Catching the Midsummer Rain: A Short Story

I planned to go home early today. No staying a little later than I was expected to. These past few days, I've been staying later than 6:00 PM, our dismissal time, in our office. This is my third week being an intern. I am agitated to get it over with. This afternoon, I eyed for things to be done at once so I can leave the time I should.

My boss came back from outside the office. "It's raining outside. Will you guys be okay?" It was 5:31 PM. Will you be okay? Is that even a question? I need to go home at this hour, I thought a while ago.

I was polishing my work. I should be over with these. It's raining outside, and even if I'm within the walls of the company, I felt like I can feel the chills from the rain seeping through. I shouldn't miss the midsummer rain, I thought. People thought I was hurrying to get home because I was trying to avoid traffic or heavy rains. No. I was trying to catch something. I was trying to catch the rain. I was excited to witness the heavy drops pour from the skies.

I was done packing up by 5:42 PM. I became conscious of myself. I don't think it looks good to go home earlier but, I needed to go out.

Then I bid goodbye by 5:48 PM

I opened the glass doors, and went out smiling to and with myself. The rain was pouring heavily. It was lavishly showering the thirsty green creatures that have been getting too much attention from the sun lately. 

I love rains. I love the drowsy feeling it has. It is a remarkable season for joy, sorrow, fear, passion, art and anything else around the hem. I love how it makes me wanna be happy and sad at the same time. I love how beautiful it feels when it's raining and you're sleeping or reading or writing.

I walked along the bricked and tiled floors of the outdoor halls, smiling and excited while fumbling for my umbrella. Had I not been tired I would have given myself in to that pouring rain! But I was still sane to manage to shield myself from the furious raindrops. I put my headphones on and played indie folk music. It was a dreamy, blurry walk. I walked along UP Technohub's center, where the fountains are found. The fountain was off that time. The rain water is increasing, its height reached the ankles of my sneakers. I was so happy, I felt like I could dance under the pouring skies. 

I rode the FX to Lacson Street. I was satisfied. It was cold. I was listening to good music. And I opened my Kindle reader, and clicked to where I was reading. That journey could go on forever. I sometimes look up to catch glimpses of the rain outside. The droplets make the van's window look cracked. This really could go on forever. 

The rain eventually stopped. 

It was a beautiful few minutes of my life. 

It just rained. But no, it will not rain  just yet. 

The rain is back. The seasons are changing. Again.

I can't wait to start another season of my life again.

Lizzy and I

(via)

Pride and Prejudice was written ages ago (200 years ago this year), but it is not surprising to see a lot of Lizzy Bennets still walking around-- waiting for their Darcys. Well, the sad thing is the number of Darcys cannot compensate for the number of Lizzys waiting. This just breaks my heart. Are all the girls blessed to meet their own Mr. Darcy? Or did our beloved Miss Austen just wrote Pride and Prejudice to console us that "if in reality it won't happen, then, let's just at least make it possible in our heads"? Ha. I love Jane Austen, but... this is truly heartbreaking.

Other people would say, "Oh, I love Lizzy Bennet! I would model myself after her." This makes me giggle. Who would want to be Lizzy if they aren't assured they'll ever meet Mr. Darcy? Well, for me, the case is different, I say: Oh my, I am so like Elizabeth Bennet.

Elizabeth Bennet
-loves reading books
-loves horror and gory novels
-speaks her mind without thinking twice/straightforward
-full of prejudice
-had no boyfriend since birth (until flirtation with Wickham, I guess or until Darcy)
-pretty but not a perfect beauty (but her personality is what makes people love her)
-has fine eyes
-loves running and walking
-of the lower class
-quick-witted
-romantic
-her body shape is not in perfect symmetry
-not as ladylike as Jane and not as flirty as Lydia
-waiting for Mr. Right (I'd characterize Liz as this, with her ideals on marriage and love life. Well, this is among her downfalls though, at least for her mother. Apparently, she won't marry the one she doesn't love)

(via)

Me

-loves reading books
-loves horror and gory novels  (limited to dark reads)
-speaks mind without thinking twice
-full of prejudice!!!
-has no boyfriend since birth
-not-so-pretty (mehehehe)
-has expressive eyes (they say)
-runs anywhere (uncontrollable)
-average social class (or lower than average)
-quick-witted (foolish on most occassions)
-eeeerrromantic
-ha! uhm, chubby
-not ladylike, but wise enough to preserve self-control (#1 reason I bet on why I'm still single)
-waiting for Mr. Right (who is he? how is he like? for this matter, I'll call him the God-given man)

Errrr, I'm actually finding this little game of mine ridiculous. Why should I compare myself to Lizzy, in the first place? Huuuh, just can't stop myself. Of course, I'd want myself to be almost the same as my favorite heroine, but, I don't wanna go on imitating her or pretending to be like her, it just so happened I got some qualities of hers, and I know almost all the girls 'round the world have some of her qualities, too.

(via)

Apparently, I am looking for a Mr. D!!!

The guy (Mr. Darcy-the-likes):
-a guy who would ask me for a dance (because he likes me and not because he just wants to play or flirt around)
-someone who'd write me a letter instead of sending foolish text msgs
-that guy who'd wait for the right timing, long enough for him to understand that his feelings are genuine so I won't be hurt
-smart enough
-secretly observes me from a distance (ha! but not in a creepy manner)
-loving and sincere

(I wouldn't really vote for the physical appearances of a guy, or the material stuff he has [though this is something that should be well-considered, just saying it is negotiable hehe], I would love a guy who could love me with all he is, and a guy whom I could love back-- of course, the feelings must be mutual!)

(via)

So, I did it again! :( another dramatic/romantic post
the ever classic romantic me, S.

The Same Stuff As Stars

The first novel I've read this year:

This was the first book Yna, my college bestie, gave me on my 18th bday (just last Oct). First because she gave me two, one was on the exact date of my bday and the other on the celeb. Anyways, I find this book really cool.

Ever since before, I have a knack on the concept of "stars". I just find it so amazing, being so far away and still being there before our very eyes. Haha. Well, I loved this book because of the innocence, dreaminess, and (touch of) realism on it. It is about a little girl who has a nasty little brother (but really is a good boy within) and a mom who isn't responsible enough to take care of them. Their mom left them under the care of their great-granma since she couldn't take care of them and their dad is behind the bars.

The character, Angel, was only 11 and she had to stand up and be the grown-up. I actually felt guilty, while reading this book, because I know that though this is fiction well-written by Katherine Paterson, there are children who really experience these turns in their lives, while I am slouching in front of my laptop, doing nothing really worthy.

Oh well, the magic of the novel is the comfort and the hope Angel finds in the stars, and meeting people who encourages her on learning about stars. :)

What I've noticed with Paterson's writing is that it always has a deep stab on family matters, and on old people. Well, that's what I noticed with the two books by her I read. Can't really judge just w/ those two, right? 

I find this book really sweet and simple. A very humble book, yet page-turning, I started this last night and finished it just as I reopened it earlier this night, so this is a really easy read. :) 

These are some quotes from the book:

"...people can't always keep their promises. Even when they want to."

"Yeah, we're small, but we aren't nothing."

"The same elements, the same materials that make those stars up there is what makes you. You're made from star stuff."