Since He Came

IV

"Eww. He peed on stage!!"

"Hahahahaha! Disgusting!"

"Freak!"

Taunting laughters echoed inside the Pavilion. Mockery and insults were thrown at the four-year-old boy who created a mess on the stage. It may be due to stage fright but no one cares about that. What they see is a pathetic little boy who can't even deliver his piece.

"There inside the boy,

Torment grew without void,

Watered by the mockery and taunt,

It grew into a sturdy tree."

***

Quinn's POV

That same dream. That same fucking dream.

I haven't dreamt of it for sometime now, it was probably triggered by the fast approaching PressCon. Itinakip ko ang braso ko sa mata ko. 

What a start for such a day! Way to go Quinn. 

Bumangon na rin ako pag kalaon. It's 5:30. Tsh.

Maaga pa. Kung sa normal na araw ko tanghali na ako babangon. I am nocturnal. I prefer writing in the comfort of the night sky rather than the morning light.

Ngunit gaya nga ng sabi ko 'kung normal na araw ko to' ang kaso hindi. Ngayon ang unang araw ng pagsasanay ko sa ilalim ng patnubay ni Miss Sungit. Hays. Quinn ano ba 'tong na pasok mo.

'Report in my office at exactly 8 am sharp.' her monotonous voice resounded in my mind.

To think that my parents just giggled at how that girl bosses their only son around. Hays. Kahapon lang kami nagkakilala pero parang andami na nangyari nang dumating siya. 

Remembering her tone, ayoko nang malaman kung anong mangyayari kung malate ako. Brrr.

I took my time showering and decided to wear my usual casual clothes. Uniqlo black shirt, a pair of khaki pants and my black loafers. Smart casual it is. I styled my hair a bit and put on some cologne. I wore my messenger bag and picked up my keys for my apartment before leaving.

Time check. 6:30. Perfect.

***

"Good morning Mr. Winter" Bati sakin ni Dream ng makita niya akong palapit sa mesa nila.

"Morn'n Mr. Winter!" Sunod naman ni Dalia wih a more energetic aura.

Complete opposite indeed. They're like Yin and yang.

"Magandang umaga rin sainyo. Ah. Pinapunta ako dito ni Hyra." Panimula ko.

Marahil dahil mag hapon ko nang kasama kahapon si Dalia nang mamili kami ng damit ko para sa dinner with my parents and Hyra, medyo komportable na rin ako sa kanya. Si Dream naman masyadong pormal at robot-like para mahiya pa ako.

"Yes, we heard about it from Ms. Vegas, sir. She'll arrive any minute now. You may wait inside her office." Sagot ni Dream. Si Dalia naman nag pa tuloy na sa ginagawa niya sa computer.

Maaga pa nga siguro ako. Its still 7:50.

"Ah ganon ba. Sige."

Gaya nang sinabi ni Dream, I went inside Hyra's Office.

Wala pa nga si Hyra, pero malamig na sa opisina niya. Marahil binuksan na nina Dalia ang air condition. Malawak ang opisina niya, yun rin ang una kong napansin nang unang pasok ko dito.