It's Raining

It seems that Zannie will not be put to sleep by the loud giggles of her peers because of their conversation outside the barracks. She knew right away that the female volunteers were just happy because Howard was there. She covered her ears with a pillow but the voices of the people outside could still be heard.

“They're so shallow for relying their mood on a handsome man that they're talking to,” she bemoaned and switched her position while still laying down on the bed.

A few minutes later, she overheard another word from her colleague outside. 

“We really can't imagine a handsome man like you, going to this place and volunteering. Tell me more about you.”

She hissed upon hearing that.

Alodia said that to Howad, one of the younger volunteers who always had a crush on handsome rescuers and soldiers in Trias. Then, she seemed to have an urge to listen to their conversation. After all, she couldn't sleep because of their noises. She guided herself to the wall to better hear the conversation outside.

“I'm just a commoner. I had a stable job then but I was always pressured.”

He heard Howard say that she would never agree. 

‘Commoner? He is the CEO of one of the largest companies in the Philippines. Is he trying to start redeeming himself by being low-key? That's not a proper way to redeem himself though.’

"Wow, at least you're still doing fine. You got to come here because you were pressured. While others are left with no one on their side and ended up commiting suicide."

Everyone went silent at what Lucille said.

“That's the saddest part of life. But if someone you know is having a hard time, don't hesitate to talk to them,” Howard responded with all his sincerity, which only made Zannie shocked and unconvinced.

‘He's talking like that as if he never used his power to make his employees’ mental state collapse,” Zannie remarked softly as she was still trying to hear the entire conversation. 

“What's your job in Manila? If you look at it, it looks like your job is good and decent. Or you naturally came from a well-off family,” Maita asked. 

Howie snorted. “I'm just an ordinary office employee.”

"Really? I really didn't peg you like that. I really thought you were an actor or a model," Maita added, which made the crowd laugh.

“Everyone really presumed that I'm a celebrity. But I'm really not,” Howard retorted.

“It's because you have a handsome face and you're fit to become a model,” Alodia replied.

“Anyway, let's switch the topic. How about you? Why are you here? I just thought, what is your purpose in getting here? In my perspective, I just thought I would do something different if I did social work. That's why I'm here,” Howard asked them out of his curiosity.

Joel's smile widened. "We want to help, even without nothing in return."

“As for me, I want to learn what my dad said. He used to be a soldier, he wanted me to understand his job. It's not easy. Imagine, they risked their lives to defend the country. I didn't think of that then. I do what I want without thinking about his suffering. He died in the war and when I found out—I cried for a week and locked myself in the room. And I'm even sadder and my heart is still full of resentment. Because we didn't even get along while he's still alive. He died seeking my attention. Here's what I want to say to my dad; ‘I want to imprint it on my mind and heart for the rest of my life. I'm full of remorse now. I regretted being stubborn and being your ungrateful son. So every year, I volunteer. Be it a war, a hurricane or whatever. I will do it to honor you, dad.’” The young man named Cole sobbed. He pinched everyone’s heart with his story.

Lucille came over and tapped him on the shoulder. "Don't cry anymore Cole. He has forgiven you for sure, and he was still guiding you from up above."

"Of course. We should just be happy here," Joel replied. The sad atmosphere then changed the surroundings. It looks like Howard's questioning hasn't improved yet but on the other hand, he still realizes something. His father made a right decision to deploy him at this place. That way, he also realized that he had to change himself. It's time to discover new things and to explore the real meaning of life. He smiled, unbeknownst to them while averting his gaze to the bonfire.

Meanwhile, Zannie also got affected with Cole's words to his late father. She can't help not to feel moved or touched whenever the story is all about parents. For sure, Cole's father raised him well and he was loved. While Zannie, her father wasn't on her side when she's growing up because he prioritized career before taking care of her. She tried to forget that past but it seems like it's already engraved in her heart.

“I should have slept instead of hearing other people's conversation without their knowledge. I'll try not to stick my nose on someone's business,” she sighed and covered herself with a blanket.

Later on, she heard a loud raindrops on the roof and she peeked again at the window. Everyone was finding spots where they could wait for the rain to stop. Then, she found Howard with no one on his side. He's the one left alone as Alodia was still yelling at him to come to the spot that she found.

“Sir Howard! Over here!”

Zannie closed her window and laughed a bit. “Alodia looked really obvious when she's crushing on someone. She has to change that attitude.”

She let out a heavy breath once more. “Does Jacob already notice that I have a crush on him? Do I really act like Alodia? Nevermind. I should have ignored them. Nevermind. This is totally nonsense. God, forgive me for I have sinned.”