Aurora Borealis

Chapter 59 - Can You Lie For Me?

>> • LAUREN • <<

I was woken by the a drop of something cold touching my skin and my lips. The pitter-patter drops as the midnight sky weeps out slowly. I can barely see the moon and the stars since they're being shadowed by the clouds.

I should've brought an umbrella.

I don't want to go inside yet. They might still be mad at me for saying those things at him. Maybe I shouldn't give them an awkward encounter with me from when I go inside. Mamaya na lang ako uuwi.

I walked towards the edge of the rooftop and let the rain drench me. It reminds me of the nights where I used to escape the house to play basketball at the public court because I don't feel enough.

The only thing that stops me from spending the whole midnight bruising my knees and exhausting my shins from succession of tries is the rain itself. It kinda ruins my mood when raindrops start falling.

I watched as some people down the road ran with books or their bags over their heads. Some are protected by their umbrellas, some simply doesn't care if they're soaking all the way inside and merrily played with the puddle of water by the side of the road.

Naudlot ang pagmumuni-muni ko nang makarinig ako ng malakas na kalabog sa bakal na nanggagaling mula sa pinto ng rooftop. Hinarap ko naman iyon.

My eyes widened in shock. I held my breath as I saw who stood there. I tried mouthing a word, yet not even a sound came out. Patuloy lamang sa pangangatal ang aking labi.

"You're here..." anas niya.

All I can hear is the air and the rain that drops above us. My feet's getting cold and my heartbeat's starting to get erratic. My wet hair's getting on the way of my sight as it sticks all around the corners of my face.

He took a step forward after he recovered from panting, causing me to step backward.

"This is not true... this is not true. I'm just dreaming, am I?" I kept on muttering to myself.

"I'm just dreaming. I'm just dreaming!"
I started shouting at him. "You're not real!"

Is he going to kill me because I didn't love him back?

I tried pinching my arm for countless times as I walked a few more step backwards. The sole of my shoe touched the edge of the rooftop, making me stop from moving to check what lies downward from the rooftop.

A shriek came out on top of my lungs as he pulled me away from the edge. Napapikit na lamang ako ng mariin at hinintay kung dito na ba ako magigising sa bangungot.

Agad akong napamulat nang maramdaman ang haplos ng kaniyang daliri kasabay ng pagkatanggal ng mga buhok na nakadikit sa pisngi ko.

"Why are you walking backwards? You'll fall."

Eh?

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nasilayan ang mukha ni Barron. Maamo ang mukha nitong nakatingin sa 'kin.

Still, that doesn't reassure me. I pushed him away in confusion.

"You're dead... nagdedeliryo lang ako... yeah. That must be it."

He stared at me as I convinced myself that I'm just losing my mind due to exhaustion.