It’s hard to know if our minds find joy in spinning our heads with whatever dreams they can concoct every time we fall asleep. In my case, I have had premonitions that eventually came true with minor tweaks in real detailing, as well as dreams that makes me self-aware that I am talking in my sleep.

courtesy of freeimages.com

These days though, apart from recently developing a case of snoring for some reason, I have had nights where I actually had identical dreams for a few consecutive times, with some added details and some role-playing involved. I really find it quite funny because it felt like a page out of a movie.

Basically, my dream avatar is a form of Daniel Matsunaga, the Asian-Brazilian Filipino-speaking model. Not sure why exactly, but being in his image may have been due to my countless nights watching Big Brother on TV where he is duking it out with a dozen other housemates for a chance to win money. And for apparently no reason, I have a girlfriend in the form of model, Bubbles Paraiso, who is portrayed in my dreams as a controlling alpha-female.

So the story goes like this. I, as Daniel, was coming back from some adventure trip with Bubbles in Laguna and somehow got separated, with me finding myself stranded in the middle of the expressway south of Manila. As I was walking by the side of the road, attempting to hitch a ride, I passed by a stairway that led me to an underground facility. It felt like being ina maze, not knowing which way to go. Somehow, I saw a security guard holding fort with one of the pathways so I have to turn back when I found a staircase that somehow led me to a strip mall that is the spitting image of Eastwood City with some Venice Piazza thrown in the mix.

My Daniel entity got this feeling that I was somewhere near Baclaran already, with a sense of urgency to leave where I’m standing because of this fear of getting caught. In one pathway, I saw people walking around as if I’m in a Makati underpass. Trying to lie low because they seemed like workers and call center agents from the nearby strip mall, I found yet another staircase that led me to a vintage art shop of sorts. I’m already getting the idea that this underground facility is just an extension of the mall.

When I went inside, there were paintings hanging around the walls, empty canvases and sketches and drawings piled up in one corner. That was where I finally met one of my idols in the field of fine arts. As to who that idol is, I really don’t have a clue because it felt like, in the context of the world my dream put me in, it was a big deal to meet someone like him. As far as I can recall, he is a cross between Peque Gallaga, Nick Joaquin and my ESOL (English as a Second and Other Language) teacher from the fifth grade, Mr. Branscomb.

Later on, I decided to get myself out of this labyrinth to see exactly where I really am. I ended up back outside in the strip mall and realized I’m already am near Baclaran Road. All I needed now was to walk my way towards the nearest train station so I could finally get myself home, even if I’m still stuck in my Daniel Matsunaga form (it ain’t half-bad since I finally got myself some abs, hehehe).

I saw an empty parking lot which I have to walk across. There’s a pathway set beside an abandoned convenience store, leading to an open road. Strangely, once I got to that end, I found myself suddenly to Escolta, miles away from Baclaran, with the sun already setting and everything looks 1920’s black-and-white.

This is when I felt like I can almost reach the end, with having to just walk towards Carriedo and hop a train there to my final destination. Then the thought of Bubbles suddenly popped up as if she’s holding me, as Daniel, as hostage to what appear to be a not so harmonious relationship.

That was the point that I finally woke up, thinking that I just had the same dream from the night before but with added details and layouts. Funny that at this point, I still remember much of the details and how it went down, but I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined I would take on the personification of someone that guys can only dream of becoming.

It was indeed a journey made twice, and ended twice the same.