Dream of me again. [COMPLETED]

Chapter 12

As Cedric wandered on the nothingness, he cannot stop thinking and worrying about Valerie. Kanina pa siya palakad-lakad sa kawalan at naghihintay na managinip ulit ang babae. Hindi niya alam kung bakit iba ang aura ni Valerie sa kanyang nakaraang panaginip. Sa limang taon na pagkakakulong sa panaginip niya ay ngayon lang niya ito nakita.

Valerie's dream was super short but extremely painful. In her last dream, she was just sitting on the corner and staring blankly in front. The scenery is dark—very dark that Cedric almost thought that she's not dreaming yet. Cedric tried to approach Valerie and waved his hands in front of her but she didn't even flinch. He also tried to call her name but the girl didn't respond. It's as if he was not there, like air, or a ghost. It's as if he doesn't exist. Cedric thought at first that it was just a memory that's why she didn't see him, but then he realized that it was not. She remained still while staring at the nothingness. That only lasted for a second because her face slowly broke down into a painful gaze. Those eyes landed on Cedric—or maybe in his direction. 

Valerie still didn't speak, but her eyes screamed emotions. Those brown eyes looked at him like she was pleading, begging, asking for help. She looked very lonely, sad, and needed to be comforted. 

Pero nagulat si Cedric nang bigla siyang magsalita. Ang boses niya ay punong-puno ng lamig, poot, at lungkot. 

"I  hate you." 

Those three words gave him chills. He was hurt for a moment pero naalala niya na panaginip lang pala ito ni Valerie at hindi siya nito nakikita. Ngunit kahit hindi siya ang sinabihan nito ay nasaktan pa rin siya para sa taong tinutukoy ni Valerie. 

Whoever Valerie's referring to must have hurt her a lot. 

If that person made her sad like this, that person must be an asshole.

Pagkatapos magsalita ni Valerie ay bigla na lang siyang naglaho na parang bula. Nagtaka naman si Cedric at lumingon sa paligid upang tingnan kung saan siya nagpunta. Ngunit nang makalipas ang ilang minuto na tahimik pa rin ang paligid ay saka lang niya napagtanto na gising na ang babae.

Valerie never showed that side of her before, and it scares Cedric the most if he ever saw that pained expression again.

Akala nga ni Cedric ay niloloko lang siya nito o kaya ay may iba pang gagawin ngunit wala ng ibang nangyari. Nagtaka din siya dahil nangyari iyon noong birthday ni Valerie kaya nag-alala siya at inisip kung ano ang problema nito.

Hindi niya tuloy alam kung tama ba na itanong ang tungkol sa mga nangyari noong mga nakaraan niyang panaginip katulad ng kanyang lucid dreaming at sa koneksyon ng kanilang magulang.

Ang dami niyang gustong itanong at sabihin upang makahanap na ng kasagutan at makaalis na siya kaagad sa lugar na iyon ngunit hindi niya kayang dagdagan pa ang problema ni Valerie. 

Not now when her plate is full.

At kahit matagal na niyang gustong umalis doon ay tila may pumipigil sa kanya.

Ngayon ay nakapagpasya na siya: to help Valerie first before him.

***

Nagsimula ang panaginip ni Valerie sa isang madilim na lugar. Hindi alam ng babae kung nasaan siya ngayon, basta ang alam niya ay nananaginip na siya. 

"Hello?! Cedric?! Nasaan ka?!" Tahimik lang ang paligid at walang sumagot sa tanong niya.

Sumigaw ulit siya at nagbabakasakaling makita si Cedric ngunit wala pa rin ang lalaki. Nilibot niya ang paningin sa paligid upang hanapin si Cedric ngunit blanko lang ang nakikita niya.