[Original] RAIN Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3: Storm of Fire and Rain

The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.

-oOo-

“Yes, this is Nate,” I said trying to figure out who the speaker was but failed, “I’m sorry but I don’t think I have your number.”

“This is Raymond,” the caller replied.

“RAY!” I was surprised, “Since when did you start calling other people?”

“Well, since that fiasco with Tim and Katrina went out… Can you believe it?” he said.

“Believe what?” I asked trying to act as if I don’t know anything .

“The breaking news about Tim?” he asked back.

“Well…” I started to reply but he cut me off.

“You’re one big crush before you married Cal turned out gay too!” I can hear him laughing from the other side.

“Well, what can I say? I can spot the good ones a mile away!” I said bringing my own sense of humor out.

“Now, that’s the Nate I know,” he said, “You’ve been quite serious and should I say very ‘academic’ and ‘professional’ these past few months that I thought you forgot to smile.”

“No, I didn’t, I just reserve it for my friends,” I said, “And what’s with you bringing up Cal? You know that’s a sore topic!”

“I’m sorry, Nate,” he said, “It’s just that with Cal being dead for more than 2 years, I would have thought that you would have found someone new.”

“I love Cal,” I replied.

“But he’s dead,” he retorted, “I mean, knowing him, he would have wanted you to meet someone and be happy, right?”

“And what makes you think I’m not happy, Ray?” I asked.

“Well…” he started, “Six publications in one year, that’s a sign!”

“I’ve got to do those things to get tenure,” I replied.

“But you could also get tenure by publishing less frequently,” he said, “You’re killing yourself and your students.”

“Hey! For your information, I give my students a break every now and then,” I said.

“Not enough! You’re still a slave driver!” he said, “Remember those times when we had to do some group work for our psychology class?”

“Yes and I drove all of you crazy with my work ethics!” I said, remembering the good old times.

“Exactly!” he said, “Now Nate, I guess, all you need to do is unwind for a little bit.”

“Well, there’s a storm coming, so I might stay in the whole weekend!” I said.

“No!” he interjected, “Not that kind of unwind, Reese and her husband are coming to my place, and Ann and the kids miss you.”

“Well then, I guess, I could spend the weekend with all of you?” I said.

“Just like old times,” he said. Then I heard someone from the background, probably Ann or one of their kids, “Hey Nate, I got to go, Ann told me to just make it quick. See you later, Nate!”

“Sure!” I replied. Then he hung up.

Just like old times, I wonder…

-oOo-

“And we’re down to the last two minutes of the season,” said the commentator from the TV.

Because we couldn’t afford tickets or at least afford to lose time trying to get tickets, Ray, Ann, Reese and I opted to watch the final game of the championship at Emily’s café.

Our team was up by 3 precious points, a 3-point cushion given by Tim after sinking a trey halfway through the quarter. The teams tightened up on defense. Both teams remained scoreless for the last few minutes, trading missed shot after missed shot.

“Let’s Go Stallions!” can be heard from the TV set. The crowd was going nuts waiting for the final buzzer to go off.

“C’mon team, last two minutes…” muttered Ray who was really nervous

Ann and Reese were holding hands, eyes closed, in what seems to be like prayer. The café was quiet. Everyone held their breath as the ball was turned over several times with no team getting a single field goal

“Twenty seconds, to go!” shouted someone from the back.

And the commentator said, “This is it, Stallions making a historic 10-peat victory! We’re down to the last 20 seconds.”

Tim was dribbling the ball crossing over the half court line onto the front court. Down to 10 seconds.

10… 9… 8…

The players started huddling towards Tim.

7… 6… 5… 4…

Tim threw the ball as high as he can. Tears were streaming from his eyes. His first championship as a college baller, 3 seconds away.

3… 2… 1…

And the crowd went wild as the buzzer was drowned by cheers and cries of victory. Emily’s café was in a similar mood. Everyone was shouting, laughing, and shaking hands, as if they were the players. Me? Well I was sitting in my corner, smiling at the whole scenery. I’m not really a party person. I mean, true, I was delighted by the win, but I’m not the type to jump up and down and cry hallelujah.

“Hey Nate!” shouted Reese, “is this your wildest side? Lighten up! We did win that championship.”

“For your information,” I said, “I am celebrating.”

“Not enough!” said Ann as she handed me a cup of iced white mocha, “Here, Emily’s giving free drinks!”

“Thanks.” I replied, as I took a sip from the cup.

“You know,” butted in Ray, “That was the weirdest championship game I’ve ever seen.”

“Yeah , me too.” I said, trying to show that I was into this game.

“Thirty percent field goal,” he continued, “Man that has got to be one of the worst night for our team offensively.”

“But we won!” exclaimed Reese, “We won! We won! We won!”

“Yeah, we did,” chimed in Ann, “We won! We won! We won!”

“Enough already,” I said trying to sound irritated, “Look, I’m going out for a while, All these people are suffocating me.”

“Ok!” replied Reese, “But don’t go too faraway, there’s still a wild party going on here. Don’t miss it!”

“Sure!” I said.

I went out of Emily’s not because I didn’t want to party. Frankly, this championship brought me away from the stress of the looming final exams and I was thankful for that. However, it didn’t take me away from this weird feeling I’m having.

My conversation with Tim the other day was uncharacteristic of me. I’m not the type of person who goes out of his way to make other people feel better, but I was drawn to him. Tim was just too charismatic to ignore. He did seem friendly to me. Not knowing what else to do, I took out my mobile phone and dialed a particular number.

“Hey Cal,” I said, “Listen, are you busy tonight?”

-oOo-

Cal is my best friend. We went to the same high school. But while I was the geek, he was the geeky jock. Ok. I guess that wasn’t the best description. He was really popular, being voted as student council president and graduated as the valedictorian of our class. He also swims competitively. But above all that, Cal was also my boyfriend in high school. We weren’t out to anyone except our families and they were cool with it. However, we ended up cooling it off because we went to different colleges. While I was contented with being here, he wanted to explore so he went out of the state, but not too far.

I drove my car a hundred miles down south to where Cal was studying. It was late evening when I got to his apartment.

“Hey!” shouted a lean guy with straight brown hair covering most of his face from the patio.

“Cal!” I went to meet him and gave him a really good hug. I so wanted to kiss him right then and there, but I thought otherwise, “I missed you.”

“Yeah,” he said, “Me too, so where are you taking me?”

“Just around,” I said.

We hopped inside my car and I started to drive. We went out to the interstate and just drove on with no particular place in mind. I really missed him. But I don’t know how to tell him about Tim. It hasn’t been that long since we broke up so I’m not sure what to expect of him. For all I know, he could still be in love with me.

“What’s eating you?” he asked, taking me back into the situation.

“Well…” I started to speak, “there’s this guy, and I don’t know what’s going on…”

“Let me guess,” he said, while giving me his evil eye, “Tim Chua? Star basketball player? Most valuable player? Honors program?”

“Am I that transparent?” I asked.

“Nope!” he replied, “I just know your type.”

I was silent. He knows my type? Then he must have guessed what’s bothering me.

“You know,” he said, “you should just do it. Don’t think about me. I’ll be ok. We’re not lovers anymore.”

“But I don’t think I’m ready for a new relationship,” I said.

“If you think about it that way, you’ll never be ready,” he said, “Come on Nate, we talked about this before, were a hundred miles apart. I love you but not that way. I mean, you’re my best friend and I’ll be yours, forever, right?”

“Yeah,” I said.

“So don’t fret about it,” he said, “If you like Tim, then go for it.”

I wanted to tell him that I was afraid of going for it, but before I could, I heard a screeching sound from the back and a blaring horn.

Then all went black.