Dreamland (ONGOING)

CHAPTER 5: Awake

"NO!" I shouted as I woke up. I looked at my surroundings and saw my dad and the robot nurse currently looking at me. I can see worry in their eyes. I looked at my dad once again, teary-eyed. I am at awe. Dad still looks at me the same as he looks at me before. 

"DAD!" I couldn't helped it. Tumayo ako mula sa hospital bed and welcomed my dad with such  warm embrace. I missed my dad so much. After, everything that happened I can still feel his care and love for me. 

"I'm so sorry nakalimutan ko, Dad. I'm so so sorry" I kneeled in front of him, while crying my tears out. Lumuhod rin si papa at niyakap ako ng sobra. We stayed in that position for a while. We were filled with that feeling of longing and by that simple hug, every pain, sorrow and sufferings the both of us experienced somehow vanished. 

We both stood up. Dad looked at my face proudly and happily. "You've grown so beautifully, kasing ganda ng mommy mo" He slowly pinched my nose, like how he used to before. I know this is such a new feeling and situation for me, but this is my dad, no matter how many years have passed since we saw each other and felt each other's presence, the love we have will always live forever in our hearts and that love just strengthen, now that we finally have each other once again.

I was so overwhelmed by the moment, that I didn't realized the life that I was about to leave. Si mama, Si papa, Si Marky and especially, si Angelo. They may not be real, or just a mere creation of my mind, the feelings that I shared towards them are real. 

I was taken aback. Dad kind of noticed yung pag-iba ng expression ko. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly. "Its just that..." I don't know how to tell him this. "Don't be offended, dad or what, but my life...before..." he then slowly caressed my hair. "I understand, I know that you loved you're family before and that boy.." He knows? 

"How did you know--?" 

"I linked your minds with theirs. Para naman kahit wala si Dad sa tabi mo, meron pang mga tao na magpapakita sayo ng pagmamahal, at sa kanila din, merong isang Kaila, na nagmamahal sa kanila"

"Linked? So they exist--?? LIKE REALLY EXIST?" he laughed softly.

"You're also a genius, like your mom, and yes, they exist, but their bodies are not here in our lab, maybe somehow in another country? I'm not really that sure" by what Dad said I felt relief. Its a good thing to know that they are real, like real-real and not just any...dream, but still, half of me is like losing hope, what if they wake up, they don't know me anymore? What if Angelo doesn't know me anymore?

"But today, Avi. I prefer you to rest here for awhile. Your mind have been through so much and I can't--"

"DAD?" he looked at me. I breathed deeply before asking. 

"yep?" 

"Can I go back...?" his eyes widened. Makikita sa expression niyang nagulat siya. 

"Avi, wh-why?" tanong niya habang hinuhubad ang lab jacket niya. He was somehow tensed by what I asked.

"Its just that.. I want to.. atleast say goodbye.. 'Cause you know I know and you know how much I loved those people I met there, in my dream or what you called that.. So, please.." he smiled. He then let me sit on a chair. Dad kneeled down, to level our eyes. "I don't want to stop you from doing that, really, and I don't want to be a villain or a boundary from your family before in dreamland, but Avi..." He looked at me with full despair and sadness, and by that hindi ko ring mapigilang malungkot. I think this will not be a happy response..

"A human's brain and body is capable of using that incubator once..and only once." He pointed at the incubator, where I woke up from. "Once you already got out of that incubator, specifically the DI-219, you can never get inside it ever again. Its critical" I felt tears filling my eyes. So, hindi ko na makikita pa si Angelo? Si Mama, Si papa, Si Marky?

That thought slowly broke my heart. Its somehow tearing me up inside. I just then noticed that I was already running out of breath. My dad noticed my situation that he called out the robotic nurse to get a nebulizer. I also forgot that I used to have asthma before, and now I still freaking have it. 

"Just keep on inhaling and exhaling, Avi. Nancy! Can you please hurry up!" I then saw the robotic nurse speeding up its metallic legs, holding a nebulizer. It then gave me the nebulizer and I started inhaling and exhaling out of the mouthpiece. I was panting so hard, while tears gushed down my face. Sorrow filled my system. I know this is my new life now, but its not that easy to let go of my old life. Yun talaga yung buhay na kinalakihan ko, and hindi ko makakayang ganun-ganun ko lang sila bibitawan.

"Please... po.. kahit isang beses nalang.. Just one last time, please.." I kneeled down once again, begging. Even just a day, a day that I can be with them..please.." he looked at the robot nurse. I looked at them with my teary eyes with full of hope. Please... just please..

Dad gasped slowly. "This will be the last. I will link your heads once again but only for 18 hours.. I can't program any longer, cause that would really be critical for--" I then just felt uplifting happiness. I hugged my dad tightly, out of gratitude. 

"Thank you talaga, dad. I don't know how to repay you sa lahat nang ginawa mo para sakin" we then let go of each other's hugs. 

"You don't need to pay me anything. Just you coming back, and remembering me once again is more than enough" he slowly pinched my nose once again. "Nancy! prepare the DI-219 and program everything, stat" Dad demanded to the robot nurse.

I then walked my way to the incubator and slowly laid down. "You have to experience the same pain as earlier, as we undergo programming. You sure you can handle it" with full confidence I nodded.

"See you later, Avi. Take care. I love you" I smiled. My dad is the best.

"Thanks dad, I love you as well." He slowly closed the incubator. I then saw the robot nurse, Nancy pushing some buttons once again in the control system. I'm ready...for the last. I slowly closed my eyes as oxygen filled the whole incubator. I closed my eyes and entered dreamland once again.

Its time... Its time to say goodbye..