The Man Of My Imagination

CHAPTER 1

PAGKA-DISMISS na pagka-dismiss sa Hospital nang malaman na gising na ako at nakapagpahinga na, agad kong hinanap si Sam sa amin. Baka kasi nagtago siya, para di siya makita ni Papa. Pinilit ko siyang hinanap pero parang nagmukha lang akong tanga.

Gusto kong i-deny na ang lahat ng nangyari ay panaginip lang. The emotions and the feelings I've felt when I'm with him feel so true, so how come na panaginip lang ang lahat?

Kaso sino nga bang niloloko ko? Halata naman ang ebidensya, na nasa taong High School pa lang ako ngayon. Hindi pa ako 26. I'm 17... ang mga panahong may "gusto" kuno pa ako kay Qen.

Pero parang ang imposible talaga isipin na panaginip lang ang lahat kasi... I knew it really happened. I just don't have enough evidence to prove it.

Or baka sinasaktan ko lang sarili ko? Kasi di ko matanggap na ang taong minahal ko... ay nangyari lang pala lahat sa panaginip?

I shook my head with all the thoughts circulating my head. I'm gonna get a headache for this one. But I just can't help it...

“It's okay if you don't want to go to school yet, Laura. You can still have your rest. Besides, isang taon din kasi iyon,” saad sa akin ni Papa. Dahil lutang pa ako, at hindi pa rin matanggap ang nangyayari hindi masyado nag-sink in sa akin ang sinabi niya. School? Ah, oo nga pala. 17 pa lang ako ngayon. Hindi pa 26.

Pero it doesn't feel right at all.

In my dream, I already pursued my dream job. I graduated with flying colors... all the hardships I faced has finally come to an end.

“Okay lang po, papasok pa rin po ako.”

Tumango siya. “You've missed a lot sa Grade 10 mo. So, I think it's necessary for you to go back a year ago.”

“4th quarter na rin kasi iyon, 'Pa. Patapos na and sa tingin ko hindi na masyadong kailangan?” Pakiramdam ko kasi ay buryong-buryo ako kung magte-take na naman ako ng grade 10 dahil lang hindi nakapagtapos along the way. Like, yung pakiramdam na naranasan mo na siya, kaya parang ayaw mo na lang umulit. “Pero, 'Pa, na-acknowledge naman na akong nakapag-moving up ako, 'di ba?”

“Oo naman, of course. You can look it up sa drawer, nandun diploma mo at yung certificate kung saan nagsasabi nakapag-moving up ka even though na-coma ka. I'll enroll you na agad bukas para makasabay ka, mabuti at 1st sem pa lang sila ngayon.”

“Thanks, 'Pa,” ngiti ko sa kabila ng sakit ng puso ko.

“Anything for you, anak.”

Nang makalabas si Papa ay natulala na naman ako. Thousands of thoughts started to fill me and it starts crawling in my heart with the pain. Kaya sinubukan kong maglibot sa kwarto ko. Malibang nang saglit. Sinusubukang alamin ang mga nagawa ko bago ako ma-coma. Mas nawala na ang mga nasa isip ko nang masilip ko ang past drawings ko. Dahil parang na-inspire, kumuha ako ng papel at lapis at sinimulan ang pag-guhit. This way, I could get a hold of my thoughts and feelings. I could relax. I could think clearly.

Nasa gitna na ako ng pagkukulay nang makita na kinakailangan ko pa ng nawawalang kulay sa drawing. Hinanap ko ito sa table, pero hindi ko makita kaya binuksan ko ang drawer nito. Kinapa ko ang kadulu-duluhan ng drawer dahil di ko makita sa bungad, nang may makapa ako na kakaiba. Sinubukan kong ilipat ito sa harapan para sana makita nang biglang mawalan ng kuryente.

“Ay, anak ka ng—” Binitawan ko ang hawak at isinara ang drawer. Sucks, wala pa pala sa akin ang phone ko. Walang sense kung magkakandila pa ako or what, huling kita ko sa wall clock ay 11 pm na. Idiretso ko na lang ang tulog. And hopefully... hindi ako bangungutin...

Ng kanyang mga alaala.

“INGAT ka anak, ha?” Tumango ako kay Papa at kinawayan siya bago ako tumuloy sa pagpasok sa school ko na bago. Papa didn't take long for me to enroll dahil pinilit ko rin kung hindi ay mag-iisip ako kay Sam na naman nang paulit-ulit.

I stood at the entrance of my new school, feeling a sense of trepidation wash over me. The imposing building loomed like a monolith in the horizon, casting a shadow on the surrounding landscape. It was a behemoth made of concrete and glass, with countless windows looking like eyes staring back at me. The doors were of steel, cold and unrelenting, as if barring entry to anyone who dared to approach. A few birds were perched on top of the roof, their melodies adding a bittersweet note to the silence that surrounded the school.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside, the sound of my footsteps echoing through the empty halls. The first thing that struck me was the smell of chalk and ink, a pleasant reminder of the countless hours spent studying and learning. The sound of distant voices filtered through the closed doors, a hint of the hustle and bustle that awaited me inside.

As I walked down the corridor, my eyes searched for the room labeled "103". The numbers seemed to blur and shift, as if trying to escape my gaze. I could feel a slight pressure on my chest, as if something was weighing me down. Perhaps it was the weight of my expectations, hoping for a great start at the new school, or maybe it was simply the weight of the unknown.

But as I was on my way, I saw a familiar figure. So familiar, that all of my emotions came back all at once. I was determined. I knew it was him that I saw.

Maybe it wasn't just a dream being with him. Maybe something just happened. Maybe all this time, I really loved a man truly. Not on my imagination, but in reality.

“Sam!”

And then he turns around, and I swear, I saw the grin he had given me the first time we met. So, I mindlessly hugged him.

“I missed you.”

A/N:

Okay, I've read all your comments and you are really much HEARD. I'm sorry for all the inconveniences that I've caused. Nahihirapan lang ako mag formulate ng outline dahil matagal nang huli ko rin ginalaw ang story na to. So far, may magagawa naman ako. Paunti-unti. I'll make sure to have a sched na rin para hindi kayo matagalan sa update ko. Kaso para lang to sa magiging xmas break. I'm a college student din po, and marami po talaga ginagawa pero ta-try ko pa rin kahit sa school days ko. Yun lang, thank you :))