Dreams and Wonders

Chapter 9

[Sydney Paralejo's POV]

Habang nag-iisip ako ay napadaan ako sa main hallway ng eskelahan. I can't help but feel relieved as the nostalgic feeling flowed within me. I walked as the sound of my shoes was the only thing I hear stomping the hallway. The doors of the classroom were still the same, only a bit pale because the paint is starting to wear off. I guess these doors need some new painting. As I scraped my finger across the windows, some were still dusty and some didn't have any dust at all. I guess some students forgot to clean some windows during the Brigada Eskwela.

I continued to walk across the long hallway and I can still remember how I got lost in this hallway during my first day of class back when I was still in grade 7. Hindi ko makalimutan na para akong maiyak dahil hindi ko mahanap ang room ko. It was until a teacher, who happened to be my adviser, escorted me to my room and was shocked that I was one of her students. She was the only teacher who never asked me about my Mom back then. She became my role model as I can see in her that she's unbothered and professional.

I switched back to reality and eventually arrived at the library. I stopped in my tracks and took a peek at the window, wishing there would be no people other than me and the librarian. Most students tend to just go in here to spill some of their gossip and get scolded by the librarian afterward. They deserve that but I don't know why they just never learn. Pwede naman silang doon sa labas magchismisan para palakasan sila ng boses doon.

As I entered the room, I was greeted by a cold smile from the librarian. I guess she's not having a good time on the first day of class. I smiled back and roamed my eyes around the hall. I could smell the pages of the books from where I am standing which ignited the excitement within me. Para akong nanibago sa amoy ng mga pahina ng libro. I missed this scent. Agad akong naglakad sa harap ng librarian at nag log-in sa attendance sheet.

They have this sheet na kung saan if plano mong magbasa ay kailangan mo mag-log-in such as ilagay ang pangalan, section, at pirma. The reason why they do this is that the library has a monthly reward for those students who frequently visit the library. The reward includes taking any book you like from the library. I even won "bookworm of the month" twice and they allowed me to take any book I liked back then.

After logging in to the attendance sheet, I smiled again at the librarian at dumiretso na ako sa mga bookshelf. Habang nilalampasan ko ang mga estanteng puno ng mga nakatambak na libro, I can't help but smile and slide my fingers along the book covers. I definitely missed this library. For me, this is my safe place. No one ever bothered to raise their voices at me here since it is in the school policy to observe silence whenever visiting the library. Plus, the librarian has known me for ages and we became friends since then. Her face looks like she's always mad but no, that's just her resting face. We often talk whenever I have some time to spare.

Nakarating na ako sa dulo ng library kung saan bigla akong napahinto nang may nakita akong isang libro na kakaiba ang kulay kumpara sa mga katabi nito. My forehead creased as I saw a bright, maroon-colored book stacked in between different encyclopedias. I am very much sure na nalibot ko na itong library all my life and this is the first time I saw this kind of book.

I don't know this feeling pero parang may nagsasabi sa akin na kunin sa estante ang libro na iyon. I know it's just my sub-conscious self telling me that, but still, anong meron sa libro na 'to?

Out of curiosity, I slowly walked toward the book and was shocked when there was nothing written on its spine. Usually, nakalagay sa gilid ng mga libro ang mga title nito pati ang author. But this particular book is kinda strange since nothing was written on its side.

"Baka lumang-luma na 'to kaya nabura lang ang pamagat sa gilid," sabi ko sa sarili ko.

Since curiosity kills the cat, I grabbed the book, and suddenly felt a stingy feeling flowing through my hand. Bigla kong nabitawan ang libro as I covered my mouth to muffle my voice because of the pain. Agad ako lumingon sa librarian at napabuntong-hininga naman nang nakitang hindi niya iyon napansin. I'm at the farthest part of the library, after all. Ibinaling ko ang aking atensyon sa libro na nasa sahig. I could feel goosebumps as I read the title on the front cover of the book.

"Dreams and Wonders," bulong ko.

I tried to look at the bottom of the title but it seems like there's nothing written there. Inisip ko na baka nasa loob ng pages ang pangalan ng author.

Hindi na ako nagsayang pa ng oras at umupo sa sahig ng library. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay para akong nasa mga libro na binabasa ko, na tuwing may babasahin sila sa library ay hindi sila umuupo sa mga upuan kundi sa sahig. I grabbed the book with my left hand and flipped it to page 1.

"This book better be good," I awkwardly said to myself.

Dahan-dahan kong binuklat ang unang pahina ng kakaibang libro. As I tried to flip the first page over to the other side of the book, naramdaman kong isa-isang nagsitayuan ang balahibo sa likod ng aking leeg nang naramdaman ang bigat ng bawat pahina. It's not that heavy but the its weight and thinkness compared to other books are very evident to the point na mapagkakamalan siyang maraming mga pahina.

I stopped midway after realizing that the air conditioner wasn't even turned on and the windows were all closed shut, but that did not stop my curiosity. Nagpatuloy ako sa aking ginagawa at tulala kong tinignan ang mga salita na nakasulat harap ikalawang pahina dahil hindi ko maintindihan.

Based on the writing style, I assumed that it was written in Greek. My face was puzzled as I looked at the words and since I did not understand any of them, I turned the page again to the other side, only to see English words on page 3. Agad naman ako napabuntong-hininga dahil akala ko Greek words lang ang makikita ko all throughout the book at mayroon naman palang English na nakasulat.

I looked at it once again at nabasa na may English translation na nakalagay sa ibaba. Then I realized it might be the English translation of the Greek words I read earlier. Agad kong binasa ang nakasulat na naka-Ingles.

"Welcome, stranger. To a world full of uncertainties," sabi sa unang mga salita sa ikatlong pahina. Kumunot naman ang noo ko sa mga katagang iyon.

"A world full of uncertainties?" I asked myself.

I continued reading, "Have you ever wondered what dreams are all about? Our mind is engulfed with different series of events as we sleep at night, some are weird and unexplainable and some dreams feel like a vision that will happen in the future,"

All of the sudden, parang ang buong atensyon ko ay nakaayon lamang sa libro. Na para bang gusto nito na basahin ko hanggang sa dulo. Hindi ko maalis ang mga mata ko sa mga salita at patuloy na nagbasa sa mga sumunod na talata.

"Usually, people think dreams have no meaning at all. But what if I tell you that they are wrong?"

Wrong? For me, dreams are nonsense. I don't really get why people connect it to reality when dreams happen in our imaginations as we sleep. From the word 'imaginary', basically, it is non-existent.

"Our dreams are connected to the real world in a different dimension. Have you experienced deja vu? Or the feeling of having already experienced the present situation," sabi sa nakasulat dito.

I hear that from other people as well. Sinasabi nila na may mga panahon na parang nangyari na at hindi nila alam na napanaginipan na nila ang pangyayaring ito. Is it only a coincidence? I think yes. There's no way dreams would come true. That would be unexplainable to science and no sources would back that up.

"I am sure you don't believe in anything I just said, but the fact that this book is in your hands right now and you are reading it, only means you are among the chosen ones. Therefore, stranger, I will let you discover the power of dreams yourself," bigla naman akong kinabahan nang nahulaan ng libro ang nasa isip ko. And the way it is written is like it is talking to me.

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagbabasa sa ikatlong pahina hanggang naabutan ako ng 10 minuto and I flipped the book to another page. I guessed it right. Konti lang nga ang mga pahina into. On the fourth page of the book, bumungad sa akin ang isang sulatin.

I noticed that it was written in stanza form kung kaya't napasabi ako sa sarili na baka isa itong tula. I don't know what feeling this is but I feel like my gut is telling me to close the book and just leave the library right there and then. But this book is the weirdest book yet that I have read in my life and my curiosity will not stop bothering me if I stop now.

Napansin ko na sa ibabaw ng tula ay may nakalagay na mga salita.

"Chant these words, stranger. For you will attain power."

Out of habit, I chanted the words out loud para malaman ko kung ano ang kahulugan into.

I call upon you, the Greek God of dreams

I call upon Morpheus in silent screams

To change the future, to control the time

I ask for thy message, my divine prime

An altered reality is in your hands

The future awaits, all for your demands

A secret we must keep, you and I

For if someone knows, you will say goodbye

I, now, bestow you, the power of Morpheus

Then you will see a new world so glorious

To do good or evil, the choice is on you

Close your eyes and all your dreams will come true

Nang matapos kong bigksain ang huling salita sa linya na 'yon, biglang lumindol ang buong library na para bang katapusan na ng mundo. Nagsigalawan ang mga litrato ng mga worldclass writers sa dingding at ang mga libro sa bookshelves ay isa-isang nahuhulog sa sahig habang mahigpit akong humawak sa libro na 'yon. Parang alon kung umagos ang mga libro. Out of instinct, agad naman akong bumaba sa aking paa at tinakpan ang aking ulo gamit ang isa pang libro na hinablot ko sa sahig. Nagpatuloy ang malakas na lindol ng isang minuto bago ko sinubukan tumayo ngunit sa lakas ng lindol ay napasandal ako sa estante ng mga libro sa gilid ko.