The Dream Catcher

The Dream Catcher (3)

It has been days since it kept happening, I also stopped sleeping sa takot na baka sa susunod hindi na ako maka takas.

"Hey, you okay? Mukha ka ng zombie dahil sa eyebags mo." tanong ng workmate ko, I saw how the others stared at me too na may pag aalala sa expression nila. I heaved a sigh.

"I'm fine, kulang lang sa tulog" anunsyo ko.

"Oo te, kulang nga, kulang ng ilang araw. Seriously, hindi ka ba natutulog?" tumayo ako at dumiretso sa office pantry at nag timpla ng kape to keep myself from sleeping.

"Anong klaseng tanong 'yan, syempre natutulog pero di nga lang sapat, dami kong iniisip e but I swear I'm fine." I faked laugh, hindi na siya nagtanong pa at kumuha na lang rin ng kape niya. hindi ko nga pa pala natatapos 'yong Dream Catcher, ang dami na kasing bagong stories na dumating at need i-proofread. I'm really planning on finishing it as soon as possible baka kasi nandoon ang mga sagot sa tanong ko. It's been actually 2 days since my last nightmare, after that I stopped sleeping kahit gaano pa ako ka antok, kahit gaano ako ka pagod, I keep doing things that'll keep me awake.

Pabalik na sana ako sa upuan ko nang bigla akong mahilo at muntik ng matumba. My colleagues rushed to help me get on my feet. Nakahawak lang ako sa ulo ko at nahihilo pa rin.

"'Yan na nga ba sinasabi ko e, nasobrahan ka sa pagpupuyat." pa nenermon noong workmate ko na panay tanong kanina. Lumabas naman ang head namin dahil binalita sa kanya ang nangyari sa'kin.

"Just for today Paige, go home and rest. Hindi ka makakapag trabaho ng maayos if you're in that state." yumuko lang ako, kahit naman umuwi ako ngayon, hindi pa rin naman ako makakapag pahinga. Ayaw kong matulog but I know eventually it'll kill me soon. Lintek nga naman oh! hindi nga ako mamamatay sa bangungot pero mamamatay naman sa puyat.

Sinunod ko ang advice ng head namin at umuwi. Nakaupo lang ako sa sofa at nagpa-planong manood ng movie when my phone rang. It's Lizzy, don't tell me umabot na sa kaniya 'yong nangyari kanina. I picked it up at nilapat sa tainga.

"Hey Liz, sup?" I answered trying to be enthusiastic para hindi halatang nanghihina na ako.

"I heard what happened." she stated. I knew it, sinabi nanaman siguro nila.

"Yeah about that, it's not that of a big deal. Kulang lang talaga ako sa tulog." I confessed

"It is Paige. You know that's not healthy. By the way, I'm almost near your apartment." napatayo naman agad ako at muntik ng matumba dahil nahihilo pa rin ako.

"Liz hindi na kailangan besides magpapahinga ako so walang mag aasikaso sa'yo." pagbibigay ko ng excuse. I honestly still don't have plans on sleeping and if pupunta siya, she'll force me to.

"Too late, nasa baba na ako. Hintayin mo ako." she hung up before I could even say a word. Goddamit! It hasn't been a minute when I heard my doorbell rang. I fixed myself first pero kahit gaano ka kapal ang make up na ilagay ko, hindi ko na maitatago ang eyebags ko and the fact na namumula na rin ang mata ko. I opened the door and she greeted me with a warm hug, may dala rin siyang foods.

"Have you eaten?" I shook my head. We both went to the kitchen, she placed all the food she brought and faced me. She gasped when she took a closer look of my face.

"My God Paige! What the hell happened to you?" she examined my face at bahagya naman akong lumayo saka naglakad at kumuha ng paglalagyan ng pagkain.

"I told you, I'm fine. Medyo stress lang sa work." pagsisinungaling ko

"Ilang days ka ng hindi natutulog?" she asked, I stopped for a second thinking if I should tell her the truth, but in the end, I decided to trust her.

"2" ikling sagot ko, I saw how she creased her forehead and gestured me to sit.

"Kumain na muna tayo and afterwards matutulog ka." biglang bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko. No I don't want.

"I can't Liz, I don't want to." I shook my head repeatedly.

"Why not?" she stared at me waiting to give her an answer.

"You don't understand." sagot ko rito.

"Then make me, make me understand Paige, tell me what's bothering you." she said calmly as she caressed my hand.

I took a deep breath saka tiningnan siya. She gave me a smile and encouraged me to speak up like she did when we first met.

"It's the nightmares. It won't stop Liz, I tried all the meditations we did before but it's not working." I croaked as tears began to fall from my eyes. She stood and went to hug me while caressing my back.

"Your past is starting to haunt you again. Did something happen para ma provoke ito?" I shook my head, I can't remember anything.

"No, bigla nalang bumalik and hindi 'yon ang issue ba't ayaw ko na matulog." sagot ko rito, she broke off the hug and looked at me.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"It's the shadow Liz, the shadow that kept chasing me. Natatakot ako na sa susunod kong pagtulog hindi na ako maka takas!" I sobbed and she hugged me tighter.

"We're gonna find out how are we gonna stop that okay? I promise you, I'm here." hindi ko alam kung paano namin to i-fi-figure out. I'm scared. I'm really scared.

After our heart-to-heart talk we finished our lunch. Sinamahan niya rin ako sa kwarto para makapag pahinga. I'm really tired, gusto kong matulog hindi ko na ata kaya labanan.

"Liz?" I called, almost asleep

"Hmm?" she hummed

"Gisingin mo ako kapag nagsisimula na akong bangungutin. Make a noise or splash water in my face para magising ako." bilin ko rito, sobrang bigat na talaga ng mata ko before I could even hear her response, tuluyan na akong nakatulog...