Work Text:
Lyann stirred awake at the feeling of another presence in her room.
Her curtains were drawn closed, only the glow from her night light allowed her to make out the figure sitting at the foot of her bed.
At the back of her mind, the alarms are already blaring ‘cause why is there someone else in her room in the middle of the night. But she was also too exhausted and disoriented to even contemplate if they’re already being robbed or if she’s just hallucinating. She reached out for her eyeglasses from the bedside table while sitting up, accidentally knocking down her lego sunflower to the floor.
“AC?” she exclaimed, baffled at the sight of her friend, sporting their college jersey, in her room.
“Hi!” AC cheerfully greeted. “But I’m not AC.”
“Ha? Pinagsasabi mo?” she asked confused, “Ano ginagawa mo sa bahay nang ganitong oras?”
They’re supposed to meet at a coffee shop tomorrow near the venue so they can go inside together, both really nervous and a bit shy to arrive alone for the Draft event.
“I have a little gift for you.” the other continued, now standing beside her bed.
“Nananaginip ba ako?” she rubbed her eyes.
“uhmm.. sort of but not really. Basta, we have somewhere to go.”
“Okay?” She's still confused but quite sure that she must be dreaming. “So, bakit ka nakasuot ng jersey natin?”
“Not sure what you’re talking about but I’m going to take you somewhere right now.”
AC pulled her up to stand so they’re both facing each other. There’s a certain glint in the other’s eyes that Lyann couldn’t fathom.
“Where–” before she could ask, the sensation of falling gripped her while their surroundings blurred. She almost doubled over if it weren’t for her friend holding both of her arms.
“Shit ano yun?!”
AC only grinned and gestured for her to look around. “Welcome to the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft.”
She let out a string of curses in her mind, unable to find her voice from the surprise of suddenly being transported to another place, not to mention the event that she had both been dreading and anticipating for tge past month now.
The draft would mark the end of her collegiate career in UAAP but at the same time will also be the beginning of another chapter in her growth as an athlete.
“Wag ka mag-alala, hindi nila tayo nakikita. You’re dreaming, remember?” AC reassured her.
Surrounded by bright lights and the buzzing crowd of potential draftees and team representatives in formal attire, Lyann still felt underdressed in her white tee and black shorts.
There were camera flashes left and right, tables decorated with fancy flowers and ushers leading all the guests to their assigned seats while AC and Lyann stood at the far corner, hidden by the shadows.
“Ano ginagawa natin dito?” she whispered, just in case someone can hear them.
AC, completely ignoring her question, excitedly pointed to a nearby table. “Look! It’s you and your friends over there.”
Lyann couldn’t believe her eyes when she looked in the same direction. She recognized herself, casually sitting at the table with AC, Jean and all other participants in the draft.
Seeing yourself on the other side of the room feels like an out of body experience. It’s surreal which only further confirms that she’s actually dreaming at the moment.
Lyann got a little distracted when some VIPs entered the venue, catching everyone else’s attention, but when she looked over to their table again there was aalready a little commotion. AC was frantically dubbing a swad of tissue on the front of Lyann’s dress - the exact same one that she ironed and hung inside her wardrobe before she slept earlier.
A staff member near their table waved at one of the servers walking by. “Pasuyo po ng natapon na coffee dito.”
“We need to go, the program is about to start.” AC, the one beside her, dragged her to a hall leading to an emergency exit.
“Bakit?”
“We can’t have you watch this one, it’ll spoil tomorrow’s surprise.” AC winked before pushing the door open.
On the other side, they were greeted by the blinding lights of a familiar arena packed with crowds of blue and green. Mostly green.
She stopped on her feet. They’re standing at the far end of the upper box section with not many people around.
“OMG! This was my favorite game.” AC gushed, clapping excitedly.
It was not Lyann’s favorite though. Nor AC’s – the real AC, not the one with her in this dream.
She reminded herself that she was dreaming and most of the time when she’s aware, she can also control the dream and shift to a different scenario, so she closed her eyes and tried to think of some other place.
Unfortunately, to her annoyance, she didn’t even move a single inch from where she was when she opened her eyes.
“Uhhh.. that’s not gonna work.” AC lifted an eyebrow, looking at her like she just did something ridiculous. “This is not your usual dream, Lyann. This is something else.”
“Eh ba’t nandito tayo?” Lyann sighed, defeated.
“This is where something kinda shifted.” AC answered, ambiguously.
Well, probably because this is the game that had Lyann finally thinking of transitioning to playing in Pro. She had been avoiding the subject since the beginning of the season, wanting to focus on her masters degree and lead the team as the new captain.
Her decision in the end did not come easy, she was plagued by what ifs and could have beens but also wanted to move forward with her aspirations.
The last game against La Salle lasted for only three sets but it was a tough loss for their team, especially for the seniors – not winning even once against a school rival their entire collegiate career. The rivalry they looked forward to before joining ABE had gradually dwindled down by the time Lyann and her batchmates had finally got the opportunity to represent the blue and white, leaving only memories of what had been the most anticipated games in the past.
It may have been a fall from grace for other people, but Lyann is still the proudest whenever she plays for Ateneo.
She was pulled from her thoughts by the loud applause of the crowd, just in time when Angel spiked the ball over the blockers, earning their team the winning point of the match.
AC giggled beside her. “Ito na, ito na.”
Both of the teams have lined up along the net and are shaking hands.
Lyann’s chest clenched at the sight.
“Hindi na makalaya ..” AC hummed, swaying with the tune. “Dinadalaw mo ko bawat gabi..”
She could only watch the interaction between herself and Angel. The latter had smiled at her at that time, nodding and responding with “Okay lang”.
It looked like a light exchange between two old friends. It was for Lyann, and more. She was glad to finally have said those words to the other, it meant more to her than just checking in on Angel after an injury scare. It felt like she unloaded a burden she never knew she had been carrying all this time.
It was also probably a sort of farewell, ‘cause they’ll never meet again inside the court with La Salle and Ateneo etched on their jerseys and pride worn for all to see.
“Anong nangyari sa inyo?” AC asked softly, almost wistful.
Lyann just shook her head, eyes still on the court. “Wala. Walang nangyari kaya ganito kami ngayon.”
It was the truth.
Both teams have filed once again on the opposite sides of the court to sing their respective alma mater song.
“You really did an amazing job, Kap. You didn’t have to, but still stayed for another year.” AC smiled and squeezed her shoulder. “You did more than enough to keep the team together.”
Her eyes stung, memories from her last UAAP game flashed in her mind. They were crying their hearts out in the dug-out, tears and snot already mixing but they didn't care. It was her and AC’s last hurrah after all.
“C’mon.” AC patted her on the back, “Let’s go somewhere.”
“Saan na naman?”
Her question was quickly answered when, upon turning around, she found herself standing at a sideline of a volleyball court. She recognized the gym from when she was training for the Sealect Tuna U23 Open way back in 2019.
“Ta-dah! we’re here!” AC announced, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Lyann’s eyes immediately found her younger self with a young Angel Canino by the bleachers, like she unconsciously knew where to look for them. Back then, that spot was their own little haven - away from everything else.
Standing a bit far from the two, they could barely hear their conversation but Lyann doesn't have to listen to know. She can still clearly recall the exact same conversation they had, the feeling of the humid air against her skin and how her heart would skip a beat from every smile directed at her.
“Bakit di ka sumama sa kanila ate Erin sa labas? Wala ka naman ginagawa dito.” Angel muttered, back turned from Lyann while scribbling on her notebook, obviously cramming her homework for tomorrow.
Just a few feet from them, Bella and Egay are lying on the floor. Both enjoying the thirty minute break given to them.
“Wala. Ayaw mo ba ng kasama dito?” Lyann asked, looking over the other’s shoulder. “Wrong spelling pa yung sinusulat mo oh.”
Angel closed her notebook, turned around and smacked it against Lyann’s arm. “Kainis ka! Naiistress na nga yung tao dito.”
“Ikaw nga ‘tong tinutulungan diyan sa assignment mo, ikaw pa galit.” Lyann just laughed, finding the other’s reaction cute. Honestly, she finds Angel cute all the time.
“Pasalamat ka talaga masarap ‘tong cookies na bake ni Tita Car.” Angel rolled her eyes and reached for the tupperware between them. She set it on her lap and started munching on the sweet treat. “Pakisabi kay Tita Car na thank you so much. Super yummy favorite ko na to.”
“Oo na. Takaw mo talaga, Angel Anne.” Lyann reached out and swiped the crumbs from the corner of the other’s lips with her thumb while she discreetly hid her other hand behind her back, three fingers plastered from the burns she sustained last night for stupidly pulling the baking pan from the oven with her bare hands.
“Hoy ano yan?! Mamigay naman kayo!” Bella yelled while scrambling to climb the bleachers with Egay trailing behind.
Those were the times they shared everything, from jackets and water bottles to secrets they never told anyone else. They were inseparable before.
“Awww.. iba talaga pag first love no.” AC cooed, as if she heard the conversation across them as well.
Feeling her chest suddenly constricting, Lyann heaved a deep breath. “Bumalik na nga tayo sa bahay.”
It snapped AC away from her dreamy look. “Bakit? Aren’t you enjoying our little throwback?”
She looked AC in the eyes, searching for any hint of sarcasm but found genuine curiosity instead. However, Lyann couldn’t answer her, else it would open a wound she had carefully nursed and healed.
The other must have seen something in her eyes, because instead of waiting for a response, AC shrugged and snapped her fingers.
Around them, everything rippled and blurred, until they found themselves under a shed, surrounded by buildings and cars speeding along the road.
Across from where they stood is a coffee shop Lyann used to pass by whenever she visited the gym, until she took a different way when the memory it brought back every time was already too much to bear.
She can still remember it as if it was just yesterday.
Lyann was at the gym, earphones on and phone in silent mode so she didn’t notice Faith's message right away.
Ly nasa gym ka dba?
Nandiyan daw si Gel sa malapit na SB, nagpapatila ng ulan haha
Puntahan mo nga, walang dalang car eh
Di rin makabook ng grab
Hatid mo na sa bahay nila ayieee
Mag-usap na din kayo ng ayos please
jusko wag niyo na idaan sakin messages niyo
She only found the message 40 minutes later. She quickly gathered her stuff and rushed out of the gym. Heart beating faster by the second.
It was no longer raining outside, just patchy drizzle and wet pavement that drenched her shoes while she darted past the puddles.
She was nearing the cafe, when she saw Angel stepped out from the glass door, arm linked with someone while smiling brightly.
Lyann watched as the two walked over to a parked car, the other one opening the door to the passenger seat for Angel. Thankfully, the latter did not glance at her direction, because Lyann doesn't think she’ll be able to hold it in if the other would choose to ignore her at that moment.
It started to rain again when she finally realized that she must have been standing there for far too long after the car had already driven off.
Taking a deep breath to ease the throbbing ache in her chest, she turned around with slumped shoulders and a broken heart.
Lyann watched herself across the street, walking away from the coffee shop with heavy steps.
“Sayang no?” AC muttered, shaking her head. “Makes you think what could have happened if only you arrived a little earlier. But you wouldn’t be here now if that didn’t happen either.”
Lyann didn’t realize she was already biting down on her lip until she tasted the metallic tang of blood in her mouth.
“I’m tired,” she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She can already feel the onset of a headache. “Can we stop now?”
“Okay, Cap. Noted.” AC raised both of her hands as if in surrender. “Tigil na sa relapse.”
“No, I mean gusto ko nang matapos ang panaginip na ‘to.”
“Last na. Ito talaga yung ipapakita ko sa’yo kanina, nag segue lang tayo sa throwback.” AC smiled sheepishly before snapping her fingers. Their surroundings started shifting again, much quicker this time. As if they were inside a movie with the scenes moving around them as the location changes.
“We’re here at a PVL sponsored volleyball clinic.” AC explained when they ended up on a basketball court turned volleyball court, obviously for the purpose of the event. “PVL teams sent at least one representative.”
The participants, mostly kids in elementary Lyann assumed, were currently executing volleyball drills. She can also recognize almost all of the players running the exercises inside the court, including herself and Angel.
A kid with cute little hair clips running for the ball tripped on her foot just a couple steps away from them. Lyann was about to approach the girl, but AC held her arm. “Just watch.”
Both Angel and Lyann – the one in this dream – went to help the kid.
“Okay ka lang? Saan masakit?” Lyann asked, already kneeling and inspecting for any wounds while Angel consoled the kid who was now on the verge of crying.
“Wag umiyak, okay? Gasgas lang yan, wala yan. ‘Lika, linisin natin yung tuhod mo tapos gagamutin ni Ate Lyann mo pag may sugat.”
“Nurse po ba si Ate Lyann?” the kid sniffled, looking up curiously to Angel.
Lyann and Angel’s eyes met over the kid’s head, the former a bit surprised while the latter just smiled. “Pwede na rin.”
Meanwhile, while the three walked towards the first aid desk, AC nudged Lyann’s arm. “Oy nagpapansinan na kayo dito oh.”
Lyann didn’t get to respond as the ground shook beneath them and the scene in front changed in a blink of an eye.
They are outside the Philsports Arena. Skies are already dark, lamp posts lit the streets and cars are starting to slow down with traffic.
Lyann observed herself from a distance, the latter scrolling on her phone, knapsack slung over the shoulders and hair still damp from the shower, while leaning against the wall.
“Lyann!”
They turned around to see Angel walking towards the other Lyann, tumbler in one hand and car keys on the other. “Hindi ka pa uuwi?”
“Hinihintay ko lang sina kuya, dadaanan nila ako.” Lyann answered, shifting from her position to stand straight. “Wala akong dalang kotse ngayon eh.”
“Ahh. Malayo pa ba sila? Uwi ka ba sa inyo?”
“Nasa Makati pa sila now.” Lyann shook her head glancing at her phone. “Pero sa condo lang ako bababa.”
There was a second of silence, just them looking everywhere except at each other, before Angel spoke once again.
“Tara, sabay ka na sakin.” Angel didn’t wait for the other to respond, turning away and already walking to the direction of the parking lot, effectively hiding a faint smile.
“Ha? Wait, hindi ba –”
“Dali na! Habang di pa nagbabago isip ko.”
Lyann grinned and followed. “Okay, boss.”
Before Lyann could even really think about the liitle interaction she just witnessed, they have already been transported again to a different place.
They are once more inside the Araneta arena though it wasn’t UAAP this time and she could immediately tell from the sea of Philippine flags that this was an Alas Pilipinas game.
“It’s the AVC Cup.” AC confirmed when they sat at the empty patron seat. Lyann, her other self in this dream, was also seated in front of them with Takako and surprisingly with Lyka De Leon and Ella Raagas. She wonders if she became teammates with them at some point in her PVL career.
Angel Canino scores off the block for the Philippines’ fourth straight win in the tournament!
The arena erupted in cheers and screams with the announcement of the winning point. Audiences were going wild and bouncing around that Lyann and AC couldn’t help themselves but join the celebration as well. She once donned the blue and red and while she no longer had the opportunity to play again for the country, she will forever hold the pride in her heart with every win of the team.
In the midst of the festivity, Lyann noticed that Angel was weaving her way through the crowd to their section, eyes frequently glancing at their direction while politely accepting requests for selfies along the way.
Lyann looked around, trying to find Coach Rodel and Tita Sol among the people in their section but to no avail. “Dito ba sila nakaupo?”
To her surprise though, Angel stopped in front of them, specifically in front of the other Lyann, clasping both of her arms around the latter’s neck and pressing her face against the side of it.
“You did great, baby.” Lyann – this dream version of herself – muttered against Angel’s neck, wrapping her arms around the other as well and planting a gentle kiss on the latter’s temple.
Lyann was stunned in her place, not quite certain how to interpret the scene in front of her. She was also sure she must have heard everything wrong with all the noise around them.
“Tangina Lygel layag!” She heard a person yelling from behind them before AC was already dragging her down the stairs.
“As much as I want to stay there, we really need to go.” AC had said when they finally slipped into the tunnel. “Sayang argh! Kilig na kilig na ko eh!”
“Wait lang.” Lyann pulled her hand away from the other, finally recovering her bearings. “Ano yung nangyari kanina? Bakit ganun kami ni Angel? Ano yun?”
She can’t even put it into words. Lyann had long accepted that the closest thing she’ll probably ever be to Angel is an acquaintance, no longer hoping to bring back their friendship.
“Bruh. That was self-explanatory.” AC deadpanned.
This only fueled Lyann’s frustration and suspicion, looking the other in the eye. “You’re playing with me. Who are you? Bakit sinunod mo yung mukha ng kaibigan ko?”
Even if this is all a dream, it feels completely different from all her other dreams. It felt like she was awake but being pulled into different realities. She’s starting to suspect this is actually a nightmare and she’s face to face with her sleep paralysis demon.
“You’re finally asking the right questions.”
The person in front of her smirked. It was unsettling to see even with AC’s face, something about the other’s features just didn't add up.
“Una sa lahat, kamukha ko lang ang kaibigan mo kasi siya yung gusto mo makita ngayon. I could be anyone else actually, I could be your sister or your Mom, but right now AC is the person you’re comfortable with seeing all of these kaya siya yung nakikita mo sakin dito. Pangalawa, I’m not a sleep paralysis demon kung yan ang iniisip mo. Kaloka.” AC, or the being wearing her friend’s face, crossed her arms looking offended. “And finally, I’m doing this because I owe someone a favor. You’ll know who I am soon enough, but not right now.”
Once again, Lyann was too stunned to speak. What kind of dream is she even having right now? She must have watched too many movies with the way her brain has come up with this.
“We’re kinda running out of time here so we gotta go.” AC grabbed her arm and pulled her to the exit.
“Oy –” she stumbled on her feet but quickly caught herself by grabbing onto a post and when she glanced up, they were already inside an unfamiliar house. “Where are we?”
“We’re in the living room of your house in twelve years time.”
Lyann frowned, looking around. She haven't really thought of moving out from her parent's house yet, but at some point she'd probably will.
She noticed a framed national team uniform mounted on the wall, just above the sleek black couch.
Lyann went closer to study the volleyball jersey – De Guzman was written in bold white letters across the back. “Is that mine?”
“The last name? Yes.” AC responded, walking up beside her. “The jersey? No.”
“What do you mean?” she turned to the other, brows furrowed. “Ako lang naman naglalaro ng volleyball samin ah.”
AC only beamed at her.
“Mahaaaal!”
Just when she was about ask again, a familiar voice drew their attention to the threshold of the room. Peeking from the open door leading outside of the house was Angel, hair touching her shoulders – slightly longer than when Lyann last saw her.
“Nandito na sa labas sina Mama, dalian mo.”
“Ang bilis naman nila.” A voice came from behind them and before they could even turn to see, Lyann – a rather older version of herself at least in this dream, hair a bit longer tied nack in a ponytail – already went past them, crossbody bag slang across her shoulder.
“Late ka na kasi nagising.” Angel chuckled, both now facing each other at the threshold. “Sabi naman sayo 10am yung program tapos gigising ka ng 9am.”
“Malamang napuyat sa–”
“Ay ay wag na mag dahilan, late na nga eh ” Angel pinching Lyann’s cheek, gold ring glinting against sunlight. “Sige na, naghihintay na sina Mama. Alis na din ako maya-maya at baka ma late pa ko sa training.”
“Okay boss.”
When the two leaned close to each other, Lyann quickly turned to face the other way, blood rushing to her face and heart pounding against her chest.
She already felt like an intruder watching an intimate moment, she definitely didn’t need to see that.
AC bursted out laughing beside her.
“Ok we’re done here. I’ll return you to your room now.” AC held both of Lyann's shoulders, grinning wide. “You won’t be able to remember all of these when you wake up by the way, but you’ll be able to feel it when it actually happens, so trust your gut.”
“What?”
“Just a little tip. Go treat your friend with a cup of coffee before you go inside the venue tomorrow.” AC winked and disappeared, living behind a sprinkle of dust and plunging the whole place into darkness, literally.
Lyann thought she really had a good long sleep during the night, no dreams or any interruptions, just pure good rest.
So she’s confused when she's suddenly having a throbbing headache the moment she stood from her bed.
She stepped on the pieces of her sunflower lego scattered around the floor and realized that her phone didn’t charge overnight because she forgot to plug the charger – all of that just within the first five minutes after she opened her eyes.
“Malas na agad umaga mo, Ate.” her sister remarked when they were having their breakfast.
“Ingat sa kape, mainit yan.” her mom warned when she clumsily reached for her mug, hands unsteady and eyes still half-closed.
It must have been a premonition of sorts because several hours later during the Draft event, AC accidentally spilled her coffee on Lyann.
Just like a déjà vu but from a distant dream.