Mang Tomas' words sent shockwaves through the crowd's ears.
"Oh no!" a woman screamed.
Immediately, the crowd scampered. While the women panicked about what to prepare if there would be another meteor collision, the men considered leaving Subangdaku for a while. The media men took interest with Mang Tomas and they turned their attention to him. The boys took this opportunity to leave and hurriedly, they got their bikes and proceeded to get home.
"What happened to Mang Thomas?" Bogart asked his friends. "He is so much different now."
"Like how much different is he now from before?" Kiko asked matter-of-factly.
"He used to be shy; in fact, he is aloof. He seldom goes out of his house and talks with his neighbors. But why has he suddenly become a public speaker?"
"He is more like a prophet," Jamie corrected him. "Where did he get all the things he had just said?"
"And why does he take interest with Tonton?" Kiko said, frowning. He turned to Tonton and inquired, "Do you know him? Are you two friends?"
Tonton immediately shook his head. "I don't know him. I just met him today."
"He is really a weirdo," Kiko concluded. "He could have just made up all those things."
"I'm not sure," Bogart said. "He had changed overnight."
The boys fell into silence as they continued biking.
"Are you alright?" Jamie asked Tonton.
Bogart and Kiko has already arrived at their respective houses earlier, leaving the two boys to continue their ride home. It was a bright day, and since it was noon, the sun was beginning to take his spot above everyone's head. The sky was clear, save for sparrows which occasionally tainted its pale blueness. Through the brightness of the day, Jamie could see clearly that Tonton was pale.
"I'm just fine. "
"Are you sure?" Jamie persisted, sensing that that his friend was really tense and uncomfortable. Since that incident with Mang Tomas, Tonton was absorbed in total awkward silence.
"Not really. It's just that I got frightened with what Mang Tomas had spoken. Aren't you?"
"Yes, I am."
'But not as frightened as you,' Jamie would have wanted to add but he restrained himself from saying it. He sensed that Tonton must be keeping something from them.
By and by, they arrived at their houses. Tonton continued to be uneasy the rest of the day. That night, he prayed hard before sleeping. Unfortunately, the inexplicably dreadful dreams taunted him again.
It was late at night inside his dream and the two moons were beautifully glowing in the sky. Tonton found himself in the middle of a crowd somewhere which looked like a park. People were faceless, from the young to the old ones. They were endlessly taking, and this made Tonton dizzy. He looked around for a seat and found a bench. He sat in the only space available, beside a man and a woman.
"They know already," he heard the man said.
"What happens now?" the woman replied.
Tonton's left ear widened, as if some magical force wanted him to hear everything the couple said.
"I'm scared," the woman said. "Scared that they will part us."
"That is exactly they will do," the man answered. "Our laws do not allow this kind of relationship."
"What do we do now?"
"Nothing. I don't want anyone of us to go away."
"Neither do I. But will not the authorities do something?"
"Yes, they surely will. I will talk to my father about this."
"Arthur, I'm really scared."
"Don't worry. I won't let anything bad happen to you. And I can't let anyone take you away from me."
Gently, the woman sobbed while the man comforted her silently. Tonton was also saddened with what he heard. He did not really understand their story but he felt the sadness and fear in them.
"Help us," he heard a voice whispered.
Tonton sat up, feeling a little panicky.
"Please, help us."
His heart beat faster. Suddenly, a cold hand touched his arm and gently gripped his wrist.
"You need to help us."
Confused and alarmed, Tonton quickly stood up and ran. He ran and ran while trying to shake away the voices in his head. He stopped after reaching a good distance from the previous crowd. He hyperventilated, letting more oxygen into the system, though the air seemed to be deficient with it.
When he recovered his breath, he looked around and found himself in a garden. Lush bushes were everywhere, thronged with bright yellow and red flowers.
"Search everywhere!" a man with loud low voice barked an order.
"Yes, Sir!" a large group of men roared in response.
Tonton hid among the bushes. He could not let himself get caught for a reason he did not understand. He did nothing wrong, so why hide?
When the voices and steps seemed to fade away, he crawled out of his hiding place. He tiptoed around the garden, careful not to step on anything that might create sound. From the corner of his eyes, he saw some silhouettes moving. He froze in oder to suppress the panic building in his heart again. His sweat began pouring.
"Hold there!" a voice shouted.
Slowly, Tonton turned his head to his right and a group of burly faceless men were apparently looking at him. He could not see their features but he sensed they were fiercely looking at him, making his entire body tremble. He could not take their gazes, and mustering all his guts, he sprinted to his left. Only then he noticed the pair of shadows in that direction who also ran along ahead of him.
"Take them!" the voice ordered which the men instantly obeyed.
Tonton ran with all his might but the two figures in front of him ran faster, the taller one seemed to be dragging the other. Tonton changed direction and led himself away from the commotion. He kept running until he came to a familiar place.
Roses were everywhere. There was a flood of red in a sea of green. It was beatiful. There was also one stray dog who kept digging a hole in the ground. It was excited.
Tonton turned around and there was the back part of a house. He gaped in disbelief. Finally, it dawned on him.
"Home."