✔ Through Alternate Realities

Capitulum 04

IF YOU'VE been on those field trips in high school, you probably know that one famous ride daredevils are all hyped about. 

Yes, it includes an almost 40 meter high tower and a 76 kph fall.

Mahilig sumakay si Mel sa mga extreme rides, pero mula nang maranasan niya ang ride na 'yon, pakiramdam niya tuluyan nang humiwalay ang kaluluwa niya sa kanyang katawan. Kaya noong dalhin siya roon ni Evan noong 2nd anniversary nila, she made every excuse to avoid that tower as much as possible and he just laughed at her.

Para bang naririnig pa rin ni Mel ang tawa niya ngayon.

Or maybe the constant ringing sound came from somewhere else?

Hindi na niya alam. The only thing she's aware of is the feeling of falling through space very quickly---yes, Mel felt the same sickness she felt when she was dropped at 76 kph from that damn tower. Pero imbes na pababa, her body moved forward.

Bumalot sa kanya ang nakakasilaw na puting liwanag.

Maya-maya pa, naramdaman na ni Melinoe ang lamig ng paligid. When she opened her eyes again, doon niya napagtantong nanggagaling pala ito sa air conditioning unit sa malapit.

After scanning her surroundings, she realized that she was still inside her room.

"Kailan pa ako nagkaroon ng aircon sa kwarto ko?"

Heck, she could barely afford to pay the rent regularly!

Nang mapagtanto niyang wala roon si Link, napasimangot na lang ang dalaga. Was it all just a bad dream? No. It felt too damn real. Moreover, she's 100% sure na wala dapat aircon dito. Sunod namang tiningnan ni Mel ang laptop sa kanyang harapan.

Nakabukas ito sa isang document at parang nasa kalagitnaan siya kanina ng pagsusulat ng isang research paper.

'Things are getting weirder and weirder...'

Sinubukan niyang pakalmahin ang kanyang sarili. Nasaan na ba kasi si Link?

"Link?" She called out and got to her feet. Muli niyang inilibot ang kanyang mga mata sa paligid.

Doon niya napansin ang maliliit na pagbabago.

Yes, Mel was sure she was still in her apartment, but at the same time, she's not.

She instantly spotted the subtle differences.

Imbes na ang picture nila ni Evan noong debut niya ang nakalagay sa picture frame ng kanyang shelf, napalitan ito ng larawan na tila kuha sa isang high school graduation. Nakangiti silang dalawa habang hawak-hawak ang kanilang diploma. Nakaakbay pa si Evan sa kanya.

'This is impossible... Hindi naman kami gumraduate sa parehong school noong senior high!'

Even her bed sheets were different! Mula sa pagiging maroon, naging dilaw ito na may naka-print pang cartoon characters. She can't even remember watching something like this, dahil hindi rin naman siya mahilig manood ng TV.

Manghang inilibot ni Mel ang kanyang mga mata. Ngayon lang niya nakita ang mga bagay na ito, pero bakit parang pamilyar ito sa kanya?

Did she travel to a different reality?

Gumana ba 'yong computer code?

Nasaan ba si Link?

Mel was drowning in these questions when a voice pulled her back to the surface.

"Love, nandito na ako. Anong ginagawa mo?"

Gulat na nilingon ni Mel ang direksyon ng pinto. Her heart pounded wildly inside her chest, especially when she saw him standing in the doorway. Nakangiti sa kanya si Evan habang bitbit ang ilang plastic bags. His brown eyes were so alive that they instantly rendered her speechless. Suot nito ang paboritong Boston Celtics shirt niya at bahagya pang magulo ang kanyang buhok. Muling naamoy ni Mel ang pamilyar nitong pabango.

He's here. He's alive.

And his mere presence was enough to overwhelm her.

"E-Evan..."

"Hmm? Uy, bakit parang nakakita ka naman ng multo." Mahinang natawa si Evan.

'Baka nga minumulto mo na ako,' she thought, still struggling with disbelief.

Ilang sandali pa, nilapag na ni Evan ang mga binili niyang pagkain. While setting down their food, kinakausap siya nito. "Tapos ka na ba sa research mo? Binilhan kita ng milk tea, burger at fries... Sorry, wala kasi akong mahanap na prutas kanina. Anyway, I thought you might want to eat something."

Finally, he pulled out a chair from under her study table (ngayon niya lang din napansin 'yon!) at tinitigan siya nito. A loving look in his eyes. "Hindi mo dapat pinapabayaan ang kalusugan mo, love."

Her heart melted.

Yes, this is her Evan.

Hindi niya naiwasang mapangiti at tabihan ang kanyang boyfriend.

'Totoo ka, 'di ba? Buhay ka talaga...?' She wanted to ask, but quickly decided against it. Ayaw niyang sirain ang moment na ito. Kung isa itong panaginip o talagang nakapaglakbay siya sa isang alternate reality, she doesn't care anymore. No, she will not ruin this. She's too scared that he'll vanish again in a blink of an eye.

Habang kumakain sila ni Evan,  napansin ni Mel sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata si Link.

Nakasandal lang ito sa pader habang nakahalukipkip. There was a smug look on his face as he asked her, "So, do you believe me now?

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