Solivagant

Chapter 11

Khael's Point of View

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This dream again. It's been days—weeks. And the same dream keeps on repeating. Halos gabi-gabi ay pa ulit-ulit lang ang panaginip na ito. Walang gabi ang hindi ko mapanaginipan ito.

I know this is a dream, and I know that I only know myself here. I tried to interact with people I had met here, but they didn't notice me at all. They just passed by without noticing me.

Standing at the seashore, watching the golden rays of sunlight as it sets and reflecting its light on the crystallized water of the sea that lights towards me. I could feel the gentle breeze caressing my skin that gives me a calm sensation.

Bahagya akong natigilan at tinuon ang atensyon sa likuran ko nang marinig kong muli ang tunog na iyon. Para itong boses pero hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling at kung sino ang may-ari rito.

"Here we go again. Staying at this nightmare." Bulong ko habang nakatingin sa masukal na daad.

I didn't think twice and went there, letting the spikes of the vines give me a tiny scratch on my skin. Bahagya pa akong napapangiwi dahil sa sakit na ininda ko habang tinatahak ang masukal na daan dito. Paakyat ang lakat ko papunta sa taas ng buntok.

Everything here is something I know will happen next. I've been in this dream before, and it keeps repeating all over again. I don't even know why it keeps appearing like this, and I couldn't even tell Arzhel about it. Maybe I should tell him later as soon as I see him.

Kahit ako ay naguguluhan kung anong panaginip pa ito. Lahat nang mga nangyayari ay parehong pareho sa napanaginipan ko noong nakaraang araw. Bawat gabi ay siya ring pag-iyak ko dahil sa pa ulit-ulit na panaginip na ito.

It something made me kneel as I lost my balance due to feeling of being a fragile. It brought me brokendown to tears. Just witnessing the scene in front of me was really painful for me to handle.

Somehow, it feels really nostalgic to me, although I don't even know why.

Matapos kong lampasan ang masukal na daan na 'yon ay agad na tumambad sa akin ang kulay pulang Torii Gate dahilan para matigilan ako at napabuntong hininga.

"This is it?" mahinang sambit ko sa sarili habang inaalis ang mga dahong nakadikit sa damit ko.

This sensation again. Na para bang pinipigilan ako nitong pumasok sa loob. Kahit ako ay ayaw ko ring pumasok dahil alam ko na kung ano ang mangyayari. Iiyak na naman ako. Masasaktan na naman ako. Madudurog na naman ako.

Routine na 'yan pag ito ang panaginip ko. Hindi na bago 'yon sa akin. It may seem too tragic for me to handle, but somehow it makes me happy to see them. Not because they're in pain, but because I feel a deep connection to them in some way.

Ang weird 'no? Pero gano'n ang pakiramdam ko.

I walked towards the Torii Gate and entered. My surroundings began to darken as small drops of water fell from the dark clouds, touching my skin. It didn't take long before the rain started to pour heavily, blurring my vision due to the foggy atmosphere created by the rain.

The unsettling feeling that I had experienced the other day resurfaced once again, causing my body to tremble and my heart to ache as if it had been crushed. This chilling sensation truly weakened me for unknown reasons. I gazed straight ahead at the massive tree in front of me, and suddenly, a lightning strike illuminated it, revealing the massive Shimenawa ropes wrapped around it.

Kahit ipikit ko pa ang mga mata ko rito ngayon ay alam ko na kung ano ang susunod na mangyayari. Habang iniisip ko ngayon ang susunod na mangyayari ay siyang dahan-dahan na pag-agos ng mga luha ko.