Kabanata 14
Ang Nasulyapan
"Sophia."
My eyes flew open as I heard an unfamiliar voice call me. I turned around to look at every piece of land my sight could lay on.
The beach was still in front of me, but... no one was there. Lumingon ako sa paligi. Hinanap ko ang taong nakita ko sa nakaraan kong panaginip.
But... I cannot find him anywhere.
Natigilan ako.
Did I just... move my head on my own? I tilted my chin up to check. Sumunod ito.
My eyes widened a fraction.
I have control of my body.
The moon was in a different position. A lot closer to the line where the sky meets the sea. It looked like it wanted to touch the ocean, but it was too far despite it looking so close.
Everything seems close but too far at the same time tonight.
"Sophia."
I glanced behind me as someone called me... from behind.
Sobs came after the call of my name. It is a different voice–someone new. This voice... is not the voice I keep hearing for the past days.
Ibang klaseng kaba ang naramdaman ko. The skin at the back of my neck prickled. For the past days, I have been experiencing things here in a way that I have never had before. Excitement and horror filled me at the thought that something has changed once again.
Is it... changing again?
What could be worse than what I went through yesterday?
The familiar yet unknown person I followed yesterday is not even here anymore.
I walked away from the beach and to the street behind me. Sumunod ang katawan ko sa nais kong gawin. I unconsciously looked back from where I came from. A strong breeze passed in front of me. I had to blink twice to make sure my eyes are not lying to me.
He is there. Nakatayo na siya sa dalampasigan–the one who keeps telling me to run. Kung kailan akala ko hindi na siya magpapakita ay narito na siya. Nandito siya. I wonder where he came from when he was not there earlier.
I was about to go back to where I was supposed to, where I should be in this place, when a small figure appeared in my peripheral vision.
It stopped me from my attempt to walk the way I have always done in this dream. I squinted my eyes to fathom what it was.
My eyebrows furrowed as I realized what I was looking at. There, in the middle of the road, was a boy sitting helplessly with his hands over his mouth. Tila ba nagpipigil umiyak.
I pondered on what to do and glanced at the beach again. The guy did not move from his place. His broad shoulders and wide back were illuminated by the moonlight. His hair a soft wisp against the sea breeze. He looked relaxed this far.
Who are these people? Why show up to me now?
Where did both of you come from?
Hindi ko kayang hayaan ang sarili kong hindi lumapit sa bagong tao na nakikita ko ngayon. I have seen the owner of the voice of the one who helps me these past days, but it is only now that I have seen and heard this boy. I want to figure out what this is. To my relief, my body let me.
Nagsimula akong maglakad patungo sa bata at napangiwi sa ginaw na dulot ng bawat hakbang. The closer I get, the heavier the air seems to be.
Isang metro na lang ang layo ko sa kanya nang umangat siya ng tingin sa akin at nagsimula na namang umiyak. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito sa maliit at namumutlang mukha. He fumbled for words as he tried to crawl towards me.
Napaatras ako ng isang hakbang sa gulat nang magsalita siya. "S-Sophia!" hagulgol niya.
"P-Pia, I am–I am sorry! H-Hindi ko... s-sadya!"
A brute force of emptiness ran through me at the sight of him and at the words he was saying. He was apologizing to me and I do not even know why.
Napabaling ulit ako sa dalampasigan para masiguro na naroon pa rin ang naunang bisita sa mga panaginip ko. I was somehow sure he was not going anywhere kaya ibinalik ko ang atensyon sa bata.
Who are you? What is happening? Why are you here?
Questions flooded my head. I want to ask, but speech of my own is still not possible in my dreams.
I stared down at him. His shoulders shook from crying hard. It was so dark at this side of the road, but the moon helped notice the tightness of tensed muscles and clenched teeth.
I kneeled in front of the boy and reached my hand out. I touched his cheeks. His breath hitched as he stiffened. His head leaned up more and his wide eyes stared straight into mine. They were bloodshot and the pain was visible in both.
Ringing in my ears started.
"Tan-tan!" A voice from far away echoed in my mind.
My head throbbed at the familiar sight of his dark brown eyes. The yell rang loudly in my head and the name sounded too familiar.
"Tan-tan!" Isn't that... my voice?
Images of a car and blood came rushing into my mind. Flashes of different lights from blue to red to white were right in front of me. My ears suddenly resounded the noises and voices blending in my thoughts.
I brought the balls of my palm to my temples. Ang sakit!
The little boy held my hand that was on his cheek and that snapped me back, "P-Pia."
I violently removed myself from his touch. I fell back to the asphalt, trembling. I horrifyingly stared at the child in front of me.
What did I just see?
Regret ran across his face when he realized what just happened. He extended his hands to me as a sob escaped his throat, "Soph."
I stumbled backward and willed myself to stand up before he could reach me.
I looked at the direction of the beach and saw the owner of the voice I love walk towards the direction of the forest. Call me.
Call me!
A whimper escaped from my throat.
I am not behind you yet!
I know what I was going to do. I know what I had to do, but I need to do it fast.
I ran towards the direction of the beach, away from the boy who was now following me. Nasulyapan ko ang hirap niyang pagtakbo. Nadapa siya nang isang beses. My heart ached at his desperate calls and heartbroken weeps, but I am too scared right now.
What did I just see?
A tear flowed down my cheeks as I sprinted away from him.
Warmth enveloped my whole body when I almost caught up with the figure I am used to seeing now. Ngayon ko lang natanto na kaya pamilyar siya ay may kasing hubog siya ng katawan. But my thoughts were quickly swallowed by the panic and I could not think of who that person is.
I just want to be close to him.
I am craving for his warmth, for his presence around me.
"Run," he spoke all around. The echoes of his voice resonated with me.
Just like all my other dreams, I went into the forest to chase him.
"Run."
"Pia!"
Sabay nilang sambit.
When I looked behind me, I saw how taller the boy had been as if years had passed for him in my dream. His hair reached until his shoulders that I could not see his face anymore. He was pursuing me while I was chasing the voice.
The boy did not stop crying and screaming while pursuing me. He looked so broken and confused that he even 'sounded' broken.
Who are you?
At bakit parang... naghahabulan kaming tatlo?
"Run."
The usual screams echoed loudly in the darkness of the forest. It became loud enough for me to not hear the cries of my pursuant. Ang masasamang paratang nila ay narinig ko kahit saang direksyon ako lumingon. Sobs I tried to suppress escaped from my throat.
Hindi ko na kaya.
Anong nangyayari? This is too much.
Nahablot ang buhok ko dahilan para maiyak ako lalo. The reason for my tears immediately changed from fear to hurt.
I twisted my hair away from his grasps. Nang makawala, nagpatuloy ako sa pagtakbo.
Tumakbo ako papunta sa taong alam kong iingatan ako.
"Sophia!" The boy called desperately to reach me, but I did not let him.
I could not see where I was going anymore because of the water filling my eyes. That is when I tripped.
Warm metallic liquid poured down my face right after I hit the ground. I was shaking from both numbness and ache. I tried to stop myself from crying, but it only made me release a pained sound.
I squeezed my eyes shut and let all the noise swallow me. What I saw when I looked into the boy's eyes played inside my head once again.
"Tan-tan!"
Someone lifted me up and pulled me to run. I knew it was the persona of the voice, but I was too scared to hold anyone. I opened my blurry eyes and puffed out a difficult breath. When the feeling of my legs returned bit by bit, I detached myself from his arms to run properly. I cannot even remember if I pushed him away.
My vision was mudded, but I did not stop.
I do not want to stop.
Unti-unting tumahimik ang paligid and that was when I felt 'his' hands interlock with mine.
Bigla akong binalot ng katahimikan, kapayapaan, at kapaguran. My legs started to lose feeling once again. I ended up diving towards the ground. His grip on me tightened. I hit his hard chest instead of the cold concrete. His arms wrapped around me, carrying all my weight. He placed his head on my neck and squeezed me tight.
My heart swelled in bliss. More tears ran down my face.
What is happening to me? Please help me.
His breath fanned on the sensitive skin on my neck and his heat made me dizzy. The need to stay in his arms forever is true.
I hugged him back even though my arms are aching. I felt his lips on my neck and when he spoke, I could not help it but stop breathing.
"I told you, Sophia. Whatever you do, do not stop running."
That was the last thing I heard before everything went black.
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