The Observer

Chapter two

He was overwhelmed by confusion but he had no time to ask what was the woman was talking about nor he didn't have the time to ask for her name because after her words pass through his ears he felt hazy, vision becomes blurry; the sound of the wind at the top of the monolith started to fade, before Jack knew it; he blacked out, but before that he remembered hearing her last words

"You promised".

Like a bolt of lightning he jerked up screaming like he had the most terrifying dream he ever had in his entire existence; scanning his surrounding it was cold and dark and the smell only made it worse, the scent of chemicals he was very familiar with, panic and fear strikes him, he thought that he was still in a dream, he remembered something someone told him that if he's stuck in a nightmare he should try to move his toe for him to wake up; try as he might he's moving both his feet now but still it's pitch black, the only thing that was misplaced in his dream was the soft ground he is laying into, but it he was so focus on the fact that he needed to wake up;

A cold hand then touched his should, he was shocked and shrugged the hands off her shoulder then as he struggled to break free he fell from the soft ground he was laying into a cold and hard surface, pain coursed into his back as he let out a slight gasp; then he heard a clicking sound and light illuminated the dark void he's into; both eyes wide open still figuring out what the hell is happening, then he heard a familiar voice; a concerned voice, still shocked and cannot think clearly he prepared himself for what will happen next;

A silhouette peered down to where he fell, a face of a woman met his terrified eyes and she spoke to him " Jack, Jack are you alright?."

As soon as he regained his composure he realized that the voice was from his fiancée " Lily "the woman he met a few years back in college, though she's not his classmate he and her met on an art exhibit, Jack's first local art exhibit in a small space rented by their university for their aspiring art students back then; he remembered that she's the only one in the crowd who told him that his works are very powerful and emotional but it lacks something vital; Jack did not take it as an insult but rather a very important criticism to further better his craft, and he did what every artist would do after someone just pointed out something lacking to their work; he asked her out for a date and the rest smoothly follows.

Are you alright Jack? She said; still partly shaken he answered, " I think "

Was it that dream again? She asked again;

He just nodded in confusion and gathered his strength to stand up, he scan the room where he is; Jack was in their apartments bedroom after all, technically it was more of an art studio than a bedroom paintings after paintings hang in the wall, easel loaded with a canvass with unfinished paintings that explain the weird smell as paintbrush and paint tubes were just on the side table a couple of feet from where he's sitting.

Lily gently grabbed Jacks arm and encouraging him to sit on the bed for a moment,

She then asked " was it the same dream again?."

Jack nodded and a fake smile formed into his lips, just to make her fiancée calm down,

You're dreaming of it more and more this past few months now Jack, I don't think that's normal " Lily said with a hint of concern on her soft voice"

When are you going to tell me about it? Or do you want to talk about it? You know you can tell me everything right? Lily's concerned voice now drenched with a little sadness;

It was nothing Jack said; just another inspiration for my new art; I guess, really it was nothing; fooling himself to believe that it was just nothing but a dream, a very detailed and reoccurring dream.

Lily, still drowsy and slightly annoyed for the fact that she's just concerned for him but he just don't want to talk about it; so she just let it go, she laid gently and tucked herself into bed covered her face with a soft pillow and faced the wall as if she doesn't want to face Jack.

Jack knew that she'll understand, she always do; as he sat on his corner of the bed thinking; his eyes met a particular painting partially illuminated by their poorly lighted lamp, an unfinished portrait of a lady, he recalled a month worth of work but still he just finished the eyes; everything else was a raw brush stroke waiting to be refined by him, not only on that particular painting but in his sketches, random pencil strokes he always ends up with that same image of that particular lady he never ever saw in his whole life but only in his dreams; still exhausted he lay down to bed and whispered "Goodnight" to Lily.

"One half of me is yours, the other half yours,

Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours,

And so all yours."

In a partially dark classroom illuminated only by the light of the projector on the screen , A sturdy yet soothing voice of a man quoted , a merchant of Venice by Shakespeare he said,

Now as part of your homework please read the "A midsummer night's dream"; that will be the next topic we will discuss next week.

As he's spoke in front of a room full of students; he heard a giggling on the second row of his class, and his sturdy but now loud voice filled the four corners of the dimly lit room.

Jane! Can you enlighten us a little about a passage from any William Shakespeare's masterpiece? If I am not bothering you and your friend that is.

No sir! I mean no sir you're not bothering us, we just.. Jane said.

Just what? Stuttering of words are we now? You can't recall anything, anything at all about the things I taught these past few months? The professor bolted.

Maybe you're friend over there can help you out since you've been talking to her for over an hour now while I was reading a masterpiece, what do you say Lucille?.

A woman in her her mid 20's stood up gracefully as the giggling smile on her face becomes more serious and she spoke with all confidence; and she said "Mr.Robert, this is my favorite passage from his masterpiece".

"Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers' tears; what is it else? A madness most discreet, a choking gall, and a preserving sweet."

The professor Mr. Robert then glanced at her with amazement for a while and said, I hope that your performance on our coming exam won't suffer the same fate as Romeo and Juliet.

As usual Jane; Lucille once again saved you; the professor said.

Alright kindly turn the light on class and you may be dismissed see you all next week.

Walking down the sunlit old hallway of a well known university Jane asked Lucille about where she's at her book,

Lucille carrying all her books hoping to get home as fast as she can, answered with a bit of sarcasm on her voice; if I could only count how many times you've asked me how my story is going, I might filled all the blank pages of my book by now.

Jane giggled and said; don't get me wrong I'm not a bookworm like you but I honestly love that particular story of yours, it somehow touched my inner romantic in me.

Lucille answered, you know that those stories only comes from my dreams, it's not like I can just sit on my desk and write anything I want in it, and besides it's only a side project of mine you know that I am busy as it is, I rarely seen my family because of all the deadline my boss gave me, it's like a never ending work; no matter what I do, how I do it there still work to be done; you know how it is working in a publishing firm.

Jane sighed and replied sarcastically; hey I just only asked about the story not your whole life you know, and I know how busy your whole world is, remember? I am your best friend? And your right even for me I have to make an appointment just to see you, you know I took this literature class just to see you every week right? So please, please finish the book for me please; Jane begged.

Lucille and Jane knew each other for a long time, they went through the same high school together and like a typical teenagers they shared a lot of things in common that's why they feel comfortable with each other and became the best of friends since then.

With all the chit chat jane and Lucille had, they were shocked that they are now standing outside by the gate of the university time goes by so quickly when we're having fun aren't we? Asked Jane.

Jane said with a bit of sadness on her voice, so we'll be apart again, I will miss you bestie and don't you forget you owe me a cup of coffee one of these days.

As the two nearly approaching the main exit gate of the University Jane saw someone.

By the gate there is a blue sedan parked just outside standing beside is a familiar face waiting for someone.

Jane commented; hey Lucille!; your Romeo is here with his shining blue horse, then she laughed mockingly.

Lucille noticed his presence before Jane and just shrugged it as if she doesn't acknowledge his presence.

That all Shakespeare's work worth for you, you always use it as a joke; if Mr. Robert heard you you'll be in a lot of trouble next week you know.

Jane giggled once more and bid her farewell to Lucille, as she watched jane slowly walked away to the gate a brief moment passed and she's out of her sight, leaving her standing there as if the only person she can talked to honestly just left her; and there is this guy 20 yards from her waiting outside patiently; she orchestrated a smile before she walked towards the gate and to him.

Hello beautiful, the guy said; smiling and loosen his posture a bit as if anticipating a hug of some sort.

Lucille walked towards him with a smile but still avoiding meeting his glancing eyes; but before he can even say a word the man hugged him tight; as if her lungs will soon collapse and hugged him momentarily then like it was a friendly greeting just hoping that he would let go.

Hey why so cold? The guy asked; are you well? You're not yourself recently.

Lucille answered no "Rick" I am just tired, can you just take me home? I have some things to do; you know deadlines and stuff.

Rick is the guy he met in her college days, though relationship is not one of her top priority back then; she did everything she can to tell Rick that she's just not interested ,but Rick's persistent behavior won her over; she just told herself that there's nothing wrong if she accepts rick; he's a good man after all but relationships are things we can offer to everyone, but love can only be given to someone; that is her belief.