✔ Through Alternate Realities

Capitulum 01

MOVING ON from your dead boyfriend is harder than accepting the fact that the empty space where he used to sit beside you will forever be left empty... 

Melinoe learned right after Evan died.

"Gaano katagal na ba mula nang iwan mo 'ko?"

Wala sa sarili niyang tanong habang nakatitig sa kalendaryo. The longer she stared at the numbers, the more difficult it is to focus. Para bang naduduling siya sa mga numero. Hindi na niya maalala. Ayaw na niyang alalahanin. 'It's been days...or perhaps weeks? Hindi ko na alam,' she helplessly thought and sighed.

She lost track of time.

Huminto ang oras ni Mel mula nang tawagan siya ng nanay ni Evan, humihikbi at nangingig pa ang boses nito. It was a Saturday night and they were suppose to go out to watch a movie. He was unusually late and that started to bother her. Maghahating-gabi na 'non. Hindi sini-seen ni Evan ang kanyang mga chat o sinasagot ang kanyang mga tawag. Kaya laking-gulat na lang ng dalaga nang tumawag si Tita Ethel gamit ang numero ng kanyang anak.

Tandang-tanda pa ni Mel kung paano niya kamuntikan nang mabitiwan ang kanyang cellphone nang marinig ang limang salita:

"M-Mel...wala na si Evan."

Five words.

It took three words to start their perfect love story.

It took five words to burn it down to ashes.

Mabilis ang mga sumunod na pangyayari. Para bang nawala na siya sa wisyo. Mel could barely remember how she even rush to the hospital in the first place, still in her pajamas and bunny slippers.

Agad siyang niyakap ng umiiyak nitong ina habang nasa labas sila ng emergency room. Sa di-kalayuan, nakatingin lang sa kanya ang doktor, a sympathetic look on his tired face as he explained to Mel what happened.

Of course, it was one of those classic car accidents they hated so much in the movies.

Papunta na raw sana ito sa apartment ni Mel nang bilang sumalubong ang isang ten-wheeler truck sa intersection. After the truck dragged it for a good distance, the impact sent the blue sedan crashing into a nearby electric post. Nagkapira-piraso ang sasakyan.

At sa gitna ng mga piyesang ito, nahanap nila ang naghihingalong binata.

His blood pooled everywhere.

They rushed him to the hospital, with as much care as possible, pero makalipas lang ng ilang minuto, tuluyan nang bumigay ang katawan ng kanyang boyfriend.

Time of death: 11:45 p.m.

On their fifth anniversary.

Hindi na pinakinggan pa noon ni Mel kung ano pang mga sinabi ng doktor. For all she knows, he was just droning out the same old lines: "we're really sorry for your lost...we tried everything to save him...may he rest in peace." Hindi na rin siya nag-abala pang alamin kung scripted ba ito o hindi.

Doctors are probably used to the concept of death.

Melinoe definitely wasn't.

Huminga nang malalim ang dalaga at itinuon sa kisame ang kanyang atensyon. Nanghihina pa rin siya. Wala siyang-ganang tumayo o kumain. If her mother was here, she'd surely be yelling at her right now. Too bad. Mel started living on her own since freshman year.

'If I just lay here, would I die, too?'

It was a tempting experiment.

Tutal naman, mula nang mamatay si Evan, pakiramdam niya ay may namatay na rin sa kanya. She just...couldn't imagine her reality without him. Magkababata sila ni Evan. They've known each other all their lives! They've been best friends for several years before he courted her; before they officially became a couple five years ago.

Ngayon, hindi na niya alam ang kanyang gagawin.

'If there's a way that I could be with you again... I'll do anything, Evan.'

Nang tumunog ang kanyang cellphone, inis niyang pinunasan ang mga luhang kumawala sa kanyang mga mata. Nang hindi pa rin tumigil ang pagri-ring, agad siyang naupo sa kama at walang emosyong sinagot ang tawag.

With a broken heart, she didn't even bother glancing at the caller ID.

"Hello?"

There was an unfamiliar voice on the other end of the line. But instead of greeting her, his next words made her freeze on the spot...

"What if I tell you that Evan is still alive?"

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