Among All Nightmares

Chapter 6

I didn't know that it's actually possible for two persons with different personalities to be in harmony in such a short period of time.

Kung tutuusin, ngayon palang ako nagkaroon ng kaibigan na katulad ni Dayne. I had friends before, but it just isn't the same with the friendship I have with him. I always had to put in effort to feel like I belonged with my former circle of friends. Pero kay Dayne, I feel more confident in expressing who I truly am, without forcing myself to change for the purpose of making someone stay.

I couldn't help but smile to myself just by thinking about finally having a friend again.

Staring out of my bedroom window, I was delighted upon realizing that Dayne has finally answered my phone call.

"Happy birthday!" masiglang bati ko sa kaniya. It was exactly 12 am. "Ako ba unang bumati?" Excited kong tanong.

"Yeah," he responded. Mas lalo akong napangiti. "Eh bakit gising ka pa? Dapat tulog ka na, hindi na naman sasapat ang tulog mo niyan eh," suway nito sa 'kin.

My smile instantly turned into a pout, "Not even a 'thank you'?"

I heard his soft chuckle from the other line, "Okay... Thank you, Carmeline. Masaya ako na ikaw ang unang bumati sa 'kin."

And just like that, my smile was back again.

Nagsinungaling ako sa kaniya dalawang oras ang nakalipas na matutulog na ako. But the truth is, I wrote an appreciation and birthday letter for him. I don't have an enough amount of money to spend for a gift, but I still want to give him something thoughtful.

"It's time to sleep, Carmeline," Dayne said after our long conversation over the phone.

I yawned as my eyes started feeling heavy. Binagsak ko na ang aking katawan sa kama at pinikit ang aking mga mata.

"Yeah," I replied in a sleepy voice.

"Good night, Carmeline," his voice was so soft that it made me feel more relaxed. Marami pa siyang sinabi matapos no'n ngunit naging malabo na 'yun sa aking pandinig dahil sa paghila sa akin ng antok.

Moments like these are the ones that brings serenity to my soul; taming the nightmares that haunts me at night.

"See you after dismissal," paalam sa 'kin ni Dayne nang ihatid niya akong muli sa classroom namin nang lunch time.

Hindi ko naman inasahan nang paglabas ko palang after dismissal, nadatnan ko na siyang nakaupo sa hagdanan na malapit sa classroom namin.

"You're here already?" Gulat kong bungad sa kaniya. Agad siyang napatingin sa 'kin at napangiti. I noticed how red his face was, at lubos din siyang pinagpapawisan. Dahil do'n ay napakunot ako ng noo, "Bakit pawis na pawis ka?"

"Kanina pa ako rito," natatawa niyang sabi. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin.

He offered to carry my bag which I refused to hand over to him, "Akin na, para magmukha naman akong gentleman," biro niya. Wala akong choice kundi i-abot nalang 'yon sa kaniya.

"What do you mean na kanina ka pa riyan?" Tanong ko habang pababa kami ng hagdan.

"Kaninang 1:30 pa ang uwian namin," aniya, kaya mabilis akong napalingon sa kaniya at napakurap.

"Pumayag ako do'n sa 'see you after dismissal' mo kasi 'di ko naman alam na 1:30 pala ang out niyo," napapailing kong sabi at muling binaling ang tingin sa dinadaanan.

"Okay lang," he said, "Gusto ko rin kasi talaga mag-celebrate ng birthday ko kasama ka."

It warmed my heart hearing those statements from him. I'm not used to receiving such wonderful words, kaya naman ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang ganitong klaseng pakiramdam.