On Loop

Chapter 3

Pagkamulat ng mata ni Heion ay ang babae kaagad ang bumungad sa kanya.

Nanaginip ako sa loob ng isang panaginip. Ano bang nangyayari?

She glances at her, desperately trying to make sense of this again. She has no make-up or jewelry on, save for a thin silver charm bracelet on her right hand. She is wearing a faded grey hoodie, ripped jeans, and white Chuck's, like the pair he has on right now.

No, wait. It's exactly like the pair he's wearing right now.

Villaroel, you are so stressed. He chides himself mentally. Even your dreams are crazy.

A flight attendant approaches her as she buckles herself back into her seat.

"Cass, eto yung Coke mo."

"Uyy salamat, MJ."

His heart pounds louder at the mention of her name, as if it recognizes her.

"Cass?"

She giggled as she throws a glance at him, the sound of her laughter is a little too familiar.

"Ready ka na ba sa final exams mo?" tanong ni MJ sa kanya.

"Review ko nalang yung mga bagong CPR at emergency in-flight procedures, then bahala na si Batman." nakangiting sagot ni Cassandra. "Kailangan ko pa I-master yung new rules ng mouth to mouth," she adds with a twinkle in her eye.

MJ chuckles and darks a knowing glance at Heion. "Ang haharot niyo, kainis!"

"Ssshhh! Magtrabaho ka nga, bakla!" Cass jokes, playfully poking at MJ's waistline.

"Sige na nga! Pero goodluck, Cass. Hindi ka pwede bumagsak. Trainer pa naman iyang jowa mo." MJ points out with a grin before she gives out another soda to the passengers behind Heion.

Cass takes a sip and turns to Heion with an amused smile on her face. "Hon? You look like you've seen a ghost. You okay?" She feels his forehead with the back of her hand. "Are you coming down with a fever? Overwhelmed ka pa ba?"

"Huh?"

She laughs. "Hon, you should really see your face right now."

His stress levels must've been worse than he thought. Fine. Let's see where this dream goes.

She leans over to cup his face with both her hands. Strangely enough, he allows her to invade his personal space without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing to do.

"Happy Monthsary," she whispers, her eyes bright and sincere. "Pasensya ka na, I still have to get used of saying it."

"Saying what?" he tilts his head in confusion.

"That I love you!" she giggles. "Eto naman! Sana nagpaligaw nalang ako sa'yo. Kainis ka!"

"Nanligaw ako?" his voice could no longer conceal his confusion.

She smiles and plants a long, firm kiss on his lips. She is lemon and vanilla and everything else that is good in the world. "Actually, tama ka. Hindi ka nga nanligaw," she admits. "Marupok kasi tayo, eh. Isang kape lang tapos BOOM. Anyway, no regrets. Why waste time, diba? When you know, you know."

He glances down on her arm and sees the silver bracelet. "Sya nga pala, thanks for these, hon." she says as she runs a finger over the charms hanging from it. One is shaped in the number 16, the other one is in the form of a delicate crescent moon.

The lights suddenly flicker again.

Sandali lang. Marami pa akong gustong malaman.

"Cass..." he begins.

Dark.

Light.

Dark.

Light.

She's gone.

Dark.