Bakit nakikita ko ang exact eye color ng pinuno ng tribe, sa aking mga mata? Matindi ang pagkabog ng puso ko sa aking dibdib, magkahalong takot, kaba at curiosity ang nararamdaman ko. Puno ng tanong ang aking utak. Kumurap ako at marahang kinusot ang aking mga mata, hoping that I just saw those eyes kasi bagong gising pa lang ako. Sa muling pagtatama ng mata ko sa salamin, tila hangin sa bilis na muli kong namasdan ang aking mga normal na mata. Nakahinga ako ng maayos.
In the middle of my relief, nadako ang focus ko sa mga kulay ube na pasa sa aking balikat na lumilinya hanggang sa dulo ng aking spine. If it was a dream, why do I have this bruises? Naputol, ang ang rumaragasang agos ng tanong sa aking utak na animo ay mga reporter sa pagbato ng tanong, dahil sa pangmalakasang sigaw ni Jane. "Vera, ano? Malalate na tayo sabi."
"Oo, ito na." sigaw ko pabalik kay Jane. Binilisan ko na ang kilos. Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ko ng banyo, sinalubong niya agad ako. "Vera, get your bag, sa kotse ka na magbreakfast, we only have 15 minutes before tayo malate. Thank you, sa kakupadan mo." sarkastikong sambit ni Jane. I just followed her instruction, ayoko ng mas paiinitin ang kanyang ulo.
Mabilis na nagdrive si Jane patungong Bonifacio Global City kung saan nagtatrabaho kami bilang mga Developmental and substantive editor sa isang publishing company. "Vera, go ahead, I will just park the car. See you, upstairs." sambit ni Jane. Mabilis akong lumabas ng kotse at patakbong tinungo ang building. Our company was located at the 7th floor. Pagbukas na pagbukas ng elevator, tumambad sa akin si Angelo, ang writer ng story na ineedit ko. " Good morning, Ms. Vera." bati niya sa akin habang nababakas ko ang lungkot sa kanyang mga mata. "Saan ka pupunta, Mr. Angelo?" tanong ko.
"I cannot finish the story, Ms. Vera." he answered.
At the back of my mind, I am already annoyed. How can he gave up writing, when it is almost at its end? How coward for a man? "Mr. Angelo, you can't." I replied to him.
"Ms. Vera, what's the problem?" aroganteng sabat ng editor in chief namin, si John. "Nothing, Mr. John. Everything is under control. Mr. Angelo and I will just brainstorm in a coffee shop downstairs. Di ba, Mr. Angelo?" proud kong sambit, habang pinandidilatan ko ng mata si Angelo. "If you may excuse us, sir. We have a lot of things to discuss." dagdag ko bago pa makasagot si Angelo kay John. To be honest, I am so annoyed and irritated sa presensya ni John. I just don't like him but for a reason, some people really admire him because for them, he is a total package. Matalino, mayaman, may itsura at gentleman daw which is based sa mga rumors dito sa office.For the record, I already met him few years ago because unfortunately, naging kaklase ko siya sa isang subject nung college. He have this competitive attitude that always strives to outwit others and this attitude really get into my nerves. Ayoko sa mga taong competitive and intimidating. Lastly, I hate the fact that he is my boss now. If I just know that he is the head of this company, hindi na sana ako nagapply but I am already here, wala na akong magagawa kundi magtrabaho under ng leadership niya.
"Okay, Ms. Vera but I have to meet you later, 3pm in my office for your weekly report." saad niya. I just nodded and smiled. Hinatak ko ng mabilis si Angelo patungong elevator kasi baka kung ano pang masabi ko sa inis.
Pagkarating namin sa pinakamalapit na coffee shop, I already start firing questions to Angelo. "Bakit mo naman naisipan Mr. Angelo to quit finishing your story?" "I just experienced a writer's block!" mariin niyang sagot in the most frustrating way. "We always encounter that, hindi ka pa ba sanay?" tanong ko ulit. "This is different. I lack in inspiration, I cannot progress the story kasi hindi ko makita kung ano exactly yung dapat kong iillustrate." saad niya. Buti na lang, I am quick-witted. "Anong part ka na ba ng story?" tanong ko. "Baka kaya pa natin ituloy by any means." dagdag ko.
"Okay, so the next sequence of events goes like this. My main character, Lyca, was meant to meet her ancestral tribe and her origins." saad ni Angelo. Bumilis ng bahagya ang pagtibok ng puso ko. I had goosebumps as well. "Okay, go on." I told him. "But, Lyca will be shocked because her ancestral tribe have primordial powers. They are a tribe of shape shifters. They turn into wolves." Hindi ako nakareact agad. I was stunned. Hindi ko alam kung may connection sa panaginip ko ang lahat but I cannot stop thinking its connection. I am still torn sa paniniwalaan ko, kung dream yun or experience ko. "Ms. Vera." tawag ni Angelo. Nagising ako sa tawag niya and immediately, I shake off the idea of my dream being the reality. "Go on, I am listening."
"Just to be clear and to put a distinction of how peculiar my writer's block this time from the others I had overcome. Ms. Vera, I know exactly what will happen next in my story but I cannot picture the tribe and even the place. I know the next sequences of events but nothing comes on my mind whenever I think of the place and people. For your information, this ideas are really significant. Pano ko ilalagay sa salita ang naiimagine ko kung hindi ko ito maimagine? What should I do?" tanong ni Angelo. Well, indeed, it is a one of a kind writer's block. As what I said, I can response to this problems right away. I hate the idea I have in my mind but it is worth a shot. "Mr. Angelo, I will convince John to let us go on a trip papunta sa lugar at tribe na medyo may resemblance sa gusto mong maiillustrate. Give me a day to research and we will discuss it right away."
After the small chat with Angelo, I supposedly on my way back to the office but while walking, I am still bombarded and disturbed by the dream I have last night. It felt so real. I cannot hold back my thoughts and questions, so definitely I should kill the curiosity and start being busy. I head back to our house instead of going to the office. Hayaan ko na si John, I will report to him tomorrow. I texted Jane and John that I decided to go home with a made up excuse. I opened my laptop and start searching.