Ocean of Feathers

Chapter 135

The short story is dedicated to Aliyah Kathleen Ricasio. Thank you for helping me during muting days!

Chapter 135

I've stories of some women who had their dreams with a stranger, some were their lovers, friends, and even a family member. As someone single since birth, it was very intriguing to see my dreams with a man— as if it were my past. And to think that it was not a normal dream, he was my lover and my dreams with him were always this . . .

Marahas akong napabangon, pawis na pawis ako at habol ko ang aking paghinga. Ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng buong katawan ko kaya agad na akong umalis sa kama at naligo na ako.

His name was Ramon, and in each of my dreams— he was my lover who was too in love with me.

I was brushing my teeth with my messy hair when I remembered my previous dream with him. Halos napasabunot at mapapadyak na ako sa sobrang pagkainis.

He was already there! He's already teasing me with his kisses, pababa na siya at handa na akong ihain sa kanya ang lahat nang bigla na lang akong nagising.

What's different about my dream? Kung iyong iba ay hindi na naalala ang mukha ng mga nakikita nila sa panaginip, ako'y tandang-tanda ko. Ang ngisi ko, ang paraan ng halik niya at ang pagtawag niya sa pangalan ko.

"Shit! If you're real, Ramon, sa tingin mo ba ay hahayaan pa kitang makatakas sa akin? Plus you're damn handsome! Hindi na kita pakakawalan pa."

Iyon ang sumpa ko sa sarili ko nang araw na iyon.

Not until one of my friends invited me to join this summer outing, and there right in front of me, with her other friends playing under the sun with a beach ball, I did recognize him— Ramon.

"Friends, let me introduce you my best friend, Aliyah. She's single, ah? Baka may single dyan." Halos mahampas ko si Jean sa paraan ng pagpapakilala niya sa akin.

"Hi!" bati nila.

Si Ramon lang iyong natigilan at biglang tinamaan ng bola.

"Bakit hindi muna tayo pumasok, Jean? Maghanda muna tayo sa cottage."

Kahit nang nasa cottage na kami ay nagkakahulihan na kami ni Ramon ng tingin sa isa't isa. Kaya nang sumapit na iyong inuman naming lahat, nagulat na lang ako nang tumabi siya sa akin.

Sinabi ko sa mga kasama ko na hindi ako masyadong umiinom.

"I'll take her drink."

"T-thank you."

I thought this would continue to be awkward for us, lalo na't alam ko na tila nakikilala niya ako, kaya nang bigla siyang lumapit sa akin at bumulong, nagwala na ang tibok ng puso ko.

"Would you like to go somewhere else?"

I didn't care if he was a complete stranger or I was just delusional with my strange dream, because when I nodded at him. Magkasunod kaming nagpaalam dalawa na matutulog na.

Before I knew it, he already booked a hotel room and we were torridly kissing and undressing each other as if it would kill us if we stopped. Our clothes were sent flying, my back fell on the bed and Ramon kneeled between my legs.

"God, where have you been in my life, love?"