Oneirataxia: My Fictional Man

CHAPTER 38

Chapter Thirty-eight

"B-bakit kayo napunta rito? Weren't you both characters in Oneirataxia? P-paano?" Magkasunod na napabaling ang tingin ko kay Yma at Chanel.

I almost forgot how to breathe upon looking at them. I was really stunned surprise. Of all people, they are the least I expected to be here.

"Gaga, dinamay lang ako ni Chanel sa problema niya at ginawa akong karakter doon. Lintek, maging pipi ba naman ako? Siraulo ka talaga Chanel. At tanginang Monteclaro na yun, kasalanan mo naman kung bakit nakapasok ang hayop na 'yun doon!" Singhal ni Yma kay Chanel, nambibintang.

Yma seemed so maiden in her dress. Mukha siyang hindi makabasag pinggan sa unang tingin ngunit taliwas sa bunganga niyang hindi ata makabuo ng pangungusap kapag walang mura. Kaya siguro ginawa na lang siyang pipi doon sa kuwento ni Chanel.

Muntik na akong mapatawa sa huling naisip.

"Right, I learned from my mistake Yma. He was amazed by how Fantasia works. Naawa lang ako sa kanya so I let him in." I could feel the guiltiness in Chanel's voice.

So Mr. Monteclaro didn't accidentally enter the portal on that place where Miss Raconteur copied from a real place. Pero teka.

Chanel is no other than... Miss Raconteur! Nanlalaki ang mga mata kong napatitig sa kanya. Pinagselosan ko pa siya noon doon sa sariling kuwento niya. At talagang hindi nga ako nagkamali ng rinig noong tinawag niya ako sa totoong pangalan ko. She knew me.

"Who would have thought na ang isang janitor sa headquarters ng Fantasia ay maghahangad mabuhay nang perpekto kahit sa kathang-isip lang na mundo? Pathetic." Chanel continued, her tone was still so tender even when Yma was talking harshly to her. Mukha yatang sanay na sanay na siya sa kanya.

"Pathetic kamo? Mas kawawa 'tong babaitang ito. Nainlove ba naman kay Benjamin na isang kathang-isip lang din. Unbelievable." Tumawa si Yma ngunit napatigil din nang siniko siya ni Anne na nasa tabi lang niya.

I don't know how to react, but I was sure I was melting from embarrassment. They all know what happened inside the story. Para akong nakahubad na nakatayo sa harapan nilang lahat. I could feel my cheeks and ears heated, I even imagined myself looking like a cherry ready to pop.

"Ah, there's no wrong with that, Ash. I made Benjamin a character almost near to perfection so your feelings are... valid?" Mukhang hindi pa siya sure sa huling sinabi. Nangapa lang ng salita para hindi siguro ako magmukhang kawawa.

"Whatever you say, Chanel." Napairap si Yma at bumalik na sa kinauupuan nila kanina. Sumunod din naman ang dalawang babae sa kanya.

I composed myself. They shouldn't know that my attachment to Benjamin wasn't a big deal. I just forced to smile before finally walking toward my table.

I cleared my throat before I settled myself down on my swivel chair.

"By the way, I'm Ryan," pagpapakilala 'nung lalaki. Tumango ako at sinuklian ang kanyang ngiti. His smile was so bright. I think it speaks for his personality which is a typical boy next door.

"I write mystery and thriller stories. One of my victorious works is The Patient with the Skull Tattoo," pagpapatuloy niya.

The Patient with the Skull Tattoo?

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang maalala ang kuwentong 'yun. It always got a spotlight in Fantasia Web trending lists every Saturday. Pati sa ibang social media platforms ay napapag-usapan din.

"Is your username 'thelastniceguy'? Right?" tanong ko, manghang-mangha na nakatingin sa kanya.

"Yeah, absolutely." At muli ay ngumiti na naman siya sa akin.