Chapter 3

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3 – A Dream

Darkness enveloped the place. She had no clue where she was, nor on what kind place it was. She wanted to escape and run away, but how could she accomplish that if she didn’t know which direction to take?

From afar, she managed to glimpse a ray of light. She slowly walked near it. As she strode forward, she noticed that her garments were heavy. She temporarily ignored it, and instead focused on traversing her way to that light.

When she got near of it, she finally saw that the source of the light was actually a candle. From head to toe, she inspected herself. Only at this moment did she figure out what kind of clothing she was currently wearing: a white traje de boda1 styled like Maria Clara’s2.

Why is my get up like this? She wondered.

As she looked ahead, there she found two rows of candle on both sides. The small lights coming from those candles served as a guide to her path. She suddenly thought of walking and letting her feet take her to where it would lead her.

When she reached the end of the path, a huge door appeared in front of her. She was about to open it when it suddenly opened by itself.

Not far from her spot, piano sounds began to play. She immediately came to the realization that it was playing the ever familiar wedding music.

An unknown force pushed her to advance. She didn’t notice how she was already passing by the door.

The music didn’t halt while she was walking. It sounded frighteningly disturbing to the ears. She didn’t know why, but her tears started to fall down.

Extreme sadness suddenly gripped onto her, as if it wanted to tear her heart to pieces. She couldn’t explain why she was suddenly crying without any reason.

She bowed her head to hide her tears.

She cried nonstop as she strode towards the oblivion.

…

Tammy gasped and tossed from her sleep. She opened her eyes and then realized she was still laying on top of her bed. She looked up to the ceiling which could only be seen due to the light coming from the nearby lamppost outside.

Tammy touched her cheeks. They were wet, which made her realize she really cried while sleeping.

So it was actually a dream. It looked real, as if I was really there.

The painting of La Señorita came into her mind. She had only laid eyes on it yesterday in the museum. She remembered the creepy voice she heard on the basement where the painting was displayed. She couldn’t help but wonder if it had any connection to her dream.

Candles. Sadness. And a traje de boda.

What’s the connection between my dream and that mysterious painting?

Tammy forced herself to go back to sleep. But before that, she thought of going back to that museum, hoping that the answer to her question could be found there.

…

Tammy asked her male cousin to accompany her. She texted him to ask if he could go with her to the Manila Art Museum. Regrettably, her cousin replied with this:

Sorry, I can’t come with you right now. My father and I will buy fruits for this New Year’s media noche.

“This cousin of mine, really, always has excuses! Last week he said he didn’t want to watch movies. Don’t tell me he was actually shutting himself inside his room because of that woman? He already didn’t come out of his room when we visited them this Christmas.” Tammy complained as she placed her cellphone atop her desk.

Tammy had a male cousin who became a classmate of hers way back in high school. They were close to each other so she was aware what he had recently gone through. He and his female best friend got into a fight and then their friendship ended because that male cousin of hers accidentally kissed his other classmate. It happened during a cooking competition held in the hotel, and his best friend saw everything. No matter how much he begged her, she didn’t forgive him.

Tammy had talked to his best friend, yet no matter what tactics she used to convince her, his best friend didn’t want to talk with him anymore.

“Argh, they should really fix their problems now. The both of them are quite a head ache!” Tammy murmured to herself before entering the bathroom to freshen up. She made up her mind to go to the museum alone. Her parents were not around, but since the maids were here, she could afford to leave home.

…

Here I am. Feeling edgy yet impatient to research about La Señorita.

Tammy was again standing on the museum’s stairs which would lead her to the basement. She took a breath and became hesitant again if she should continue this or not.

Well, I’m already here, why back-out?

She stared down at the flashlight she was holding. A backpack was slung on her back and inside of it was a notebook, a ballpoint pen, cellphone, a bottle of mineral water and some biscuits. She brought the last two in case she got hungry.

Since I am already here. I’ll do this. I’ll prolong this no more.

And then, Tammy walked down the basement which held the La Señorita.

Notes:

1 – traje de boda, literally meaning wedding dress

2 – Maria Clara: a character in Jose Rizal’s novel, Noli me Tangere. Often used as the embodiment of the ideal pure and conservative Filipina.

3 – media noche – an annual midnight feast done to greet the New Year

TL: WS25

ED: Corensi

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