Timeless Series #3: A Time For Us

Chapter 8: A Loop

Chapter 8: A Loop

I came back to the present again, and I realized that while I time travel, the short and long hands of the clock tower continue to move here in the present.

So while I was away, hindi rin humihinto ang oras dito na iniwan ko.

Time doesn't stop for anyone—not even for someone like me, desperately trying to save an important girl.

It is relentless, ungiving, and indifferent, as if it cares for nothing else so long as it continues to tick.

Kagaya noong huling beses na bumalik ako sa Metro Manila, ang naabutan ko sa pagkakataong ito ay ang libing na ni Noelle...

I almost had a panic attack when I went to the same place kung saan siya nakaburol at wala na siya roon. Iyon pala, they were already bringing her to the cemetery to bury her.

I gritted my teeth as I watched her being buried under the ground in front of my eyes. I felt so useless!

Biglang sumakit ang ulo ko. Hindi ko na alam kung dahil nakakalimutan ko nang kumain o dahil wala pa akong maayos na pahinga mula sa pagbalik ko sa nakaraan at sa hinaharap.

It felt like I was in a time loop. Pakiramdam ko ay paulit-ulit na namamatay si Noelle sa harap ko.

I had just seen her alive not long ago when I time-traveled, pero sobrang lungkot ko na naman ngayon. Sakit na sakit ang dibdib ko. She's not here with me in the present—our present. All I could see was her being dead and buried... Damn it!

Nagluluksa ang kalooban ko. No matter how alive and smiling I saw her in the past, I want her here in the present, where she should be. Kasi pakiramdam ko ay mas totoo ang nandito. This is where reality is, and the past is just the past...

And I just want Noelle here.

"Julian?"

I turned and saw Chloe. Sinubukan niya akong payungan dahil umaambon sa sementeryo. Kanina pa nakaalis ang mga nakipaglibing kay Noelle, at nahuli akong dumating kaya mag-isa akong naiwan. I stood there in the rain, feeling miserable.

"Nandito ka pa," Chloe said.

When she looked closely at me, her eyes widened. "Are you okay, Julian? You look pale. May sakit ka ba?"

Umiling lang ako sa kaniya.

In the end, Chloe convinced me to leave the cemetery. We ended up in a nearby café, talking about Noelle and the accident.

"It was actually for you, Julian..." Chloe said.

"For me?"

She nodded. "Noelle was your student manager in college too. She applied and got accepted since she was also your soccer club's manager in high school."

"Wait, what?" I felt a heavy weight in my chest. How could I have been so unaware of Noelle's existence?

"We were in the same university?" I asked in disbelief. "And I didn't know?"

Chloe nodded again. "Yes, Julian." She sighed. "Hindi rin namin maintindihan ni Noelle. You used to talk to her back in high school. Marami ang nagulat nang malaman nilang kinakausap mo siya. A lot of girls got jealous of her. Kaya naging protective ako sa kaniya. I made sure she wouldn't get bullied because of your fan girls."

I froze. These were things I never knew. But it's because I still kind of changed what happened in the past, right? Because I time-traveled...

"Kaya nga nagalit din ako sa'yo nang bigla ka na lang umakto na parang hindi mo siya kilala," Chloe continued.

I almost shut my eyes. It must have been the "Julian" of this timeline. Every time I time-traveled, the old me probably forgot Noelle completely. Damn it.

"But you know what?" Chloe's voice softened, her lips forming a sad smile. "Noelle didn't care. She always understood. Sinabi pa niya na baka may dahilan ka kaya nagbago ang ugali mo. Kahit hindi mo siya kinakausap, kahit hindi mo siya tinatapunan ng tingin, she never lost faith in you. And she still ended up dying in that accident... because of you."

Her words were a punch to the gut. I asked, "What do you mean, Chloe?"

Binalik niya ang tingin sa akin. "Noelle wanted you to play for the National team. She knew it was your dream to play in the World Cup. Isang kaklase niya ang nagsabi sa kaniya na pwede niyang makausap ang Coach ng National team. Kaya lang, noong gabing iyon, she tried to meet the coach. Ayon sa mga nakakita, she ran after him without noticing a car coming... and she got hit."

My eyes widened, my lips parting as hot tears threatened to spill.

Why did this have to happen?

"Noelle wanted to do something for you," Chloe said softly. "She just couldn't sit and wait. She wanted to help."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Chloe, and I had to look away. Guilt, frustration, and regret all weighed on me.

If only I'd noticed Noelle sooner, none of this might have happened.

She wouldn't have died. And why did she care so much about me? I didn't deserve it.

Even in the original timeline, when we never talked, she still cared enough to meet with the coach for me?

Why, Noelle? Why would you do all this for me? I don't deserve your kindness.

Tumayo ako.

"Julian?"

"I'm going to save Noelle, Chloe," I said firmly.

"W-What?" Her forehead creased in confusion.

I didn't have time to explain. I needed to understand my family's ability to teleport and why I could time-travel. There were so many unanswered questions, and I had to figure it all out if I wanted to save Noelle.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Chloe habang nakatayo ako sa harap niya. She remained seated, looking shocked by my sudden determination. I gave her a small smile, hoping to reassure her—and myself.

I sighed. Chloe probably thought I'd lost my mind from the guilt.

But I swear, I'll do everything I can to save Noelle. I won't let her die because of me. I won't let her sacrifice be in vain.

"I think you're sick, Julian," Chloe said. "You might've caught a cold from the rain earlier. You should go home and rest."

I shook my head.

I promise you, Noelle—I will save you. No matter what.