Chapter 35
Arushi’s POV
Pagkapikit ko ulit ng aking mga mata
wala pang limang minuto, I felt my consciousness slowly drifting away. My body was tired, but my mind… my mind was craving something. Or someone.
Pagdilat ng paningin ko sa panaginip, I was there again. Sa cabin na 'yon. That place I keep coming back to. The air was thick with silence, and the only sound I could hear was the soft creaking of the wooden floor beneath my feet.
And there she was.
The faceless girl.
Standing there. Waiting.
She didn’t have a face, pero I could feel her eyes on me. Her presence was overwhelming—familiar yet terrifying. A ghost I welcomed.
Hindi ako nagsalita. I just stood there. Staring. Observing. Kinakabahan pero hindi ko kayang umalis.
Why do I keep seeing her?
She took a step forward, then another. Her movements were deliberate. May bigat sa bawat galaw niya, parang pinaparamdam niya sa'kin na wala akong takas. Na akin lang siya.
And then—without warning—she pushed me.
Hindi ako makagalaw.
Her energy changed. Gone was the soft, mysterious girl in the fog of my first dreams. Ngayon, she was bold, aggressive, possessive.
She leaned down. I couldn’t see her eyes, but I felt them burning into me.
Hindi ako makasagot. My throat dried. My chest tightened.
My hands found their way to her waist. I could feel her—warm, alive. Hindi ko na alam kung panaginip pa ba ‘to o totoo.
She didn’t answer. Instead, she kissed my neck—soft at first, then deeper, hungrier. I gasped. Her lips were like fire against my skin. Every nerve in my body lit up.
My fingers gripped her tighter.
Her hips pressed down against mine. I felt her. Every curve, every movement. She was guiding me. Challenging me. Telling me something without words.
She wasn’t asking. She was taking.
And I let her.
I pulled her closer, our bodies flush. I kissed her—desperate, aching. My tongue slid past her lips, tasting her, memorizing her.
She moaned into my mouth, her breath hitching as I flipped her over, pinning her beneath me this time.
She laughed—a soft, breathless sound. Her legs wrapped around me, pulling me in.
I reached between us, feeling her wet and warm. She didn’t stop me. No protest. Only soft gasps and nails dragging down my back.
She arched beneath me, her moans escaping her lips like music meant only for me. My pace was slow at first, each thrust deliberate, watching how her body reacted. She matched me—every roll of her hips, every desperate whimper.
Narinig ko ang pangalan ko sa kanya like moaning my name. First time. First time she called me that in this dream, and it wrecked me.
She gripped my shoulders tighter, her faceless expression somehow radiating need.
We moved in sync—like waves crashing and pulling each other under. The room blurred. The air was thick with moans and heat. Time didn’t matter anymore.
I didn’t know if I should be scared or turned on. Pero totoo ‘yung sinabi niya. Hindi ko na alam kung sino sa amin ang nagmamay-ari ng isa’t isa. Basta ang alam ko—hindi ko na siya kayang bitawan.
She started trembling beneath me, her moans reaching a high-pitched cry. Her body tensed, her nails dug into my back, and I knew she was close. I kissed her jaw, whispering nonsense, trying to hold back my own release.
And I lost it.
I came inside her—raw, deep, aching. Shaking above her. Her walls clenched around me, milking every ounce of what I gave. She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close, not letting go even as our bodies finally stilled.
We stayed like that. Tangled. Breathing. Her hand stroking my hair. My head on her chest.
She didn’t respond.
Only silence. That damn silence again.
I looked up—only to find the cabin fading. The walls dissolving into fog. Her body growing cold.
But I was already waking up.
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Nagising ako, pawis na pawis. My sheets were tangled, my heart racing like crazy. I touched my lips. They were swollen. My thighs ached. Everything felt real.
I looked at my hand. Still trembling.
Pero walang sagot. Just the sound of my shallow breathing and the thudding of my heartbeat in my ears.
You're mine, she said.
But for how long?
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Napadilat ako bigla. Hinahabol pa rin ng dibdib ko ‘yung rhythm ng panaginip ko—o ng kung anuman ‘yon. My entire body felt exhausted pero hindi ko na kayang pumikit ulit. Parang may kamay na humahawak pa rin sa’kin, dragging me back to her… sa kanya.
Tumagilid ako. Kinuha ko ‘yung phone sa side table.
5:02 AM.
Damn it.
I stared at the ceiling for a few minutes. Pero wala, I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep again. So I pulled myself out of bed, tinapik-tapik ang mukha ko to wake up fully. Still felt… weird. Like something real just happened and my body didn’t know how to process it.
Naglakad ako palabas ng kwarto, tahimik pa ang buong bahay. The hallway was cold, and as I stepped into the kitchen, naamoy ko agad ang scent ng oil at butter.
Si Auntie Amber.
She was standing by the stove, calm and composed like always, naka-ponytail pa rin kahit madaling-araw. Parang hindi natutulog ‘tong taong ‘to. As usual, she didn’t greet me. She just gave me that one cold glance tapos balik agad sa paghalo ng itlog sa pan.
She didn’t answer. Figures.
So I made my way to the coffee machine and started brewing. Tumayo ako sa tabi niya habang naghihintay. The scent of coffee helped me ground myself. God, I needed this. Kasi hanggang ngayon, my thighs still tingled and my cheeks still burned from that dream.
Before I could spiral too far, narinig ko ang tunog ng footsteps. Citrine. Of course.
She entered the kitchen with her usual messy bedhead and oversized shirt, dragging her feet like a zombie. Mukhang laspag din. Pero the moment she sat on the chair by the table, she gave me this annoying little smirk.
Here we go.
She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “The noise you made last night. Grabe. Para kang may tinatagong babae sa kwarto mo. Then boom, you're having sex like walang pakialam sa mundo.”
Nabitawan ko halos ‘yung mug ko.
Si Auntie Amber paused, but didn’t say anything. She just kept cooking. Parang walang naririnig. But I knew she was listening.
Citrine raised an eyebrow, obviously enjoying the chaos she just caused. “Well, the walls aren’t exactly thick, Aru. All I’m saying is… kung may pangarap ka man kagabi, damn, baka pwede mong ulitin next time sa ibang bahay.”
“gago,” I muttered, covering my face with both hands. “It was just a dream, okay?”
Napatingin ako sa labas ng bintana, trying to avoid her eyes. “no I don't have,” I whispered.
This time, even Auntie Amber turned her head slightly, subtly curious.
Citrine raised an eyebrow. “Creepy but sexy. Parang horror-romance.”
I took another sip of my coffee, trying to drown the heat rising to my cheeks. Kasi ang hirap ipaliwanag. That dream—hindi lang siya basta dream. It felt real. Every sound, every touch, every moan—her voice calling my name.
Napalingon ako. Si Auntie Amber pala. She placed a plate of eggs and garlic rice on the table without looking at me.
Napakurap ako.
She didn’t repeat herself. She just sat across us, sipping her tea with that same unreadable expression. Pero ‘yung sinabi niya—take care of your dreams?
Citrine looked at me, eyes wide. “Wait. Are we talking spiritual shit now? Like dream visitations?”
But it was already weird. Kasi habang kumakain kami, I could still feel her breath on my neck. Her weight on top of me. My name rolling off her lips.
Hindi ‘yon mawawala sa utak ko.
I felt claimed. Not by someone I know, but by someone who keeps showing up in my subconscious like she owns it. Owns me.
Citrine continued eating, but I caught her glancing at me from time to time. I knew she wouldn’t drop this topic soon. And honestly? Hindi ko rin siya masisisi. Kung siya ‘yung nasa posisyon ko, she’d freak out too—or probably laugh it off.
Me? I don’t even know anymore.
After breakfast, bumalik ako sa kwarto. I closed the door slowly and leaned against it. My room still smelled like her—like wood, mist, and that warmth I couldn’t name. I stood there for a moment, eyes scanning the sheets I left crumpled kanina.
I sighed.
I don’t know what’s happening to me.
But I know this:
I want to see her again.
And that scares the hell out of me.
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