CHAPTER 2

MIKAEL'S POV

"This might be stress since he has been from a series of sleepless nights."

"Shouldn't he be asking for a break. I think he needs to rest if this has been happening to him for quite a while."

"Don't worry too much. Kael is doing just fine, maybe he's just stress."

"But how can he be stress if the project is already finished? What is he stressing about that made him passed out?"

I woke up from the noise around me and the gentle squeeze on my hand. That dream again. I f I could only remember everything down to the last bit to stop this from happening over and over again. I feel like, I am betraying Abby for some reason. I couldn't fully open my eyes since the bulb light is dominating the surrounding. Where would I be? Am I on the street or something? Oh, Abby! I tried to open my eyes and search for Abby only to find out that she's beside me and Rez was at her back. Abby looks worried and Rez was on pins and needles.

"Kael" Abby gently said, "Are you feeling better?" I looked at her and Rez at the back.

"Yeah, I'm good. Is this the hospital? You don't need to cage me here." I said as I try to sit.

"The doctor told us that you need to relax a bit bro. Fortunately, the company granted you a short vacation and why don't you guys use that to chill." Rez said with a bright smile to brighten the atmosphere. Since Abby is so worried and I don't want her to pry about this 'stress' I've been dealing with. The more Abby questions my health and pry about it, some might spill the tea.

"I totally agree." Noah said in agreement as soon as he walked inside. "You're boyfriend's a hotshot. He needs to be cooled down." he added

"That's why I fall for him, right?" Abby uttered while smiling. I smirked at the hearing of it while my friends make face.

"What do you think?" I asked Abby while she's busy with her phone.

"Mmm?" she mummed then she looked at me.

"Vacation. The whole gang." I said while Rez and Noah tilt their heads

"No dude, we're out. You two should go." Noah exclaimed.

"Right! Go ye and multiply." Rez added. So, I picked the pillow and throw it to him while everyone laughed.

"I'm down for that. Let the gang go on vacation since it's been ages the last time we had an outing." then I smiled. One rule we had to always maintain and follow is, no 'just-the-two-of-us' we need to have third or fourth wheel. That's our way to preserve ourselves. Of course we have privacy but we maintain ourselves. We can do dates with just us but not too private. We go to public places where people are. They call us old school but we see to it that our friends especially the younger ones, that we set ourselves as an example they can follow. It's also a respect for both our parents. Especially me, since I also have two younger siblings which looked up to me.

"Aww~" Noah and Rez both sighed.

"I'll ask the girls but first, I have to go somewhere. I have to fetch mom from her doctors appointment." I thought I can be with her the whole day. She held my hand tight and kissed me on the cheeks then she stood up and walk her way out.

"Sorry love. Bye Noah. Bye Rez. I'll see you later." she bid while she exit the room. Then Noah and Rez came closer.

"You didn't tell her, right?" I asked

"The thing is, we want Abby to hear it from you. Its your relationship." Noah answered.

"And besides, you're planning for a proposal and we don't want to ruin it." Rez added

"Exactly, but I have to settle this dream thing first before I pop out the question. I feel like I'm cheating on her." I said in frustration

"What happened in your dream?." Rez asked.

"What I can remember is us on a coffee shop sipping coffee but she frowns at her coffee so, maybe she's not a fan of coffee." I answered

"That's it? Coffee date? That's all you can remember?" Noah asked next

"Dude, it's not like that. I'm trying but that's all I can remember. I also remember, smirking at her while she drinks her coffee. Does that count?" I said

"Dude!" -Noah

"Really? Of all the things you could remember?" -Rez

"Whether you believe it or not, that's all that's left." I said and silence hovered the room. "Can I be discharged?" I asked

"Yeah, when you wake up." Noah answered

"Let's go." I blurted and we walked outside the hospital.

"Wait," I said and we paused. "How come you two are here? Did Abby called you?" I asked

"Nope. We happened to know." Noah said and I tilt my head in confusion

"We noticed a pattern on your passing out." he added that made me more confused.

"Why don't we talk it out on a 'coffee'" Rez said highlighting the word coffee. Noah smiled and I just shook my head.

We got to the coffee shop owned by Noah's sister. We walked to the second floor since the ground floor is full of people. It's close to the office and we get to come here when we have free time or else they deliver us coffees even in the middle of night.

"Seems like our engineers got some spree time. Congrats Kael and Noah for your success on the project." Edwin said while we sat down. Noah's brother-in-law.

"Thanks bro." Noah responded. We did the handshake greeting with him. Kinda like the greeting on our group. Our age gap is not that big, he's only 3 years older than us.

"We're planning a vacation, might as well come with Trixie. Since our Engineer Mikael Balmoja needs to be free from stress." Noah jokingly said.

"C'mon!" I said yelping

"The stress has been lifted what else is there to be stressed about? Don't tell me, dude problems on proposal? Are we still planning?" Edwin jumped in with the teasing

"Let's just say yes." and now Rez. Just a little bit more and the whole gang will now about it. Tch!

"Why the little smile, Noah and Rez? Let me in on a secret." Edwin said while being playful. I can't with these two. I'm more than stressed right now.

"I'll have cafe americano Ed." I said to change the topic

"We love you bro. Don't feel too burdened, what are friends are for?" I hope I can get a perfect timing and the right words to say.

"3 americano." Noah said

"Comin' right up." Edwin said joyfully and exited.

"Dudes, you might want to just say it." I said as soon as Edwin left the table.

"Chill. You're so invested in this matter. We just want you to relaxed." Rez uttered.

"How can I chill when you get to give hints to others and get me on my nerves?" I exclaimed.

"Anyways, as we've said, we noticed the pattern." Noah said to change the topic.

"1, 2, 3." Rez butted in

"Yes, 1, 2, 3,." Noah said in agreement.

"1, 2, 3? Can you please get to the point?" I said in frustration.

"Okay. We analyzed your pattern of losing consciousness. The first week, once, the second week, you passed out twice, third week, three times then the same pattern occurs again the following week. As for the time, it's reversed." Noah explained

"The first one happened at 3 pm, the following week, both are 2 pm and the next week, 1 pm. As for the day, once during Friday, meaning, you will pass out first friday of the month at 3 pm. Second week would be, Monday and Thursday for 2 pm then the next week would be the remaining days beside Sunday. But for now, that's all we know." Rez added with Noah's explanation.

"As for your night," Noah paused when our order came in.

"Sir, your cafe americano." then it was Trixie this time who delivered the coffees

"Thanks sis." Rez said.

"You guys looked so serious. What could it be? Hmmm." Trixie said probing.

"I'm planning for a proposal to Abby." I said then Trix giggled

"Is that why you're stress baby boy?" Trixie jokingly said. "Enjoy your coffee!" she added then she walked away

"As I was saying," Noah continued. "Are your dreaming about her during the night?" he asked

"Do you?" Rez asked

"Every Sunday night." I said while we looked at each other speechless.

"Whoa! Whole week." Rez exclaimed

"I think you really need to go and see someone, may it be specialist or what." Noah said.

I became silent and all the three of us was silent. All we can do for now is sip our coffee but I couldn't. I was left to ponder all these things. I need to try every possible solutions even going to a specialist before I settle down with Abby. Noah and Rez was busy with their coffee so I lift mine to sip.

"I'll do the ice breaker. I might bring someone to the vacation." Rez cut the silence with his statement.

"Bro, the gang has no blood for fishing in the ocean." Noah said questioning Rez statement

"Bro, I'm not. I'm an adventurer. But I want to be serious this time." Rez defended

"Who's this girl?" I pitched in with the prying too.

"She's a teacher. I mean, a professor in Green Alley Academy. She's smart and I met her through my brother." Rez answered

Teacher? Teacher? Teacher? C'mon. I think its in my dream. It's sounds familiar.

"Your lil bro might be seeing her? Rez think twice." Noah still doesn't buy it

I think I remember it. Argh!?

"Bro, Jake introduced me to her. It was actually him who made it possible." Rez said

"Kael are you okay?" Noah asked but I only looked at him. He's worried, I can see from his face

"Kael?" Rez called while holding me on the shoulder. "Kael?" he called again then I looked at him while holding his shoulders also.

"Kael?" Rez exclaimed while shaking me. "You're nose is bleeding." he said in worry. Then I was brought back to reality.