it was a rainy day 

 

 

 

and katarina always liked the rain

 

 

 

why?

 

 

 

because thats the only time that can let out her feelings without anyone seeing her

 

 

 

katarina is not one of those kids na may perfect rich family

 

 

 

well, her parents are rich

 

 

 

but they never really cared for her

 

 

 

infact they were dissapointed 

 

 

 

she was a 'mistake' they said

 

 

 

that's what she is 

 

 

 

you can say na childhood is not for everyone

 

 

 

because she never had one

 

 

 

she lived her life hiding from other people

 

 

 

you'd probably see her at night by the window 

 

 

 

at iisipin mong multo lang siya

 

 

 

kung makakalabas man siya ng bahay nila

 

 

 

sa hospital lang din naman siya napupunta

 

 

 

she's sick

 

 

 

congestive heart failure to be exact

 

 

 

all she wanted was to survive from her sickness

 

 

 

but her parents doesn't let her get treated properly

 

 

 

bakit siya napupunta sa hospital?

 

 

 

ayaw daw kasi ng parents niya na lumabas bilang 'killer' ng anak nila

 

 

 

what's the point?

 

 

 

wala rin naman nakakakilala sakanya

 

 

 

pinapahirapan lang nila si katarina

 

 

 

kahit na ganon 

 

 

 

sinusubukan parin niyang mabuhay

 

 

 

for her sister, tiffany

 

 

 

her ate did almost everything for her

 

 

 

her ate even became a cardiologist for her

 

 

 

but they can only meet at the hospital

 

 

 

tiffany left them so she can pursue medicine

 

 

 

they hated their parents to the bone

 

 

 

basically she's just waiting for katarina to be legal

 

 

 

so she can take her sister away from their parents

 

 

 

 

"i will make the pain go away kat, ate will do anything for you" tiffany would always say that whenever they meet

 

 

 

and she believed her 

 

 

 

 

always.

 

 

----------------------------

 

 

 

 

 

katarina  

 

 

 

"kim minjeong!! bumalik ka dito!"

 

 

 

napatingin ako sa gawi ng sumigaw 

 

 

 

doctor taetae

 

 

 

she's one of ate's friend

 

 

 

they seem pretty close

 

 

 

so i just assume na friends sila

 

 

 

we never really talk

 

 

 

but ate would always tell me things about her

 

 

 

they live together too

 

 

 

so i think their friends

 

 

 

i never really had a friend before

 

 

 

except for aeri

 

 

 

but she died

 

 

 

that still counts, right?

 

 

 

"kim minjeong!!!" she screamed, again

 

 

 

"mabilis lang ako doc taeng" sigaw naman ng batang habol habol niya

 

 

 

"pag ikaw nilagnat"

 

 

 

"hindi yan"

 

 

 

"ang kulet mo" naiinis na sabi ng doctor

 

 

 

"mana sayo" pang aasar naman ni minjeong

 

 

 

"hindi kita kilala"

 

 

 

"edi iwan mo ako dito"

 

 

 

"tara na kasi"

 

 

 

"10 minutes lang promise" pag pupumilit niya

 

 

 

mukha naman namang gumana eto

 

 

 

dahil napa payag niya ang doctor

 

 

 

"bumalik ka agad ha"

 

 

 

"yess boss"

 

 

 

"mag ingat ka"

 

 

 

thats sweet

 

 

 

"ang oa"

 

 

 

but i kinda agree tho

 

 

 

"umayos ka"

 

 

 

"mag iingat na po ako doc"

 

 

 

"kung hahanapin mo ako andun lang ako sa room ni fany"

 

 

 

ate fany?

 

 

 

should i go with her?

 

 

 

"kiss mo muna"

 

 

 

maybe not

 

 

 

"napaka ano mo talaga"

 

 

 

"alis na"

 

 

 

"tsk" with that doc tae left her alone

 

 

 

getting wet by the rain

 

 

 

 

is she okay?

 

 

 

 

 

its kinda cold

 

 

 

 

she's not even moving

 

 

 

 

she's just looking at the sky

 

 

 

smiling weirdly

 

 

 

baliw ba siya?

 

 

 

i instantly looked up when she looked at my direction

 

 

 

 

"psst"

 

 

 

 

i knew that we had an eye contact

 

 

 

yet i ignored her

 

 

 

i hate talking to people

 

 

 

"psst"

 

 

 

they would always make you think of things

 

 

 

i heard her running wet foot steps nearing me

 

 

 

oh no

 

 

 

"hey im talking to you"

 

 

 

ill just scare her

 

 

 

i slowly looked at her

 

 

 

she looked shocked seeing me

 

 

 

i haven't done anything yet

 

 

 

"hello"

 

 

 

"me?"

 

 

 

"yeah"

 

 

 

"you can see me?"

 

 

 

"yes?"

 

 

 

"but im a ghost"

 

 

 

"really?"

 

 

 

"yes"

 

 

 

"thats awesome"

 

 

 

what the

 

 

 

"what?"

 

 

 

"i like ghosts you should meet my dead friends"

 

 

 

 

dead friends?

 

 

 

 

"i was j-just joking"

 

 

 

"i know dont worry"

 

 

 

"oh it was a joke?"

 

 

 

"no i do have a ghost friends"

 

 

 

"i think i should go" i quickly said standing up

 

 

 

 

trying to reach for my umbrella beside me

 

 

 

 

"im joking" she said

 

 

 

holding on my hospital gown

 

 

 

"you're weird"

 

 

 

"i feel normal"

 

 

 

"still weird" i said at umupo na ulit

 

 

 

at siya naman nakatayo parin

 

 

 

 

at bumalik ang tingin sa langit

 

 

 

 

natahimik lang kami

 

 

 

"do you wanna dance" biglaan niyang sabi 

 

 

 

 

ang random naman

 

 

 

"no"

 

 

 

"but its fun"

 

 

 

"you're wet, you'll get sick"

 

 

 

"i love the rain i feel calm and i wont get sick strong kaya ako"

 

 

 

"pero nasa hospital ka"

 

 

 

"im visiting my sister"

 

 

 

"is doctor taetae your sister?"

 

 

 

"yep"

 

 

 

i see

 

 

 

"can we dance now?"

 

 

 

 

"im sick my sister will get mad"

 

 

 

"dont worry ill protect you from your sister"

 

 

 

"ate wont hurt me"

 

 

 

"then lets dance"

 

 

 

"i dont know how to"

 

 

 

"ill teach you"

 

 

 

"i dont-" bago ko pa matapos ang sasabihin ko

 

 

 

 

ay agad niya naman ako hinila sa pag kakaupo

 

 

 

"you talk to much lets gooo" 

 

 

 

 

i tried reaching for my umbrella

 

 

 

para hindi sana ako mabasa

 

 

 

 

pero direderetsyo lang siya sa paghila saakin

 

 

 

 

hanggang dalawa na kaming nababasa ng ulan

 

 

 

"hey it cold" sabi ko at sinubukan kumawala sa pag kakahawak niya

 

 

 

"you'll get used to it"

 

 

 

"its too cold for me"

 

 

 

 

i was shivering,, hard

 

 

 

mukha namang napansin niya

 

 

 

 

"that bad?"

 

 

 

 

"yeah" sagot ko and

 

 

 

 

she quickly pulled me closer to her

 

 

 

 

wrapping her arms around my body

 

 

 

"does it help?"

 

 

 

she's warm

 

 

 

"it helps"

 

 

 

 

she thightens her hold on me

 

 

 

 

we stayed like that for a few minutes

 

 

 

 

then she started swaying our body

 

 

 

 

sinabayan ko lang naman siya

 

 

 

 

"not done yet?"

 

 

 

 

"were just starting"

 

 

 

"but its cold"

 

 

 

"do you want to stop?"

 

 

 

do i want to stop?

 

 

 

yes? cause its cold

 

 

 

no? cause its my first time dancing with someone

 

 

 

so should we stop?

 

 

 

i dont want to stop

 

 

 

"don't mind me"

 

 

 

"you only live once"

 

 

 

"you never know"

 

 

 

"then live your life to the fullest"

 

 

 

"i wont die"

 

 

 

"we all die" she deadpanned

 

 

 

"why are you so negative"

 

 

 

"shh were dancing"

 

 

 

"im getting tired"

 

 

 

"you're still young"

 

 

 

"im sick"

 

 

 

"right"

 

 

 

"are you pitying me?" pabiro kong tanong

 

 

 

"no" sagot niya

 

 

 

 

i didnt expect that

 

 

 

 

"why?"

 

 

 

 

"why not"

 

 

 

 

"nothing"

 

 

 

 

"ano nga pala sakit mo?"

 

 

 

 

"i feel numb" 

 

 

 

 

i felt my legs getting numb

 

 

 

 

dahil ba sa lamig to?

 

 

 

 

"huh anong sakit yon" takang tanong niya

 

 

 

 

i dont feel so well right now

 

 

 

 

"hey what's wrong"

 

 

 

 

next thing I know nasa basang sahig na ako

 

 

 

 

holding onto her

 

 

 

 

"l-lace" i said

 

 

 

 

"lace?" napalibot ang tingin niya sa katawan ko

 

 

 

 

at inabot ang lace sa leeg ko

 

 

 

 

"push the button for 'emergency call' CHF patient" pagbasa niya

 

 

 

 

"heart failure? are you having an attack?" panic niyang tanong

 

 

 

 

i dont think na im having an attack

 

 

 

i just feel different

 

 

 

"malamang minjeong, anong klasing tanong yan" 

 

 

 

i can feel her picking me up

 

 

 

 

at nag lakad papunta sa silong kung saan kami naka upo kanina

 

 

 

she sat us properly while resting my body on her front

 

 

 

stil holding me thightly

 

 

 

 

"anong gagawin ko" sabi niya habang paulit ulit na pinipindot ang button sa lace ko

 

 

 

 

then i closed my eyes

 

 

 

 

"malapit na sila onting tiis nalang" sabi niya na nanginginig ang boses

 

 

 

 

im exhausted

 

 

 

 

"please stay with me" she whispered as she held my face

 

 

 

 

i can hear loud footsteps nearing us

 

 

 

 

"what did you do" i opened my eyes after i hearing a cold voice

 

 

 

 

ate tiffany

 

 

 

"kat ate's here na" she said holding my hands

 

 

 

ate, you came.

 

 

 

------------------------

 

 

 

"d-doc fany sorry" minjeong said holding onto tiffany's arms

 

 

 

 

napatingin sakanya saglit si tiffany

 

 

 

 

"let go" she said coldly

 

 

 

 

at tinanggal ang hawak ni minjeong sakanya

 

 

 

 

"minjeong come here" tinawag naman siya ni taeyeon na nasa likod lang ng isang doctor

 

 

 

 

agad naman siyang lumapit dito

 

 

 

 

"ate b-bigla nalang siya tumumba" sabi niya habang umiiyak

 

 

 

 

"magiging okay din ang lahat" sabi naman neto at yumakap sa kapatid niya

 

 

 

 

"i cant lose her" mahinang sabi neto

 

 

 

 

kaya agad naman napatingin sakanila ang isa pang doctor na umaasikaso sa kapatid niya

 

 

 

 

"you wont" taeyeon said 

 

 

 

 

"pakidala na siya sa room niya"  tiffany said 

 

 

 

 

at nagmadali na ang ibang nurse sa pag dala kay katarina sa loob ng hospital

 

 

 

 

at naiwan ang tatlo sa labas na nababasa sa ulan

 

 

 

--------------------

 

 

 

 

 

katarina

 

 

 

 

"ate" the first thing i said after waking up

 

 

 

"kat you're awake" she greeted me, smiling

 

 

 

"hi"

 

 

 

"hey baby" caressing my hair

 

 

 

"what happened" i asked

 

 

 

"you fainted yesterday"

 

 

 

yesterday?

 

 

 

matagal ba ako nakatulog?

 

 

 

what happened to her

 

 

 

"where is she?"

 

 

 

"who"

 

 

 

"yung kasama ko kahapon"

 

 

 

"you mean minjeong?"

 

 

 

right, minjeong

 

 

 

"yeah her"

 

 

 

"anong ginawa niyo kahapon"

 

 

 

"nothing"

 

 

 

"tell me"

 

 

 

"we just talked"

 

 

 

"in the rain?"

 

 

 

"maybe"

 

 

 

"why?"

 

 

 

"why not"

 

 

 

"you never do that baby"

 

 

 

"hindi ba ako pwedeng mag enjoy?" napalakas kong sabi

 

 

 

"i didnt mean it like that and you know it"

 

 

 

"im sorry"

 

 

 

"its fine, care to tell me what really happened?"

 

 

 

"its nothing"

 

 

 

its embarrassing

 

 

 

"i wanna know"

 

 

 

"i was just sitting out like usual"

 

 

 

"you cried again?"

 

 

 

she knew?

 

 

 

"no i just watched"

 

 

 

"okay.. and?"

 

 

 

"then i saw her, minjeong"

 

 

 

"hmm"

 

 

 

"she was running away from your friend"

 

 

 

"taeyeon?"

 

 

 

"yeah"

 

 

 

"she's doing it again"

 

 

 

do they know eachother?

 

 

 

"is she always here?"

 

 

 

"not really but she visits her ate sometimes"

 

 

 

"i see"

 

 

 

"how did you ended up getting wet"

 

 

 

"she asked me to dance with her, more like forced me"

 

 

 

"you never let anyone talk to you"

 

 

 

"i don't want to be rude shes your friends sister"

 

 

 

lies..

 

 

 

she intimidate me

 

 

 

yet i still want to talk to her

 

 

 

shes something

 

 

 

 

"thats sweet"

 

 

 

"i try"

 

 

 

"how do you feel"

 

 

 

"not bad"

 

 

 

"did it hurt?"

 

 

 

"not really i just feel numb and she was holding me"

 

 

 

"yeah i saw"

 

 

 

"ate she held me" no one held me like that before

 

 

 

 

not even ate

 

 

 

 

"do you like her?

 

 

 

i enjoyed her company

 

 

 

she was nice too

 

 

 

very different

 

 

 

yet she still made me feel at ease

 

 

 

yeah i like her

 

 

 

"i do"

 

 

 

"hmm"

 

 

 

"is she here?"

 

 

 

"i don't think so.. why?"

 

 

 

"can i see her?"

 

 

 

"i have to ask taetae muna" she said standing up 

 

 

 

before she even touched her phone

 

 

 

we heared someone talked by the door

 

 

 

"ask me what?" she asked

 

 

 

doc taetae

 

 

 

"speaking of"

 

 

 

"hey rina" she looked at me, smiling

 

 

 

"hi" i answered

 

 

 

were not that close... yet

 

 

 

"hey baby i bought foods" she said to ate

 

 

 

she gave her a peck on her cheeks

 

 

 

baby?

 

 

 

very close friend nga..

 

 

 

"hey" ate replied at tumulong na sa bitbitin ni doc tae

 

 

 

"so.. ask me what?"

 

 

 

"where's your sister" tanong ni ate

 

 

 

habang hinahanda na ang mga pagkain sa lamesa

 

 

 

"minjeong? what about her"

 

 

 

"she's looking for her" sabi niya sabay turo sakin

 

 

 

"did she do something bad to you?"  nag aalalang tanong niya 

 

 

 

"no?"

 

 

 

"mj forced her to dance in the rain" she said bluntly

 

 

 

nag panic naman ako

 

 

 

"ate she didn't force me" malakas kong sabi kay ate

 

 

 

"thats what you told me minutes ago kat" she lightly shrugs

 

 

 

why is she like this

 

 

 

"that kid" she said shaking her head

 

 

 

"its okay i liked it"

 

 

 

"you hate dancing"

 

 

 

ate naman

 

 

 

"i love it"

 

 

 

"whatever"

 

 

 

"stop bickering and eat" sabi naman ni doc tae 

 

 

 

at linagay na sa table ko ang pagkain ko

 

 

 

ate pasalamat ka, im mabait.

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------

 

 

weeks later~

 

 

 

minjeong

 

 

 

"what now" tanong niya agad pagkaupo ko sa harap niya

 

 

 

 

"doc taengggg di mo na ba ako love?"

 

 

 

 

"ano nanaman ginawa mo"

 

 

 

 

"alam mo ate ang lamig talaga ng ambulance niyo mas malamig pa sa aircon ng bahay natin"

 

 

 

 

"minjeong"

 

 

 

 

"seryoso nga ate tanong mo pa si ate sa paramedic"

 

 

 

 

bigla naman niya pinisil ang kamay ko

 

 

 

"aray aray aray"

 

 

 

"sasagot ka na ng maayos?"

 

 

 

 

"aayos na nga eh"

 

 

 

 

"oh ano nangyari"

 

 

 

 

"ipapakulong kita nananakit ka ng pasyente"

 

 

 

 

"kung tusukin kaya kita ng bisturi"

 

 

 

 

bitsuri

 

 

 

stick ba yon?

 

 

 

"ano yon"

 

 

 

 

"its scalpel mj" biglang bungad ni ate fany

 

 

 

 

nandito pala siya

 

 

 

 

bat nasa ilalim siya ng lamesa

 

 

 

 

"doc fanyyy sinasaktan ako ni ate"

 

 

 

 

"you want me to assist you?"

 

 

 

"opo" agad na sagot ko

 

 

 

 

agad naman pinaurong ni doc fany si ate 

 

 

 

"kapal ng mukha" sabi niya sakin

 

 

 

"syempre may balat"

 

 

 

natawa naman si ate fany

 

 

 

ang funny ko talaga

 

 

 

"what if balatan kita"

 

 

 

"doc oh child abuse"

 

 

 

"anong child? sixteen ka na noh maliit ka lang talaga"

 

 

 

"nahiya naman ako sayo doctor duwende"

 

 

 

"ah ganon" inis na sabi ni ate 

 

 

 

 

tumayo na siya para lapitan sana ako

 

 

 

 

napatakbo naman ako sa likod ni doc fany

 

 

 

 

"taetae sit" agad naman to sinunod ni ate

 

 

 

"buti nga"

 

 

 

"you too mj"

 

 

 

"hmp" bumalik na din ako sa pwesto ko

 

 

 

"let me finish up"

 

 

 

"doc" sabi nung nurse na pumasok sa room

 

 

 

"whats up"

 

 

 

napatingin naman ako sa taas

 

 

 

"ceiling" pabulong na sabi ko

 

 

 

nakatanggap naman ako ng sipa sa paa galing kay ate

 

 

 

 

hahahaha narinig niya ata

 

 

 

 

totoo naman eh

 

 

 

"eto na po results nung x-ray"

 

 

 

 

"thanks you can go na.. mag lunch na kayo" sabi niya

 

 

 

 

tumango tango naman yung nurse at lumabas na ng office ni ate

 

 

 

 

"lets see"

 

 

 

 

"puputulan ka na ng kamay"

 

 

 

 

"nice joke thank you next"

 

 

 

 

"its possible"

 

 

 

 

"luh"

 

 

 

 

"sabi sayo eh"

 

 

 

 

"pero we can prevent that naman"

 

 

 

 

"ano gagawin doc"

 

 

 

 

bago pa siya makasagot

 

 

 

inunahan na naman siya ni ate

 

 

 

 

"sesementohin ka na"

 

 

 

 

"taeyeon can you shut up" naiiritang sabi ni doc fany

 

 

 

 

"sabi ko nga"

 

 

 

 

"ehem under ehem" sabi ko habang nag kukunwaring naubo

 

 

 

 

"control everything is under" sabi naman ni ate

 

 

 

 

HAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHA

 

 

 

 

"the right is correct"

 

 

 

 

natawa naman kami ni ate 

 

 

 

aapir na sana ako pero nakalimutan kong masakit nga pala yong kamay ko

 

 

 

"aray"

 

 

 

"yan tanga"

 

 

 

 

"listen here minjeong im serious"

 

 

 

 

"opo"

 

 

 

 

"you broke your arm so we have to cast you"

 

 

 

 

"masakit ba yun?"

 

 

 

 

"you broke your leg before diba? you tell me"

 

 

 

 

"hindi naman"

 

 

 

 

"boplogs" hirit nanaman ni ate

 

 

 

 

"one more word from you taeyeon papalabasin na talaga kita"

 

 

 

 

"office ko to" mahinang sabi ni ate

 

 

 

 

"may sinasabi ka?" tanong niya

 

 

 

agad naman napailing si ate 

 

 

 

hahahahahaha weak

 

 

 

bumalik naman ang tingin ko kay doc fany

 

 

 

at mukhang seryoso nga siya

 

 

 

kaya agad ako nag pigil ng tawa

 

 

 

nakakatakot nga

 

 

 

nanahimik na kami habang si doc fany inaasikaso na yung cast