SOMETHING IN THE RAIN

Chapter III

iii. the guy in the park

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AM I SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD?

Or I guess the right question is... am I dead? Is this part of my hallucination? Why do I keep dreaming about my death?

Or better yet, why can't I go past on March 3?

Or perhaps... I am seeing the future?

I have a lot of questions in my mind and I want some answers. Kanina pa ako paikot ikot sa kwarto ko while thinking — theorizing the things I have been experiencing for the past days ( when I say "days" I mean me going through the same day OVER and over again). I refuse to believe that this is just a dream. It felt too real to be a dream.

I bit my bottom lip as I tried to come up with solutions. I won't let this happen to me again for the nth time.

But first I need to confirm if my theory is right. Kaya mabilis ako na nagbihis ng pang-jogging attire ko. I rush to my shoe rack to get my running shoes at mabilis ko din itong sinuot.

I'd take a walk at the park that's just outside the village and observe if things would happen just like the one I just experienced the last time.

....

I kinda feel stupid now that I've thought about it. Stupid in a way na I've been sitting beside the pond, acting as if I'm admiring the fish when in fact I was waiting for Ali. Five minutes from now, dapat andito na siya sa tabi ko para pakainin ang mga isda. That's my number one sign, na baka nga... I am repeating the same day over and over.

Pero ano nga ba uli yung first convo namin? I can't believe I fucking forgot about that. Will it just come out? Or maybe not?

I shook my head as I tried to clear my mind. Overthinking things won't help me solve this mystery. And for fuck sake, if my theory is right then by 10 P.M. I AM GOING TO DIE.

I took a deep breath as I tried to keep calm and to keep myself sane. I can't let myself have panic attacks, especially here and so, I did my best to get my shit together.

I opened my eyes after I felt a sudden presence on my right side. I turned my head towards his direction. It's him. Black Supreme hoodie with gray sweatpants, matangkad, chinito eyes, the dimple on his right cheek peeking through. It's Ali.

Tumayo ako agad. Kahit matangkad siya at nakatingala ako ay napansin ko agad yung tingin nito — that he knew me. Napailing na lang ako. What am I expecting? Ofcourse familiar na ako for him kasi sabi niya nga sa'kin last time, everytime he would opt to take a walk, he would always see me here at the park every morning.

"Sorry. Nagulat ba kita?" He asked after realizing my reaction towards him. Pinagpag niya yung dalawang kamay niya to get rid of the bread crumbs na natira sa palad niya.