[Original] RAIN Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2:

A trickle of water pours over the dusty leaves of a Narra tree. Droplets slowly attack down on the scorching pavement. A familiar hiss can be heard as the heat dissipates into the icy armada of rain.

Rain… a paradoxical phenomenon. A nice change after the summer has bathed us with sunny days that don’t seem to end, but irritating are those rainy days when you have to walk through muddy paths. It’s a blessing to the farmer, but a curse to those in the slums. People love it because it cools down the earth, but too much leads to destruction.

At this particular instance, it brings despair. A storm is brewing, better be ready.

-oOo-

So Katrina finally found out, I thought, I wonder what happens now.

I replaced the newspaper on my coffee table and started to walk to my study when my phone rang.

It says ‘no name’… probably a student.

“Hello! Good morning! Nathan Jameson here”

“Nate? Is it really you? Have you read the news?” said an all too familiar voice on the other end of the line.

-oOo-

The university was littered with red banners with yellow lettering, “Red Stallions, we still believe!!”.

Every person you meet was wearing the school colors. Smiles are plastered on everyone’s face. Even the looming threat of final exams couldn’t take away the festive mood in the university.

Our basketball team qualified to its tenth championship in the last ten years. That’s an accomplishment. What made it even better was that Tim was nominated as most valuable player. A freshman is in the running to be this year’s most valuable player. It’s somewhat surreal when you think about it. But averaging 28 points per game, 18 assists and 7 steals, it’s no wonder why people admire him. He can score and yet, he is not selfish and passes the ball around.

Walking to my only class of the day, I noticed the rumor mill being overworked.

“Tim is unbelievable.”

“Tim is the greatest player.”

“Yeah, and he even get’s straight A’s!”

“Tim is a God.”

Just as everyone was chatting up their friends about Tim, he entered. But unlike most days when he comes in with a big smile, his mouth was in a pout, and his eyes seem redder. Tim wasn’t his usual self and I’m getting somewhat worried. But before anyone could ask him what was wrong, Doc Mana entered the room with a surprising announcement.

“The test you took last week would be your last,” he paused, “that is if you get exempted. Unfortunately for me, that’s only two people less than my usual checking chores.”

-oOo-

I went to a café after my last class. It was a cozy little café run by a widowed mother of three. Emily greeted me as I entered through the door, “Hey Nathan, your friends are at the booth out back, usual spot.”

I ran up to my friends and greeted them with the exciting news, “Guys, guess what?”

“What?” asked Ray.

“I got exempted from advanced calculus!!” I exclaimed.

“Shut up!” said Reese, not believing.

“It’s true,” I said, “There are only 2 people exempted and I was really scared that I wouldn’t make the cut.”

“That’s neat!” commented Ann, “Now you can help us with Chemistry!”

“Yeah, sure,” I said, not really wanting to do so, “But this is a time to celebrate, don’t you think?”

“Yeah!” all of them agreed.

So I went to the bar to order some food for the four of us, when I heard the chimes signaling a new customer. I turned to see Tim and a brunette walking in. Tim is still as sad as he was earlier and the girl seems to be angry.

“You can’t do this Tim!” shouted the exasperated girl, “You can’t do this to your team, your fans and the school.”

“But I already told you the reason, Katrina,” said Tim, “My grandmother died yesterday, I don’t think I would be able to play and contribute.”

“Ok! Fine…” said Katrina, obviously annoyed, “Since you don’t care about what other people will think about you, I might as well break it up with you!”

Katrina turned away and started to leave the café when Tim called out, “Wait, Kat– ”

Katrina cut him, “Save it, Tim, I’m going.”

Katrina walked out of the café, leaving Tim behind.

Feeling sorry for Tim but not really wanting to step on other people’s business, I called Emily, “Hey, Emily, I’ll have 5 blueberry cheesecake and 5 coffee jelly shakes,”

“Oh, but there are only 4 of you in the table, Nate,” inquired a curious Emily.

“I’m giving one to him,” I said pointing at Tim.

Emily didn’t reply but instead smiled knowingly at me while she prepared my order.

-oOo-

What am I doing? I said to myself, never in a million years would I dare approach someone who’s as popular as this guy.

“Hey Tim!” I said holding up the cake and coffee to him, “These are yours.”

Tim looked up and said, “I didn’t order anything, Nate”

“It’s on me,” I replied. He looked at me again quizzically and finally took the tray with the food.

“Thanks,” he said. Another moment of silence passed. Tim was busy with the cheesecake without actually eating it. He was looking at the distance.

“I’m sorry for your grandmother,” I said, trying to break the silence.

He looked at me and asked, “So you heard that?”

“Well, Katrina wasn’t trying hard to hide it,” I replied.

“She’s right, I guess,” continued Tim, “The team’s been through a lot, and backing out now would just make me a quitter.”

“Well, there is some truth to that,” I commented, “But what do you really want to do?”

He stopped, and then sighed very deeply, “I don’t know.”

“Well, the d-day is fast approaching, Tim,” I said.

“Well, it’s the last three games of the season,” he said still hesitant about everything, “I might as well, just finish it up.”

“Just don’t go out there half-hearted,” I said, giving him the most encouraging look I can muster.

“Don’t worry,” he said, finally smiling, “I’ll play.”

He grabbed a bite of the cheesecake and sipped his coffee and said, “But not because of other people, but because I want to.”

“Good,” I said and stood up and walked back to my friends.

(To be continued)

NOTE: As some of you might notice, this fic is dedicated to someone. Hehe 23rd Happy Birthday Chris!