We were about to leave the apartment when a police patrol car came roaming unusually slow and stopped shortly in front of us.
"Magsitulog na kayo!" shouted the police ifficer. As the patrol car steered away slowly, I looked at my watch and was a bit surprised it was already past twelve in the midnight.
"Alas-dose na pala kaya may curfew na. Wag na kaya tayo tumuloy." I said to the four boys I was with.
"Wala lang yan, hintayin na lang muna natin na makalayo sila," Jerry replied who was now wearing his maong pants, probably ashamed of going out of the apartment only with his boxers on.
We started to walk out of the subdivision when the patrol car already vaguely visible. It's the last day of March and this might be the last time the four of us would share the same walk under the same sky while breathing the same polluted air since our college graduation was drawing nearer.
In less than five minutes, we reached the nearest 7-eleven store in the area. The four bought Big Bites while I happily settled myself for a cup of Jjampong. Feasting our first meal for the day, we all tried hard to ignore, just for a moment, our duties and responisibilities as a college students.
"May mga weird dreams ba kayo?" yung tipong mababaw pero 'yun ang nagbibigay ng saya sa inyo?" Martin asked after he bite the sandwich. I stop for a second while thinking about Martin's question.
"Like what?" Lucas replied, glancing Martin. He was the first one to show interest, just as how he was interested in a diversity of unconventional things.
"For example, ako pangarap kong maging multo sa isang horror movie. Yung vengeful ghost dahil minurder. Pansin ko kasi mas magaling pa akong umacting kesa sa mga napapanuod ko eh," Martin answered enthusiastically for someone who had not been sleeping for a couple of days already because of the deadline for projects. Being engineer is very hard, its either you will built a building in the end or they will build a coffin for you.
"Pangarap ko namang makabuo ng time machine. Gusto ko na lang bumalik sa pagiging four-years old. Tamang higop lang ng mikmik habang nanunuod ng Ben10." Jerry finally spoke. Tama nga naman, ang sarap lang bumalik sa pagkabata kng saan wala kang iniisip na deadline.
"Ako naman, pangarap kong maging sikat na song writer, tapos mga sikat na singer ang kakanta ng mga sinulat ko," Lucas said, while snatching Eric's sandwich. "Eh di magkasama pala tayong tutuparin ang pangarap natin?" Eric muttered, eyeing Lucas.
"At bakit naman?" he asked curiously. "Kasi ang pangarap ko ay maging singer, kaya yung isusulat mo ako na lang ang kakanta, okay 'yun di ba?" said Eric.
But instead of answering, the fourof us just burst into laughter knowing too well the fact that Eric hasn't had the slightest touch of being a singer. Poor boy. In our circle, Eric is the one who gets bullied most of the time. But we love him just as much as we love to bully him.
"Eh ikaw Peter? Anong pangarap mo?" asked Lucas, glancing my way. The four of them are looking at me, waiting for my answer. I was about to share my bizarre dream, when the police patrol car roam around again.
After we chattered about random and senseless things, not minding the curfew we decided to go back to the apartment. As if on cue, the four boys instantly climbed up the bed settled on the supposed receiving area adjacent to the entrance door. Having no space to sleep and not wanting to squeeze myself in between them who keep on forgetting to brush their teeth and wash their faces before sleeping, I decided to sit on a monoblock and lean my head to the wall while wwatching the four of the sleeping soundly.
Pinapanuod ko lamang sila, na kahit sa pagtulog ay nagkakagulo pa rin. Itinanday ni Jerry ang kanyang hita kay Lucas na ngayon ay mahimbing na ang tulog habang nakaharap kay Martin na nakanganga habang natutulog. Si Eric naman ngayon ay nagkakamot ng kanyang pwet.. Napapatawa na lamang ako habang pinapanuod silang tatlo. Bigla ko namang naalala ang tanong ni Lucas kanina.
At ito ang pangarap ko, mababaw man para sa ibang tao pero ito ang pangarap na gusto kong matupad. Yun ay ang manatiling buo ang samahan namin lima. Alam kong pagka-graduate namin ng college, sasalubungin na namin ang kanya-kanyang responsibilid at baka may posibilidad na kanya-kanya ng daan ang tatahakin namin.
Pangarap ko lang na manatili ang samahan namin hanggang dulo. Dahil kahit loko-loko ang apat na ito sila naman ang pinaka-totoong tao na nakilala ko.
