That Summer Night of August

Kabanata 34

I sat silently on my seat as the professor discussed about Torsion, Bending, and Shearing, my mind wandered about my dream last night. I've always dreamed about that kid with blurry face. Hindi ko siya kilala, pero napakapamilyar ng presence niya. Parang napakatagal ko na siyang kilala.

Nakaupo ako sa ilalim ng slide habang tinatakpan ko ang aking tenga. The playground, once filled with laughter, now echoed with the harsh sounds of reporters, their camera flashes like lightning in a storm. Ang bawat hikbi ay parang bulong ng takot mula sa aking labi.

"It's fine, I will protect you," said the kid beside me. He still has this blurry face, his jett black messy hair danced gracefully as he tilted his head to peek on my face.

I couldn't see his face clearly, but his presence was comforting. He reached out a hand, his small fingers intertwining with mine.

"Don't be scared," he whispered, his voice gentle yet firm. "I'll always be here for you."

A loud bang echoed from a distant, causing me to flinch and squeeze his hand tighter. The boy moved closer, his other arm wrapping around my shoulders protectively.

"Remember this," he said softly. "No matter what happens, you're never alone."

The scene began to blur as tears filled my eyes. I felt a strange mix of fear and comfort, the boy's words echoing in my mind.

Then, everything went dark. When I opened my eyes again, I was no longer under the slide. I was standing in a vast, open field, the sky painted with hues of orange and pink as the sun began to set. The boy was still there, now standing a few feet away, his back to me.

"Wait!" I called out, reaching for him.

He turned slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You'll find your way," he said, his voice now a distant echo. "Just remember—you're never alone."

As he began to fade into the twilight, I felt a surge of determination.

"I'll marry you one day, even if we're both boys," he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the fading light. His words were so clear, so earnest, that it made my heart ache.

"Promise?" I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion.

"Promise," he replied, his smile widening. "We'll always be together, no matter what."

The field around me began to blur again, the colors blending into a warm, comforting haze. The memory might be blurry, but the feeling was clear. It gave me a sense of protection.

"Mr. Yanez, are you with us?"

Napatingin ako sa professor namin, seryoso itong nakatingin sa akin habang nakahalukipkip, halatang hindi nasisiyahan dahil hindi ako nakikinig.

I blinked, pulling myself out of the haze of the dream and back into the reality of the classroom. The professor's eyes were fixed on me, a mixture of frustration and curiosity etched on his face.

"Yes, sir," sabi ko, habang sinusubukang mag-focus muli sa discussion. Tumikhim ako saka umayos sa pagkakaupo, attempting to shake off the lingering emotions from the dream.

"Good," striktong sabi ng professor. "Please pay attention; lalo na at itong materials na 'to ay crucial para sa inyong understanding of structural analysis."

I nodded while pulling out my notebook and scribbling down the key points he was making about torsion, bending, and shearing. Despite my efforts, my thoughts kept drifting back to the dream, the boy's promise resonating in my mind.