The Scholars

Chapter II

LOOKING FORWARD

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Different hues, iba't ibang kulay ang bumungad sa aking paningin. From red to violet to blue to yellow, my eyes squint trying to see more of these things that have different colors. Only to realized that these are different kinds of plants; of blooming daffodils, tulips and other kinds of flowers that I cannot recognize.

Am I in a garden? Well, obviously pero anong ginagawa ko dito?

Shallow tapping sounds reach my ears, making me stumble upon my own feet trying to catch who owns those shoes that are happily hopping. The sounds became more audible.

"Lucien!"

I raise a brow at the mention of my name by a boy's voice. I look around at nakita ko ang may-ari ng mga yabag ng paa, isa itong batang lalaki na hanggang balikat ko lang siguro. Masaya itong tumakbo patungo sa kinaroroonan ko.

He picks up a daffodil and with a big grin, he offered it to me.

"Let's meet here againꟷ"

Bago ko pa man marinig ang sinasabi nito ay naramdaman ko ang pagtama ng aking likod sa isang matigas na bagay. I groan at the sudden pain.

"Cerys," a man's voice calls my name, worried.

I breathe out another groan before I get up from an embarrassing slump in the car's floor. Nahulog lang naman ako sa sofa bed kung saan ako natutulog.

"Are you okay?" I can sense the mock in Lennon's words when I turned to face him. Where's the worry in his voice earlier?

"Yeah, I am," I roll my eyes to wash away my embarrassment. This is not the first time that I fell off bed while sleeping.

"Be careful," he singsongs while eyes roaming around a coffee table.

Hindi ko ito pinansin, bagkus ay umupo na ako sa sofa bed at ipinikit ang mga mata for one last time before forcing myself to wake up from my sleepy state. I tilt my head and I feel my brows crease.

"What are you doing?"

"I think I dreamed something important," tugon ko sa tanong ni Lennon.

"You always forget your dreams," he deadpans and I can only feel my eyes rotate so hard again.

Napatingin naman ako sa hawak nito nang lumapit siya sa akin. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee stirs my still-sleepy body; the scent is strong yet alluring. I grin as a slice of bread is being partnered with it upon seeing the tray Lennon is holding.

"Here," he offers before putting the tray of coffee and bread on the side table nearest to the sofa where I am sitting on. "We're near the Central," he adds.

Kinuha ko ang pagkain at saka kumagat dito bago sumulyap sa bintana ng sasakyan. Sunod-sunod na puno lamang ang makikita sa labas. They are lined up like soldiers, parting to give us way to the Central. Ilang oras din pala akong natulog dahil mukhang malapit na nga kaming makapasok sa teritoryo ng Central.

Nabaling naman ang atensyon ko nang may isang mahinang tunog ang bumasag sa katahimikan sa loob ng sasakyan. I look around and I find my phone with its screen lighting up and the ring did not stop.

Isang maliit na ngiti ang kumurba sa aking mga labi nang mabasa ko kung sino ang tumatawag. I thought she forgot.

"Mom?" I greet instead of hello.

"Cerys, sweetie!" Her voice is still as energetic as ever. "I'm so sorry I couldn't go to your high school graduation, love."

Even though she won't be able to see it, I still put up a smile in assurance that it's fine. "It's okay, Mom. I know you are busy at Horologium."