IV - DREAM

Hindi ako natulog hanggat hindi bumababa ang lagnat ni Axel.

I informed mom na nilalagnat si Axel, and she keeps apologizing to me, dahil ako daw ang nag-alaga at hindi siya. I said it's fine since I can handle it. They're still in Manila. I don't know what's the problem, but I know the company's facing a crisis today, dahil napauwi si Kuya Ash ng wala sa oras.

Yuyuko na sana ako para makaidlip ng sumakit ang likod ko. Kanina pa nga pala ganito ang pwesto ko at mag aalas dos na ng madaling araw. So far, bumaba narin ang lagnat ni Axel na naging 37.8, at least it has made progress.

Tumayo ako para mag-inat at napatingin sa orasan. Malapit na palang mag-alas tres, kaya hihintayin ko nalang mag-alas tres para painumin ng gamot si Axel.

Pinagmasdan ko ang kanyang mukha. He looks kind when sleeping. It's so peaceful.

His future girlfriend will be so lucky to have him. I mean it.

"Baka matunaw ako," napaatras ako ng nagsalita si Axel. Nakapikit ito, maya-maya ay umupo at sumandal sa headboard ng kama.

"What time is it?" Tanong niya. Napatingin naman ako sa digital clock na nasa study table niya. "2:58 in the morning," sagot ko sa kanya. "Why are you still not sleeping?" Tanong nito, medyo garalgal ang boses nito, at halatang nahihirapan parin ito sa sitwasyon niya. "Binabantayan ka," tumingin naman ito saakin na para bang kakainin ako. "You don't have to. Bababa din naman ang lagnat ko if itutulog ko lang ito." Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Nag-puyat ka?"

"Hmm."

Hmm? Edi hindi din siya nakatulog that night? Why?

I can hear the loud thug in my chest; it's pumping ceaselessly, and I can't breathe properly, although I tried my hardest to calm myself.

An alarm interrupts the silence between us.

"Here, take your meds and go back to sleep." Inabot ko sa kanya ang gamot at tubig na siyang kaagad din namang ininum.

"You should take a rest too; I'm okay now. You don't need to nurse me any longer. Bumalik ka na sa kwarto mo at baka mahawa ka pa." Umiling ako sa sinabi nito.

"Don't be such a hardheaded person, Margarette." Nagulat ako ng tawagin niya akong Margarette. The last time he called me Margarette, we were fighting over a book. We were only eleven years old at the time.

"Sleep, babalik lang ako ng kwarto kapag nakatulog ka na." Humiga ito at pumikit. Pinatong ko ang ulo ko sa kama niya at pinagmasdan itong matulog.

Pero habang pinagmamasdan ito ay hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako.

"Tsk." Rinig ko mula kay Axel bago ako tuluyang nakatulog.

Paggising ko ay nagulat ako dahil nasa kama ako at katabi si Axel habang yakap ito.

"Good morning," he said with a husky voice. Ramdam ko namang namula ako, kaya napatayo kaagad ako.

"Bakit nasa higaan mo ako?" Tanong ko sakanya. Napaupo ito at kinusot ang mga mata.

"I lift you up, but I don't have much energy left to bring you into your room, so I let you stay in my bed." Ginulo ko ang buhok ko at hinanap ang cellphone ko.

We used to share beds together when we were children, but this time is different. We are all grown up.

"Cute," he chuckled. Sinamaan ko naman ito ng tingin.

"Sarap na sarap ka ata sa tulog mo dahil ang higpit ng pagkakayakap mo saakin," biro nito.

"Just shut up," kinuha ko ang basin na may laman pa ng tubig at tinapon ito sa banyo, nilabhan ko naman ang tuwalya bago ito isabit sa banyo niya.

"I need to get back to my room. It seems like your okay, and I think wala ka narin namang lagnat, I will then take my rest." Paalam ko sa kanya at naglakad na palabas, pero bubuksan ko palang ang pinto ng tawagin ako ni Axel.

"Thank you for taking care of me," he said in a soft voice. I smiled.

"It's nothing; isa pa magkapatid naman tayo. So it's my responsibility too to take care of you." Then I left.

I leaned towards the railings as I watched the sun set.

The sunset paints the sky with a brilliant palette of warm hues—ferocious oranges, soft pinks, and gentle purples—blending seamlessly. The sun slowly dips below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the landscape. It really is a magical moment.

As I sip my coffee, the cold breeze gently caresses my skin, creating a peaceful moment of serenity and calm. It's a simple joy that warms my heart on this chilly day.

Nabigla ako ng may yumakap saakin mula sa likod. Hindi ako makagalaw, but I can feel his heavy breaths in my neck.

"I wish we could be like this forever." It's Axel. Humarap ako sa kanya, and I cupped my hands into his face.

"Can we?" I asked him, smiling faintly. He put his head into mine, and he closed his eyes while still hugging me.

"I love you, Cali," he whispered. I looked into his eyes; they were full of love and desire. The look I might bring with me forever.

I smiled and kissed him on the lips.

"I love you too, Axel," I whispered and kissed him again. We're both kissing, wanting him more and more. I can't stop desiring him.

He lifted me up and carried me to my bed. We're both laughing.

As soon as he puts me on my bed, he starts kissing me again. The kiss was now more intense, and it went deeper.

I moan as he kisses my neck down to my chest. He takes off my t-shirt, and he then sucks his mouth into my nipples, which gives me sensation. I moaned.

"I want you, Cali," he whispered while still kissing my breasts down to my stomach.

He now removed my skirt and underwear, and he saw my private part.

Tumayo ito para maghubad din, and I saw his junior getting bigger and harder. He put my hands into his junior and rubbed it.

"Fuck," he moans. Yumuko ito at sinimulang halikan ang private part ko dahilan para mapasabunot ako sa buhok niya.

"Should I insert this?" he playfully asks. I bit my lower lip and nodded like a baby.

Napapikit ako ng ipasok niya ito sa private part ko, at napaungol naman ako sa sakit. His junior is kind of big.

"Gentle, please," I pleaded. But instead of being gentle, binilisan niya ang paglabas pasok nito sa ari ko.

And instead of feeling pain, I felt sensations that drove me into addiction.

They're right; sex can be addictive, especially if you're doing this with your lover.

We both reached the final blow, both grasping for air. He lays beside me, still catching his breath.

"I love you."

"Cali! Wake up!" Nagising ako ng marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses na iyon. Pagkadilat ko ay nakita ko si Yerin na mukhang nag-aalala at mas nakakabigla ay nakasuot pa ito ng uniform.

"I was worried at you! You're panting. Did you have bad dreams? Pinagpapawisan ka." Napalingon ako sa paligid ko at nasa kwarto ako. Nakatulog pala ako matapos kong bantayan si Axel para bumaba ang lagnat nito.

But...

What's with my dream? Is that really a dream? Bakit parang totoo?

Did I fantasize about Axel just now?

Am I going to be crazy? Why the heck did I fantasize about him? Does it mean I like him?

No, magkapatid kayo, Cali! Stop that nonsense!

Napatingin ako kay Yerin na naghihintay ng sagot ko.

"I did fantasize about Axel in my dreams! Yerin, help me!”

———————

Disclaimer:

This is work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the product of author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.