✓ | The Power of Mind [Season One]

T1 • Chapter 7: The Binary Assessment

"Mishanielle," napako ang tingin ko sa kanan ng marinig ko ang boses niya. He stood 3 meters away from where I stand, and he bore a very strange expression, even his voice is way too dense and different from the voice I heard earlier. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"What are you doing there? What happened? We were in your car, right? What the heck is happening?" sunod sunod na tanong ko rito at imbis na barahin na niya ako kagaya ng lagi niyang ginagawa, nanatili siyang nakatayo roon at walang ekspresyon na nakatingin pa rin sa akin,

"What's up with you?" I asked.

"Simulation time is over," he expressed in a very insensible way and left me arched both my eyebrows in confusion. Hindi umiba ang tingin nito at mas lalo lang akong nalito.

"Enlighten me, 'cause your stares are unrecognizable and you have an upset stomach? You are quite different from the person I've talked to minutes ago."

"It is because we are different."

I laughed at his remark.

"You're not a comedian, quit joking around," natatawa ko pang banggit sa kaniya. Naputol lang rin iyon ng hindi pa rin nag-iiba ang tingin nito. Sumimangot ang mukha ko dahil sa realisasyon na bumuo sa utak ko.

"You..."

"We are inside a simulation, Mishanielle. You are trapped in here," the expressionless Raishin answered. I rubbed my right palm on my hair, frustratingly looking at him. I feel disappointed, betrayed or even count the disbelief I feel inside right now. Shit.

"I can't believe this! Is this some sort of prank? It is not really funny!" I aggressively uttered.

"Do I look like I am that type of person who went into someone's apartment, mingled with you and a hyper individual who loves messing you up?"

"heh!" Iyon lamang ang nasabi ko sa kaniya. I am aware that something is off with him and I never really believe everything is a huge lie. "How did you do that? Hindi mo ba naiisip kung ano ang mangyayari? You freaking manipulate me. Since when? Since when did this whole damn-"

Napatigil ako ng mapansin kong unti-unting nawawala ang mga estudyante, pati ang mga building, mga damo at halaman. Lahat ay unti-unting nawawala at biglaang nabalot ang paligid ng dilim. I even felt I was seating although I clearly remember I stood up after seeing him. I just blink once and my surroundings change. You won't believe me If I told you I am inside my apartment's living room. I can't even believe it.

I roamed around the space, bathing in confusion and not believing what I was seeing. I am inside my own apartment. Can't you believe that? One moment, I was talking to someone, the next time I knew, I am here? What the!

Nakaupo ako sa sarili kong sopa, nakaharap sa malapad na flat screen Tv, nakasuot ng paborito kong pajama at malapad na t-shirt. Hingal na hingal akong napatingin sa paligid. What the hell? Bakit ako nasa loob ng sarili kong apartment? Bakit ako nandito at hindi ko maintindihan ang nangyayari. Why am I here? As much as my thoughts become vivid, I remembered I was in school and talking to Raishin in his car! and everything around me slowly vanished- wait , maybe I was just having hallucination? Did I? maybe It was a dream, and everything wasn't real? Yet, how determined am I that I am not dreaming? Everything feels so goddam real. I can't believe what just happened!

My eyes fixed on the kitchen when I heard something. Hindi na ako makahinga dahil sa nangyari, at halos mawalan ako ng hininga ng tumigil bigla ang circulation ng hangin sa loob ko ng iniluwa roon ang taong kausap ko lang kanina.

Raishin went out of the kitchen holding a glass full of water, then my eyes glared on it and eventually drank it after he extended it to me. Halos kainin ko na rin ang baso dahil sa uhaw. He is in gray sweatshirt and black jeans, umupo ito sa katabing single couch at napatingin sa akin.