Wake Me Up

Damsel in Distress

Samuel's Point of View

I have this dream where I thought you were real. But every time I opened my eyes, you were not there anymore. As if I'd entered a different world where I can only see was you.

Were we bound only to meet somewhere in each other's dream?

If so, then it's true that there were things exist in dreams that are not present in our waking hours. But I'm hoping you're not ...

"SAMUEL ..? W-what did you say?"

A confused voice calling my name made my heart skipped a beat. She's looking at me intently, with her captivating eyes. She really looked like a sweet damsel in distress, and I'm the one who ruined her.

"Who are you?" I asked her again. She really do looked confused as I am. "I've been wanting to ask you that. Since the day I've met you, my life has changed .. a lot." I heaved a sigh.

Napakabigat ng aking pakiramdam. Napakaraming tumatakbo sa aking isip ngunit hindi ko alam kung paano ko iyon ilalabas lahat .. hindi ko alam kung paano sisimulan. I got lost. And surprised.

From the moment I laid my eyes on her, she already got me under her spell. Hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari iyon, hanggang sa natagpuan ko na lang ang aking sarili na unti-unting nahuhulog sa kanya.

It was just so sudden that I wanted to ask everyone why the hell I feel in love with her in just a wink. But instead of showing it to her, I found myself like a furrious man throwing tantrums in front of her.

Hindi ko maintindihan ang aking sarili. When I learned that we will be working on the same field, on the same roof, and breathing the same air, I felt extra ecstatic and excited. But why do I get mad every time I see you .. with another man.

Damn!

Ikaw lang ang babaeng nakakagawa ng ganoon sa akin. You are driving me crazy. It was like I need to guard myself whenever you are near ...

"Boss, ano po bang problema?" Naalala ko pang tanong sa akin ni Philip nang dalhin ka namin sa ospital.

That was the day I cursed myself to death. I even asked myself many times why and how I hurt you so much. Seeing you lying on that hospital bed made me more miserable.

"It's none of your business .." irita kong sabi dito.

Hanggang ngayon naglalaro pa rin sa utak ko kung paano sila masayang nagtatawanan sa tuwing nakikita ko silang magkasama. Hindi ko alam kung bakit madaling nag-iinit ang aking ulo sa tuwing nakikita ko siyang masayang nakangiti .. and I'd even more furious from the thought that I was not the reason of that twinkle in your eyes.

"Were you jealous? You like her, do you?"

Mabilis akong napatingin kay Philip nang marinig ang sinabi nito. Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin at wari'y sinusuring maigi ang aking magiging reaksyon.

I was blankly staring at her like she's only in deep sleep. Her face seemed troubled with her pale face and grey lips. But Philip totally got my attention.

"What? Ano bang kagaguhan ang sinasabi mo?!" Galit kong tanong dito. Ngunit naramdaman ko ang mabilis na pagtibok ng aking puso na para akong mauupos sa sobrang bilis nito.

"Then, why? You're not like that, you are the most gentleman I've ever met. Kaya hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang nagagawa mo iyon kay Dionne. Bakit ba galit na galit ka sa kanya?"

I just stared at him and couldn't find a word to depend myself.

Bakit nga ba ganun na lang ang reaksyon ko sa tuwing magkikita kami? Whenever I get closer to her I felt troubled like a mad man.

Am I really in love with her? Or I'm just thinking that she's the girl I'd often have in my dreams? Was I that desperate?

"Since the day I met her .. I felt troubled." At the end, I chose to open up. I let out another sigh before I urge myself to speak again. "I keep on dreaming of someone whom I couldn't remember .. sa tuwing nagigising ako mula sa aking panaginip hindi ko matandaan ang kanyang pangalan .. ang kanyang mukha .. but all the feelings it gave me were still vivid." Hindi ko maalis ang aking mga mata sa babaeng nakahiga sa aking harapan.

Why do I feel like she's that girl I've met in my dream? O baka naman umaasa lang ako na siya nga yun para lang mapunan ang puwang sa aking dibdib?

"Iniisip mo bang si Dionne yung babaeng napapanaginipan mo?" Maang akong tumingin kay Philip. Ngunit ganun din siya sa akin. Halos magdikit ang kilay nito dahil sa pagkakakunot na para bang hindi siya makapaniwala sa aking mga sinabi.

Kahit sa sarili ko hindi ko iyon matanggap-tanggap but the other part of me is hoping that she's really Dionne I've met at the camp between cold and humid air.

Were you really the answer to my bothered mind?

"W-why? Why do you want to know?" Her hoarse voice woke my winding and troubled head. Ilang beses akong napakurap nang maulinigan ko ang bahgyang panginginig sa kanyang boses. She's struggling and seemed seriously confused by what I've said.

Tumayo ako mula sa aking kinauupuan at saka tumanaw sa labas. It is indeed a starry night .. a warm christmas eve for me.

"Have we met before?" I asked her unknowingly.

"W-what?! What do you mean?" She became more confused while her eyes wandering on my face as if she can find an answer there.

I want to chain her through my arms and caress her pale face. I want to ease the pain she is suffering .. Gusto kong pawiin ang nagbabantang mga luha sa kanyang bilugang mata na wari'y kanina pa niya pinipigilang pumatak.

Paano ko nagawang saktan ang taong 'to? Ganoon na ba ako kasama?

Pinili kong saktan ka kaysa amining unti-unti na akong nahuhulog sa'yo. Naging duwag ako para tanggaping sa ilang araw pa lamang na ating pagkikita, minahal na kita.

Pero pagmamahal nga ba ang nararamdaman ko sa'yo? O isang pantasya na bunga lamang ng aking panaginip?

"You've caused me trouble do you know that?"