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"W-why... Why did you choose me? You can work with the most expensive and prominent team even in the Chillest Pacific to do your webtoon, why does it have to be me? I messed up your first and last booksigning. I also accused you of being a murderer in front of everybody. I disrespected you, lied to you, and became your living breathing headache but all you did was return everything with kindness. And now that I don't have anyone else in this world, my parents left me, you are here. Why? Why would you choose a loser to stay here with you? Why are you letting the problem lurk around here? You're a famous person, why would you waste your time on me?"

Zefarino wiped Jaffnah's tears. "It is not a waste if it's for my peace of mind, Lereve."

"Why would it be for your peace of mind? It doesn't make sense," she cried.

"It is peace... if you stay like this, Lereve. It is peaceful, even under the storm."

They shared a warm embrace and nothing could beat the heat they are sending to each other even in the midst of heavy rain. But those tears were even more hurtful to hear for Zefarino than to be pierce by strong rainfall. 

"Let's go home, Lereve. It won't be beneficial for you if we stay here. You'll get cold. You might get sick." Kumalas si Zefarino sa mahigpit na yakap na iyon at hihilahin na sana niya si Jaffnah nang umiwas ito.

"Pero dito ko lang kayang itago ang mga luha ko Zefarino... sa ulan. Dito lang ako makakaiyak nang malakas. Dito ko lang kayang ibuhos ang lahat ng nararamdaman ko."

"Why? Why are you hiding away from me? Your feelings, why are you keeping it all to yourself when you can lean on me? We already shared each other, what else are you ashamed of?"

Jaffnah sniffed and her voice cracked. She is staring at the man intently while saying the following words, "That I might show you everything about me and become hopeful that you would accept all of that."

Zefarino gulped for a moment. He did not expect that those words would come out from Jaffnah's lips like they mean something. And in that specific time, Zefarino realized that it was the same for him. Because of his condition, he tried to hide himself in this mansion to not cause a burden to someone else. The amount of care he did not receive from his parents pushed him to be this kind of guy who's also afraid to show his feelings and always pushes everyone with his harsh and hurtful words.

He held her hand desperately. Slowly caressing her cheek, full of concern. "You don't have to hope full, Lereve. So come with me now and we'll go back to the mansion. We can cry together as much as you want and I'll close all the doors and windows so nobody could hear it except from us."

IT WAS EVENING already when Jaffnah and Zefarino got back to the mansion. She immediately went to her room to take a bath while Zefarino was in the kitchen, boiling some water for Lereve. His clothes are worn out and drenched but still didn't bug to change. All in his mind is to take care of the lady.

"Lereve! Come here for a second and have some tea so you won't have a fever!" he shouted from the downstairs making sure that Levere would hear him across her room. After that, he closed all the doors and windows around the mansion just like he promised.

"Why are you still not changed, Zefarino?" tanong ni Jaffnah nang makababa siya sa hagdan at makarating sa kusina.

"Don't mind me and help yourself."

Inilapag ni Zefarino ang mainit na tsaa sa counter. He was about to talk when he suddenly sneezed.

"You keep on pointing out to change my clothes immediately and yet you're not doing what you preach?!"

"I was thinking of you and doing these things."

"Then you should at least take off your clothes! Sa tingin mo hindi ka uubuhin? Bato ba ang tingin mo sa sarili mo? Umaatsing ka na nga! Sandali, ikukuha kita ng tuwalya!"

Akmang aalis na si Jaffnah nang hawakan ni Zefarino ang kamay niya. "I'll do it. I'll be back. Make sure you drink this, okay?"

Tumango si Jaffnah at sinundan na lamang ng tingin ang manunulat na nagtatanggal ng damit habang naglalakad paakyat sa kwarto nito.

Somehow, Jaffnah felt strangely cheered up because of the thoughtfulness the famous writer showed her. But that was just in a short span of time, because memories came back again to her mind, especially about her parents.

These past few nights, she was having dreadful nightmares and she's sure it wasn't Zefarino's dreams. It is hers. All of those dreams were about her last memories with her parents—especially the last day she saw her father near the City of Dreams. She was sure of it, it was him, but Sir Pit told her that her father was dead a long time ago. If it was the real truth, who was that man she saw last time? 

Napabuntong-hininga nang malalim si Jaffnah habang malalim ding nag-iisip. 

"What's with the sudden sigh?"

Napalingon si Jaffnah sa nagtanong. Zefarino is now wearing his sleepwear, looking so fresh from the bath. He's breathtakingly gorgeous that can make every woman distracted from their thoughts. 

"Uhh... I am putting every piece in the puzzle."

"Every piece in the puzzle?"

Zefarino sat down beside her and listened to what she was about to say. 

"I need information, Zefarino. I need to know what you know. Mukhang naghahanap kayo ng tiyempo na sabihin sa akin ang pagkamatay ng mama ko, pero matagal ninyo nang alam. Ano pa ang mga inililihim ninyo sa akin? I think I should know so I can also help you solve everything."

"I think it is I should ask for information, Lereve. Because of these past few events, we were distracted away from our main goal which was to talk about the dream you enter everytime we sleep. But I understand and chose to give you some time, and if you're ready enough to talk about this then, I should know first what you know and I'll tell you everything I know, I promise."

Jaffnah heaved a deep sigh and convinced to agree. Pinili niyang patatagin ang loob niya at inalala ang mga panaginip na nakita niya simula noong umpisahan niya ang trabahong ito.

"There is a dream I dreamed that I hadn't had a chance to tell you," panimula ng dalaga. Agad namang nagsitaasan ang mga balahibo niya kahit hindi niya pa sinisimulan ang kuwento. Maging ang paghinga niya ay bumibigat kasabay ng mabilis na tibok ng kaniyang puso.

"There's a man I saw in my dream. Hindi ko kita ang mukha niya dahil blurry. Lumabas siya sa puting kotse at may kinakaladkad na lalaki. At ang sunod niyang ginawa ay tinapon ang lalaking iyon sa tulay."

"Sa tulay?"

"Oo."

"Alam mo ba kung saang tulay 'yon?"

Umiling si Jaffnah. "Katulad din ng City of Dreams, pakiramdam ko napuntahan ko na ang lugar na iyon pero hindi ko matandaan kung saan."

"Yung lalaki bang tinapon niya sa ilog, nakita mo ang mukha?"

"Hindi rin. Kaya hindi ko sigurado kung kaninong panaginip iyon. Kapag malinaw na nakikita ko ang mukha, doon ko naa-identify kung kaninong panaginip ang napasukan ko."

"Kailan mo iyon napanaginipan? May mga natitigan ka bang tao bago ka nakatulog?"

Nag-isip nang malalim si Jaffnah at pilit na inalala ang lahat. "Ikaw lang. Ikaw lang ang nakausap ko no'n, Zefarino, noong unang beses tayong mag-usap sa veranda, bago mo ako paalisin. I was supposed to tell you that that day."

Si Zefarino naman ang napabuntong-hininga. "I see, I'm sorry. Matagal na pala."

"O-oo, s-sorry din kung ngayon ko lang nasabi."

"It's fine. Sometimes, if it isn't for us to know, we won't be learning it, unless it was the right time. At least for now, we are sure who that dream is."

Jaffnah's eyebrows met. "Kanino?"

"Sa iyo, Lereve."

Nagsitindigan ang mga balahibo ng babae at umakyat sa dibdib niya ang kaba. "S-sa akin?"

"Yes, because as far as I know, I don't have any dreams like that. Kung akin ang panaginip na iyon, at kung nakapasok ka nga roon, hindi ba't sana ay alam ko rin ang panaginip na iyon? But no, I don't remember having that dream and I can assure you because all of my dreams are well-memorized and well-written in my notebook."

Jaffnah bit her lips and just that a fear rose tightened her chest. Now, she could barely move because of the fact that Zefarino might be right. But why would she have such dreams?

"Is there anything else you know? I might help you decode your dreams even if I don't have the ability that you have. By means of my connections." Zefarino smiled trying to fade Jaffnah's anxieties.

"Did you see something? How about the white car? Have you seen the plate number?"

"I did. It was the same plate number that the white car I was in in your dream. AMF 4699."

Zefarino's jaw tightened. He's trying to fit everything in a jigsaw puzzle just like what Jaffnah was trying to do earlier.

"Alright. Is there anything else you see around that dream?"

Jaffnah shook her head. "Not see, Zefarino, but heard."

"Heard?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"A pile of keys and a tingling sound of a bell."

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