Her Dream

*Theia's POV*

"Hi, baby."

"Mommy." Napangiti ako. "Kamusta na po kayo dyan?"

"Maraming iniisip, baby. We needed to extend kasi nagkaroon ng problema yung plano." Sagot niya. "Kumain ka na ba?"

"Tapos na po. Kamusta naman po si Daddy?"

"He's sleeping already." She said. "Sasabihin ko nalang na tumawag ka paggising niya."

"Kailan po kayo uuwi?"

"We'll try to be home by tomorrow." Sabi niya. "Aalis tayo pag-uwi namin para makapag-bonding naman tayo."

"Really??"

"Of course, baby. Sinabihan ko narin si Alec para makapag-leave siya." She answered. "What about you? Hanggang kailan kayo dyan?"

"Uuwi narin po kami bukas."

"That's good. Kamusta naman yung outing niyo?"

"Okay naman po." Sagot ko. "M-masaya."

Masaya nga ba?

Natututo na ko magsinungaling pati sa mga magulang ko.

I know it's wrong pero ayaw kong mag-alala sila.

"I'm happy as long as you are, Theia."

Naiiyak ako sa sinabi niya.

I want that same happiness too, Mommy..

"Is there something wrong, baby?" Tanong niya. "You're voice seemed different today."

"Miss ko lang po kayo ni Daddy.."

"I'm really sorry, baby. I didn't know ganito kami katagal mawawala sa tabi mo."

"It's okay, Mommy. Makikita ko naman po kayo bukas."

"Do you want anything?"

"Wala naman po." I said. "Umuwi lang kayo, sobra sobra na po yun."

"My sweet, Theia.."

I need her hug.

"It's late, Mommy." Sabi ko habang nakatingin sa langit. "You need to sleep na."

"Ikaw din, wag magpuyat okay?" Sabi niya. "Good night, baby."

"Good night, Mommy."

I put down my phone and continued playing with the water.

It's almost 10 pero wala pa siya.

Natanggap niya naman siguro yung text ko diba?

Paano kung ayaw niya ko makita?

I stared at the pouch beside me.

Balak ko pa naman ibalik yung nakuha sa kanya ni Charm.

I don't think she will be able to return this kaya ako nalang sana.

It happened so fast.

The next thing I know, nasa tubig na ko.

I couldn't breathe.

I tried to reach out but I was already drowning.

Am I going to die this way?

***

Pagmulat ko, nasa ibang lugar ako.

I'm in front of the mirror--

Why am I wearing this?

It's the dress Nate gave me.

Why am I here?

Nasa Tagaytay kami dapat ngayon.

Hinihintay ko lang si Ivy diba?

Pero yung itsura ko, it was the same as that day..

I took my phone on the table and looked at the date.

March 11.

My eyes widened.

Impossible.

It's the day of our monthsary.

Paano??

Sigurado akong nangyari lahat ng yun.

*ding dong*

Nate.

That's supposed to be him.

Kung si Ate yung makita ko, ibig sabihin panaginip lang 'to.

"Nate?"

A guy wearing a black suit was standing by the door. Paglingon niya, ngumiti siya agad sa'kin. Hindi ko napigilang yakapin siya.

"Mio."

I was crying.

It wasn't Ate. It's him.

Nandito talaga siya.

"Theia??" He let go of me and held my face. "Why are you crying??"

"N-nothing.."

Niyakap niya ko ulit.

"Am I that late?" Tanong niya. "Sorry. Ginawa ko naman lahat para makabalik agad sa'yo.."

"N-nope." I said. "You're just in time, b-baby.."

I've waited for you.

"I'm sorry, baby."

Ako naman yung bumitaw sa kanya.

He wiped my tears away.

He's here, holding me.

Ngumiti siya. "Tara?"

I nodded while smiling.

"Parang malamig yata yung kamay mo, mio." Sabi niya. "Are you sick?"

He held my hand while driving.

I couldn't let go. Natatakot ako na baka panaginip lang lahat ng 'to.

"Of course not."

I was too happy to feel sick.

"Bakit ka umiiyak kanina?" He asked. "Nag-away ba kayo ni Kuya? Inasar ka ba niya?"

I giggled. "No."

Nate knows everything.

"Kung hindi si Kuya, bakit ka umiiyak??"

"You."

"Me??"

Tumango ako. "I dreamt about you. Naaksidente ka daw at nakalimutan ako."

"Ako? Makakalimutan ka?" Tumingin siya sa'kin saglit. "That's impossible."

The dream felt too real.

"Mio."

I looked at him. "Hm?"

"If that made you cry, then it wasn't true." Sabi niya. "It's just another nightmare, okay?"

I nodded.

The last thing I remembered was drowning pero hindi naman masakit yung lalamunan ko.

Panaginip lang ba talaga?

"Are you nervous?"

"Medyo."

"Don't worry, baby." Sabi niya. "I think it's normal. Ganyan rin kasi yung nararamdaman ko."

"Nervous and excited."

We attended certain events na kailangan namin mag-ayos but this was different.

There was no event.

It's our date.

"You look gorgeous by the way." He suddenly kissed the hand he was holding. "You always do but today, you're exceptionally beautiful."

I blushed. "Thank you.."

"What about me, mio? Anong masasabi mo?"

"Hm.."

I looked at him from head to toe.

"Ang ganda mo rin dyan, baby."

He frowned. "Maganda?"

"Bakit?" I asked. "Si Mommy lang kaya yung sinasabihan ko nun. Not even Charm."

"Okay."

Tumahimik bigla yung loob ng kotse.

It was supposed to be a joke.

"Are you mad?"

"Not really." Sagot niya. "I don't want to."

"Why?"

"Because it's our day, Theia." He smiled at me. "I don't want to ruin this."

Agad ko namang hinalikan yung kamay niya.

"Sorry if I offended you." I said. "Hindi ko na kasi kailangang sabihin na gwapo ka. You always looked handsome to me ever since the day we met, mio."

Hindi siya sumagot kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

He was grinning. Ang laki ng ngiti niya.

"Ever since the day we met?"

I bit my lip and slowly nodded.

Hindi ko pa nga pala nasasabi sa kanya yun.

"So ang gwapo ko na noon pa?"

Tumango ulit ako.

"I can't hear you, mio."

"Oo na. Gwapo ka na."

I shouldn't have said it. Tuwang tuwa tuloy siya.

&÷&@^@€!*!

O______O

He kissed me.

On the lips.

Sobrang bilis nung pangyayari.

Bigla niyang niluwagan yung seatbelt niya, kissed me and drove again.

Red light nga pala kanina.

"Be thankful that I'm driving." He said. "Your lips are hard to resist, mio."

Namula tuloy ako lalo.

"Kainis."

When I heard him laughing, hindi ko napigilang tumawa rin.

***

"Nate, w-what are you d-doing..?"

Pagdating namin sa hotel, his phone wouldn't stop ringing. Hindi niya sana sasagutin pero I told him to. Pinauna niya na ako sa loob at saglit lang daw siya.

The staff took me to a dark room tapos biglang sumara yung pinto.

I couldn't see anything.

Kukunin ko palang yung phone ko nung biglang bumukas yung ilaw.

"SURPRISEEEEEEE!!!"

Paglingon ko, nandun silang lahat.

My family.

Mommy, Daddy at Kuya Alec.

His family.

Tita Dina, Tito James at Ate Naomi.

Our friends.

Gabby, Charm, Ry, Ivy, Erica, Vin and Ken.

Naiiyak na ko.

"Mio."

He knelt down on one knee.

Is he??

"I want you to become my wife, mother of my kids and someone who will be with me for the rest of my life." Sabi niya. "I promise to love you with all of my heart, Mio."

He opened a small red box.

A ring.

He's really proposing..

"Aletheia Courtney Zamora, will you marry me?"

"Ye---"

"Stella, is she going to be okay??" I heard someone said. "Hindi parin siya nagigising.."

"She has to wake up now, Cam." Sagot nung boses. "If she doesn't, it will be too dangerous."

It was Mommy's voice.

"B-baby, please wake up." Sabi niya. "Please c-come back to us, Theia.."

I looked behind me.

Kung nandito si Mommy..

Sino yung naririnig ko?

"Theia?"

I looked at Nate.

Nakatayo na siya.

He held my hands. "What's wrong? Masama ba yung pakiramdam mo??"

"I d-don't know---"

"Theia, gumising ka na." Someone said. "Nandito na sila Mommy. Hinihintay ka namin."

Si Kuya..

Pero nandito rin siya.

Ano bang nangyayari??

"We're losing her." Sabi nung boses. "Call someone now!"

"Oh my god.."

"Theia, baby.."

I couldn't breathe.

Lumapit silang lahat sa'kin nung bumagsak ako.

He caught me. "THEIA??!"

I watched as the ring on Nate's hand fell.

Nahihirapan na ko huminga.

I moved my hand to my neck.

My throat hurts.

"Clear!"

"Breathe, Theia." Someone said. "You need to breathe."

It's returning.

The bruises on my wrist.

The bandage on my arm.

Ibig sabihin panaginip lang lahat ng 'to.

"Theia??"

"I'm s-sorry, Mio.."

"Baby, d-don't say that." He was crying. "You have to stay with m-me.."

"I c-can't.." Sagot ko. "Kailangan k-ko na bumalik.."

"Theia, p-please.."

I tried to reach for his face.

Gusto kong punasan yung luha niya.

I really wanted to stay pero hindi pwede..

"I'm s-sorry..."

When I opened my eyes, I was gasping.

"ALETHEIA!!!"

"Mommy.."

"You're back, baby." She cried while hugging me.

I couldn't stop my tears from falling.

"Oh, Theia.." Mommy patted my back. "You're safe, baby. You're okay.."

I cried even harder.

Akala ko hindi ko na siya kailangan iwanan.

Mali na naman ako..

******