The Woman, The Dreams and The Moon

Chapter 13

Sun rays hit my face as the warm breeze started to touch my skin. Nagising ako sa mga marahang dampi ng mainit na sikat ng araw sa aking mukha. Ganap ang sinag ng araw sa aking kwarto. Just enough to illuminate my room. I found myself lying at my bed. I looked around hoping to see John but he is nowhere to be found. Wala akong kasama sa kwarto. Honestly, I expected him to be with me but he is not. I know that I passed out from our training and I was hoping na kahit papano he would look at my situation with concern. I guess I'm wrong. After feeling my unreached expectation, I tried to stand up but I feel that my muscles are a bit sore. My body is aching dahil sa muling pagaadjust ng katawan ko from wolf to human. I definitely lose a lot of energy while transforming kaya nahimatay ako. Ngayon naman, I have a lot of pain in my body dahil sa mga naextend na buto at muscle. Hindi ko maigalaw ang ilang parte ng katawan ko, namamanhid at nanghihina. Truly, kailangan kong magpalakas.

Napaisip ako, how can I endure a fight, if I easily get tired and exhausted? Ganito ba talaga kahirap magpalit anyo? Do I always have to pass out every time I transform? Nahimatay din kasi ako nung una akong nagpalit anyo. Then, my door knob clicked and in a second, John entered my room. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapangiti. My expectation is finally achieved. Finally, I saw concern in his eyes and it somehow calmed down every pain I feel. John's presence comforted me. I am in pain but the moment I saw him, my body became tranquil. I guess, he is my medicine. What? What is happening to me? What on earth did I just think of John? Vera, do not expect and do not look at your boss like that! He is irritating right? I am convincing myself to be immune against John's alluring presence but my heart betrayed me. Hindi ako handang masaktan at mas lalong hindi ako handang magmahal. I have a lot of things to do. I need to put a barrier between me and John. I need to protect myself from falling.

Agad kong binawi ang sumilay na ngiti sa aking mga labi buhat ng pagpasok ng lalaki. Iniwas ko ang aking mga mata. "You are awake. Kamusta ang pakiramdam mo Vera?" John asked me while sitting beside my bed. Then, he looked at me closely and examined my face. "What are looking at?" I awkwardly asked. Ang lapit nanaman ang mukha niya sa mukha ko. His face feature is enchanting and I can't stop myself to stare on it. "Wala lang. I guess, you are human in every way now." he answered while moving his face inches away from me. Hindi ko maintindihan ang puso ko pero somehow, gusto kong sabihin kay John na huwag siyang lumayo. I want to be so close to him. To be honest, sobrang naiinis ako sa naiisip at nararamdaman ko. I should not fall for John. Hindi tama ang tibok ng puso ko lately. Hindi ko alam why he affects me too much. "Take a rest, Vera. You should need to be prepared for more. Maybe your body just adjusted sa pagpapalit anyo mo. Sooner, you will be trained enough at maiiwasan mo na lahat ng naganap ngayon. Masasanay ka din sa pagpapalit anyo. You will learn how to control it, like the way you are just wearing clothes." saad ng lalaki habang papaalis ng kwarto. "Maiwan muna kita. Call me if you need me." he bid goodbye then he left.

John left me hanging. He banished sooner as I expected. Here we go again, I felt upset because of my expectation. I shook my head and tried to remove every thoughts about John. I need my focus to all the things I am about to do. By the way, kailan ko kaya muling mamemeet si Luna? Wait, I should probably call Lucy para naman kahit papano maituon ko ang sarili ko sa ibang bagay aside from John. I called Lucy.

The phone rang twice, then a woman with a high pitch voice answered the phone. For sure, it is Lucy. "Hi! How may I help you?" the girl asked. "Lucy, it's me, Vera." I answered. I am so confident  na tawagin siya sa pangalan niya dahil pagkarinig ko pa lang ng boses niya I know for sure na si Lucy ang nasa kabilang linya.  Malakas at nakakabinging tili ang umalingangaw sa speakers ng cellphone ko. My sensitive ears almost exploded because of Lucy's scream. Hindi ko alam kung anong whistle ang nalululon niya. She is definitely screaming like Morisette the singer. Is she trying to be a singer? "Enough of that screams Lucy, you are hurting my ears." giit ko. "I am so sorry Ms Vera, I just became too excited to finally hear you in the real world." she apologized. "I think it is time for us to discover what's lacking sa akin para malift na ni Luna totally yung curse. Are you free?" I asked. Makaraan ang ilang segundo, sumagot ang dalaga. "Yes Ms. Vera. I am so free. Just text me the address of your house. By the way Ms. Vera, is it okay if I bring my kuya?" saad ni Lucy na mukhang kakatapos niya lang magpaalam. She is a teenager so I understand that she needs consent from her guardians. I do hope that her parents will be supportive. "Okay." I answered.

Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? She is a minor, of course she needs a companion. I agreed to her request and now hoping that her older brother is supportive. I texted my address to Lucy. I also texted John to come at our house the moment the dream walker arrived. John is excited upon hearing that I will meet a dream walker. He said that he always wanted to meet one of them. For him, it is a dream come true. I find his reaction cute for a grown up man. Such a little dream for a vampire who never age.

After some time, Lucy called me. Palubog na ang araw nung tumawag siya. "Ms. Vera, we are so close." the girl assured me with an over excited tone. "Okay, just follow the road, my house is at the end." I replied, then she hanged up. After a minute I saw a mini van arrived in front of my house. For sure, sila Lucy na ito. I quickly opened the door para salubungin sila. "Ms. Vera!" the girl shouted pagkalabas na pagkalabas pa lang niya ng pinto. Tumakbo ang babae papalapit sa akin at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. "Finally, in the flesh!" she exclaimed. Then, makatapos ang ilang segundo, lumabas mula sa sasakyan ang kuya ni Lucy.

"Ms. Vera?" saad ng lalakeng kakalabas lang ng sasakyan. I can't believe this. Of all people, I never expected him to be Lucy's older brother. "Angelo? What are you doing here?" I asked upon seeing the writer I am working with. All this time, Lucy is so close to me? I can't imagine how twisted our fates are. Pilit na ipinagtatapo and aming mga landas sa isang daanan na para bang nilikha para magkabunguan kami, in one way or another. Hindi ko magets at maintindihan na Angelo is Lucy's brother. Naglakad papalapit sa akin ang lalake. Bakas sa mukha niya ang pagkagulat at pagkaconfuse. "Kuya, do you know her?" Lucy asked. "I told you, I am working with Ms. Vera." Angelo answered habang patuloy ang pagkagulat sa lahat ng nagaganap. "Malay ko bang parehas tayo ng Ms. Vera na kilala. Hindi ko naman alam na editor si Ms. Vera." the girl added. I smiled awkwardly. Hindi ko alam ang irereact.

"Tara, pasok kayo." aya ko sa kanilang dalawa. When we are about to enter my house, I heard John's voice. "Vera! Nandito na pala sila!" he exclaimed. His excited expression quickly shifted to surprise. Just what I thought, John never knew all this time that Angelo had a dream walker sister. John's eyes look at me as if nangungusap ang mga ito. I just nodded and smiled. "Angelo?" John asked out of surprise. "Sir John? Bakit po kayo nandito?" Angelo asked John with a question too. Kitang kita sa mukha nila ang pagtataka. And to ease the situation kahit papano, inaya ko na silang pumasok sa loob. "Halika na kayo, sa loob na tayo magusap."