✔ Through Alternate Realities

Capitulum 02

"WHAT IF I tell you that Evan is still alive?" 

Her eyes widened as she held the phone. Hindi na niya namalayang nanginginig na pala ang kanyang mga kamay. For the first time since her boyfriend died, muling naramdaman ni Mel ang bilis ng tibok ng kanyang puso dala ng pinaghalong takot at kaba.

Sandaling katahimikan ang namayani sa kanyang silid.

Soon, her eyes narrowed. A raw anger bursted in her chest as she balled her other hand into a fist.

Was this guy expecting her she'd fall for this prank?

This is bullshit.

"Kung sino ka man, hindi ito nakakatawa. Nananahimik na ang boyfriend ko, kaya 'wag mo nang idamay sa kalokohan mo!"

Agad niyang pinatay ang tawag at inis na ibinagsak ang kanyang cellphone sa desk. Huminga nang malalim si Mel at sinubukang pakalmahin ang kanyang sarili. Para bang binudburan pa ng asin ang kanyang sariwang sugat. She was already having a hard time coping with his death, and now some stranger calls to tell her he's alive?

'Evan's alive? Oh, what a sick joke!'

Mel gritted her teeth in frustration before reclaiming her spot on the bed.

Ang buong akala niya ay lilipas na naman ang isang mapayapang gabi nang bigla na namang umalingawngaw ang kanyang ringtone sa silid

'Hindi ba talaga siya titigil?!'

But instead of answering the call, she decided to ignore it. Bahala siya. Wala siyang oras makipag-usapan sa isang estranghero.

Maya-maya pa, tuluyan nang tumahimik ang paligid. Kung sinuman 'yong tumatawag sa kanya kanina, mukhang sumuko na rin ito.

Mel smiled to herself.

Good. At least she doesn't need to deal with any more emotionally draining conversations toni---

"Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to ignore your phone calls?"

Napapitlag na lang si Mel nang bigla niyang narinig ang boses na 'yon. Napabalikwas pa siya ng bangon sa kama, at dahil sa kanyang pagkataranta, she accidentally fell off the bed.

"A-Aray..." Napahimas na lang siya sa kanyang likod.

Yup, this is gonna leave a bruise.

Pero hindi niya rin ito ininda. Dahil nakatuon na ang kanyang atensyon sa lalaking nakatayo sa kabilang gilid ng kanyang kama habang nakahulukipkip. His sharp chestnut brown eyes assessed her. An amused smirk playing on his lips. Nang tiningnan ni Mel ang suot nito, lalong kumunot ang kanyang noo.

He wore a white jacket over a black shirt. A pair of jeans and some old-model Converses.

Nang makabawi na siya sa pagkabigla, tumalim ang mga mata ni Mel. "Sino ka? At paano ka nakapasok sa apartment ko?! Sorry to disappoint you, pero wala kang mananakaw dito!"

She held his eyes while her hands started reaching for something to use as a weapon. Nang makapa ni Mel ang kanyang payong, mahigpit niya itong hinawakan at pasimpleng tinago sa kanyang likuran. Wala siyang ideya kung sapat na ba itong pandepensa laban sa isang rapist o magnanakaw, pero mas mainam naman ito kaysa wala.

Assuming that he's not armed, of course.

Pero sa kabila nito kalmado lang nagsalita ang lalaki. "My name's Link. About my sudden trespassing, I was about to ask your permission earlier, pero hindi ka naman sumasagot sa tawag ko. So, I decided to just transport here unannounced. At kung iniisip mong isa akong magnanakaw o rapist, nagkakamali ka."

'Shit! Can he read my mind?'

Napalunok si Mel.

The stranger chuckled. "No, I cannot read minds. Halatang-halata lang kasi 'yang payong na tinatago mo sa likuran mo."

Nang ma-realize ito ng dalaga, agad siyang napabuntong-hininga. She stood up and glared at him. Any other normal person would probably freak out if they were in her situation, pero wala nang gana si Mel. Gusto na lang niyang magmukmok buong magdamag, pero sa kasamaang-palad, iniistorbo siya ng lalaking ito.

"Bakit ka nandito?"

Link cocked his head to the side in curiosity. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang naaliw nitong ngiti. "Hindi mo ba tatanungin kung anong ibig kong sabihin noong nag-'transport' ako rito?"

She sighed.

"Mas gusto kong alamin kung bakit ka nasa kwarto ko nang mapalayas na kita."

He shrugged and glanced at her phone. "Sinabi ko na sa'yo kanina...buhay ang boyfriend mo."

Nang marinig niya ulit ang mga salitang 'yon, Mel felt herself shaking in anger again. Pwede kayang gamiting murder weapon ang isang payong? Nakakagigil na kasi ang isang 'to, eh.

"Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan!"

"Neither am I," Link said. "In fact, nandito ako para tulungan ka. Buhay ang boyfriend mo, Melinoe. Buhay pa si Evan..."

That was the last straw.

"The fuck! Ano bang sinasabi mo?!" In her frustration, Mel threw the umbrella at him. To her dismay, agad na nakailag si Link. "Paano naman magiging buhay si Evan?! He died in that car accident! Kalilibing niya lang sa Eastwood Cemetery noong isang araw! H-He's gone... So how is it even possible that he's alive?"

Link nodded, as if understanding her outburst.

"He's alive, Mel. Noong namatay si Evan dito, it only erased his existence in this reality---but not in the others."

"I-In the others...?"

The stranger smiled at her.

"Evan is still alive in other realities."

---