Elora's POV

"ELORA."

While I was putting all my things back in my bag, I looked up to Karina. As always, she approached me with a huge smile on her face.

"Gusto mo bang sumabay sa amin pauwi?" Pagmamagandang-loob niya sa akin. "Jack's going to pick me up today. Ihahatid niya lang ako kaya kung gusto mong sumabay, ayos lang."

"Thanks, but maybe next time," I kindly rejected her offer, zipped my bag and stood up. "I still have to run an errand before going home. Mauna na kayo."

"Saan ka ba pupunta?" kuryosong tanong niya. "We can take you there if you want."

Muli akong umiling habang nakangiti. "I'm all good, Karina. Ayaw kong makaabala sa inyo ni Jack. Malapit lang naman sa school ang pupuntahan ko."

She pursed her lips. "Are you still not comfortable being with Jack again?" she asked as her eyes dropped. "You really don't have to think about that anymore. Parang nakalimutan niya na nga ang nangyari noong birthday niya."

With a sigh, I reached for her hand and she immediately lifted her gaze back to me. "It's not like that, Karina," I reassured her. "Hindi ko na rin iniisip masyado ang nangyari no'n. I already got in terms with it. Nakausap ko na rin si Eli. I just don't want to inconvenience you and Jack when I'm fine on my own."

Her eyes widened a little. "You had a talk with Eli?" She sounded so surprised. "Kailan?! Paano? Bakit hindi mo naikuwento sa akin?"

"It just turns out that we're neighbors. I'm kind of acquainted with his mother," I explained without going further into details. "I'll tell you more next time, I promise. Kailangan ko lang talagang umalis na."

"Okay, then..." Tumango-tango siya at bahagyang ngumiti. "See you tomorrow?"

"Sure," I quickly replied. "Ingat kayo ni Jack pauwi."

Pagkatapos kong magpaalam kay Karina ay nagmadali akong umalis ng campus. Pumasok muna ako sa loob ng McDo upang makapagpalit ng civilian na damit dahil pakiramdam ko'y hindi ako magiging kumportable kung naka-uniporme pa ako.

Before leaving the fast-food establishment, I opened my phone to double-check the location where I'd be heading to. Nang makumpirma ay saka ko inilagay sa mapa ng aking smart watch ang destinasyon dahil natatakot akong maglabas ng cellphone sa lugar na pupuntahan.

I had a talk with Elrond last night. At first, we were lost and we didn't really know where to start. But then, he told me that he would team up with his genius best friend, Cooper, to try and find the developer of the Alter app in his world. And since I was also curious and I didn't want to feel useless, I also did research on my own.

I went to the app store to get to know the company that developed Alter―GAEA. I found out that their headquarters was established in the Philippines. I just wasn't sure which world, but that's what I got from the internet. Kaya nga lang ay hindi ako kuntento sa nahanap kong mga impormasyon. I only gathered the basic facts. There were no hints about the parallel world. There was nothing to be suspicious of.

Kaya naman napagdesisyunan kong puntahan ang kanilang opisina. It happened to just be near our campus. It was only 4 kilometers away. Medyo nag-aalangan nga lang ako dahil sa Blumentritt iyon. Nadinig ko dati sa mga kaklase ko na maraming snatcher sa lugar na 'yon kaya lagi silang nag-iingat kapag dumadaan ang sinasakyang jeep doon. However, I wouldn't make any progress if I wouldn't try, so I decided to just take the risk.

Nang buo na ang aking loob, inubos ko na ang iced coffee na inorder ko bilang pampalakas lalo ng loob bago tuluyang umalis. I walked along Recto Avenue and arrived at the place where jeepneys lined up. Since it was almost six in the evening, there were a lot of people trying to get a ride home.

Gaya ng sabi ng aking kaklase na pinagtanungan, inilipat ko sa aking harapan ang bag upang hindi ako madukutan. Dahil hindi ko pa nararanasan ang pagsakay ng jeep sa Recto, hindi ko maiwasan ang matakot at mabigla nang makita ang mga taong nakikipag-unahan sa pagsakay. It was like watching a scene from Hunger Games.

I thought my classmates, who were sharing their commuting experience, were trying to exaggerate their stories. Nagko-commute din ako pauwi pero hindi kapareho ng situwasyon ang aking naranasan. Madalas ding mahaba ang pila sa UV Express, ngunit hindi ganoong kagulo. But since I finally experienced it first-hand, I came to a realization that it was exactly as how they narrated and described everything. It was total chaos.

Mabuti na lang dahil mayroong jeep na hanggang Blumentritt lamang. I didn't have to go against a fierce battle with other commuters. Wala rin masyadong pasahero sa sinakyan kong jeep. Medyo traffic nga lang dahil rush hour. The sun was already down when we arrived near the railway station.

"Dito lang po sa tabi," para ko sa drayber ng dyip nang kailangan ko nang bumaba.

Agad naman iyong huminto kaya nagmadali ako sa pagbaba. Inayos ko ang aking bag sa aking harapan. Madaming mga tao pagkalagpas ng riles ng tren dahil mayroong palengke roon. I carefully checked the map on my watch to make sure that I was at the right place.

Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag dahil tama ako ng binabaan. I started walking past the market on the road and found the LRT station on the other side. Maingat akong tumawid upang makapunta sa kabila. Nasa kabilang kanto pa ang street kung nasaan ang office ng GAEA kaya sinundan ko lamang ang mapa habang naglalakad.

I kept looking around me and hugging my bag tightly just to make sure that I was safe. Wala nang masyadong tao pagkalagpas ko sa palengke kaya mas dumoble ang aking kaba at pag-iingat. I regretted my decision to search the office after class. Huli na nang naisip kong baka sarado na rin 'yon kapag dumating ako. I just comforted myself that at least I finally knew their exact location once I come back.

Pagkaliko ko sa street na nakalagay sa mapa ay medyo napatigil ako. Iilang street lamps na lang ang gumagana. Ang iba pa ay halos parang pundido na rin dahil hindi na ganoon kaliwanag.

Even though I already familiarized myself with the map, I checked it again. I just needed to walk straight. Sa dulo ng street na 'yon ay naroon ang opisina. And so, I encouraged myself once more before I continued on my journey.

May nakita akong mga lalaking nag-iinuman sa labas ng isang parang vulcanizing shop. Binilisan ko ang aking lakad bago pa nila ako mapansin. I almost ran all the way to the pinned location. However, just as I was a few steps near the destination, an unusual signage with neon lights caught my attention.

GAEA Entertainment Bar

My forehead creased when I read the words written on it. Entertainment bar?

The bar had the same name as the developer's company but the place wasn't an office. It looked like an underground, local pub which usually appeared in movies.

My intuition was screaming danger. At that point, I knew I should've turned my heels and headed home, but something about the place was inviting. My curiosity only pushed me more to approach the bouncer guarding outside the small entrance. Agad niya naman akong hinarangan sa pagpasok.

"Nasaan ang I.D. mo, miss?" tanong niya sa akin gamit ang malalim na baritonong boses.

Mabilis kong kinuha ang aking valid I.D. sa loob ng bag. Once he saw that I was already past the legal age, he didn't say anything else and let me in.

Pagpasok ko sa entrance ay sumalubong sa akin ang makitid na hagdan pababa. It was exactly how I imagined it to be. Medyo madilim dahil wala masyadong ilaw. When I looked up to check the only source of light on the stairs, my eyes widened to see that the ceiling was painted like a galaxy. Mayroon ding mga bilog-bilog na glow in the dark na nakadikit sa taas. Those circles were connected to each other.

Is this a hint about the parallel worlds in our universe?

Nang maisip kong nasa tamang lugar nga ako dahil sa nakita, mas lalong lumakas ang aking loob na pasukin ang underground bar. It seemed like the business wasn't really doing well. Dalawang lalaki lamang ang naabutan kong umiinom na magkakasama sa isang lamesa. Mukhang kahit nagsisimula pa lang ang gabi ay lasing na. They were enjoying themselves while watching a woman dancing on stage with such revealing clothes.

I knew by then that I entered a place where I shouldn't be. Even though I wanted to search the bar for more clues, I stopped myself, especially when the attention of those drunkards suddenly shifted to me.

I swallowed hard in nervousness. I was about to take my retreat when I felt someone stand behind me. Napalingon ako sa aking likod at nakita kong may isa pa silang kasama.

"Hi, miss." Agad akong napalayo sa lalaki lalo na nang ngumiti siya sa akin. "Ang ganda mo naman."

The creepy and malicious smile made my legs tremble in fear. I turned my head to check the other two men and was shocked to see them already near me. The three of them got me cornered in an instant.

"Gusto mo bang sumali sa amin?" aya sa akin ng isa at sinubukan akong hawakan sa aking braso ngunit mabilis kong iniwas iyon.

"I just lost my way. Aalis na ako. Excuse me." Sinubukan kong kumawala sa kanila ngunit hinawakan ng manyak ang aking kamay upang hilahin papalapit sa kanya. "Bitiwan mo ako!" mariin kong sabi at marahas na binawi ang aking braso.

"Kung ako sa 'yo, miss, huwag ka na lang manlaban..." Aabutin sana ng isa pang lalaki ang aking mukha nang may biglang pumigil sa kanyang kamay.

We quickly turned to the man holding his wrist at the same time. My lips parted, and I gained hope when I saw who it was.

"Eli!" Hindi ko mapigilang isigaw ang kanyang pangalan sa tuwa.

He nonchalantly gave me a quick glance before he looked at the man who was about to touch me.

"Sino ka?!" gigil na tanong ng lalaki. "Bitiwan mo nga ako! Huwag kang makialam dito!" Sinubukan niyang bawiin ang kanyang kamay ngunit mas hinigpitan ni Eli ang hawak doon.

Even though the guy looked more built than him, he was surprisingly stronger. I knew it wasn't the right time to daze but I couldn't help but stare at him in awe.

"Didn't you hear her say my name earlier?" he asked casually, not even intimated by the presence of these perverts. "My name's Eli." After he introduced himself, he effortlessly twisted the man's arm and eventually threw his body down to the floor.

I was completely taken aback and speechless to see the pervert groaning while lying on the floor. I even heard the woman on stage squeal. I had not recovered yet from the shock when Eli pulled me to his back to protect me before the other two started attacking him.

I was stunned as I watched them get into fistfight. I also got worried that Eli would be at a disadvantage since he was alone, but he easily dodged their fists and went in between them. He grabbed two bottles of beer from the table and smashed those into pieces on top of the perverts' heads.

When they were all preoccupied with the pain, Eli seized the opportunity and ran towards me. He yanked me by my hand before we exited the bar and ran up the stairs. We even came across the bouncer on his way down. I thought he would stop us from escaping but he looked so surprised to see us in a hurry. He glued himself on the wall to let us through.

Pagkaakyat namin sa taas ay nakaabang doon ang sasakyan ni Eli. He pressed on the key fob and we both entered the car. Mabilis niyang binuhay ang sasakyan at tinapakan ang gas upang makaalis na kami bago pa maabutan ng mga lalaking nakaaway.

Habang tumatakbo ang sasakyan ay tumingin ako sa side mirror upang tingnan kung mayroong humahabol sa amin. I sighed in relief and relaxed on the passenger seat when I saw that we had no pursuers. Nilingon ko rin si Eli na seryosong-seryoso sa pagmamaneho. His grip on the steering wheel was too tight that his veins protruded at the back of his hand and his arms.

Before I could say anything to him, he already opened his mouth to speak first. "What are you thinking, Elora?!" He sounded so angry that I forgot what I was about to say. "Why would you go to that kind of place?! If I didn't think that you're up to something suspicious; if I didn't follow you, what would happen to you back there?"

My eyes widened. "You followed me?"

"That's not what's important," he avoided explaining himself. "Ano ba ang ginagawa mo roon?"

Kinagat ko ang aking ibabang labi bago sumagot. "May hinahanap lang ako."

Mas lalong napakunot ang kanyang noo. "Ano ang hinahanap mo sa ganoong lugar?" naguguluhan niyang tanong. "Are you looking for a death wish?"

"I'm looking for clues! I'm looking for answers!" The tone of my voice raised as I also became frustrated. The corners of my eyes stung with heat as tears spooled inside. I could feel my hands trembling once again. The fear of what happened came back to me. "I didn't mean anything dangerous to happen... I was also scared... I'm sorry for causing you trouble..."

Naramdaman kong unti-unting bumagal ang pagtakbo ng kanyang sasakyan. Ibinagsak ko ang aking ulo at saka pinagsalikop ang aking mga kamay upang pigilan iyon sa panginginig. Hindi pa nagtagal ay tuluyang huminto ang sasakyan.

Alam kong hindi pa kami nakararating sa amin dahil malayo-layo pa ang subdivision sa lugar na aking pinuntahan. We were only driving for five minutes, so I didn't dare lift my head. Nagulat naman ako nang biglang may ipinatong na isang pack ng tissue si Eli sa aking mga hita.

"I'm sorry..." He exhaled heavily. "I didn't mean to be rude."

Muli akong napakagat sa aking labi bago ngumuso. I got two sheets of tissue to dry my unshed tears before they could even flow out.

Hindi na nagsalita si Eli at hinayaan akong kumalma. Nanatiling nakahinto ang kotse sa gilid. Wala masyadong dumaraang sasakyan kaya naman wala kaming naabala kahit na hindi ganoon kalakihan ang daan.

"Thank you..." I said after a few minutes of silence. "For saving me earlier and for the tissue..."

Sa gilid ng aking mga mata ay nakita kong umayos siya sa pagkakaupo. "No problem."

"Pero... bakit mo ako sinundan?" nag-aalangan kong tanong nang siya'y aking nilingon.

His lips parted a bit and his eyes refused to have eye contact with me. I thought he wouldn't answer my question, but then he spoke after hesitating a lot.

"I saw you at McDonald's earlier. You were acting nervous about something that made me suspicious so I followed you all the way here," he answered.

Napatango-tango naman ako at nag-iwas na rin ng tingin sa kanya.

"And I was actually looking for an opportunity to talk to you..." he added.

My head snapped to look at him again, and he was also staring back. He looked somehow determined. Wala na ang pag-aalangan na nakita ko kanina.

"That night... The pictures you showed me..." He was obviously still confused about everything. "I don't want to believe it. Inisip kong baka talagang edited lang ang mga 'yon. But... I just can't get it out of my head. I have so many questions. Alam kong ikaw lang ang makakasagot n'on."

I knew it... I knew that he would eventually come to me and ask about everything he saw.

"Elora, what the hell is happening?" he frustratedly asked. "Who is the Elrond in those pictures? And... who are those two unfamiliar faces in the family picture? Where's my mother?"

Napayuko ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulang ipaliwanag sa kanya ang aking mga nalaman. But I knew I had to tell him everything in order for him to understand.

"Like what I told you, I met Elrond on this dating application called Alter," I started with how I met his counterpart. "We were getting to know each other for months and eventually got closer. But before anything, since Alter has a bad reputation, we did everything to prove to each other that we aren't posers. Everything was going well until I met you during Jack's birthday party and denied that you know me."

"That's because I don't really know you."

I nodded right away. "I know that now..." I told him. "But that's not what I believed before. Nahirapan akong paniwalaan ang lahat. Ang akala ko ay niloloko lang ako ng Elrond na nakilala ko sa Alter. Not until we both discovered something which changed the way we see reality."

His forehead creased. "What do you mean?"

To prove to him that I wasn't lying, I looked at him straight in the eye and said, "We're living in different, but parallel worlds."

Napaawang ang kanyang mga labi, ngunit hindi siya nagsalita.

"I know it's crazy, but it's true," I said with conviction just to make him believe me. "I tried to deny the truth before because everything was so complicated. Mas kaya ko pang tanggapin na niloko na lang niya ako pero hindi rin ako matahimik. Ilang beses na naming napatunayang nasa magkaibang mundo kaming dalawa. At halos mabaliw ako sa takot noong una. The other night I went to your house and had a talk with your mom, that was the same night I believed and accepted everything."

"If you're telling the truth that there is a parallel world, then why is my mother not in the picture?" he asked, and I could tell that it was the thing that bothered him the most. "Sino ang dalawang kasama namin ni daddy sa litrato?"

"That's..." Napabuntonghininga ako bago nagpatuloy. "That's your stepmother and stepbrother. Elrond told me that their names are Viel and Elizer."

"Step..." Hindi niya kayang ituloy na sabihin 'yon. "Bakit? Nasaan si Mommy? Nagpakasal ulit si Daddy? Naghiwalay silang dalawa?"

Umiling ako.

"Kung ganoon, nasaan siya?" Tumaas nang bahagya ang kanyang boses. "Why don't you just tell me?"

"She's already dead, Eli," I finally told him the truth which left him speechless. "She was diagnosed with cancer. He lost her when he was in first-year college."

Ilang sandali pa siyang nanahimik bago umiling-iling. "I don't believe that..." bulong niya sa sarili. "Hindi totoo 'yan. Hindi pa patay si Mommy."

"In our world, she's not dead," I assured him. "I know it's hard to believe. Kailan ko lang din nalaman na mayroon akong kakambal na patay na sa mundo natin at buhay sa kanila. I'm also already dead in their world and it wasn't easy for me to accept that" I told him and he stared at me in disbelief, unable to say anything. "But I knew I had to accept everything if I wanted to be enlightened, and so I did."

Muling hindi nakapagsalita agad si Eli. Sinamantala ko na ang pagkakataon upang sabihin ko sa kanya ang aming plano.

"I was in that bar because we are trying to find ways to travel to a different dimension," pag-amin ko na mukhang mas nagpagulo ng lahat para sa kanya. "I searched the location of the developer's main headquarters and it led me to that place. Ang pangalan ng bar ay ang pangalan ng developer kaya hindi ko napigilan ang sariling pumasok sa loob."

"Travel to a different dimension?" he echoed my words like it was absurd. "Kaya ko pang paniwalaan na mayroong parallel world. But to travel between two worlds, do you think that's possible?"

"Hindi ko rin alam." And that's how I truly feel. "But I want to help him. Alam kong gusto niyang makita si Tita Galadriel kaya gusto niyang pumunta rito." Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Eli nang banggitin ko ang kanyang ina at halatang naging apektado rin siya. "So even if there's only a slightest possibility that we can make it happen, I'll do everything I can to lend him a hand."