I keep staring at the pictures in front of me. I wiped my tears as I continue to reminisce our sweet moments together.
"Can I sleep forever?" I asked even though I know that no one can hear me.
Agad akong napatayo nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng kuwarto ko. Pumasok ang kaibigan kong si Hailie at nakita ko ang paghagod ng tingin niya sa akin.
"Anong nangyari sa'yo Blair? You're a mess!" singhal niya. Nilapitan niya ako at hinawakan ang mukha ko.
"Nakita mo ba ang sarili mo sa salamin?"
Umiling ako at tamad na naglakad patungo sa harap ng salamin. Nakita ko kung gaano natuyo ang eyeliner ko na umagos na sa pisngi ko. Natanggal na rin ang fake eyelashes ko at nag-smudge na rin ang lipstick ko.
"Ano bang nangyari kagabi at bigla ka na lang nawala sa party?"
Umupo ako sa kama habang ramdam ko na naman ang pangingilid ng luha ko.
"Matthew and I broke up. Mahal niya pa rin daw ex niya," I faked a laugh as soon as I felt my tears rolling down to my cheeks.
"He's not deserving for your tears Blair. Stop crying please?" she hugged me.
Kahit papaano ay gumaan ang pakiramdam ko sa pagyakap niya.
"I have something to share with you Blair," she look so excited as she started to scribble something in her paper.
"What is it?"
"Last night, I learned something. I learned astral projection!"
Halos magsalubong ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. Astral what?
"Anong astral projection? Ano 'yon?"
"Astral projection is an ability to separate your astral body or your spirit body from your physical body. It will allow you to explore the astral realm," she said it like it was the wonderful thing in the world.
"You look so excited. Ano namang ikatutuwa ko d'yan sa astral projection na 'yan?"
"Blair, you can travel the world for free!"
"Hindi nga?"
She nodded and held my hand. "Gusto mo turuan kita?"
"Ano pang mangyayari sa'kin kapag natuto ako niyan?" dagdag ko pang tanong.
"While performing astral projection, you need to sleep so your astral body can move out from your physical body."
"Game, turuan mo na ako!"
"Mag-ayos ka muna at samahan mo muna ako sa Quiapo."
I fixed myself and cleaned up my mess. I wore a midriff long sleeves and a high waist denim pants.
"You don't look like you're going to Quiapo. Para kang magpaparty!"
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever Hailie."
So we went to Quiapo and I accompanied her to a shop.
"Dito ka lang Blair," Hailie said and I nodded.
I scanned the whole place and I noticed that someone is watching me. I immediately shifted my gaze to an old woman who's staring to me.
I found myself walking to her direction.
"Ikaw..." she started. "Magbabago ang buhay mo mamayang gabi!"
"Ano pong sinasabi niyo Lola?"
Nakita kong may hinanap siya sa bag niya at inabot niya sa akin ang isang polseras.
"Isuot mo 'yan upang maging ligtas ka."
"Bakit po ako makikinig sa inyo?"
Naging matalim ang pagtingin niya sa akin. "Mamamatay ka kapag hindi mo suot 'yan. Mapanganib ang binabalak mong gawin kaya kung ako sa'yo ay isuot mo na 'yan."
Weird but I found myself wearing the bracelet.
Bumalik ako sa store na pinanggalingan ko kanina at nakita ko ang galit na mukha ni Hailie.
"Akala ko kung nasaan ka na. Saan ka ba nanggaling?"
"I'm sorry. May matandang nagbigay sa'kin nito..." I raised my hand para ipakita ang bracelet. "Sabi niya may gagawin daw ako na makakapagpabago ng buhay ko. Isuot ko raw ito para hindi ako mamatay kasi mapanganib daw ang binabalak ko."
She shook her head and laughed. "Ano bang gagawin mo? Astral projection?"
"Sa tingin ko hindi naman ako mapapahamak d'yan sa astral projection besides I think it's fun!"
We immediately went home after Hailie bought some stuffs.
"Dali na turuan mo na ako!"
"Blair, hindi mo 'to pwedeng gawin nang may kasama ka. I will only tell you the steps then ikaw na bahala gumawa mamaya kapag mag-isa ka na okay?"
Hailie told me everything I need to so I can execute astral projection. She told me what will I expect when I got there and what should I avoid.
"I'll leave you na Blair. Good luck!"
"Ingat ka!"
Agad kong sinarado ang pinto ng kwarto ko. Pinatay ko ang ilaw at tanging lampshade lamang sa gilid ko ang nakabukas. Napatingin naman ako sa bracelet na binigay sa akin ng matanda kanina. Hinayaan ko na lamang ito sa aking kamay.
Marahan akong humiga sa kama at huminga nang malalim.
I took a deep breath. I tried clearing my mind, emptying it. I continued doing it until all I can feel is my breathing. After a few minutes, I felt my body getting numb. I imagined myself moving out from my body. I repeatedly imagined it until I felt my body getting disconnected.
My body started to vibrate but Hailie said that it is normal. It means I am doing this right. Few minutes passed and I surpassed the vibration stage. I tried lifting my hands and slowly moved out from my physical body.
I opened my eyes and I saw my physical body sleeping soundly. I looked to my hands and I did it!
I successfully moved out from my physical body.
Dahan-dahan na akong naglakad hanggang makalabas na ako sa aming bahay.
Hailie told me that I can control things here in astral realm. Sana umaga na lang dito.
In a blink, I can feel the sunlight touched my skin. In astral projection, I can also perform lucid dreaming.
Dinala ako ng paa ko sa iba't ibang lugar hanggang sa mapadpad ako sa isang lugar na maraming puno. Naakit ako sa berdeng mga damo at sa huni ng ibon. Dali-dali akong tumakbo at humiga sa ilalim ng puno.
"How I wish that I discovered this when I was young para hindi na ako nasaktan..."
Nanatili akong nakahiga habang nakatingin sa kawalan.
"May tae ang hinihigaan mo..." a voice said.
Agad akong napatayo at tiningnan ang hinihigaan ko. Pinagpagan ko ang likod ko at nakita kong wala naman.
"Wala naman..." sagot ko.
But I realized, who the hell spoke?
Agad akong lumingon sa likuran ko at nakita ko ang isang lalaking nakapamulsa habang nakangiti sa akin.
He is sporting a good outfit. I noticed his pair of almond eyes and his jet black hair. His perfectly angled jaw caught my attention and his red lips.
"Who are you?"
"I am Josiah. Paano ka napunta dito?"
"Napunta ako dito dahil sa astral projection. Ikaw din ba? Narito ka rin dahil sa astral projection?"
Ngumisi siya. "You can say that."
"I can't believe that I can also encounter people here that are also doing astral projection..."
I smiled. "I am Blair. It's nice to meet you Josiah!"
Bigla kong naalala ang babala sa'kin ng matanda kanina. Maniniwala ba ako sa kaniya? Hindi naman ako mapapahamak dito besides this is so exciting and thrilling at the same time!