Lost in the Dream

Lost in The Dream

One

If this is already over if there's nothing to restore,

hope has no meaning to me no more

-Shoot Out, Monsta X

°°°

There's a reason why we feel lonely even though we're not alone. It's not because of whether we have or no friends beside us but the disconnection from others.

When I lost my parents, my friends were there since the day I woke up in that cold, lonely white room. They didn't leave me and made sure I'm doing just fine.

They made me smile and temporarily made me forget about the loss but when everyone's asleep, the longing and emptiness creep down my soul.

Just because I carry it so well doesn't mean it's not heavy.

In fact, I feel like I'm drowning and no matter how hard I try to swim, I keep sinking.

I've tried to change the ending of things and somehow managed it but in the end, I still needed to choose the hardest thing I ever faced in my life.

The worst part?

Either of the choices I choose, I'll still lose people I love.

"Friendship is like that, son. You may have different mindsets and characteristics but those differences complement each of you. Not to mention, I love your friends. I see how you take care of each other I'm not even afraid if I die tomorrow."

I messed up everything.

I even lost the only thing that started everything.

Now I'm alone in this endless ride.

I did everything and took all my chances but, in the end, I got lost. I don't even know how to come back.

 No matter how much I regret everything, it's all a waste now.

"One!"

I smile sadly at the scene that appeared in front of me.

"We made it!" Sweven kneeled in front of me, taking me by surprise.

"What? How?"

"One, let's go back now?" Theo squeezed my shoulders.

The blinding light hurts my eyes.

"Oh? You're awake now?" Gideon asked.

I look around and found myself in the family room. Martell and Koa are playing Xbox on the couch while Sweven and Malkiel are chatting on the stairs.

"Where's Theo?"

Gideon looked at me in confusion. I didn't like the way he looks at me so I pushed him away and started searching the house. They all followed me like I'm some kind of lunatic.

I burst into tears when I saw Gideon eating a sandwich on the kitchen island. I rushed towards him and gave him a bear hug.

"Whoa! Easy there, tiger!" he almost fell out of the barstool but I didn't let him go. “What’s wrong with this guy?"

"Wow, the weak and the weakest are best friends now," Koa commented.

"What's with you, One?" Gideon asked in confusion.

"What time is it? What day is it?" I asked.

They all look perplexed as they all point at the clocks on the wall.

"Let me tell you since it looks like you're still dreaming," Gideon walks towards the largest clock on the wall and pointed at it as if he's presenting a report, "As you can see, the clock says it is already 11 in the morning. The date today? Hmm, February 14. Happy Valentine's Day!"

"You came here yesterday, right?" I asked once again.

"Geez, I told you he's dumb," Theo said so I lock his neck with my arms.

"Shall we go for a ride?" Martell asked, "Let's go camping!"

"Shall we?" They asked me.

I smiled at them and nodded.

---

"Am I the only adult here?!"

Everyone stopped what they're doing when we heard Sweven's famous line. If you expect we'll run to him, you're wrong. After looking at him, everyone continues their businesses.

Theo and Koa are having fun with the Jenga blocks while Martell and Malkiel are setting up the tent.

 Gideon is having his alone time on the hammock while I stay seated on the table, they set up a while back.

"You thick-faced pigs. Don't you dare eat when I finish this?" Sweven mumbles but continues to grill.

I keep on pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. I keep on watching each of them, feeling anxious that the scene in front of me might change again.

"What are you thinking about?" Gideon sat beside me and wraps his arm around my shoulders.

Theo and Koa helped Sweven to bring the food to the table, followed by Martell and Malkiel who brought the ice chest beside us.

"I had this weird dream last night." I started.

They all focus on me. I don't know how I am going to start. The dream was so vivid it brought me to tears when I woke up.

"What kind of dream?" Koa asked as he open cans of soda and pass them to everyone.

"I slipped into time to find my parents and save them from the accident." I started.

No one speaks like they're waiting for me to just keep on talking. Since my parents died in that car crash, we didn't really talk about it. In fact, this is the first time I'm talking about that night.

"But the weird thing is I keep on slipping into your timelines."

"What do you mean?" Gideon asked.

"In that dream, I saw your past, how you run away with your mom until she got killed. You managed to escape from the syndicate who were chasing after you when you were younger but they found you again after a decade." I stare at Koa who's listening intently to me, "In that scene, you died."

They all gasped. 

"I tried to save you but I can't do anything because you don't see me. Then I realized that there are variables in that place. Since that's your timeline and I'm not part of the scene I won't be able to do anything. Do you remember the wristwatch Dad always wears? In that dream, it is what I gave to Giddy so he can turn time back before they catch you. Because of that, he was able to alter things, and you were saved.

"After slipping into your timeline, I found myself stuck in a train. I don't know how I get there but when scenes flash before my eyes, I'm suddenly in a different place.

"Then I found myself in a hospital. This time it's Martell and Malkiel's timeline. Malkiel was affiliated with people he's not supposed to be connected to it and it led to Sweven's accident. Martell goes back to the time before Malkiel met those people and made sure he ends up in their family. Since he was able to save him, Sweven didn't lose his sight.

"So far everyone had a happy ending. I was also able to go back to the time before the accident."

"Were you able to bring your parents back?" Sweven asked quietly.

I smiled faintly at them. Tears started welling my eyes but I heave a sigh to keep them at bay.

"Remember the night before the accident when Theo asked me to play because Koa defeated him?"

They all nodded. Koa even teased Theo.

"In that scene, I asked Sweven to text my parents to not come to pick me up. I even played with Theo to buy some time."

Gideon tapped my back when tears roll down my face, immediately soaking the tissue Sweven handed me.

"Did I win in that scene?" Theo asked, earning him a whack from Martell. "I'm just trying to lighten up the mood!"

"Yup, and thanks to you I was able to save them."

"I'm glad that happened even in your dreams." Malkiel smiled at me.

"Yeah, I saved them but it turned out it was Theo who ended up in an accident."

"Wow, I died," Theo exclaimed.

If everything's normal, Theo's reaction would be comical.

"Nope, you didn't." I smiled at him, "My parents always tell me how lucky I to find people like you am. Before the accident, she even told me she's not afraid to die because they know you'll never turn your back on me. I was really torn at that time. I can live with my parents a little longer but will never see Theo again. Then I realized, when my parents died, only me was left. Theo on the other hand? There will be a lot of people who will suffer the same thing I did.

"After making that huge decision, I lost the watch. It was the only thing that can help me go back to the present but it was gone. I bitterly accept that I will be stuck on that train forever. Little did I know while I was time traveling, the six of you tried to find out a way to bring me back to the present. And that's when I woke up."

"Is that why you acted like that this morning?” Theo asked the pulled me into a hug. "You're the man, bro. Thank you so much."

"That was an intense dream," Sweven said while wiping his eyes. Gideon hugged him when he noticed.

"You're making us cry, One." Koa commented.

It was Martell who reached for my hand and grasped it real tight.

"You're not the weakest, One. In fact, you are the strongest person I knew. I'm not telling you that the pain you feel from losing your parents will fade away in an instant but I want you to remember that we're here. You're not alone."

"Maybe you had that dream for you to realize that everything happens for a reason. Maybe your parents wanted to realize that even if they're gone, you're not alone." Malkiel added.

"You know it, Man. We may act goofy and irresponsible sometimes but did you forget that we are each other's ride or die?" Sweven hit me on my chest.

I smiled at them and then I realized what friendship really means:

It is the comfort of knowing that even when you feel alone, you aren't.

It may take time to accept my parents’ loss but at least I know now that I'm not walking alone in this dark path.

°°°

END.