Complexities of Fate

Chapter 2

I opened my eyes slowly and was confused why I was lying on my bed wrapped in my bathrobe. "Hindi ba ako nagbihis...?" I quietly asked myself nearly having a heart attack when a face swam to my vision. "My God!" I screamed sitting up clutching the bathrobe tightly around myself.

He was standing beside my bed and he instantly took a step back.

"Who are you and why are you inside my bedroom?!" I demanded.

He looked as confused as I was. "Hindi mo ako kilala?" he asked.

"It's odd but I know you—shit, am I dreaming?"

"Bakit palagi mo na lang sinasabing nananaginip ka tuwing nagkikita tayo?" He smiled.

"Because you couldn't possibly be real..." I whispered before closing my eyes. "You are dreaming, Soleil. Hindi totoo 'to. Your parents are going to wake up soon and then wake you up so you can get ready for your party...and when you open your eyes, you'll be in your bed and alone in your bedroom..."

I inhaled deeply before slowly opening my eyes again and found him looking at me with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Diyos ko..." I covered my face with my hands. "Oh, God, please don't tell me namaligno ako..."

"Hindi ako isang maligno..." he said.

I uncovered my face to look at him before letting out a deep breath. "Tao ka?"

"Ako si Erebh."

"And I am Groot," I countered. "Ano ba, I know what your name is. My question is, are you human?"

He shook his head.

I scooted away from him. "Are you here to kill me—wait, before you answer that question, I just want you to know that I am an only child and it took my parents seven years to conceive me. It would probably kill them if I'll die and on my birthday at that..." I said trying my hardest not to burst into tears. "Kawawa naman 'yung mommy at daddy ko..."

"Walang dahilan upang wakasan ko ang iyong buhay."

"Meaning, hindi mo ako papatayin, 'di ba?"

"Hindi. At kung 'yun man ang pakay ng iba ay—"

"Anong iba?" I cut him off. "My God, may mga kasama ka...?" I fearfully asked.

"Wala..."

"Sabi mo kasi hindi mo alam sa iba so I thought..."

"Hindi kita ipapahamak, Soleil..."

"Is that figurative or literal—" I shook my head. "Girl, you are spouting nonsense. Come to your senses and ask the freaking right questions!"

I inhaled deeply. "Calm down, Soleil...calm down..."

He was watching me intently.

"Erebh..."

"Anong maipaglilingkod ko?"

"Politician ka—seriously, Soleil? You can still joke around, Girl?"

"May nais ka bang malaman?"

"What do you need from me, Erebh?"

"Ikaw ang tumawag sa akin dito..."

"When? Wait—you mean, while I was taking a bath and I said your name out loud?"

"Oo..."

"Eh, 'di, wow..."

He smiled. "Eh, 'di wow..."

"Teka lang, ha, kasi sumasakit ang bangs ko sa'yo."

He shook his head. "Hindi masakit ang bangs mo. Wala kang bangs."