DREAM CATCHER

CHAPTER ONE :)

I was in first year high school when I first saw him. He was reading a book back then and oblivious to his surroundings. He was like a fresh air to breathe but definitely had an air of authority around him. He had a pair of beautiful eyes that seems cold that would tear your soul apart but nevertheless I was attracted to him...and from that day onwards, my day's complete with just a glimpse of him. Every day, I looked at him from afar sometimes wondering if he would notice me day after day... hmmm, that was just a wishful thinking. Years had passed but the feeling I had for this guy never wears off. I thought that time would dissolve my feelings for him but I was wrong...Until now, this guy was MY DREAM.

"Hannon! Hannon!" pagtawag ni Alice. Her voice awakens me from the trance. "Hey there Al!" I greeted back at hinarap ko siya mula sa pagkakasandal sa punong mangga.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" she asked.

"Mahangin dito kaya dito ako tumambay, malilim pa. Done with your research?" Tumango siya at tumabi sakin. Let's rest for while," sabi niya bago pumikit and we stayed there for an hour, feeling the wind as it caresses my face. It was one lazy afternoon at tambay kami ngayon sa may puno ng mangga sa main campus. May 3 hours break kami kaya we decided na magliwaliw muna after our P. E. class sa gym. Alice gets this chance para magresearch sa library ng review of related literature para sa thesis nila.

Alice and I were classmates since third year high school at kahit ngayong college magkasama pa din kami. We took up the same course which is Hospitality Management, (modern version ng HRM for those who didn't know) dahil parehas kami ng hilig, ang magluto. Ako mahilig sa pastry and sweets while Ali liked different cuisines. Ngayong year ay third year na kami. We are soul sisters as they say. Masasabi kong ang friendship na meron kami ay totoo.

"Hey Al," tinapik ko siya. Mukhang mahibing na nakatulog siya. She wakes up and yawn. "Kulang talaga ako sa tulog Han. Ang hirap kasing hanapin nung foreign literature namin," she said. I smiled knowingly. "Lahat naman yata nahihirapan dun. Tara na baka malate pa tayo sa susunod na subject."

Last subject na naming yun for this day. Galing sa PUP Main pumunta kami sa Hasmin Hostel na designated campus ng course namin together with Tourism and Transportation Management. I heaved a sigh. Malapit na kaming matapos, one semester to go at fourth year na kami. At siya... Graduating siya ngayong taon bilang sumacumlaude sa Engineering. Hindi na ako nagpatumpik - tumpik pa. dumiretso ako ng College of Engineering and Architechture or CEA. Alam ko na hindi pa siya umuuwi dahil alam ko ang schedule niya. Stalker much? Siguro? Gusto ko lang talaga siyang makita kahit na saglit na saglit lang. Nasa may Jollibee na ako ng may humarang sakin. Much to my surprise it was Alice.

"Going to see him again?" Tumango ako. Hindi naman lihim yun kay Alice eh. She's the only friend I've got at ayoko mang sabihin, she can read me well. "Hay Han, can't you just forget about him? Ginagawa mo ng pathetic ang sarili mo! Everyday mong ginagawa yan kapag may chance. Sinabi kong tigilan mo na ang kabaliwang yan eh!" litanya ni Alice. Yes, she was right. For 6 years, I had been admiring the same man who doesn't even know I'm existing.

Alice hold my hand. "Kung hindi lang kita kaibigan, naku! Nunca na samahan kita!" gigil niyang turan. "So anu? Tatayo ka na lang ba dyan o maglalakad na tayo?" And with that, a smile form in my lips and thanking God that gave Alice in my life.

COLLEGE WEEK...

Bumabaha ng alak dahil sa Bar Management subject namin. Madami kaming natirang alak nung midterm kaya ginamit namin para magparty party. Tuloy ang happy happy sa bahay ng isang kaklase namin na malapit lang sa school yung bahay. And since hindi naman ako nainom talaga, tumikim lang ako at tinira ang pulutan... hahahah! That way makakapagsaya pa din ako kahit ang mga kasama ko mga sanay uminom.

"Cheers!" sabi ng lahat. Celebration naming ito dahil nanalo ang klase naman sa competition na sinalihan namin. So far wala naman masyadong KJ sa aming magkakaklase. Tuloy pa din sila sa pagmimix ng alak at tawanan. Katabi ko si Alice sa upuan. Parehong malapit lang ang mga bahay naming sa school pero hindi pa din kami pwedeng abutin ng hating gabi. Mahirap na mga babae pa man din kami. I'm munching my chicharon when a familiar image of a man came into view. My heart leap abeat. Nakakabingi habang papalapit sila ng palapit. Until...

"Oh! Andito na si ate Yvette! Congratulations Ate!" and everyone cheered. Si ate Yvette ay kaklase namin sa isang subject namin. Taga - tourism siya. Maganda, matangkad at reigning Miss CTHTM namin.

"Thank you guys!" at hinila niya papalapit yung lalaking kasama niya none other than... "Guys I'd like you to meet and greet my boyfriend..." she paused and looked at him "... France Mikael Guttierez. Alam ko namang pamilyar kayo lahat sa kanya." Nag - adjust kami ng space para sa kanilang dalawa. Tulala ako habang yung iba naman ay tuwang - tuwa na binabati sina ate Yvette. Shock is an understatement to what I feel. Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ko na may girlfriend siya pero hindi rin ako nag - eexpect na si ate Yvette pala. The pain I feel is blinding me. Naramdaman ko na lang na siniko ako ni Alice. My! I was in the brink of crying in front of them! I fought my tears and tried to look at the beautiful couple with us. They're perfect. A beautiful woman and a very handsome man that happens to be the very same man that I admired... France.

Ngyong malapit na siya sakin tsaka naman may ganitong eksena. I know everyone would judge me for being a loser, pathetic and whatsoever...Wala eh... Nagmahal lang. kinuha ko yung isang shot glass na puno ng emperador at ini - straight. Gumuhit ang init sa lalamunan ko. It hurts like hell! Gusto kong sumigaw! Gusto kong magwala. Bakit baa pat na taon akong nagpakatanga! Wala naman akong ibang pwedeng sisihin kundi ang sarili ko. Alice warned me over and over but I never paid attention. "Gusto mo bang umuwi na tayo?" tanong ni Alice. Umiling ako. Alam kong worried siya sakin pero sapalagay ko dapat kong i-welcome ung pain na nararamdaman ko para matuto ako. I had been loving him for 6 long years! I exclaimed inside my head. Yes, it is definitely love! Sabi nila, 'pag nasakatan ka ng husto sa isang taong hinahangaan mo lang love na yun. Then I guess naconfirmed nung sakit kung anu talaga ang nararamdaman ko para sa binata. And truth sucks...

Lumalalim na ang gabi at unti - unti na silang naguuwian. Natira na lang yung may- ari ng bahay, kami ni Alice dahil kami lang yung hindi lasing at si... France. Why? Pagkatapos niyang ihatid si ate Yvette sa sakayan ay nayaya siyang ulit ng mga classmate kong lalaki ng uminom kaya andito pa din siya pero tulog na tulog na. And I know why. "Wake him up Hannon. For sure makakauwi pa yan kasi beterano na yan. Hindi ko pa naman alam ang bahay niyan," sabi ni Greg. I doubt that ngali - ngali kong sabihin. Lumapit ako at tinapik ko siya twice sa mukha para maalimpungatan pero wala. My attention were caught by his thin, kissable, pinkish lips. I really do hope that it worked.

"Leave him alone Han." It was Alice's voice. "Umuwi na tayo. He can perfectly take care of himself dahil lalaki siya. Kawawa tayo dahil babae tayo." Hinila na ako ni Alice palayo matapos magpaalam. Oh no! unang nkarating si Alice sa kanila dahil sa susunod pa na street yung bahay namin. Kelangan kong bumalik agad! isip - isip ko. Nung masiguro kong nakapasok na si Alice after 5 minutes dali dali akong bumalik. My heart rammed inside my chest. And there he is, tulog pa din. Pinabayaan na ni Greg. Inakay ko siya kahit napakabigat niya. Ilang beses na kaming pinagtitinginan ng mga taong gising pa pero nginingitian ko lang sila. Pawis na pawis na ako ng marating ko yung gate namin. Kaya ko 'to! Konti na lang!