5 4. DÉJÀ VU

The second day was similar to the first day, visited another farm and followed the exact same process as we did the day before.

Then, on the third day, which was also the last day.

I had some weird kind of feeling not to go. But I pushed that feeling away and got ready any way. Everything was fine. Nothing could go wrong.

Right?

We left the hotel room and headed towards another town. This one was farther than the ones we visited before. It was a three hours drive from this hotel to the farm. I was happy this was the last day. I needed to get back to my normal life.

How do they enjoy this trip? They made it seem like it was all going to be interesting. But I couldn't find anything interesting going on here. I've just been stressed out, moving about from one farm to another. Filling my stomach with the smell of cow dungs and unpasteurized milk from the cows.

Okay, I had to admit. The room service in each of the hotels was marvellous. I loved food and the hotels were doing a great job feeding me well. I didn't have to cook every night when I got back from work. The food was delicious beyond measures.

Like I said, I was a good cook. So I could tell when I ate good food. I could make all these food myself at home but I was always so tired when I got back from work and usually opt for an easy to cook food instead.

My weekends were for lazying around, so I couldn't even cook on weekends. There was no Daisy around here to convince me go out and eat. I didn't really like going out. I'm kind of introverted so don't blame me. So, I've mostly been surviving on junk foods.

On getting to the farm, the place was looking awfully familiar. I was sure I hadn't been here before, but everything around here was screaming dèja vu.

Mia got down from the car, stretching. I did the same because I was also tired from the ride.

"Thank goodness we are here at last, I can't wait to check out this farm" Mia said excitedly, doing a happy dance.

Wait a minute, was she kidding me right now?

I thought what she was going to say was I can't wait to get this over with.

"I can see you are having a good time" I smiled snidely at her. She nodded and bounced her way into the entrance of the farm.

I guess somebody was enjoying all this stress after all.

As usual, we asked questions which we were given answers to by the farm manager. Moved around the farm a bit and inspecting it.

I don't know how we did it but we ended up distributing the duties among ourselves.

The two lovebirds, Laila and Tariq were actually contributing to our discussions today. Maybe it was because it was the last day or because they finally realized how irritating they were getting.

Look, I don't have anything against love. In fact I love it when I see people in love. Even though I haven't really felt love. I loved love. Love was something beautiful. Love was magical.

But there were times when you could be all lovey dovey and times when you had to actually work.

Laila was going through the farm records. She was very good with numbers. Tariq on the other hand was checking out the drugs that was given to the animals.

And Ziko collected the samples of feeds and milk. Mia was kind of like our mouthpiece. She asked all the questions we needed to ask.

And well, I was there to record all the information gotten from them. My hands were getting numb from all the writing I've been doing these past few days.

Finally, it was over. We were done with all the farms. I still had this gnawing feeling at the pit of my stomach. It was as if something bad was about to happen. Or maybe I was just been paranoid.

All we had to do was get into the car, spend the night at the hotel and be on our way home the next day. I'm sure nothing could go wrong.

Right?

"I'm so happy we don't have to work tomorrow I could sleep all I want" Mia said enthusiastically.

Yup, our boss gave the five of us a break on Monday. We didn't have to go to work.

"Yes, I think we deserve that break. Not working on a Monday is like a dream come true." Ziko added.

I smiled at the both of them and we made our way back to the car.

Laila and Tariq also got into their own car.

Just as the drivers were about to start the car. Mia said out of the blue, "I need to use the restroom"

Oh really?

Mia do you have to do this?

We've been on this trip for 3days and not once did we have to use the restroom. I've tried on my own part. But Mia had to be the one to ruin the plan I carefully made out on not to visit any restroom.

I was able to control my pee. But what about Mia? I didn't think of that when I was planning all these.

Well, it was Mia's problem. I'll just stay here with Ziko and wait for her. I wasn't about to take chances.

He told me he was the reason I had this job from the first night I saw him in my dreams. He said he could control my life. He said he could control me. He kept threatening me about how he not only has a hold of me while I was sleeping but also when I was awake. I wanted to tell Daisy about these dreams. But he warned me not to. He threatened to take this job away from me and also threatened to start visiting Daisy's dreams too if I should tell Daisy or any other person at all. I didn't believe he could do any of these things at first. But his visits to my dreams became frequent. He became real in some kind of way. I think he was taking control of my life just as he said he would.

What have I done wrong? Who was this man? What does he want from me? Was I just imagining things? Does he really exist?

All these questions were questions I didn't have answers to.

Ziko informed Laila and Tariq about Mia needing to use the restroom. So they turned off the engine of their car like we also did few moments ago.

Mia turned and looked at me as soon as she got down from the car. "Come on, Lily. Come with me please." she pleaded giving me the puppy dog eyes.

Does she think the puppy dog eyes thing works on me? No it doesn't. But, I knew I had to be a good friend and follow her. Girls don't like going to the restrooms alone. I don't know why, but through out my university days, it has always been that way.

After all, she was there for me in my dream. She followed me to the restroom and even waited for me when I forgot my ID card.

Oh come on Lily, don't compare reality to a dream. It was nothing. Just a dream.

I decided to follow her. Got down from the car and we both strutted towards the restroom.

And that was when it hit me. That was when I started to fix all the pieces together. A cold shiver ran down my spine.

This was why I had thought this place was familiar when we just entered.

This was the place in my dream. This was the same restroom I saw in my dreams.

And here I was standing with Mia again, just exactly like my dream. I was only a few feet away from the restroom when I stopped abruptly.

I can't do this. I needed to run back to the car right now.

Mia caught my hands, "what are you waiting for? I'm not ready to pee in my pants. Come on" she said while dragging me towards the restroom.

Okay Lily, you need to calm down.

According to the dream, nothing will happen when we go in for the first time. So all I had to do was make sure to not forget my ID card in there. I'll just come out quickly with my ID card in my hands immediately I finished doing my business in the restroom.

Oh yes, I now had to use the restroom, my bladder had filled up quickly. I was shaking so bad. My body went cold and numb. I could here distant noises from where I stood. I started breathing haphazardly. My chest was heavy. It was as if a heavy rock was placed on top of me. This happens when I become extremely nervous.

During times like this, Daisy would hold my hands and tell me it was all going to be okay. Oh my goodness. Where was Daisy????

Instead I was stuck in this restroom with Mia whom I couldn't even tell what was going on with me.

She'd think I was crazy. I'd think so too if I were her.

Finishing up quickly, I ran out of the restroom, holding my ID card firmly around my neck.

I was waiting for Mia, now she was the one taking too long too come out.

I was thinking about my dream and how Mia made the picnic mat joke. I could do the same for her right now. I let out a small chuckle forgetting all my worries for few seconds.

Mia came outside the restroom.

She looked at me suspiciously and said, "why do you have that kind of smile on your face Lily?"

I just smiled more and shook my head at her.

"Weirdo" she said and I chuckled.

"You finished earlier than I expected though? How can somebody be that fast to use the restroom?" she asked allowing me to lead the way back to the car.

"You only thought I was fast because you stayed in there forever. I almost brought out my picnic mat" I said to her and she laughed uncontrollably.

I really did the picnic mat joke?

Am I the only one noticing that things were going in opposites?

We were about to get to the car, I could see Ziko and I waved at him. He waved back at me.

It was all okay after all. I was just been paranoid earlier. An insanely annoyingly, threatening, gorgeous man doesn't really exist either.

"OH nooo, I forgot my ID card in the restroom. I need to go get it back" Mia said as she stopped walking behind me, trying to go back to the restroom.

I spoke too soon I guess. Everything was not okay. The dream was coming to pass. Only that it was happening in opposites.

I could just go back and wait for her with Ziko in the car while she gets her card or I could wait here while looking at the cars with Ziko looking at me from there. Nothing could go wrong right?

After all she waited for me here in my dream. If only she didn't come inside. Then she wouldn't have almost caught me with him.

I knew better. I wasn't going in. I'll remain standing here. I'll wait for her here.

"Hey Lily, can you hear me? I've been talking to you" Mia's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"what were you saying?" I asked, I was obviously not listening to her before.

"I said you should please escort me back to the restroom" she pleaded.

I stood still, I couldn't believe my ears.

All I know was that I wasn't going back in there. I had to say no. I could already hear that voice. I could already hear his voice calling me little missy.

I was surprised by my next words, "okay, let's go in. We have to quickly take the ID card and meet with the others. They've been waiting for us for a while now".

How did I just respond in that way. I thought I was going to refuse. I thought I wasn't going to go in with her.

This was going to be bad. Really bad.

I stepped into the restroom with Mia in front of me.