Oneirataxia: My Fictional Man

CHAPTER 10

Chapter Ten

I slowly open my eyes as soon as I feel my senses become responsive.

What welcomes my sight is my reflection in the mirror, all dress up from top to toe.

I guess my character as Diane is already set to get down to work because obviously of what I'm wearing, a taupe tube underneath a cream longline blazer partnered with a pencil skirt-a usual office outfit.

I look around and notice I'm inside a comfort room, again. But this time, it's way larger plus with a touch of classical interiors.

Ano bang meron sa banyo at palagi akong napapadpad dito? Hindi naman siguro ako mukhang inidoro.

Pagtingin kong muli sa salamin ay muntik na akong mapasigaw sa gulat at takot nang hindi na ang sarili ko ang nakikita sa repleksyon, kundi yung matandang babae na, si Miss Belen.

"Bakit po kayo bigla-bigla na lang sumusulpot?" tanong ko, hinihingal sa lakas ng kabog ng dibdib dahil sa pagkakagulat.

"May nakaligtaan akong sabihin sayo," sagot niya sa seryosong boses.

"A-no po yun?"

Mas lalo pa ata akong kinabahan sa tinuran niya. Talagang sinundan pa niya ako rito para lamang sa anumang sasabihan niya.

"I forgot to tell you about the most crucial thing you need to avoid in this world."

Ano? Sinabi na niya diba? Na hindi dapat ako gagawa ng bagay na ikakasira ng kuwento.

Oh, a realization hits me. What she warned me earlier was too general.

So, what specific thing that will eventually ruin the story?

"Ash, I know that you like Benjamin, well, you wouldn't wish a thing in the first place if not..." she stops mid-sentence and sighs heavily.

"What I'm trying to say is that... thou shalt not fall in love with him, with Benjamin," patuloy niya, direkta ang tingin sa akin.

Ang mga mata'y may nais pang iparating

"P-po? B-bakit po?"

She laughs and gets serious again. Ngayon ay mabigat na ang ekspresyong minumutawi ng kanyang mukha.

"People in love do crazy things. And so are you. Once you fall in love with Benjamin and do things that are against the author's will, then miss raconteur can't end the story anymore, because you are far beyond her control."

I get it. Madness in love can push us to do stupid things. No one is an exception.

Therefore, I'll make sure it won't happen to me. It's very clear why I'm here, to save my company from falling to rags and bits.

After processing what she just said, something I can't comprehend starts to build up inside of me. A heavy feeling.

"Hindi na po ba ako makakabalik sa realidad, kung sakali man?" tanong ko, nanginginig ang mga labi.

Ngunit hindi na niya sinagot ang aking katanungan, ngumiti lang ulit siya, at sa huli'y unti-unting naglaho. Ngayon ay napalitan na ng repleksiyon ko ang nakikita sa salamin.

I swallowed hard.

I really need to distance myself from Benjamin, first, to avoid virtual commotion from readers. Second, to smoothen the flow of their love story. At ang panghuli ay para maiwasan na rin ang isang bagay na mahigpit na ipinagbabawal.

"Ma'am Diane?" Someone knocks on the door.

I immediately open the door widely, showing Madam Chua's secretary, who seems about to knock again because of her hand that fixes mid-air.