The rain shed (different version)

quick and summarized version

Rain falls, and all at once I was sent back to the best days of my high school.

     The rain never fails to make me reminisce. I remember it all so vividly--the place, the background, the sounds, her voice, her face, her expressions, our conversations. Memories that will never fade till the day I die. It was the turning point of my life.

     She and I first met when it was raining. Back then I was a total mess. Everything about me delivered defiance. I was a rebellious, untamed youngster, the result of a misguided childhood. I could almost imagine what the future had reserved for me. It’d turn me into some low-life f****r whom people call ‘scoundrel of society’. I’d probably end up in jail and rot there for life. But then there came Biddy.

                            

     It was still early in the afternoon, around four maybe, yet the sky bore a slight impression of dusk. Dark, outspread clouds conquered the sky, and rain was expected any time soon.

     Standing by the railing of the rooftop, savoring a cigarette, I watched in contempt as numerous students litter across the school square. Some chatting, some goofing around, and some making their way home. Class hours had just ended; but I have been at the rooftop since the start of last period, skipping Algebra because it would only make my head spin with complications. Math has always been my weakness.

     After devouring three sticks I felt the need to take a leak. On going back down, I accidentally bumped someone at the stair case. The guy happened to be a senior. He stopped and called my attention as I continued my descent. I don’t know what he wanted to prove by telling me to apologies, for the bump was feeble one, hardly damaging at all. If he had asked me, I would have; but he ordered me, and my pride wouldn’t allow that.

     Without thinking, I gave him the F-finger, and that was like pouring fuel to the fire because the guy looked as aggressive as me. But I was wild and fearless at the time, I didn’t care about consequences.

     The fight ended quickly as it started. I took the first move and got him with a solid right. Once he was down, I didn’t pursue more and just left him with a bleeding nose.

     Things like that were almost next to normal during those crazy days, so the incident was casually swept away from my mind, only to find out later that something bigger would follow. Meanwhile, I took my time in the men’s room, whistling and humming as I did my business. When I was on my way home and had just exited the school grounds, six boys ahead were lingering at the other side of the street--all seniors. One was holding a handkerchief to his nose. The instant I noticed him I knew what was coming. I spotted them, and they spotted me, thus the chase began.

     I retreated back to school grounds, which was vast and seemed more like a city district, where we ran around catching the attention of some few students who still hang about in spite of the long dismissed hour.

     Listen here, I’m not saying this to blabber or anything, but I was always the athletic kind. I led my P.E class in meter dashes, marathons, long jumps, outdoor sports, etc. Anything that required athleticism, I was good at. The school even recommended me for the nationals. And so if those thugs wanted to catch me, they need to have at least 21.7 seconds on their 200 meter dash records.

     Anyway, I swiftly entered the senior building, and upon turning to a corner I realized that I’ve somehow managed to shake them off. I settled down and leaned on the wall beside, resting a bit because my stamina slightly needed refill.

     My eyes unconsciously wandered among the windows lined along the opposite wall, and through one I could get a far glimpse upon the forsaken garden. I never really found it strange then that no one ever bothered visiting the school garden, probably because no one tends for it. I don’t think many were even aware of its existence.

     It started to drizzle outside. Rain was active in those months, though I’m not sure what specific month it was. I was the type who never really cared about season changes. All I know is that the rain was almost consistent throughout the month.

     I was beginning to feel content when I heard rapid footsteps together with frantic voices echoed down the hallway. They were closing in and I had to move.

     Without noticing, my feet had taken me into the garden. At the middle there’s a small shed, and upon entering the garden, I right away dashed towards it for shelter because the raindrops started to grow thick.

     The shed was about five paces in length and four in width, with a ceiling of two feet from my head. And a girl was there, standing at the other corner, her back facing me. Her head was inclined upward; she was, perhaps, watching the rain. Her hair black and short, slightly swaying at times due to the rain’s gentle breeze. Other than the hair, not a muscle stirred from her small-built body, she just stood in a natural position, silent the whole time and oblivious of my presence.

     I was a little soaked and yearned for a smoke. I explored my pockets for some, and as I couldn’t find any, a cuss escaped my lips. This drew the girl’s notice. She was already looking at me when I glanced at her again. The first thing that caught my eyes was her eyes; they were of a child’s, pure and innocent, and were staring directly at my own. After perceiving her eyes I withdrew mine all together. I tried avoiding eye contacts if possible, or at least not expose mine too much, it just made me insecure. I feared people would see weakness through my eyes.

     Trying to dismiss her attention, I sat down on the long bench which spanned both ends of the shed. But all the while I felt her staring. Then, she also sat down, right next to me, close enough as though we weren’t strangers to one another. She, however, didn’t offer a word, and neither would I. Social intercourse had never been my forte, I disliked it, as a matter of fact.

     Rain poured down, the drizzle became furious and made rattled noises over our roof. The area, I observed, was a good place for hiding. Through all the plants, and from the angle I was at, camouflage was an easy escape from my pursuers’ vision.

     The garden was a small, simple lot, roughly a hundred square meters, some trees in the corners, some flowerbeds pilled, and a clear space in the center, where stood our little rain shed. One of the school’s--or perhaps the school’s most desolate region, located within its deepest part, ‘school backyard’ as I had called it.

     Like any other garden, it was filled with a lot of green stuffs which I can’t name but can well remember visually. The only difference between the ordinary is that all cultivations had overgrown, like a hair in need of haircut. It seemed ancient and deprived. Vines dangled here and there, several roots had spurted out from their soil, and flowers, which must have been small at some point, had fully outgrown their pots. The paved pathways were filled with cracks, and through those cracks grasses had emerged. Years of unguided growth brought its ugly outcome.

     I decided to stay put for awhile, until those goons got tired of searching. For the first time I was thankful of the school’s huge domain.

     Inside the shed my company and I remained on our muted exchange, while rain continued its onslaught. Thankfully, the rain consumed all sounds, accompanying us with our silence. I couldn’t tell if she was still staring at me, I didn’t dare turn my head to check. Then, out of the blue, she greeted me with a pleasant “Hi”, and out of politeness which I never knew I had in me, I greeted her back. That simple exchange, little did I know, would be the start of a new beginning.

     From that “Hi”, a conversation started to take shape between our lips, and before long we found ourselves on friendly terms. It was so easy to talk with her, as if I had known her for a long time. No awkward pauses, no phony phrases, no anything--we just talked.

     Arrogance was like second nature to me, and so it surprised and mystified me how easily she had befriended me. At one point she said something which made me, for the first time in a long time, laugh. A real laugh, not those fake ones I’m usually inclined to give. There was an indescribable something about her that left me defenseless, that made my mouth speak out the thoughts in my mind, the truths in my heart. I felt like I could tell her anything. Weaknesses which I had throughout cautiously concealed were willing to be exposed.

      We talked without reserve; until suddenly, silence held our words and we were left alone with the rain, conscious than ever of its soothing presence. I don’t know how or when the silence had crept, but the moment seemed natural.

     Endless droplets of water still came falling down around us. Great grey clouds dominated the whole sky with smooth fashion, unmoved, and had spread all over up to what human eye could perceive. At the far off view, beyond the school border walls, city buildings looked grave amid the dull background. The air wasn’t too windy, nor was it too cold, just perfect to suit our skin. No sounds except for the raindrops which were rattling like machine guns, but in due time, had grown accustomed to my ears and were now pleasant to hear.

     Peaceful, relaxing, mesmerizing defined the moment; these three brought a certain effect upon my core. I felt my body loosen up, as if I was freed from an unknown force. A spell was cast upon me, mysterious sensations which seized me by mind and heart, body and soul. Overall, I was content.

    And so Biddy and I sat there, nothing in mind, just watching. From there on our mutual friendship began.

 

     For the later days that came, rain frequented the afternoon. At times it would visit in the morning, at rare occasions consume the whole day. I wasn’t the type who cared about the news, but from what I’d heard, a typhoon had landed somewhere along the country and was expected to stay for a long while. Thick, broad clouds hovered all day, not a speck of sunlight came cheering for the everyday life.

     Biddy and I would meet often with practically the same conditions as before--every after class, whenever it rained, in our own little secret garden--and no meetings were missed. Rain was taken as our mutual symbol.

     There were times when we would just sit and stare into space until the afternoon came to an end. This was not at all odd; it was perfectly natural, no awkwardness involved. Most of the time, however, was filled with joy and laughter, jokes and random talks.

     Well, for the most part, all the talking was done by her. She asked limitless questions, relevant to irrelevant, and I answered them with an earnest heart which I never imagined I possessed. She blabbered in a mode of frenzy, and I throughout listened in a mode of harmony. The way she uttered words with haste, with that radiant voice of hers, full of wonder and excitement, gave music to my ears. The way she used expressive faces and hand gestures, to vigorously carry her words, gave amusement to my eyes. On the whole, everything she said and did gave smile to my lips.

     Biddy was the boldest person I’d ever met--not that I had met many, but no restraints kept her from asking straight out questions of personal level. She asked them quite casually as one would ask one’s favorite color.

     But anyway, like I have said, before this girl I was willing to expose any form of weakness, therefore I ended up telling her some parts of my life. I told her of my father who worked overseas, of my mother who ran away with another man, of my dead sister whom I’d been thinking recently, of my notorious uncle whom I’ve been living with, and who, after undergoing drug rehabilitation, now worked as a bodyguard.

     At first I didn’t particularly noted her appearance, but now as we were slowly growing intimate, I took better view of it.

     She was short, about 5’2, slender with a pale complexion, and has a delicate air about her. Her curves hardly noticeable with her somewhat oversized uniform, and her breast--well… B cup, I presume. (And let me add that I’m not a pervert or anything; I’m just a very observant person, really).

     Her short hair, which extends just below her neck, has irregular cuts formed in a very chic style--a style that partially veiled the rear portion of each cheek and jaw, yet still managed to expose her little ears, popping out between hairs. Her bangs were leveled with her brows, trimmed straight like those of traditional Chinese girls.

     Her lips were slim and pinkish, and a smile was often portrayed every time she spoke. Whenever a smile took place two dimples form on both her lively cheeks. She wore no cosmetics of any kind; however, her face was as smooth as one who has.

     One part of her stood above all--her eyes, her free, wild, wandering eyes, which, at every look, seemed to exude curiosity and innocence. She may look fragile at first glance (this fooled me too) but once you’ve become better acquainted with her, and witness how enthusiastic and playful she can be, how she saw things differently, you’ll soon feel inferior against her childish mind. Neither was she pretty nor ugly, although it’s proper to categorize her on the cute side.

     Besides all her features and traits, there was an indescribable something, a powerful something, about her that drew me like magnet. For some reason, back in that shed, the moment I first saw her, I knew we would be friends. Instinct told me it was the most natural thing in the world.

 

     Days turned into weeks. I have known her for some time now, and have seen her almost everyday. Her existence alone, knowing she attended the same school as I, was enough to look forward for the next day. She was the reason why school became worth my time.

     I could no longer deny the fact that my friendship with Biddy had developed into something more. No need for assessment; my feelings were as clear as the day, to the point it can be called common sense. I was in love.

     On that afternoon, when meeting Biddy again, I told her the state of my feelings. Indirectly I conveyed my affection, choosing and using words carefully. Confident as I was for a positive answer, it was not my style to just drop the bomb, and then boom, happily ever after. No, No, I have class.

     I was quite certain the message was delivered, but her face showed neither surprise nor delight, or any kind of emotion. She didn’t say anything either and just watched the rain. Still, my confidence remained intact, determined and patient, or perhaps it was faith all along--a strong sense of faith that would soon reward me.

     In any case I also found myself under the rain’s spell, letting it take me into another world. For what seemed like ages, I drifted from thoughts to thoughts, memories to memories, until finally the spell was broken by a heavy sigh coming from Biddy. I turned towards her, and she towards me. Our eyes met. A silent communication passed between our glances. Without a word, as if gravity was pulling us together, our bodies moved for the other. We held our gaze with affection as our lips slowly drew closer. Two souls rightfully united, like two pieces of puzzle made for each other, and the rest is history, had forever changed my life for the better.