Naidlip si Annara habang lulan ng kotse ni Wicker na minamaneho nito. He's putting his eyes to her sleeping face and returning it to the road. His heart swelled with a smile.
Ilang sandali lang ay napansin niya ang mabilis na paggalaw ng mga mata nito habang natutulog. She's like having a dream in the middle of her sleep.
Wicker's brows furrowed. She's like running in her sleep with those gasping movement. Ano naman kaya ang napanagiginipan nito?
Mayamaya ay tinapik niya ito. "Hey, Annara, you alright?" he asked and while keeping his eyes on the road.
Nagising si Annara mula roon habang hinihingal nang bahagya. Tumango ito at mabilis na napatingin kay Wicker saka lumingon mula sa labas ng bintana. She doesn't want him to see the tear in her eyes. Agad niya iyong pinunasan.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "Kaya ayokong natutulog, palagi akong nananaginip," she added with a sigh.
"It's fine, you're okay, it's just a dream." He looked at her with his secured and worried eyes.
Huminga nang malalim si Annara habang pinanonood ang mga establisyimentong nadaraanan nila sa labas. Tahimik lang ito hanggang sa nakarating na sila sa parking lot ng mall.
"Hintayin mo na lang ako rito sa labas ng bookstore. Mabilis lang ako," ani Annara habang nasa tapat na sila ng bookstore ng mall.
"Okay, I'll wait you here," he said with a lift in the corner of his lips. He put his hands in his pockets and stood right there.
Nagtungo na si Annara sa loob ng malaking bookstore. She grabs anything she needed, iyong kailangan niya talaga at kasya lang sa budget na dala niya. She never expected a lot of people in the counter area with a long line. Kaya nagmadali na siyang kumpletuhin ang school supplies na kakailanganin niya at para pumila na.
Sarado ang dalawang counter ng bookstore na iyon hanggang sa nahati sila sa tatlong pila dahil ilang sandali lang ay may tumao na roon.
"Thank you, Ma'am, come again," the cashier staff thanked her as soon as she reaches the paperbag of her things. Tumango lang siya rito at ngumiti.
She left the bookstore and Wicker wasn't outside. She wandered her eyes around to find him, but he wasn't anywhere near.
"Saan naman kaya nagpunta ang lalaking 'yon?" tanong niya sa sarili at bahagya pang naglakad at luminga-linga sa paligid. Maraming tao sa mall noong mga oras na iyon, kaya medyo hirap din siyang hanapin ito kung nasaan man.
Sa gitna nang paglalakad niya ay nakita niya si Wicker na nakatayo sa tapat ng isang toy store. Pinagmamasdan nito ang mga laruan na naka-display sa harapan nito. Especially the cars with such expensive tags and prices.
His eyes were fixed on the set of toy cars. He never knew that Annara was staring at him being in love with those. He smiles nostalgically. Kahit naman siya ay mapapangiti nang ganoon kung ang mga laruan na iyon ay kanyang makikita.
A moment later, Wicker went inside and left with one on his hand. He bought one out of his desire and craving to buy it. It's a red medium sized box in a clear plastic bag.
"Mommy, I want that car!" Napalingon si Annara sa batang itinuturo ang laruang pinagmamasdan ni Wicker kanina.
"No, honey, I bought you one last time. Wala akong dalang pera ngayon. I'll buy you one next time, okay? Let's go."
BINABASA MO ANG
Strange Voices of the Dead
Mystery / Thriller"I feel more than infinite with you." When Adrian died, Annara, a student library assistant, began hearing ghostly voices. Later in life, she meets Wicker, who resembles him, and this changes everything, making her realize that those strange voices...
