Isn't it funny when the impossible unfolds and someone loses their shit?

Love just stood in front of me, unable to react. Hindi maipinta ang kanyang mukha. Noong humakbang ako palapit sa kanya, wala sa sariling napaatras siya. "S-Stay away!"

Seems like he's afraid of me now. Well, it's the initial reaction that I expected. Ikaw ba naman makakita ng taong lumilipad? Sinong hindi matatanga?

"Okay." I replied nonchalantly then took another step.

Muli siyang napaatras mula sa akin.

"Don't come any closer!" This time, he even raised both of his hands like he's really pleading me to halt. Napansin ko rin ang panginginig ng buong katawan niya. Gosh, was he really that scared?

I frowned. "Inaano ba kita?"

"Huwag kang lalapit!" babala niya.

I hissed. "At sinong nagsabing lalapit ako sayo? I'm going back to my room! Ang lamig dito!" I walked past by him then purposely bumped him on the shoulder. Takot na takot, parang walang itlog!

Slightly hesitant, he still followed after me but made sure to keep a safe distance between us. Tignan mo 'to, may pasabi-sabi pa siyang huwag akong lalapit sa kanya pero siya naman itong nakabuntot sa akin!

Tuliro ang lalaki habang naglalakad kami pabalik sa aking silid. Until now, I still don't know his name. I felt bad when I saw how pretty shaken he was, like he was one second away from losing his sanity.

However, he still helped me tuck myself in bed despite his shock. That made me blush bigtime. Oh, chivalry is not yet dead.

I stared at him as he quietly took a seat beside my bed.

"Are you okay?" I asked, genuinely concerned.

"Huh?" He gawked at me. "Okay lang."

"Why aren't you saying anything, then?" tanong ko.

He frowned. "My fiancée flapped her wings and flew like a human bird. What am I supposed to say?"

Yeah, he was right. Buti na lang nanood ako ng Mulawin vs. Ravena kanina kaya medyo tanggap ko na.

"I don't know what's real anymore." He muttered under his breath. "You just flew in front of me, love. How the hell did that happen? What if you didn't have wings and you jumped ten floors down? Do you think I'd be able to live after that? No, love."

I rolled my eyes. "How many times should I tell you? Hindi nga ako si Gaia!" Ang kulit ng taong ito!

"But that's what my eyes see. Whether you're Gaia Venice or not, she's the one I see and you can't stop me from caring."

Tumayo ako mula sa kama at galit ko siyang nilapitan. Humakbang naman siya paatras at napasandal siya sa pader. He inhaled sharply when I caged him in between my arms.

"Name?" inis kong tanong.

"Earlier, what kind of trick was that?" he asked instead, ignoring my inquiry. "Tell me."

Napatampal ako sa noo ko. "God, lumipad na ako sa harap mo at lahat, hindi ka parin naniniwala! What do you want me to do for you to believe me? Kailangan ko pa bang kumain ng bubog at bumuga ng apoy?" bulyaw ko.

He stared at me superficially, as if trying to come up with a logical conclusion. Before I could even stop myself, I carelessly grabbed him by the collar. Nanggigigil na ako sa kanya!

"Look, asshole. I don't have time to slack off. God gave me a mission and you're getting in the way. Someone out there needs me, and this is the only way for me to have another shot of lifetime!"

His forehead creased. "Get off me, will you? Ang bayolente mo!" aniya at marahan akong tinulak palayo sa kanya.

"That's because you're getting on my nerves!"

"What do you want me to do, then?!"

Napapadyak na lang ako sa sobrang inis. "I just want you to believe me, okay? Because no matter how impossible things are, I have to believe them... but I can't handle this alone. I need you!"

I was caught off-guard when he suddenly switched positions with me, pushing me against the wall. I gasped when he kissed my lips without the slightest bit of hesitation.

God, was it necessary to kiss me?

It was such an enigmatic moment, to be kissing a stranger in the body of someone else. As we shared that seemingly dull and loveless kiss, I couldn't help but wonder... What does life have in store for me?

Do I still have something to look forward to?

After a few seconds, he gently pulled away from the kiss. I was left dumbfounded. Kasasabi ko lang sa kanya na hindi ako si Gaia Venice! Bakit niya ako hinalikan?!

"What was that?!" I shouted in rage.

Sa halip na sagutin ang tanong ko, nanatili lang siyang nakatitig sa akin, tila pinag-aaralan ang kabuuan ng mukha ko. His face was stoic and calm.

"I believe you." He said dryly.

He should've just stopped with that.

Gusto ko lang namang paniwalaan niya ako para hindi ko maramdaman na nag-iisa ako sa labang 'to. Pero bakit pa niya sinundan ang sinabi niya?

"You're not Gaia. The kiss feels like shit."

And for some reason, it hurt. A lot. More than my wounds did.

---

Atty. Atticus Sylvensen VII.

"Nice name. Sounds archaic." I commented when we entered his office. Dumaan muna kami rito bago umuwi sa unit nil ani Gaia dahil may mga papeles daw siya na kailangang kunin.

I was discharged shortly from the hospital since my wounds weren't that serious. I had no choice but to bear with Atticus (I finally know his name) despite his crappy personality.

"Are you mocking me?" inis niyang tanong.

Ang init talaga ng ulo niya sa akin.

"What?" I shot him a horrified look. All he does is misunderstand things. Pinupuri ko na nga ang pangalan niya eh! Masama ba iyon?

"How dare you speak ill of my name?"

"It's a compliment. Ang pikon mo!" depensa ko.

Hindi na siya nagsalita. While he was busy managing a mountain of papers, I took a closer look around. His office was clean and... well, boring.

"What did you take before law?" I pried casually. I was trying to break the ice between us.

After saying that our kiss feels like shit, napansin kong naiilang na si Atticus na makipag-usap sa akin. Madalas din niyang iwasan ang tingin ko na para bang hindi niya matagalan ang presensya ko. He's being too hard, if you ask me.

I didn't like the feeling of being unwanted.

Na para bang ayaw na ayaw niyang nasa katawan ako ni Gaia Venice at peste ako sa buhay nila.

What can I possibly do? It's not like I wanted any of this. I'm not here out of my own free will, you know. I hate this, too!

"Political Science." he answered, not even bothering to spare me a glance. I get it. I'm an eyesore.

"Oh. Ilang taon ka na?"

Even his voice sounded so bored. "Twenty-five."

"Wow. Accelerated?"

"Yeah."

And we went silent after that.

It was such a lousy attempt to get friendly with him. Hindi na ako nangahas na magtanong pa. What for, anyway? It was obvious that he chastised my presence. Our kiss feels like shit? Well, he did make me feel like shit.

Wala naman akong magagawa kung talagang ayaw niya sa akin.

"So, right now, where's Gaia?" Atticus inquired as soon as we got inside his Hilux.

"How should I know?" walang modo kong tugon.

He hissed. "I'm trying to be nice here, Stray Soul."

I stared daggers at him. What part of that was nice? He should try more, then! The nerve of this guy! And what did he just call me?!

"Anong tinawag mo sa akin?" naghahamon kong tanong.

"Stray Soul." he reiterated.

"I have a name!" I said through gritted teeth.

He revved the engine to life. "I don't care. You're the least of my worries. Wala akong pakialam sa pangalan mo, ang kailangan kong malaman ay kung nasaan si Gaia." Atticus remarked rudely, but in all honesty.

I didn't know what to say simply because I really had no idea. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan si Gaia ngayon- kung nasa'n ang kaluluwa niya. But if I woke up in this body, then maybe... she woke up in mine? Does that make sense?

No, I'm already dead. That's impossible. Pero posibleng may kinalaman si Gaia sa nangyari sa akin, based on what Gabriel told me. He said that God placed me in this body for a reason.

"If you want to bring Gaia back, you need to help me, Atticus." sambit ko sa gitna ng aming biyahe.

"Why should I help you?" tamad niyang tanong habang nagmamaneho. "I don't even know who you are."

"God placed me in this body for a reason. Hangga't hindi natin nakikita ang katawan ko, hindi natin mahahanap si Gaia." sagot ko at tsaka napayuko. "Just like you, I'm in the dark. I don't know what exactly happened. I just woke up in this body."

He sighed. "Fine. What should we do?"

If I want to make some progress, I must gather the facts. What I really need now is information.

"I suppose it's the right thing to do." Atticus whispered.

He eyed me with mild interest.

"Yes. We have to find Stellar first."

---