The Senses

Chapter 4

My eyes flew open as the sunlight from my window came into my room. What was that? I held my chest, inhaling deep breaths to calm myself. Napahawak ako sa ulo ko dahil biglang sumakit ito, pumikit ako ng ilang segundo at unti unti rin itong nawala.

Hindi nagtagal ay ay kumatok si Seine sa pintuan, paniguradong narinig na naman niya ako mula sa labas. Binuksan ko ang pinto at nakita ko siya na tila ba nagaalala.

"Xavier? Are you okay? Narinig kita mula sa labas,? tanong niya sa akin.

"I just had a dream," maikling sagot ko sa kanya.

It looks like Seine knew better than to ask because she didn't press the matter. No doubt she became this considerate after years of hearing people's thoughts. She went out of the room and, with a final glance, she closed the door.

Ano ba talaga ang nakita ko? Was it a vision of the past? Alam kong ako ang batang iyon pero bakit hindi ko maalala ang mga nangyari. As far as I know, I have no uncle from both sides of the family. Sino ang lalaking iyon? Considering his age on that dream, I guess he's in his twenties now.

There is one inconsistency in that dream, why did my younger self knew about the gift when I, in the present, had no idea about it until a few days ago?

***

Pagdating ng gabi ay may kumatok sa pintuan ng unit namin, akala ko nagpadeliver si Seine ng pagkain but I was proven wrong, the face that greeted me beyond that door was Zero.

Nakasuot pa siya ng bulaklak na kwintas at flower printed shirt. Ngumiti siya sa akin at pumasok na sa unit.

"Xav! Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkita."

"Dalawang araw lang tayo hindi nagkita, bakit nakauwi ka na?"

"Xavier, para namang pinaaalis mo ako dito sa unit, gusto mo ba talagang kasama si Seine?" sabi ni Zero habang tumatawa na parang baliw.

Lumabas naman si Seine sa kwarto niya at ngumiti kay Zero, "Zero, nandito ka na pala."

"Yes, I brought souvenirs!", sabi niya habang hawak ang mga plastic bags.

Without futher ado, Zero gave us his souvenirs, a refrigerator magnet. I stared at it, unable to wrap my mind on the thought of why would Zero give us ref magnets. I looked at him and he nodded like a puppy, I just sighed and thanked him for his gift.

"Saan ka nga pala pumunta?" tanong ko.

"Something came up and I had some personal things to take care of," he said. "Enough about me. Seine, hindi ka nagsasabi na may surprise ka pala."

Napatingin naman ako kay Seine, "Anong sorpresa ang sinasabi niya?"

"Hindi mo alam? Hindi ko na sasabihin para may thrill," sabi ni Zero habang tumatawa.

Minsan talaga iniisip ko kung may sakit sa utak si Zero, palagi nalang kasi tumatawa sa lahat ng bagay.

"It's nothing,"  Seine assured me.

I found out what the surprise was about the next day at school in the cafeteria, I saw a girl who looked quite familiar to me even though I couldn't see her face. I walked towards her and before she turned, I realized who she was.

"Seine?"

Lumingon siya sa akin at ngumiti, "Xavier, what a coincidence."

So this is the surprise that Zero talked about. Tumingin ako sa kanya at tumango siya sa akin, ang hirap talaga kapag naririnig niya yung iniisip ko.

"Seine!"

Biglang isang babae ang yumakap kay Seine mula sa likod, I stared at her because she was quite famous for her beauty in school.