✔ Dreamcaster

Capitulum 15

Nagising si Cornelia sa amoy ang apoy.

'Sunog?' 

That idea alone was enough to jolt her awake, ready to call the fire department. Pero imbes na ang kanyang cellphone, isang kamay ang nahawakan ng dalaga sa kanyang tabi. Confused, she traced the hand to its owner until she met the face of the Dreamcaster, soundlessly sleeping beside her.

Doon lang niya naalala ang mga nangyari.

'Nasa Land of Nightmares nga pala kami,' she thought in dismay. Malayong-malayo sa malambot niyang higaang napapalibutan ng mga pintura, papel, at paintbrush.

Cornelia's eyes wandered to her arm. Nakabenda na ito at hindi na gaanong kumikirot. Hindi niya alam kung guni-guni niya lang ba kanina na may narinig siyang boses ng babae. For a moment, she thought Dave brought her somewhere with a strong smell of herbs and spices. Pero nang mapansin niya ang natirang healing balm at ointment sa tabi ng binata, Cornelia knew it was probably just a dream.

'Hindi naman siguro siya mag-aasksaya pa ng panahong dalhin ako sa manggagamot, 'di ba? He doesn't really care.'

Cornelia tucked a few strands of hair behind her ears, wishing that she, at least, had some moisturizer with her. 'Lalala pa yata ang pimples ko sa disyertong ito, hay buhay!' She sighed.

Base sa kanyang nakikita, nasa Oasis pa sila. Hindi niya alam kung paano nakakuha ng tent at ng mga sapin si Dave, but she knew it wouldn't be too far-fetched if he magically conjured these up, just like what he did with her clothes.

"Ang dami palang powers ng isang Dreamcaster..."

Unknowingly, her eyes trailed back to the sleeping man.

Ngayon niya lang napansing mukhang anghel pala si Dave 'pag tulog.

'Sana tulog ka na lang palagi,' she snickered and watched him sleep. Ang hirap isipin na may supernatural powers ang isang 'to at na hindi siya tumanda kahit na ilang dekada na niyang ginagawa ang kanyang trabaho. It defied all laws of nature. Can time really stop for someone who can guard and manipulate human dreams?

"Ano ka ba talaga?"

Cornelia inched closer, as if getting a closer look at him can provide the answers to her unspoken inquiry.

Suddenly, his voice jolted her from her thoughts.

"Your hand."

"A-Ano?"

"Hawak mo pa rin ang kamay ko."

Nagmulat ng mga mata si Dave, a teasing smile on his lips.

Embarrassed, she quickly let go of his hand and scooted away, pretending to stare at the lamp beside them. Mahahalata kaya nito ang pamumula ng mga pisngi niya? 'Damn, this is so embarrassing!' At kung alam pala nitong hawak niya ang kamay niya...

"Ibig sabihin kanina ka pa gising?"

Umayos ng pagkakaupo si Dave at walang bahid ng hesitasyong sumagot, "Hindi naman ako natutulog." Na para bang ito na ang pinakanatural na bagay sa kanya. She wanted to laugh just in case it was another sick joke, pero sa ekspresyon ni Dave, mukhang seryoso nga siya.

"Weh? I mean, bakit hindi ka natutulog? Don't tell me the Dreamcaster is immune to sleep, too."

"Let's just say it's an unpleasant side effect," he answered, in an attempt to brush off the topic. "Lalo't wala rin naman akong mga panaginip."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Cornelia sa isiniwalat ng kanyang kasama. A boy who can manipulate dreams... has no dreams? Oh, the irony!

Dahil dito, dumoble pa ang mga tanong na nabuo sa isip niya. Bago pa man siya makapang-usisa, tumayo na si Dave, kinuha ang lampara, at pinagmasdan ang kabuuan ng Oasis. Hindi tulad kanina, para bang tumumal na ang mga katawang nagpaparoo't parito sa pamilihan. At a distance, Cornelia can hear the merchants still trying to woo passers-by.