Catching What Was Never My Own

"You'll regret this, Shin!"

A chilling scream rang in my ears. The voice belonged to a girl, but I couldn't tell if she was young or old. I couldn't even see her, only feel her rage, her presence suffocating me.

Tears streamed down my face as I cried uncontrollably. "Please, stop!" I begged, my voice cracking. But she only screamed louder.

"You'll regret this!"

Everything around me grew deathly silent.

The sudden stillness was even more terrifying. I clamped my hands over my mouth, trying to steady my breathing. My heartbeat pounded against my chest as I listened. Was she still here?

Then, a chilling sensation ran down my spine.

I wasn't alone.

Something-no, someone was right behind me. I could feel their breath against my neck. My body froze. I wanted to turn around, but fear paralyzed me.

"You'll regret choosing him over me," she whispered. Her voice was low, almost distant, yet I heard every word crystal clear.

Before I could react, her cold fingers tangled in my hair, yanking my head back. My eyes widened in terror as I felt the sharp blade of a knife press against my back.

She was going to kill me.

I tried to scream, but no sound came out.

Then-

I woke up.

Gasping for air, I bolted upright, drenched in sweat. My heart hammered against my ribs as I frantically looked around. Desks. Chairs. A classroom.

"Hey, wake up! The teacher called you," my seatmate whispered, shaking my shoulder. I blinked rapidly, my hands trembling. It was a dream. Just a dream.

But why... why did it feel so real?

"Ms. Shin Rivera, instead of sleeping in my class, why don’t you explain Kabanata 21 of Noli Me Tangere? We’ve already discussed that before, haven’t we?"

A wave of "Yes, sir," filled the room as all eyes turned to me. Some looked amused, others curious, and a few… pitying. My hands felt cold. The dream still clung to me, the voice, the touch, I could still feel it.

I sat up, trying to steady my breathing. "K-Kabanata 21… "Ang Kasaysayan ng Isang Ina"…" My voice was shaky. The words felt distant, like I was forcing them out while my mind was somewhere else.

The teacher tapped his fingers on the desk, waiting. "Go on, Miss Rivera. We’re listening."

"Sir, I don’t know," I mumbled, scratching the back of my head and sighing.

The class chuckled, and I could hear a few whispers. My teacher crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed. "Miss Rivera, if you paid more attention instead of sleeping in my class,  you wouldn’t be in this situation."

I nodded, avoiding his gaze. "Sorry, sir."

He sighed. "Fine. Since you don’t know the answer, I’ll let someone else explain. But next time, stay awake."

I muttered another apology as he moved on, calling another student. I slumped back in my seat, relieved but embarrassed.

"You good?" my seatmate, Steven, whispered, nudging me.

I forced a small smile. "Yeah. Just tired." But deep down, I knew it wasn’t just that.

What kind of dream was that? Why was she telling me I’d regret something? My chest tightened as my heartbeat quickened, but I forced myself to stay calm. It’s just a dream. Just a dream. And yet… the air around me felt colder. A chill ran down my spine. I swallowed hard. She feels far, yet so close.