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It was raining, both literally and figuratively when Narda met Regina.

"putek?!" reklamo ni Narda ng hindi na ulit umandar ang kotse niya.

Huminto lang naman siya sa gilid ng kalsada para magmuni-muni eh. To breathe. To feel the wind and be able to enjoy the peace on her own. Saglit lang naman 'yun kung ikukumpara sa araw-araw na pakikipagsapalaran niya sa mundo.

At nung pakiramdam niya okay na siya, sumakay na ulit siya sa kotse niya para umuwi, para harapin ulit ang reyalidad.

But her damn car does not seem to get the memo.

She chuckles at herself as soon as she saw her reflection.

Kailangan na niya ulit mag pretend na okay lang siya, na kaya niya lahat.

She took her phone na at nag book ng masasakyan.

While she's waiting, she watched the raindrops through her window.

She looked at whoever the person is, mukha na itong basang sisiw, bag lang ang takip nito sa ulo nito and still, kahit kawawa na ang itsura nito ay hindi maikakailang maganda ito.

"ano 'yun?" tanong niya at pati siya nababasa na din ng ulan.

She gave the girl her umbrella, "sa'yo na miss." she said and the latter smiled at her sabay nagpasalamat.

moved away from her car at pumunta na sa gilid.

She watches through her mirror what the girl is doing..sinusubukan nitong ayusin ang sarili nito. She feels bad pero natawa din siya at the same time. M

'lahat talaga may bad days.' sa isip niya at sinara na ang bintana. Right, nabasa na din siya.

After a few minutes, andun pa din 'yung babae at hindi man lang umalis.

'papasukin ko kaya dito? hindi naman talaga siguro masamang tao eh.' at after ng pag-iisip niya ay binuksan nga niya ulit ang bintana niya sabay tawag sa babae, her head now outside at nababasa na din talaga siya ng ulan.

"miss!!!" she calls at lumingon naman agad ang babae.

"yes? do you need your payong ba? nababasa ka na oh." the girl said.

"hindi. itatanong ko lang sana kung may hinihintay ka? kasi kung meron, pwede ka namang maghintay dito sa loob ng kotse ko.. mukha din kasing nilalamig ka na tsaka gabi na din." Narda said and the stranger smiled at her.

"don't worry, I don't think na masamang tao ka. though, okay lang ba? basang-basa na ako sa rain oh. and besides, what if I'm the one that's masama pala? what if killer pala ako?" the stranger tells her and she shook her head.

"pero hindi ka naman siguro masamang tao, at least 'yan ang judgement ni brain. so, sakay ka na muna.. it's fine kung basa ka." she added as the girl nodded.

She followed the strangers movements hanggang sa makapasok ito at umupo sa tabi niya.

"thank you ulit." the stranger tells her ng maka settle na ito sa upuan niya.

"no problem." sagot niya.

Hindi awkward. Hindi din comfortable.

'may magche-cheat pa sa ganitong itsura? I mean, hindi naman mukhang masama ang ugali nito ni stranger huh' she thinks as she nodded sa sinabi nito.

"my sundo is here na daw." sabi nung stranger at saktong may lalaking bumaba galing sa isang sasakyan, may dala din itong payong.

"miss? salamat sa pagsama sa pinsan ko ha? sunduin ko na." the guy told her sabay ngumiti.

"thanks for coming Ali." rinig niyang sabi ng stranger.

'alam ko na ano name nitong sumundo sa kanya, pero 'yung sa kanya hindi.' she thinks as she shakes her head.

'Regina. ang ganda ng name, bagay sa kanya.'

Tinignan naman niya ang side kung san nakaupo si Regina kanina.

'huh? nakapagsulat pa siya ng note?' she asks herself bago kinuha ang note at binasa.

She smiled after niyang mabasa ang note.

End of flashback

Since that night, parang lagi na silang pinagtatagpo ni Regina.

Sa coffee shop, sa park and even sa restaurant. All of those times, they always exchange their hi's and goodbye's dahil pareho silang may kasama everytime it happens.

Nasanay agad silang magkaroon ng conversation with just lip reading.

Until one encounter changed it all.

Flashback

Bad trip si Narda. Pinatawag siya sa school ng kapatid niya dahil nakipagsuntukan daw ito. At nung pumunta siya, she found out na ang dahilan is because pinagbintangan ang kapatid niyang nag cheat sa exams.

It was proven na hindi totoo pero dahil sa temper ng kapatid niya, may consequence ito.

Now, she's in her usual spot sa coffee shop pag free days niya.

"hey." she heard a familiar voice that immediately made her look up.

"Regina." it had been almost 2 months since the last time she saw the girl kaya somehow, this encounter surprised her.

"Narda." the girl greets her with a smile.

"are you with someone?"

They both asked at the same time.

Few seconds passed by and then they started laughing.

"nope."

Once again, they answered at the same time.

End of flashback

Nagbago na lahat simula nun. Exchanged of contacts happened, more communication, lumalabas din sila together.

They really found themselves spending more time ng magkasama. Especially during their free time.

Time flew so fast that certain feelings also developed.

After knowing each other for more than a year, they also formed a different bond. Pareho nilang alam na they have feelings for each other, Narda's just afraid to acknowledge it.

But not Regina.

Flashback

Hindi na siya ganun ka stress gaya ng dati. Pakiramdam niya nakakahinga na siya kahit sobrang nahihirapan siya. Hindi na siya nagpapanggap na okay lang siya kahit na hindi naman talaga.

Magkasama sila ngayon na nagbabakasyon ni Regina, the girl had become her best friend, one she can share her thoughts and deepest secrets.

Yes, alam ni Narda na somehow, what they feel for each other is higit pa sa pagkakaibigan.

But natatakot siyang e-risk ang kung ano man ang meron sila.

Regina however isn't.

Narda doesn't know how to respond to that, "ha? tao?" she's not stupid, alam niya anong ibig sabihin ni Regina.

But she's afraid.

"Narda." Regina calls her, voice sounding more....serious.

She sighed at sumagot na dito ng maayos, "ayukong may magbago sa atin Regina. okay na naman tayong magkaibigan tayo diba?" she asked.

Alam niyang naintindihan agad siya nito.

"I understand Narda...." sabi nito sa kanya, but she feels like may kasunod pa dapat ito pero hindi lang tinuloy ni Regina.

Regina.

Mahal niya na ito, oo.

Takot siya sa mga possibleng mangyari pag hinayaan niyang may magbago sa kanila.

'pero siguro, siguro worth it naman subukan? Si Regina na'to eh' she thinks as she then reached for the girl's hand.

"Regina...." the girl just stared at her, "takot akong may magbago, na baka sa huli magsisi tayo, na baka sa dulo hindi pala talaga tayo ang para sa isa't-isa..na mawala kahit itong pagkakaibigan na meron tayo ngayon.." she said at tumango si Regina, pero kita niya din sa mga mata nitong nasasaktan ito.

"kaya kung tinatanong mo kung ano tayo, tatanungin kita pabalik.. gusto mo bang maging tayo, Regina?" she asked and the latter cannot stopped her tears sabay niyakap siya nito.

"I love you." she finally had the courage to say those words as she hugged Regina back.

"I love you too Narda."

End of flashback

That was the happiest day of her life. The most beautiful decision she ever did. Hindi siya nagsisi, wala siyang pinagsisihan.

Sa mga araw, linggo, buwan, taon na nagdaan, their love stayed the same. Magkasama sila sa lahat, sa saya, sa lungkot, sa hirap at ginhawa.

Nakayanan nilang lagpasan ang mga pagsubok ng magkasama. Hindi sila bumitaw.

But then, wala pa din talaga kasiguraduhan ang lahat.

Because one day, on their 4th year together.

They sat and stared at each other, pouring their thoughts and feelings.

"grabe noh? 4 years, ganun na pala tayo katagal." Narda said as Regina nodded.

"oo nga eh. we have been together for that long and we have been through a lot." sagot naman ni Regina sa kanya.

They were sitting in front of each other, talking habang nagdi-dinner sa shared apartment nila.

Tumango si Narda sa sinabi ni Regina.

They both feel like may gusto silang sabihin sa isa't-isa but hindi pa nila alam pano at san sisimulan.

Until Narda did.

"Regina. ramdam mo din noh?" she asked and Regina immediately understood her.

"nawala?" the girl asked her as she nodded.

"hmm oo. pero Narda, I'd like to believe hindi siya nawala, it's more like, it's still there but not as strong as before.." Regina tells her.

"so, what are we going to do now?" Regina asks her.

Inisip niya din kung ano. Pareho naman sila ng nararamdaman at iniisip ni Regina eh.

"balik ulit tayo sa kung san tayo nagsimula?" she asked, looking at Regina's eyes.

"I'd love to." the latter answers her.

End of flashback

They broke up like that.

Bumalik sila sa kung san sila nagsimula. Sa pagiging magkaibigan.

Kung iba ang tatanungin, maraming magsasabi na sayang 'yung sila.

But then, para sa kanila ni Regina, hindi.

They were happy as lovers and happy together as friends.

And even when years passed by, mas naging matibay pa ang pagkakaibigan nila.

"thinking of running away?" Narda hears Regina asks as the girl approached her, standing beside her.

"sira! hindi noh." she answers as she held the girl's hand.

"you look beautiful Regina." sabi niya dito.

"of course pero not as beautiful as the bride to be." the girl answers her sabay nginitian siya.

"congratulations on getting married today Narda." Regina tells her.

"pag sinaktan ka ni Brian, I won't hesitate to end his life." sabi pa nito na nagpailing sa kanya.

"takot lang nun sa'kin and sa'yo din noh." she says.

It had been 4 years since Regina and her broke up. Sa apat na taon na 'yun, mas tumibay pa ang pagkakaibigan nila.

In those 4 years, Regina managed to meet someone and it ended up in marriage.

"kawawa lagi si Brian sa'yo hon." they heard someone say.

It's Regina's wife, Julia. They've been together as a couple for a year bago sila ikinasal 6 months ago.

Destiny really did it so well to the point na ang papakasalan ni Narda is si Brian, Julia's cousin.

"pero I can help you guys bury his body if ever, hindi ko siya kikilalanin na pinsan pag naging gago siya." Julia said that made Narda and Regina laugh.

"thank you sa inyo." Narda said as she smiled at the two.

Tinawag na si Narda, it's now time for her to get married.

As Narda and Brian exchanged their vows, Regina stared at them with happiness in heart as she holds Julia's hand in hers.

She's glad that after everything she and Narda had been through, nanatili pa din ang pagkakaibigan nila, nanatili pa din silang masaya.