Haunted Dreams

I was waiting in our favorite coffee shop. This is what we always do – spending hours of our time in the coffee shop just sharing stories and teasing each other. I don’t know why we never run out of stories to tell and jokes to tease each other. Every moment seems never ending. My day is not complete without our happy moments together.

In a few moments, she arrives in the coffee shop. It always feels like the first time whenever I see her, I still get flustered. She really takes my breath away and my heart skips a beat every time she smiles when she sees me.

“Hi baby! Sorry I’m late, did you wait long?” she asked.

“Hi baby. That’s okay. I’m used to you being late. It’s tiresome but still worth it when you’re already here. I miss you.” I said.

“Gosh baby, you’re getting too cheesy! The day is almost over but you’re still going on with your cheesy pick – up lines.” She said will giggling. I know she likes it when I give her cheesy pick-up lines.

“Nope. Just saying the truth. I’ll just order coffee, you stay here.”

I stood up from my seat and kissed her. It’s still feels like the first time every time I kiss her. The excitement is still there. I went inside the coffee shop and ordered her favorite coffee and cake. When I went back in our seat, she’s busy doodling in a paper. I then took a seat beside her.

“Here’s one iced caramel coffee and Oreo cheesecake for my one and only.” I said with a flashy smile trying to impress her that I memorized her usual order.

“Thank you, baby. I love you.” Then she kissed me.

We were just sitting in silence and she just continued doodling random this in a paper while I’m just watching how happy she looks at what she’s doing. The silence that we have around us is very comforting that we don’t need to keep on talking to each other just to assure ourselves that we are okay. Our presence is just enough. I grabbed a tissue paper, got a pen in my bag and wrote something on the paper. I put it on top of the paper she’s using.

“Will you still love me when you wake up in the morning?” was written in the paper I gave her.

She did not look at me but I can see her smile while she’s writing something on the same paper. She gave me the tissue paper back with a heart-warming smile. We were just staring at each other when she pinched my arm just to get my attention and look at what she wrote on the tissue paper.

I looked at it and happiness just overtook me that I just want to cry because I can really feel the love that she has for me.

“Everyday” that was written in the paper.

Everyday.

Everyday.

Everyday.

TOOT TOOT TOOT TOOT TOOT TOOT

I woke up with my eyes wide open surprised with the alarm sound. I dreamt of it again and it still hurts every time. I hate waking up in the morning because I’m not a morning person. I’m not the kind of person that you can smile in the morning because I’m always haunted by that question every day … “Will you still love me when you wake up in the morning?”

I realized that my phone is ringing non-stop. I answered it immediately without looking at whoever is calling.

“Yes?” I answered in a cold tone. Told you, I’m not a morning person.

“Good morning Ms. Vergara. It’s time for you to wake up. You have a lunch meeting with our client in Tagaytay.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“Should I call again after 5 minutes Ms. Vergara?” she asked.

“No. I’m getting up. Thank you, Denise. Please email me the presentation for the new products so that I can review the details before going to the meeting.”

End call.

That’s my loyal secretary in the office, Denise. Waking me up every morning is not included in her job description but since I really have a hard time waking up in the morning, I personally asked her to do my morning call when I hired her and she agreed with no hesitations. We’re actually friends when we’re outside the office because she’s been my secretary for two years already and this is not really hard for her. It’s already part of her everyday routine. She’s already used to my screaming when I answer the phone or the call will just end because I threw my phone somewhere. She’s already used to it.

I then took a shower and connected my iPod in the speakers to at least call out some good vibes in the morning. After I took a shower, I have no idea what to wear. This meeting not really that formal so I want to wear something comfortable. I wore my blue checkered polo and white pants. This looks okay, casual but also a bit formal.

It’s a Sunday but I still have to work. I drove fast to Tagaytay and had a meeting with our new client to present the new products that we have. Our meeting was really quick since he has to catch his flight to Japan and we sealed the deal. Our client has a new office in Ortigas and he wants us to provide all the computers that they need in the building. We shook our hands together and we both head out the door.

I breathed in the fresh air of Tagaytay. This place is very memorable. Few years back, we were always here every month to spend some alone time together to strengthen our relationship. But then, our relationship took the wrong turn. Erase bad vibes.

I checked my phone for messages. Well, I was just looking at it. It’s just full of messages from my friends asking to hang out but I didn’t reply to anyone. Sunday is my alone time. This is the only day wherein I can rest and be alone before facing a busy week but I want to go somewhere today.

Then I remembered Pat and I realized how stupid I am. I never got her number. Of all the chance you had last night Lance!!! That’s what you forgot! You are so stupid!

I felt so frustrated because of my stupidity, the dream I had this morning, and the flashback of memories in Tagaytay earlier, I drove back to Manila and went straight to the gym. I changed my clothes and just wore my shorts and sports bra. I wore my boxing gloves, blew some punches to express all my frustrations to the punching bag.

All I can see in the middle of the punching bag is the word EVERYDAY that’s why my punches and kicks are keep on getting stronger and stronger.

“So, tell me, who’s face can you see in the punching bag that it’s almost flying because of your punches and kicks? At this rate, you might be buying the gym a new punching bag. Chill, babe.” She smiled at me while eyeing me from head to foot and paused starting at my stomach.

I looked at her and never realized that it was Alex. She’s one of my close friends and we just call each other babe because she always pretends to be my girlfriend when I’m introduced to a girl that I’m not really into. Alex has a boyfriend but I’m not sure on how many times he cheated on her. She always says that she loves him so much and can’t leave him.

“Hey babe! I’m just practicing cause I’ve been out of practice for a while now. Please stop staring and get a mop. You’re drooling all over the floor already.” I told her chuckling.

“Crazy! Why do you have to wear that? Who can resist looking at your abs? It’s such a turn on! Can I touch, babe?” she teases attempting to touch me.

“No touch, just look!” I tapped her hand. “I missed you! So, how’s your boyfriend? He might want to apply for a new job as the new punching bag here in the gym? I might work out everyday if that’s the case.”

“I don’t know. He said he already changed but my instincts are not believing him. I don’t know. He’s always busy and with no affections. He always has an excuse for everything. I even want to throw myself to him sometimes! We haven’t had sex in the three months, Lance!” she exclaimed looking really frustrated.

She sat down in the bench and looks like she’s about to cry. I sat beside her, put my arm over her shoulder and she immediately hugged me.

“Lance, am I not enough? What do I don’t have that he’s seems to be looking for someone else? Am I not pretty? Do I still need to be sexier? Am I not a good person? What do I have to change in myself just so he could only love me?” she started crying.

“You’re not lacking anything, babe. In fact, you’re exceeding at everything. Don’t ever think of trying to change yourself. You’re you. You don’t have to pretend to be someone else just for someone to notice or love you. Because if someone really loves you, no matter who you are or what you do, he will still love you. Your boyfriend is just blind and can’t see lucky he is with you. Give him some vitamins to have a better eyesight.” I told her trying to make her laugh somehow and did laugh.

“You’re ruining my moment! I can already feel my best actress award and taking advantage of you then you’re going to tease me. You’re really crazy!” she said.

“Wow! You’re really taking advantage of hugging me. Go and grab your opportunity because this will be the last!” and we both laughed. “Stop crying. Cry for someone who’s worth your tears. Your tears might run dry for the wrong person and might end up like me.” I tried to wipe her tears.

“I will not be like you Lance that whatever drama moment comes, your eyes do not shed even a drop of tear. I think your eyes are experiencing some drought or is there a lock in your tear duct that you can’t even cry! Tell me, was there no one else after her? So that I can see you in love and have some emotions. Ever since I met you, you’re already like that.”

I met Alex four years ago. She’s the best friend of one of my friends. We had this amazing connection and I knew then that she’s gonna be one of my closest friends. She knows my game. She knows that I can’t really love easily that’s why she always pretends to be my girlfriend.

“I met someone and I don’t know what’s going on with me. There’s something that I can’t explain. After five years, it’s the first time that I’ve been like this.” I tried to explain to her what I feel but I can’t really find the right words to explain it.

“WHAT? WHEN? WHO? TELL ME! NOW!” she said loud and excitedly.

“Hey, chill! Will you? Excited much?” I’m trying calm her down.

“SHUT UP AND TELL ME!”

So, I told her what happened in the bar last night and what I felt when I saw Pat.

“O M G! This is huge! This something else! She is different! I want to meet her! Did you talk to her after last night? I think she’s the one babe! Oh my gosh!!!” she’s screaming and it’s starting to get irritating.

“Ssssh Alex! No, I did not. I was so stupid of not getting her number!” I said in frustration as I remember my stupidity.

“WHAT?! YOU STUPID GIRL! Of all the things that you could forget was that?! That was a once in a lifetime chance, Lance! That was it! Any other girl that doesn’t even let you skip a single beat in your heart, you easily get their number, but this…you forget? I can’t believe you!” she looks more frustrated than I am right now.

I received a big smack at the back of my head from Alex. Damn it! I already know how stupid I was and she doesn’t need to keep reminding me!

“I know! I know I was really stupid okay? Stop it pestering me Alex!” I said irritated.

“What will happen now babe? Damn, this is so frustrating! So, when will you see her again?”

“Next week. And the next time I see her, I’ll make sure it won’t be the last time that we will see each other.”