Chapter 18
The Great Teasing Continues
(Arushi POV – Baek-Costa Penthouse, Living Room, 9 PM)
Nakaupo ako sa couch, video calling with Mommy Auburn on my laptop, habang si Citrine ay nakahilata lang sa tabi ko, obviously wala nang ibang topic sa utak kundi si Professor Haneul.
I rolled my eyes, adjusting my laptop’s camera para mas makita ni Mommy Auburn si Citrine, hoping she’d scold her para tumigil na sa pang-aasar.
Pero syempre, hindi natitinag ang kapatid ko.
I groaned. "Damn it, Citrine! It’s not that deep!"
Just when I thought matatapos na ang pang-aasar niya, biglang sumali si Mama Primo sa video call.
Walang awa.
---
Mama Primo Joins the Chaos
I internally groaned. "Mama, ‘wag ka nang makisali!"
Pero syempre, hindi siya papayag na hindi maki-epal.
Citrine gasped dramatically beside me. "Ooooh! Good question!"
I wanted to disappear. Putangina, bakit ba ito ang topic?!
Pero masyado nang huli.
Citrine nudged me with her elbow. "O, ano? Sagot! Maganda ba?"
I sighed, facing my inevitable doom. "Oo na. Maganda siya. Masaya na kayo?"
Citrine gasped, as if I just confessed to murder.
Mommy Auburn just rolled her eyes. Alam kong sawa na siya sa immature antics naming dalawa ni Citrine.
Mama Primo, on the other hand, was having the time of her life.
Pero walang pakialam si Mama Primo.
Citrine nodded vigorously. "True! Tapos, palagi kang tinitignan ni Prof. Alam mo ba, Mommy? Kanina sa hallway, sabay silang naglakad!"
Mommy Auburn raised an eyebrow. "At anong masama doon?"
Mama Primo smirked. "E ‘di bagay!"
I facepalmed so hard. "I swear to god, you guys are the worst."
Pero imbes na tantanan ako, lalo lang lumakas ang tawanan nila.
---
Defending My Sanity
Citrine smirked. "Pero ‘di mo rin maitatanggi na may something, ‘di ba?"
I glared at her. "There. Is. No. Something."
Mama Primo chuckled. "Tingnan natin sa mga susunod na araw, Troney. Kasi kung biglang dumalas ang sulyap niya sa’yo, aba eh ‘wag ka nang mag-deny!"
Mommy Auburn finally sighed and decided to put an end to the madness.
I nodded furiously. "Thank you, Mom!"
Pero bago pa ako makapagpahinga ng tuluyan, biglang humirit ulit si Citrine.
Silence.
Putangina. Ayoko nang mabuhay.
Mommy Auburn and Mama Primo both stared at me waiting for my answer.
I clenched my fists. "You know what? Good night na."
At that moment, I closed my laptop and stormed to my room, leaving them laughing behind.
---
Lying in Bed
Pagkahiga ko sa kama, hindi ko mapigilang mag-isip.
I stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.
My heart pounded for some reason.
Then, as if on cue, a memory flashed in my mind—
The way Professor Haneul’s eyes lingered on me in class.
The way she subtly glanced at me during lunch.
The way her voice sounded so soft yet commanding when she told me to get in her car.
I groaned, grabbing a pillow and burying my face in it.
Pero kahit anong gawin ko…
I couldn't stop thinking about her.
__
Arushi’s Room 11 PM
I was lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind was a mess, filled with thoughts of Professor Haneul.
Putangina. Bakit ba hindi ko siya matanggal sa utak ko?
The way she looked at me kanina sa faculty room, even for just a second—parang may gusto siyang basahin sa’kin. Parang she was trying to figure me out, and for some reason, na-iirita ako sa sarili ko kasi parang gusto ko rin siyang intindihin.
I sighed and turned to my side, hugging my pillow. Damn it. This is getting annoying.
And before I knew it, napapikit na lang ako. My body relaxed, my breathing slowed, and slowly, sleep took over.
---
The Dream Begins
I woke up in a place I didn’t recognize.
The air was warm, the breeze was soft, and the scent of flowers filled my nose. It felt… surreal.
Napatingin ako sa paligid, trying to process where the hell I was.
It was paradise.
A vast meadow stretched before me, filled with golden flowers swaying with the wind. A crystal-clear lake was in the distance, reflecting the soft pastel sky. The sun was neither too bright nor too dim—it was perfect.
And then, I saw her.
She was standing by the lake, wearing a white dress that flowed with the wind. Her long hair cascaded down her back, moving slightly with the breeze.
Pero tulad ng dati… she had no face.
Bakit ba lagi na lang ganito?
I tried to move, pero parang may pumipigil sa’kin. It felt like gravity was stronger here, making every step difficult. Pero kahit ganoon, pilit akong lumapit.
---
A Conversation Without Words
As I walked closer, my heart pounded. I didn’t know why, pero may something sa kanya na parang kilala ko na.
She turned slightly, as if acknowledging my presence. Kahit wala siyang mukha, ramdam kong nakatingin siya sa’kin.
Then, she raised her hand—slowly, gently—parang may gusto siyang sabihin.
And that’s when it happened.
A voice echoed in my mind. Soft, almost like a whisper.
My breath hitched. She knows my name.
Pero hindi siya sumagot.
Instead, she stepped closer, reaching out her hand towards me.
I hesitated. Dapat ko ba itong abutin?
My fingers twitched. My heart pounded. And just as I was about to take her hand—
---
The Darkness Comes
A strong gust of wind blew past us, turning the golden meadow into ash.
My eyes widened as the beautiful paradise slowly crumbled. The flowers withered, the sky darkened, and the lake turned into nothingness.
The faceless girl stood still, hindi siya natitinag kahit na ang buong mundo namin unti-unting nawawala.
Then, she spoke again—but this time, her voice sounded sad.
And then—
---
Back to Reality
My eyes flew open, my breath heavy.
I was back in my room.
The familiar ceiling greeted me, the distant sound of cars outside reminding me that I was back in reality. Pero yung kaba sa dibdib ko, hindi pa rin nawawala.
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm myself.
That dream was different.
It felt longer, deeper. And this time, she spoke.
And the weirdest part?
Her voice… it sounded familiar.
Too familiar.