The Universe Beyond Ours

Chapter 6 (Part 2)

     Soon, the sun slowly sets. Like a pool of lava, the shades of orange and red mix on the horizon, glimmering with an ethereal glow. The wind blows away the clouds above, causing them to part and reveal the vast expanse of the indigo atmosphere. It is such a breathtaking view, reminiscent of a painting depicting the gates of heaven.

     Denis, Harris, Chloe, Philip, Meredith, Presley, and Felix step out of Oracle Miriam's house, and the first thing that greets them is the cold gust. Denis breathes in, savouring the chill air. From Denis' perspective, it is amazing to feel such coldness, considering he has lived his entire life in a tropical country. They then turn around and face Oracle Miriam in the doorway.

"Alright, you kids, stay safe," Oracle Miriam said.

"We will, Oracle Miriam," Presley nodded.

Denis, Harris, Chloe, Philip, Meredith, Presley, and Felix then bid their farewells to Oracle Miriam, some raising their hands for a heartfelt wave.

"See ya!"

     Soon, it is night. The full moon gradually rises to the centre of the dark sky, its lucent shine contrasting against the expanse. The stars twinkle, embellishing the sombre atmosphere with light and glee. Somewhat different from Denis' place, a purple-blue galaxy graces the sky, giving a slight vibrancy to the night.

     Harris, Chloe, Philip, Meredith, Presley, and Felix return home, bringing Denis along. Denis explores the house that appears so whimsical to him. The exterior appears as if it combines a medieval, modern, and rustic feel, possessing geometric but fun patterns and motifs. Meanwhile, the interior is like any other home, full of warmth.

     Denis wanders around the house—of course, with permission from the others. His jaw becomes loose, his mouth hanging, as his eyes dart in every direction, admiring all corners. Such a splendid household, indeed—at least for Denis. Everything looks cool and tidy, with colourful books neatly arranged on their shelves. The paint on the wall is not too distracting but also not too vague, and the plants in their pots bring a tinge of vibrancy to the halls.

     As Denis ventures to the second floor and deeper into the heart of the house, he stumbles upon a slightly open doorway. Denis pushes the door and enters the room. Walking inside, Denis gazes around, his grin becoming wider.

     A bed with a white sheet lies next to the window on the corner. A television hangs on the side of the wall, while cabinets and shelves adorn the periphery. A ceiling fan hangs, and a carpet lies in the centre. The room possesses bluish and orange colours but with greyish tones.

"Wow..." Denis murmured.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from behind Denis. "Ahem..." the voice resonated.

     Denis gasps silently as he turns around. On the doorway, he sees Harris, his arms crossed. It turns out that the bedroom belongs to Harris, and his fierce glare shows that he is obviously unhappy about the fact that Denis is inside his room.

"Oh, hello there—" Denis stammered. "I was- I was just checking out your room. Quite nice, heh?"

"Out," Harris commanded, gesturing towards Denis.

A firm line formed on Denis' lips. "You could ask that nicely," Denis scoffed. Leaving the bedroom, he walked down the hallway. Along the halls, he stumbled upon Chloe.

"Oh, hey!" Chloe waved to Denis. "Have you checked Harris' bedroom?" she asked.

"Yeah, but that guy just kicked me out," he confirmed.

"Oh?" Chloe raised a brow. "But Meredith told Harris he would share a bedroom with you," Chloe informed.

"Really?" Denis was perplexed.

"Yeah, really. Look!" Chloe affirmed. She then turned to the staircase and raised her voice, saying, "Meredith! Didn't you tell Harris that he would share a bedroom with Mr Denis?"

Meredith ascended the stairs and met up with Denis and Chloe in the second-floor hallway. "Yeah, what's wrong?"

"Well... you see..." Chloe attempted to explain, but her voice faltered.

"Harris kicked me out of the bedroom," Denis disclosed.

Payback time.

With that in mind, Meredith went to Harris and admonished him. "Harris! I told you that you'd share your bedroom with Denis, didn't I? Be more hospitable if you please. Denis has nowhere else to stay!" she said. "Now please... allow him in your room."

This brought a subtle smirk to Denis' face as he watched Harris being scolded. "Hm," Denis giggled silently.

Once she finished scolding Harris, Meredith addressed Denis. "Anyway, you may go to the bathroom in the back and take a bath while I fetch some clothes for you," she instructed him. "You may also use the jacuzzi with the boys," she added.

     Later, Denis enters the bathroom, shirtless. He walks past the bathroom and sees a curtain. As he unravels the curtain, he sees a sliding glass door. Opening it, he sees a jacuzzi on the other side, and he is enthralled to get into one. He then lies in the warm, bubbling jacuzzi, facing the dark horizon.

     Suddenly, Philip and Presley join Denis, surprising him. Denis notices Philip and Presley's sculpted figures, and he feels insecure as he compares his body to theirs, his eyes darting between his body and theirs, his face turning red. Shy, Denis squeezes his legs shut and uses his forearms to block his chest from view, while Philip wraps his arms around Denis and Presley's shoulders. Harris then joins, and the tension between Denis and Harris slowly becomes evident as they glare at each other.

"So, Denis?" Philip smiled. "Can you tell me more about you and your world?" he asked eagerly.

"Oh, uh, sure," Denis replied. "...About me, uhm... my father came from Europe while my mother and I grew up in the Philippines. I was born in two thousand five. I am... an artist. Well... not taking income from it. Just... a hobbyist, let's say!" he explained. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "Now, about my world... it's... complicated, you know? People have high, toxic pride. There's too much prejudice. There's nothing fair. You'll work hard for nothing. Everything's unfair, I must say! Nothing's fair! I want to stand out... but I just can't fit in... and I hate it. I want to forsake my world... but I didn't expect that I'd literally leave it. As in... transported to a different universe!"

"Well, I can see why you don't fit in. It's because of your ungrateful attitude," Harris remarked.

"...What's wrong with that guy??" Denis whispered to Philip, his eyebrows furrowing with anger.

"Oh, him? He's just like that. Even sometimes, I'm afraid of him," Philip whispered back.