AS THE RAIN FALLS

I HUGGED myself to keep myself warm. It's summer but the weather isn't sunny and joyful it's replaced by dark clouds, heavy rainfall, and gloominess. I was walking on the asphalt road of a public park with no direction to go. Everyone was finding their way to take shelter from the rain. Some took shelter from under the trees, there was an elderly man who took shelter under a waiting shed. Well, everyone except me. I let myself be drenched in the rain.

The rain signifies a lot of things. It signifies sadness and pain. It's like a thousand tears falling from the sky just like how my tears are covered by the rain. The strong downpour of the rain is just how strong my tears are also pouring. A never-ending rain feeling only but immense sadness and pain… But I'm glad that I'm not alone in this sorrow. I have the rain with me to conceal my tears.

I clenched my chest tightly, feeling the ache inside of me. The pain is too much for me to bare. I just don't know what to do anymore. I want to get rid of this pain so badly. I want to be happy again. I want to bring the 'me' long before this happened. My every step was heavy like I'd been dragging a weight on my back. I let my feet take me anywhere. I'm not even sure where I am now. I looked up at the gloomy sky feeling the raindrops as they fell down my face.

Will there ever be a ray of sunshine for me? A ray of hope?

Can someone save me from this storm that came into my life? I always thought of myself as a princess waiting for someone, a charming prince to suddenly come and save me from this storm. Just like in those fantasy romance stories I've read but then I realized those were fantasies, they're fictitious. They are not real. A prince charming is not real. Even if there are they are not meant for me, they are meant to be loved by noble ladies. And this is my reality. Even if someone was out there, can I even be saved? There is too much sorrow that I'm already tired of this life. I had enough. I'd already given up.

I lifted my head. My eyes trailed to where I heard the soft laughter that I heard. I saw a lovely couple running in the rain. The man was using his suit jacket in an effort to protect both of them from the rain. My eyes were affixed to their smiles. Even if the rain was pouring so hard they are still able to smile widely. They ran passed me and I was just standing there watching them as they disappear from my eyes.

"I wish I was like you guys," I muttered. I wish I can smile without a care in the world just like them. Like any normal person could.

I hugged myself tighter in an effort to ease the cold. I was just absentmindedly watching as people walk passed me when suddenly a warm hand grabbed my arm forcefully backward that I almost lost my balance.

I turn my head over my shoulder. "What the—" I was about to outburst but I lost the courage after I saw a face like thunder clouds. Yikes! Moreover, he looked really annoyed. Eh? Why is he angry? Was he annoyed at me or was he annoyed at the fact that he is using a sunflower-printed umbrella?

"Are you f.cking stupid?!"

I jumped at his sudden outburst and he sounded angry. What did I ever do to him? I didn't remember making anyone angry today when in the first place I should be the one angry here. I should be the one flaring with anger with everything that is happening in my life. I have been a good girl. I don't deserve this! I should be the one who's supposed to get angry not him. Like hello! I was having an emotional moment here and then a stranger suddenly just grabbed me and suddenly calling me stupid. I jerked my arm away from the stranger and faced him. I looked straight into his dark chocolate-brown eyes. I tried to look intimidating even though we had a major height difference. My height was only at his shoulder length and even if I stand on my tiptoes I can't compete with his height or his intimidation. It just looks like I'm a little mouse feigning bravery facing an enormous cat that was ready to gobble me up anytime.

"W-Who are you calling stupid?" Even my voice didn't sound intimidating but with no words said he suddenly shove the umbrella in my face. How rude!

"What are you doing letting yourself get drenched in the rain? Are you even using your head?" he shouted.

Excuse me? I put my hands on my waist. "It's none of your business!" I retorted. This conversation is starting to get dangerous. He's a stranger after all. I don't know him and I never sit well with exchanging conversations with other people aside from my family. The fact that I don't know his true intentions of conversing with me is making me a little nervous.

The stranger knitted his thick eyebrows and glared at me. I lift my chin up and glared at him trying to match up to him when deep inside I want to cower in fear and then run away as fast as I can. I gasped when he shove another thing into my chest. A deep blue denim jacket. "Have you forgotten you're a fucking girl! Show some decency! I can see your cheap bra from a mile away."

How rude could this guy get? I could feel the veins pulsing in my temple. Okay, this guy is over the top with displaying his hostility toward me. I'm giving him a taste of his own—Wait! Did he mention a bra? I looked down at my chest and suddenly embarrassment washed over me. I could feel my cheeks burning up. I quickly covered my chest with the jacket. I was too engrossed with my thoughts I wasn't thinking that people will see my bra. But does this mean he was watching me this whole time? Looking at my bra? Looking at my breast?

"You pervert!" I shouted.

He flicked my forehead with his fingers. "Ouch!" I rubbed the spot where he flicked his fingers. This guy is acting like his overly familiar with me. I don't like it one bit.

"Stupid girl! You're not my type! You're damn lucky that I was the one who confronted you not some other assholes out there. You would have been in trouble considering how frail and weak you are. And would you stop walking in the rain like you have the whole world's problems resting on your shoulders? Get your head together pipsqueak it's not the end of the world. Every problem has an absolute solution," he said.

I was stunned by his words. I just stare at him. My hand absentmindedly clench my chest feeling my heart beating erratically. Seeing I wasn't going to respond to what he said and just stare at him like a statue. He walked away leaving me in awe.

"So annoying," he muttered as he passed by me.

I turned my body backward. He was walking casually not minding the pouring rain soaking him, leaving me with his umbrella and jacket in my hands. I haven't even notice that I was already outside the park. He crossed the road. When struck by to reality, I was about to run to him to give back his umbrella and jacket but then I lost him through the crowds. I looked at the umbrella and the jacket. I wrapped my arms on the big jacket and inhaled the scent of ocean perfume on the jacket. It made me feel warm inside like I was suddenly brought to a sunny beach all of a sudden. I hugged it tightly remembering the words he just said. Moments later the rain stop, I looked up from the sky and my eyes were blessed with the wonderful view of the rainbow as the dark clouds slowly disappear from the sky.

And from that day onward I started smiling again.

***

"THEY ARE here!"

"OMG!"

"Don't block their way, man!"

"They are so handsome! I think I'm gonna die!"

"Tsk. So noisy," I muttered.

We were walking down the hallway when this maniacs started squealing and chattering for no good reason. I glance at Arden who was winking his eyes at girls and smiling like a total idiot giving fan service to his so-called fans. He gave a group of girls a flying kiss and the girls instantly melted with happiness. Literally melted after giving that flying kiss the girl's legs suddenly turned into jelly and all five of them sprawled on the tiled floor blushing. Like seriously, how stupid can they get liking Arden that much?

Arden nudges me on the shoulder. "Come on, Blade. They just miss our handsome faces after not seeing us for a whole summer. Don't you like the attention," he said and he stopped walking just to give a lovestruck girl an autograph. Because of that, he was suddenly cornered by his fans. There are even boys in the crowd.

"You're the only one who digs the attention," I muttered.

Arden gave me the 'I need help' look but I just rolled my eyes and went on walking. But don't get me wrong I wasn't walking to my classroom. I don't do learning. It's pointless anyway considering my school record.

I and Arden are polar opposites if he likes people getting close to him, well I don't. Students don't crowd me, as much as possible people avoided me. They always paved the way wherever I go inside this school. I stopped walking when a girl with nerdy glasses suddenly blocked my way. Her amber hair is tied in a messy bun with a ballpoint pen stuck into it like some kind of hair ornament that Asian girls used back in the day. Her green eyes were avoiding my cold gaze. My eyebrows furrowed. The sudden approach of the girl is causing an uproar among the students around us. I can even see some students taking photos and videos of this scene. People avoid me but there are instances that a few people approach me, such as this one.

The girl's head was facing down and her hands were shaking while holding onto the chocolate cake. She stretched her arms to give me the cake. "Umm, Blade. . .I made you a c-cake to celebrate y-your first day of school," she stuttered. "And umm I want to also say. . .that I....I like you!"

"OMG! What is she thinking?!"

"She's confessing to Blade!"

"Poor girl."

And the chattering keeps coming, what I hate the most is noisy people and people who shove themselves unto me. I accepted the cake and it made the girl to lift her head in astonishment. Her eyes twinkled in delight. There was a collective gasp in the crowd. Disbelief was written all over their faces.

"Blade, I—"

Before she babbled nonsense again I shove the cake onto her face and a collective gasp was heard again in the hallway. The large chunks of the cake fell down on the floor the rest of the frosting and cake got smudge on her face. Her eyes widen from my action and her body was starting to shiver. Even with cake smattered on her face, I can see tears shimmering in her eyes behind those big rim eyeglasses.

"Let that be a reminder to not block my way. What I hate the most are people forcing themselves into my life when they are not even wanted," I said coldly.

I walked passed her and purposely hit her shoulder. I left her there crying as people criticize her for her stupidity. "So annoying."

It was only a few steps when I was put to a halt. I felt something soft being thrown on the back of my head. I reach out for my head and when I withdraw my hand I saw the chocolate cake that was from the girl. When I realize what happen anger surge in me. I harshly turned on my back, my nose flaring and my eyes wide.

"WHO THE F.C.K. DID THIS?!"I bellowed.

"That would be me!"

No one messes with me. If they did there be hell to pay.