✔ Through Alternate Realities

Capitulum 09

NANG NAKATAPAT na ang cursor sa gitna ng screen, huminga muna nang malalim ang dalaga.  

'Sana talaga hindi ako mahuli ni Link.'

Once she finished typing in the magical computer code, Mel was greeted, once again, by a familiar blinding white light. 'Makikita ulit kita, Evan,' she thought happily and reached the screen.

Soon, she was spiraling through the vortex, travelling through space and time.

Naaalala niya pa rin ang tinanong niya kay Link noong isang araw tungkol dito.

"Ibig sabihin totoo rin ang multiverse?"

At first Link laughed at her, clearly amused with her curiosity.  Kalmado lang itong sumagot na para bang tinanong niya lang kung ano ang one plus one, "Of course! Hindi lang iisa ang reyalidad, at kaya nagiging posible ang mga alternate realities na ito ay dahil hindi lang ito ang naiisang bersyon ng planeta natin sa kalawakan."

"If so, then why don't astronomers see them?"

"That's because the 'other worlds' containing alternate realities can only be accessed through different dimensions. Ang mahirap kasi sa ibang tao, ang hilig nilang isipin na unique sila, even without seeing the bigger picture. Self-entitlement can be a sin," Link shrugged. "Well, sometimes."

"Hmm... Kung ganoon ilang 'realities' ba ang meron?"

"Marami. Maybe a million? A billion? Who knows! There might be a million you's and a million me's, and we'd probably die a thousand deaths before we can finish counting them."

Somehow, that stuck.

Kung may isang milyong Evan sa isang milyong alternate realities, does that mean her Even---the one from her reality---isn't unique?

Siguro nga.

Basta ang alam ni Mel, mahal niya ito...kahit sa aling bersyon ng reyalidad pa sila magkita.

Nang mawala na ang liwanag, bumungad kay Melinoe ang pagkislap ng ilaw mula sa isang kandila. 'Nasaan ako?' Nagpakurap-kurap si Mel at inilibot ang kanyang mga mata sa paligid. Doon niya napansin hindi lang pala kandila ang nasa harapan niya.

When her vision cleared, she finally noticed the half-filled wineglass and bouquet of red roses in front of her. She was wearing a tight black dress, seated on a dinner table. Several waiters passed by.

She was inside a restaurant!

'Anong reyalidad na naman kaya ito?'

Pero imbes na maguluhan, lalo lang siyang na-excite nang makita kung sino ang kanyang ka-date.

"Yes, inform me right away... Paki-cancel na lang ang meeting namin bukas... Oo, may date kami ngayon ni Mel."

Hindi napigilang ngumiti ni Mel habang tinititigan ang kanyang kasintahang may kausap sa telepono. Evan's serious face paired with a black suit only made him even more attractive. Sa alternate reality na ito, he looks matured.

Ilang taon na kaya sila rito?

"Kung madali ko lang sanang naa-adapt ang memorya ko dito, hindi na sana ako nangangapa." Mahinang sabi ni Mel habang pilit inaayos ang kanyang damit.

Damn. Since when did she got the courage to wear a strapless mini-dress?!

Mel had to remind herself that this is normal.

Kinda normal.

Sa kanyang pagkakaalala, nabanggit na rin kasi ni Link kung paano niya nagagawang mag-travel sa alternate realities. In every alternate reality, there  is a version of yourself. Ngayon, tuwing pumupunta si Mel sa ibang alternate reality (kagaya nito) para niyang "sinasapian" ang kanyang sarili.

Ang katawan niya ngayon ay ang katawan ng ibang Mel.

But the most difficult part is, kahit na sinasapian niya ang "Mel" sa reyalidad na 'to, she doesn't have complete access to her other self's memories. Kaya lagi siyang nangangapa kapag nalalagay siya sa mga ganitong sitwasyon.

Fortunately, Link was always there to save the day. Nakalagay kasi sa catalogue niya ang lahat ng kakailanganin niyang impormasyon sa bawat reality.

Unfortunately, Link isn't here.

'I don't need Link. Kaya ko na 'to!'

"Babe?"

Upon hearing his deep voice, her heart skipped a beat.

Naibaba na pala nito ang kanyang telepono, giving his full attention  to her. Evan reached for her hand on the table and flashed her a worried look.

"May problema ba? Kanina ka pa nakatulala. Don't you like the food?"

At doon niya napagtantong hindi pa pala niya nagagalaw ang kanyang pagkain.

Mel quickly shook her head. "No, everything's fine, Evan...as long as I'm with you." And it was true. Kahit saang alternate reality pa siya mapunta, basta naroon si Evan, that's all that matters to her.

Ngumisi naman ang binata at marahang hinalikan ang kanyang kamay. Eyes still glued to hers.

"Good. Let's just enjoy our dinner, shall we?"

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