✦✦✦
In a blink of an eye, I was standing here again—on a train—together with a few other passengers, terrified as we watched the rails heading in our direction begin to collapse right before our very own eyes. I flinched when I felt someone tugging at the hem of my shirt. I turned my head, only to see her shivering gaze filled with terror.
"Kyno, it's happening again." That was Cloud. Her voice was trembling. I noticed how her face was painted with a mix of emotions. She looked frightened (tila hindi makapaniwala at takot sa maaaring mangyari), and at the same time, she appeared to be losing hope.
Kinuha ko ang kamay niya at hinawakan ito nang mahigpit. Kahit pati ako ay kinakabahan, but still... I wanted to come across as tough in front of her.
"I'm scared." She whispered, but it was clear enough for me to hear.
No one's giving up. "I'll come to you. Okay?" I held her hand tighter, assuring her that I'd be by her side.
She looked at me with those eyes that were clearly on the verge of tears and said, "What if... what if hindi kita matandaan?"
A sudden pang of hurt hit me, but I still tried my best to hide it.
"What if bumalik lang uli sa umpisa ang lahat? What if makalimutan kita?"
I pulled her close to me, our eyes still locking with each other. "Then I'll make you remember."
And before it was too late, I drew her close to me and hugged her tightly. As the sound of the emergency alarm echoed through the whole train, together with the screams of the other passengers as they witnessed their own doom, I held Cloud with warmth. For the last time, I kissed her forehead and closed my eyes.
Cloud I will look for you, I promise.
The next thing I knew, the train we were on plunged into the overpass as the tracks quickly disintegrated. I remember plummeting at a super-light speed. And before the left side of the train even touched the ground, I woke up.
The only thing I could hear was the sound of the alarm clock banging and echoing within my room. I gasped for air, making my body jolt from my bed. I sat up straight. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko habang hinahabol ang paghinga. I felt my tears escaping my eyes. I could still feel the shock and the pain, kahit yung impact nang pagbagsak ng sarili kong katawan. The feeling was still there, even though reality has been telling me it was just a dream. I couldn't help but sob for hours. I've dealt with this many times, but I just couldn't get used to it.
I took a glance at my phone's display.
Friday, March 3, 2022
It's still true.
I am still stuck on that same fucking day. Shit.
BINABASA MO ANG
SOMETHING IN THE RAIN
Science FictionCloud thought the moment she woke up and as she heard the sound of the pouring rain outside her window is that 'it was just another normal rainy day'. But little did she know that the 'rainy day' she had expected to be just 'normal' and what she had...
