Romancing The Ice Prince

Chapter 1.

Chapter 1
New project

California, USA

Napabalikwas siya ng bangon, pawis na pawis and desperately gasping to breathe. Nanaginip na naman siya. She squeezed her eyes shut. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang malakas na tibok ng puso niya, para iyong may martilyo na humahampas sa kanyang dibdib.

Wala sa loob na napahawak siya sa kanyang pisngi. And as expected, may mga luha doon. Mga luhang tumigil na dapat noon pa. What's really happening to me?  Kelan ba 'to hihinto?

She glanced left and right, trying to get her bearings. She felt something lodge in her throat nang mahimasmasan siya. Her room suddenly felt too small and suffocating.

She drew a deep breathe at nagdesisyong bumangon mula sa higaan. Dahan dahang siyang pumunta ng banyo. Her knees felt weak. Para bang kinuha ng panaginip niya ang lahat ng lakas sa katawan.

She went to the basin. Naghilamos siya and stared at her face in the mirror. And again, she saw it. Weak, dead eyes. Like a soulless creature.

For the past six years, there were dreams.. moments from the past that hunts her. It happened often. Sometimes she could deal. Sometimes she couldn't.

But this one, pinakamasakit sa lahat at paulit-ulit. Lagi siyang gumigising na pagod na pagod, hingal na hingal. At palagi ay malalaman niyang umiiyak siya habang nanaginip. It was so frustrating.

Bakit hindi na lang siya kasama sa mga taong hindi nakakaalala ng panaginip? Bakit isa pa siya sa mga taong naalala ang mga panaginip nila? Worse, she remember everything. Every second. Every word. Even the pain.

I guess karma's really a bitch, huh?                                

Sa isiping iyon ay parang nagising na siya. She forced a smile. Kailangan niyang magpatuloy. She has a life. A work. And someone na nangangailangan ng pagmamahal ay atensyon. Kailangan niyang magpatuloy.

You survived, Maria Rein. You did it. She said to herself.

Did I really? kontra naman ng isa pang bahagi ng isip niya.

"Barely" she whispered.

Naligo siya, determined to forget yet another dream at nagpalit ng damit para sa trabaho. Pagkatapos ay lumabas na siya ng kwarto. She smelled bacon and eggs. Dumiretso siya sa kusina. She smiled when she saw him.

"Oh, hi, babe. Come on, I just finished cooking! Let's eat!" Tinanggal nito ang apron na suot and smiled sweetly. Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay.

Umupo siya sa stool sa harap ng counter. "You don't have to do that, Harry" iling-iling niyang sabi. Harry's my roommate. Ito ang kahati ko sa isang apartment. A filipino. He's tall, lean and hot. And very much gay.

"Masama bang magluto ng bacon at eggs?" he said, innocently.

She smiled at him at hinayaan na lamang ito. "You're a God-sent. Thank you" She mouthed.

Habang kumakain ako ay napansin niyang nakatingin lang ito sa kanya. "What?" She asked, forcing a laugh. Nakatitig lang talaga ito sa kanya.

"Nightmare?" he asked softly. He look worried. He calls her dreams, "nightmares". He said dreams shouldn't hurt her, that's why its called dream, it should be all flowers and unicorns and cotton candies. But her dreams weren't just dreams, it was memories.

Unti-unting naglaho ang ngiti niya. Ibinaba niya ang hawak niyang tinidor. "I'm fine." She gave him a weak smile. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. Ito lang ang nakakaalam nang tungkol sa mga panaginip niya.