✔ Through Alternate Realities

Capitulum 07

"WHEN WE were kids, we used to go here everyday. Palagi pa kita noong nililibre ng cotton candy dahil gustong-gusto mong kumain 'non kahit na pinagbabawalan ka nina tita." 

He chuckled at the memory.

Napangiti na lang din si Melinoe habang nakatitig sa kanyang kasintahan. The colors of the sunset danced in his rich brown eyes, and that charming smile instantly made her cheeks flushed. Para bang tuluyan na niyang nakalimutan ang pangungulila niya rito noong mga nakaraang araw.

'In any version of reality, you can easily take my heart away from me.' Mel sighed in content.

Sa alternate reality na ito ("DT-01001110" as Link called it earlier when he checked his catalogue), parehong doktor ang mga magulang ni Melinoe. Dahil sa pressure nila sa kanya, ang kursong kinukuha ngayon ni Mel ay public health, habang si Evan naman ay pinagsasabay ang pag-aaral at pagtugtog. Katulad ng reyalidad niya, magkakabata rin sila dito. But the most interesting thing is, in this reality, Evan was also an aspiring music artist. He already wrote and composed over a hundred songs. Mel was his critique and number one supporter.

She couldn't help but smile.

'Pero sa reyalidad namin, lagi pa siyang nawawala sa tono tuwing kakanta.'

"What are you thinking?"

Napabalik na lang sa kasalukuyan si Mel nang magsalita si Evan. He furrowed his eyebrows as if trying to read her mind. Mukhang napansin nitong kanina pa siya nag-iisip nang kung anu-ano. She smiled warmly at him, "Wala. Iniisip ko lang kung gaano ako kaswerte sa'yo."

"Aw. Why are you suddenly being cheesy, Mel?" He teased and pecked her cheek. "Mas maswerte ako sa'yo. Kapag nagkaroon na ako ng sarili kong music studio, pangako, ikaw ang unang-unang dadalhin ko roon!"

Her heart swelled with love, seeing Evan's excited face.

"Promise mo 'yan, ha?"

"Oo naman! Hey, how about some cotton candy? Libre ko, syempre."

"Sounds great!"

The sound of the leaves rustling in the wind added to that magical feeling. Bumalot ang kapayapaan sa Night Raven's Park habang unti-unti nang umuuwi ang mga batang buong maghapon nang naglalaro doon. Naaamoy ni Mel ang halimuyak ng mga ilang-ilang sa di-kalayuan. The orange glow illuminated the playgrounds as they walked hand in hand to the cotton candy vendor.

Kung pwede lang sanang manatili rito habambuhay, bakit hindi?

But the moment she saw Link waving at her from a distance, alam ni Mel na hindi na siya makakatakim pa ng cotton candy sa alternate reality na ito.

Kaya habang bumibili si Evan, agad siyang nagpaalam na may tatawagan lang muna siya.

Nginitian lang siya nito.

"Don't take long, okay? I'll wait for you by the bench."

Mel nodded.

'I really missed that smile!' She thought before turning on her heels.

At kahit ilang beses pa yata niyang binibisita ang mga alternate realities na ito, aaminin niyang bumibigat pa rin ang kanyang pakiramdam tuwing kailangan na niyang umalis. Nang nakapagtago na si Mel sa likod ng puno ng akasya, hindi na siya nagulat nang makitang naghihintay na roon si Link.

He crossed his arms over his chest and tapped his foot on the ground impatiently.

"Bagal."

Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin. "Aba, sorry na, ha? As you can see, I was in a middle of a date."

Link raised his hands up in defense and laughed. "Hey, chill! Hahaha! Come on. Kailangan mo nang bumalik sa reyalidad mo."

He snapped his fingers and she was dragged back to her reality, leaving Evan the musician waiting alone on the bench with two sticks of cotton candy.

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