Sweet Dreams

“Hi. I’m Cliff. And you are?”
“I’m Shy.”
“Oh. Your name suits you perfectly.”
“You too.”
“Me? Why?”
“Cause I think I’m falling for you.”

“Eeeew Shy! What was that all about? It could’ve been so much better if you kept that lame monologue to yourself!” Candy almost spat the words at me. 
I made a face. “Gee. Thanks for the support.”
She rolled her eyes. 
We were silent for a couple of minutes. Then she spoke up.

“Practice this again.” She handed me a piece of paper and her iPod.
“Not this again.” I frowned.
“You have no choice. You’re lucky enough to pick that song for the audition. Unless you’ve forgotten that.”
It was my turn to roll my eyes. We both know that the song was not a match to my voice. But I picked the song myself, thanks to my luck in draw lots.
Then she left.

I practiced the song for days. After some time, I thought that I should try it on stage so I could overcome the stage fright I’ve always had.

On a Friday afternoon, I checked the auditorium and saw that it was clear. It was always booked to the Glee Club during Fridays and I heard they always have their break at about 4:00. I peeped in, and consulted my watch – exactly 4:00. 

I entered the place. I neared the stage and as I did, my heart was pounding inside my chest. 

I got up the stage and stood awkwardly at the center. I cleared my throat, a little louder than intended.

“It’s time to try defying gravity. I think Ill try defying gravity. Kiss me goodbye I’m defying ---“ I stopped. I didn’t hit the note again. 

I tried several times before I finally gave up. I couldn’t get it right.

“Don’t stop. Just go on.” A guy’s voice said.

I searched the auditorium and saw him sitting on the last row of chairs. Cliff.

I didn’t know what my face looked like at that time. I stood for several more minutes on the same spot. Dumbstruck.

I suddenly remembered the time. I sprinted off the stage just in time the members got in. I sat beside Cliff as if I’d been there all along. He didn’t mind. He just greeted casually the members that were flashing smiles at him. He was famous in the campus. Who wouldn’t be? With the looks of an innocent boy, excellent grades and exceptional skills in basketball, he is indeed every girl’s ideal guy. I hate it, but I was one of them.

When the last girl entered the room and he was through waving to almost every one who passed us, he turned to me.

“You were awesome!”
“I wasn’t.” I can’t believe he was talking to me. What was more unbelievable? I was wasting this chance of talking to him by indulging in self-pity.

I was probably very depressed at how awful I did on stage that afternoon that I tripped on top of the staircase at home and I had a bad fall. So bad I was in comatose for a couple of days. Of course that was just relayed by my dad. I couldn’t remember a thing when I woke up.

They were briefing me of the things that I missed when I was ‘asleep’ when Cliff came in. He greeted everyone in the room with ease. It was as if I’d been asleep for months! 

He approached my bed and greeted me warmly. Was I dreaming? Is something wrong with me? I was hallucinating! But to my delight, I wasn’t.

Days passed and I was discharged from the hospital. Still Cliff was always around to help us. I didn’t dare ask him what happened. I was way too dazed at how good things were going that I couldn’t afford to spoil them up by asking stupid things. How will I ask him, anyway? Hey, what happened? You’re not supposed to talk to me. Or has your taste for friends deteriorated that you’ve settled for someone like me? That would scare him away. I opted to keep these silly thoughts to myself, just like what Candy always told me.

We were friends ever since then. As to what would happen in the future is out of my knowledge. As I sat on church that Sunday, I just kept thanking God for the blessings. I was asleep for days but woke up to an even sweeter dream. Cliff was my friend. If that was all that we would be, I don’t care. That’s still better than strangers, isn’t it? Just then he sat beside me and shot me the smile he always had on his face every time he made a three-pointer.

Dreams do come true after all.


MVJLO 07.17-18.2010