, 'There Cho Chang, thank us later. We fixed your hair. You're Hermione now.' And I was left there teary-eyed, with sabog hair.'

Bumagsak ang balikat niya. Napansin kong lumungkot nang bahagya ang mukha niya. Then, she forced a smile.

That's when I knew she wasn't making a story. I felt bad for thinking earlier it didn't really happen.

"Shit! I thought you're making things up. Sorry," I admitted.

"Okay lang. Siyempre adlibs ang ilang linyahan, but that experience is true."

"That's rubbish," I muttered.

"Yeah, they made me feel rubbish," she lazily said.

"I mean, what they did was rubbish," I corrected. "They bullied you." I looked at her. "Look, I'm sorry. Hindi na sana kita pinilit magkuwento." I meant what I said.

"No, it's okay. Wala na 'yon."

I diverted the topic. "So, you really are a Potterhead. Guess, we've found a common ground, Hermione," pagpapagaan ko sa usapan, then I spatted with a smirk, "Filthy little Mudblood."

"Oh, shut up, Malfoy!" she blurted, then chuckled. I smiled for she's back on track.

"Speaking of that, hindi ko talaga gets how others shipped Hermione and Draco," sabi ni Raine.

"DraMione," I interjected. I've read so many fan-fiction out there about them.

"Yah, DraMione or whatever it is. Isang malaking bulas kaya si Draco kay Hermione, tapos i-shi-ship nila. Well, sa Wattpad, TV series, movies, maraming gano'n. That cliché stories when the bully and the bullied fell in love."

Raine rolled her eyes saying that. A proof of how she disliked the idea of DraMione.

"Affected much," komento ko. "We're entitled to give our own perspectives, you know."

"I know," she agreed. "But, didn't they know Hermione and Ron were meant for each other?"

"Well, in the movies, mas i-shi-ship mo pa nga ang HarMione do'n. Sa mga libro, mababasa mo talaga ang 'romantic development' between Ron and Hermione," I opined, quoting the phrase romantic development in the air.

"I'm with you," pagsang-ayon niya. Then, she had a dreamy look. "Hay, sana makapagsulat ako ng maraming nobela at ma-adapt in screens."

"I'm sure, you will," saad ko na nagpangiti sa kanya.

There's a part of me that envy Raine and how she continued to pursue her passion. Unlike me, who cannot create pieces of art anymore.

I caught Raine staring at me. Parang binabasa ang nasa isip ko. "Stop looking at me like that," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Like what?"

"Like you're trying to read my mind."

Raine sighed. "Well, I'm just curious. You looked like drowning in the vast ocean of thoughts, not trying to save yourself."

"Poetic, huh?" komento ko.

"We're friends, Gray. I'm here. You can always talk to me about all those thoughts," Raine said in a soothing tone.

Bumuga ako ng hangin. "Geez, enough with the drama. But sure, I'll take note of that." I smiled genuinely.

I was a very reserved person. I didn't really open up with someone. Coming to think of it, I already did with Rainbow. Maybe the slight anonymity between us made that possible. And Raine's Rainbow, right? She knew about my cerebral achromatopsia.

Only a few people knew about my condition. First on the list were my family at 'yong mga kasama namin sa bahay. No'ng Senior High, teachers and other school officials lang ang may alam. Walang ideya ang mga kaklase ko no'n. They only knew that I got into an accident. Mas mabuti ngang gano'n. Hindi nila ang tungkol sa cerebral achromatop-shit na 'to. Nakikita ko sa mata ng mga nakakaalam ang awa.

I didn't want to be treated like a fucking charitable case.

But I felt like they already grasped the idea that something's wrong with me. Mapapansin naman 'yon dahil sa ibang pagtrato sa 'kin ng mga teacher.

"Lorraine Bo," a man's voice said.

Bumaling kaming dalawa dito.

"Oh, magkasama na naman kayo," pagpuna ni Grent nang makita kami. "Is there something going on between the two of you?" he asked, intrigued.

Napairap si Raine. "Ma-issue talaga lahat ng tao ngayon, 'no." She turned her gaze to Grent. "Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa 'yo na 'wag mo akong tawagin sa pangalang 'yon, malilintikan ka talaga sa 'kin," pagbabanta ni Raine.

"Scary," Grent uttered, feigning fear. "By the way, I just want to tell you something."

"Wala akong pakialam sa kung ano man ang sasabihin mo, Grent. Please lang, just leave me alone," iritadong sabi ni Raine ang nagsalita. Bumaling siya sa akin. "Let's get away from here, Gray."

"Okay," I said, looking at her pleading face. Tumayo na ako at hinigit ang pulsuhan niya.

We were about to leave but Grent grabbed her other wrist to stop us. It looked like we were playing tug of war.

"Let go of me," Raine hissed at Grent. Nagpupumiglas pa siya.

"Do you hate me that much? What did I do to you?" madiin na tanong ni Grent kay Raine. Nagkasukatan sila ng matatalim na tingin.

What the hell is going on between them? Wala akong ka-ide-ideya kung anong nangyayari. Naipit pa ko sa sitwasyon nila.

May narinig kaming tumikhim. We all looked towards the direction of the sound.

Raine's eyes widened. "Yella," she blurted out.

I didn't know that the moment the four of us met was the start of something kaleidoscopic... which later on, led to an inevitable heartbreak.

TO BE CONTINUED...

KETSamonte: To all Potterheads like me, this chapter is for you. 🤓