When I Fall Asleep (Completed)

Chapter One

1: Nice to meet you.

"Happy Birthday Aspen!" i stared everyone of them while greeting me a happy birthday.

There's so many balloons in different colors everywhere. The place was designed by beautiful paper crafts. Big lettering wishing me a happy birthday is emphasized .

The chocolate cake was wonderfully baked and probably the most beautiful cake I had ever seen in my entire life.

Hundreds of people are in front of me, they're happy. In front are my parents who are smiling so sweetly while staring at me.

I just turned 16 today and my parents threw a big party.
I'm grateful but I don't understand why i feel like there's something missing.

I'm not happy.

The party last until 1 in the midnight. And no matter how much I really wanna go upstairs into my room and just lie in bed, i can't. I have to entertain every single guest in this party and I'm not really enjoying.

When the party's over, I was already exhausted and sleepy.

I changed into my pajamas and and lie in my bed when the my door opened and mom showed up.

"Hi honey, are you sleeping?" i simply shook my head as she enter my room and sit at the edge of my bed.

"Did you have fun?" i look at my mom and she seems so happy. I don't wanna hurt her feelings.
"I did" i uttered and force a smile.

"Good. Rest now" she kissed my forehead before leaving my room.

My mom is sweet and so is dad. They're wonderful parents who are doing everything they can to raise me properly.

I'm an only child. I go to one of the prestigious school in the city. I am smart and have a lots of friends. I can say that somehow we are rich too.

But despite all of that i just don't know why i feel like I'm not contented. Like I keep wanting something i don't even know.

I know it's unfair, because many people are starving and dreaming the life I'm living. But it's just I feel so empty and I can't blame myself for that.

Siguro ganito lang talaga ang mindset ng kabataan ngayon.

Natanaw ko ang tambak na letters sa study table ko, ang iba ay nakita ni manang sa mail, ang iba binigay ng personal. They all came from my suitors but I read none of them.

I turned off the light and turn on my night stand before I finally fell into sleep.

As soon as I find myself standing in a plaza, i knew that I'm dreaming.
Pinagmasdan ko ang kabuuhan ng lugar at natagpuan ang ilang mga kalalakihan na naglalaro ng basketball.

I don't really know what I have to do. Most of my dreams I knew what I have to do. Pero ngayon hindi ko alam kung dapat ba kong manatili sa pwesto ko o maglibot sa lugar na ito.

Tinanaw ko ang labas ng plaza nagbabakasakali na baka familiar ang lugar, baka sa lugar lang namin o lugar na napuntahan ko na.

But I was wrong cause I'm not familiar with this surroundings.

As soon as nabalik ko ang tingin sa mga nagbabasketball ay nakita ko ang bumubulusok na bola papunta sa gawi ko.

Napakurap lang ako ng ilang beses bago ko maramdaman ang bigat ng bolang tumama sa ulo ko.

I felt dizzy for a moment at napahawak ako sa ulo ko ng makaramdaman ng sakit.

"Miss ayos ka lang?" someone approached me. He's one of those players but I pay no attention. Nahihilo talaga ako at kumikirot ang ulo ko.

Hanggang sa hindi ko namalayan na nawalan na pala ako ng malay.

When I woke up and saw that guy again I know something is not right. My dreams doesn't go like this.

"Maayos na bang pakiramdam mo?" i stared at this guy.
Itim na itim ang buhok nya, ang mga mata na ini-emphasize ang maputi nyang balat.

He has a pointed nose and a thin lips. He's not skinny and not masculine at all. He looks taller than me. At that moment I never met a person that looks so perfect.

"Nahihilo ka pa ba?" doon ko lang naibalik sa wasto ang sarili ko at natagpuan na nasa maliit akong kwarto.

Hindi ito mukhang kwarto na tinutulugan o tinutuluyan ng tao. Bigla kong naibalik sakanya ang tingin ko.

"Bakit ka ganyan makatingin?" muli nyang tanong ng bigyan ko sya ng matalim na titig.

"Nasan ako?" it came out from my mouth sharply as I intended, and I love it.

"Woah miss teka lang, aksidente kang natamaan ng bola habang naglalaro kami at nawalan ka ng malay. Dinala kita dito sa clinic ni Mang Nestor kase medyo bumukol ata sa noo mo" nakangiwi nyang tinapos ang litanya nya.

Napatayo ako agad sa kama at humarap sa full length mirror na nasa kwarto rin.

Pinagmasdan ko ang noo ko at nakita ang kaunting umbok ng bukol.
"How dare you?" inis kong saad.

"Pasensya na talaga, kung gusto mo pwede naman nateng lagyan yan ng bandage" lalo lang nyang pinag init ang ulo ko.

"Tabi nga!" akma na kong lalabas ng kwarto ng muli syang magsalita.
"So lalabas kang may ganyan?"

Napabuntong hininga ako para ikalma ang sarili ko bago muli syang lingunin.
"Asan na yung bandage?" halata ang inis sa boses ko na nakapagpangiti sa mokong na lalakeng yon.

Agad din yong nawala ng matalim ko syang tinitigan.

Lumabas sya sandali at pagbalik nya may bitbit na syang bandage.

Dahan dahan nyang pinahidan ng alcohol ang bukol ko, medyo masakit dahilan para buong oras na naglalagay sya ng bandage sa noo ko ay may matalim na titig na nakaamba mula sakin.

"Ok na" ngiti nyang saad at umatras ng konti.
"Sino ba kaseng aanga-angang pinalipad yung bola kung saan saan?"

Natawa sya na mas lalong nagpainis sakin.
"Ako yung aanga angang yon. Haha pasensya na" pinasadahan ko lang sya ng tingin bago tuluyang lumabas ng clinic.

Nakita ko sa unahan ang plazang kinalalagyan ko kanina. Binaybay ko ang kabilang daan at hindi ko mapigilang humanga sa dami ng puno at magagandang halaman dito.

Malinis ang daan at mukhang payapa ang kapaligiran.
"Oo maganda nga ang lugar na ito" napalingon ako at nakita ko nanaman ang lalaking yon. Sinasabayan nya na ko sa paglalakad habang pinagmamasdan din ang matataas na puno.

He knew what's on my mind. I guess amazement is written in my face.

For the first time I no longer feel irritated by his presence and start enjoying his company. We just keep on walking while observing the nature, with this comfortable silence between us.

Then napahinto ako sa paglalakad, so is he. He stared at me with a questioning look.
I stared on his face. Studying every angle.

This is odd. I can see his face clearly and I can feel everything normally. I even saw myself in the mirror which is very different to all of my dreams.

"Who are you?"

He smiled.

"I am Caspian Asher"

His name feels like magic. And my heart, it likes the sound of his name.

"Nice to meet you Aspen" i was stunned for how he knew my name.

He lend his hand for a handshake and that moment despite of questions running on my head I took his hand and shook it.

"Nice to meet you too"

And that is how Aspen Sutton met Caspian Asher.

***