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It's year 2135. Madami nang nagbago sa mundo.

Flying vehicles could be seen anywhere, pinalitan ang makalumang billboards noong panahong 20th century at ginawang holograms ang siyang magpapalabas ng advertisements. Sa bahay naman ay mayroon na ring iba't ibang uri ng appliances na mas convenient kaysa dati.

My mom and dad work as an innovator, isa sila sa mga nagchecheck ng mga bagong palabas na imbensyon at tinetest ang quality nito. That's why maraming uri ng newly invented science stuffs sa bahay.

As for education, we're required to be on school for alternate days. Tapos minsan ay hologram meeting ang ginagamit kung walang masyadong activities sa school at discussion lang ang gagawin. They send our quizzes and requirements through Mailfall, isa sa pinaka useful na applications sa panahon ngayon.

And also hindi mawawala ang matchmaking apps. I once tried it to test the accuracy of matchmaking, pero gaya ng dati, I'm not attracted to the matched person. Kinukuha kasi ng app ang dna, blood type at iba pang reference sa katawan, at imamatch sa perfect partner na malapit sa lugar ko. It's so different from the matchmaking sites na nababasa ko sa libro.

Oh, my name's Gabrielle by the way, I'm currently 21 years old, taking up Bachelor of Science in Innovation Technology, just like my parents. I like the course I took, but there's a part of me that longs on something whenever I stare at paintings from the past and the old music I hear from the radio. Parang gusto ko na lang magpinta ng iba't ibang bagay, kaya punong-puno ng mga canvas ang kwarto ko.

Minsan ay nakakaramdam ako ng pangungulila, like something inside me is lost, parang hindi kumpleto ang loob ko. May gabing umiiyak ako at hindi alam kung bakit, its like there's something so far away from me that I need to see and feel.

I hope that someday, this strange feeling will disappear, masyado na akong na-a-attach sa hindi pamilyar na mga bagay.

—

It's Monday, I have classes wherein dapat akong pumunta sa school. I was just looking outside the window, dahil sa tabi ng bintana ang upuan ko. The field where the jocks train is empty, kitang-kita ko mula sa kinauupuan ko ang luntian at pinong damo na nakalatag doon.

I was staring unto nothingness when my professor spoke.

"Goodmorning class, you have a new block mate this semester. He transferred in the middle of the sem because of personal matters. His name is Rain." pakilala ni prof. Napatingin ako sa lalaking nakatayo sa harapan, he caught me staring at him. Hindi ko alam kung bakit gusto ko siyang yakapin, there's something inside me that longs to hug him and say that 'You came back'.

Nagpakilala siya. Hindi niya inaalis ang mga mata niyang nakatitig sa akin. He's staring at me while introducing himself. I don't know why he's so breathtakingly beautiful in my eyes. Parang nakilala ko na rin siya dati, hindi ko nga lang alam kung saan.

Matapos magpakilala ay lumapit na siya sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko. Akala ko ay uupo siya doon pero humarap siya sa akin. Bigla na lang niya akong niyakap, he buried his face in the crook of my neck.

He gently hugged me before whispering right into my ear, "I found you Gab, I'm so glad I found you." relief was evident in his voice. I smiled, the familiar longing in my heart vanished in an instant. Ang tanging nararamdaman ko lang ay saya dahil sa kanya.

—

Tahimik kaming naglalakad palabas ng university. Rain asked me if we could go home together, I nodded.

"Did you feel it too? The unknown feeling that drew us together?" basag niya sa katahimikang bumabalot sa aming dalawa. Napatingin ako sa kanya, his gaze towards me softened when he saw my tears on the verge of falling.

Agad niyang pinunasan ang mga luhang tumulo sa pisngi ko. He smiled at me, niyakap niya ako at niyakap ko naman siya pabalik. My feelings for him overwhelmed me that I cried.

"I'm sorry for making you wait so long..." he whispered. Tumango lang ako.

"Before going home, may gusto akong ipakita sa'yo. Pwede ba?" tanong niya.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" I asked. He said that it's important to the both of us, na pareho kaming dapat malaman kung ano iyon.

We hailed a cab and drove to the private cemetery. The guard greeted him, na para bang napapadalas ang bisita niya dito. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa isang puntod. He clicked the name in the tombstone, lumabas dito ang larawan ng isang babae. And what shocked me is that we look alike.

In Loving Memory of Lorraine "Raine" Sancuevas {1998-2020}

She's smiling lovely in the picture. Hindi ko napigilang hawakanan ang puntod niya. My tears kept streaming down my cheeks, the unknown feeling flooded my system. Parang may kung anong nabuo sa pagkatao ko. Seeing her picture completed me, parang may kung anong dumagdag sa nararamdaman kong pagkukulang.

"She died because of cancer, she's taking fine arts in a university and she dearly loved her best friend, Gabriel." napatingin ako kay Rain nang magsalita siya sa tabi ko. Nakatingin din siya sa larawan ni Lorraine at kitang-kita ang lungkot sa mga mata niya.

Pumunta siya sa puntod na katabi lang ng kay Lorraine. He also clicked the name in the tombstone. Lumabas naman doon ang imahe na isang lalaki, and he looks just like Rain.

In Loving Memory of Syldian Gabriel "Gab" Rosario {1998-2075}

"He's my grandfather, kapatid siya ng totoo kong lolo, he lived his life, loving Lorraine endlessly, hindi na siya nag-asawa pang muli. Though hindi ko siya na-meet, namatay siya bago niya makita ang mga pamangkin niyang ikasal." he explained. Nakatingin din ako sa litrato ng isang binata.

Thru the help of modern technology, makikita ang dating mukha ng mga yumao na sa pamamagitan ng hologram. And seeing the face that looks like me and Rain who's just beside me, hindi ako lubos na makapaniwala.

"I searched every place just to find you, Gab." wika niya sa akin. Hindi na lamang ako nagsalita at niyakap siya. I don't care if it's reincarnation or just a complete coincidence, but the feeling inside me longs to be with him. Only Rain, siya lang ang gusto kong makasama. He completes me.

"I know this is silly to say but... ever since the day I was born, all of it happened just for us to be together. Yung nararamdaman kong pangungulila at lungkot, 'yun ay dahil hindi pa tayo nagkakakilala. Kaya naman gumawa ako ng paraan para magkita tayong dalawa. It's up to you kung maniniwala ka o hindi, but I love you Gab, since day one, I love you." he said as he hugged me back.

"I'm feeling the same too." sagot ko. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko't ngumiti.

Matapos ang ilang sandali ay naghiwalay kami at tumingin sa isa't isa.

"We'll start with proper introductions, pwede ba?" he chuckled. Tumango ako at natawa rin.

"Hi Gab, my name's Rainier Rosario. I searched far and wide and now that I found you, I'll never ever lose you again."

"Hello Rain, my name's Gabrielle De Vera, and I've been feeling lonely ever since but know that I'm with you, I'll love you so much to prevent us both from feeling lonely again."

And together, just like a deja vu, we did a pinky handshake.

—