Dreams and Wonders

Chapter 13

[Sydney Paralejo's POV]

After what happened, hindi na halos ako makapag-isip nang maayos habang pabalik sa classroom. As I entered our class, nakita ko na silang lahat na nakatingin sa akin na para bang nakakita sila ng multo. I couldn't agree more. Kahit na hindi ko makita ang sarili ko sa salamin ay alam kong para akong kakagaling lang sa sabunutan dahil sa buhok ko. Some of them laughed and some started whispering to each other. Here we go again.

I made my way past them and went to my chair instead. Buong dicsussion ay lumilipad lamang ang utak ko sa librong 'yon sa library.

Dreams and Wonders. It definitely has something to do with dreams. The book also mentioned a Greek God named, Morpheus. Ang pangalang ito ay hindi familiar sa akin since I am not really into Greek mythology, but because of what happened earlier, I might start reading some information about it. And the fact that it suddenly vanished into thin air, I don't know how to explain it to anyone. Even the librarian didn't believe me and I am afraid that if continue to try and convince her that the book exists, she will think that I am crazy. I wanted to think na panaginip lang ito, pero alam kong hindi. I need to get to the bottom of this. I need to know what that book was all about.

Habang lutang ako sa pag-iisip ay biglang may bumulong sa aking pangalan. Out of habit, hindi ko pinansin ang tumawag sa akin dahil alam ko namang iinisin nila ako. Patuloy siya sa pagtawag sa akin nang hindi ko siya pinansin ay kinuhit niya ang kanang balikat ko. Nabigla naman ako kaya biglang lumipad ang aking kamay at sinapak ang kamay niya. Napaangat ako ng tingin at nakita ko sa kanyang mata ang takot at bigla nang bawiin niya ang kanyang kamay. Agad naman ako nakaramdam ng konsensya nang makita ang mukha niya. I can't help it. My body reflexes reacted so fast that I couldn't even think ahead and just slapped her hand directly. Yumuko na lamang siya at nag-ayos ulit ng upo.

"Hi, um, sorry," Agad ko namang sabi as I sincerely aplogized ngunit hindi siya kumibo.

Nagpatuloy ako, "Sorry kung nasapak ko ang kamay mo. Nagulat lang kasi talaga ako kasi hindi ako sanay na may gumagano'n sa 'kin," pagpapaliwanag ko.

"Okay lang," tanging sagot niya.

I nodded in response and sat back properly on my seat. This is getting awkward. I can feel the tension rising between us and I don't like this feeling. I feel guilty because of slapping her hand suddenly but I can't blame myself for doing sp because I don't want other people touching me except my Mom. Was my apology enough? Do I still need to do something para mawala yung galit niya sa akin? Should I beg for her forgiveness?

I started to get anxious. I bit my lip as I tap my armrest with my fingers and I could hear my nails hitting the wooden plank one by one. Ano ba ang kailangan kong gawin para mawala ang tension sa aming dalawa?

"Hi, um, ano pala ang pangalan mo?" I asked

Her eyes immediately went to mine at biglang sumigla ang mukha niya. "Sophia. Sophia Tuazon. Pwede mo rin ako tawaging Soph. Nice to meet you, Sydney," she happily said.

I smiled back. "Nice to meet you too, Soph. Teka, ba't alam mo pangalan ko?" tanong ko.

"Nagpakilala ka kaya kanina tapos sabi mo Sydney Paralejo pangalan mo kaya ayon," pagpapaliwanag niya.

"Oh, okay," tumango na lamang ako at ibinalik ang aking mga mata sa harap sa blackboard.

After knowing each other's names, I'm glad that the tension between us was already gone. Hindi na awkward sa pakiramdam at nakikita ko sa gilid ng aking mga mata na masaya siyang nakikinig rin sa kanyang upuan.

I get it that I shouldn't be deceived by her looks or her kind approach because we don't know if she's like the rest of the girls here who all hate me for nonsense reasons. Hindi natin alam kung acting lang pala itong pinapakita niya sa akin so I have to be extra careful in socializing with her. I don't want to jump to conclusions but that's reality. Some people will act as if they side with you but in the end, you get betrayed. I would never let myself be in that situation ever again. What happened earlier was a big mistake. Maybe the reason why I reached for Chloe's hand is that I was touched that a person volunteered to help me stand up, but then as expected, I was betrayed. Kailangan ko muna mag-observe sa mga galaw ni Sophia. I don't want to be deceived again.

Up till our last period, I wasn't able to properly focus on the discussion because my mind was still boggled by what happened at the library. Since the book mentioned about dreams, does this mean something will happen in my dreams later as I sleep? I won't sleep then if that's the case. But not sleeping would be dangerous to my health and would only lead to me drowsing in school the day after.

"Okay, class. Pwede na kayong umuwi. See you again tomorrow," sabi ng aming huling guro para sa araw na ito.

"Salamat po, ma'am," tugon namin pabalik.

I made my way out of the room first so that I can arrive home early. Parang may narinig ako na tumawag sa pangalan ko ngunit binalewala ko ito at tuluyang naglakad palabas ng gate ng eskwelahan. As usual, I walked on my way home. It feels nice, actually. The air hitting my skin, the clouds, and peach skies in my view, and the sound of birds flocking in midair. I needed this. Especially with what happened earlier, I need some fresh air to clear my mind and think things out. I stopped walking nang may naisip ako. What if I will tell Mom about the book? Or what happened in the library? Siguro may alam siya tungkol dito. Because of that, I hastened my pace on the way home.

Around 5:30 in the afternoon, nakarating na ako sa bahay and I entered our house. Nakikita ko na nakatalikod si Mama habang may hinihiwa sa mesa. I greeted her and she looked up at me happily.

"Oh, anak, nauwi ka na pala," she said as she looked back down to chop off the rest of the carrots.

Considering the vegetables that are placed on top of the table, I can say that Mom will be cooking pinakbet for dinner. Isa rin kung bakit palaging gulay ang ulam namin na dapat sa isang araw ay makakain kami g gulay ay dahil paborito ko ito. Kahit anong gulay ay gusto ko kaya't walang problema si Mama sa mga niluluto niya para sa aming dalawa.

"Opo, Ma," sabi ko naman pabalik at pumunta sa kinaroroonan niya para magmano.

Pagkatapos kong magmano ay hindi muna ako pumunta sa aking kwarto. Instead, I pulled a chair, placed it in front of her, and sat on it. Nakahanda na sa utak ko ang mga itatanong ko sa kanya patungkol sa nangyari kanina.

"Kamusta ang unang araw ng klase, anak?" she asked.

"Mabuti naman... siguro," sinabi ko ang huling salita nang napakahina.

"Siguro? Bakit?" She stopped chopping the squash and shifted all of her attention to me instead. Hindi ko nga alam na sa hina ng sinabi ko ay maririnig pa rin pala ni Mama.

"Kasi, Ma. May nangyari kanina," I gulped.

"Kanina? Sa 'yo? Anong nangyari sa 'yo?" sabi niya nang magkasalubong ang kilay.

On my way home earlier, I have already thought of questions to ask my Mom so I thought to myself that this would be a perfect time.

"Ma, feeling ko kapag i-explain ko sa 'yo ay tatawanan mo lang ako," pangunguna ko. Talaga naman kasing imposibleng mangyari 'yong nangyari sa akin. But I still want to give it a shot.