PART I, CHAPTER 2: Alternate Dimension?!

SUNNY

"Did Sunny believe he was really in an alternate dimension?" Mr. Yang asked.

"Oh, he didn't." I chuckled. "He was very skeptical about it. Even if it felt real, he just couldn't make himself believe in such thing."

Mr. Yang pursed his lips. "That's such a bummer. If it felt real, why is he still skeptical?"

"That's just how he is. He doesn't really want to believe things that seem highly unlikely to happen. Maybe you can consider him a logical person who believes only in facts and reality, in what is proven rather than what is believed and assumed."

"Hmm...." Mr. Yang wrote that down in his notebook. "I see. I still don't get how the first-hand experience with the alternate dimension fail to convince him, but okay."

"It's his nature, sir. Maybe he really thought it was all a dream or it was all just his thoughts, because.... he himself likes imagining things."

"Okay. But what about the Spanish boy? Did he meet Sunny again afterwards?"

The thought of it made me smile.

"Yes," I said. "But it was a real challenge at first."

"I can never imagine how it turned out."

"And when they met.... it was weird."

***

I tried my level best to forget about it. About that park, that alternate dimension, that Spanish boy. I told myself it's all just in my head.

During lunch, I decided to play some pranks on my most favorite people. Note the sarcasm.

I prepared my skateboard, then put on my earphones and played some classics: BIGBANG and 2NE1.

Despite my previous experiences with people inside the elevator, I still chose to ride inside because.... I hate stairs.

When other students from lower floors began joining me inside, they shot me weird looks.

What? I'm not even singing or rapping anything. I'm already keeping quiet, and they're still glaring at me?

Jeez, everyone here in this school hates me for no reason.

Well, what can I say? Welcome to Olympus University.

***

I went inside the sports gym and found the Brazilian volleyball captain Im Eun-joo, practicing with her whole varsity team. And as I saw them practicing, I decided to make a little..... mess.

I stomped my feet on the ground, then accelerated my skateboard.

The ten volleyball athletes divided themselves into two teams, so they can practice team fights, and I crossed in between them.

"Hey, girls!" I waved and slowed down. "Just passing by, I hope you'll let me."

"Lee Sun-shin!" Eun-joo yelled, as she made a forehand service in the back. "Get the f*ck out of here!"

"Sure." I said, then threw some plastic bags on both sides of the court, and one on the net. "Enjoy practicing!"

"Stupid Korean punk...." Eun-joo muttered. "Alright, girls, let's continue!'

Little did they know what was inside those plastic bags.....

I got farther from the volleyball girls, and after a few seconds, I hid behind a trash can and looked afar to see if my prank worked.

The bombs detonated. The game went on, and Eun-joo, who kept receiving and serving, accidentally stepped at one of the plastic bags, and one of the other girls on her team stepped at another. At the same time, a chubby girl from the other team slipped upon stepping on the third plastic bag, and her head landed on the plastic bag. (Oh no! That's the worst thing that could happen.)

And when the ball hit the net, the thing inside the plastic bag exploded.

"Girls, wait...." one of them sniffed. "What is that smell?"

"You smell it too?" another said. "It smells like sh*t, doesn't it?!"

"Fart bombs!" the chubby girl yelled as she opened the plastic bag she landed on. "There's fart bombs everywhere! They're in the plastic bags!"

The game stopped. All the girls made disgusted noises and covered their noses.

Those were four fart bombs I threw on them. That would really bring out the nastiest smell ever.

"But...." a clueless girl in pigtails stammered. "How did they get here? Did anyone even—

"Lee Sun-shin!" Eun-joo balled her fists and looked around for me. "That idiot! He pranked us again!"

Good thing this trash can in front of me was huge enough to conceal me.

"Ahh, is that Lee boy really that annoying?" the girl in pigtails kicked away the fart bombs. "What a waste of a handsome face."

"He's more than annoying," Eun-joo grunted. "And no, girl. Raise your standards, he's not even close to handsome."

Blah blah, you're just jealous of my beauty because all you have is muscles and not the face, Eun-joo.

Anyway, I really couldn't help but laugh endlessly as I saw their hilarious reactions.

I was interrupted when a ball hit my head and bounced behind me. I turned and saw the basketball team running towards my direction.

"Hey, Sunny!" Reggie, the Korean-American team captain was the first to notice me. "Hand me the ball, dude."

Seeing the guy up-close, I felt like an ant. He was literally a giraffe! He was 6'6, and I was only 5'11. I guess I'm a giant beside other people, but beside this guy... I'm totally an ant!

But I'm not scared of him.

"Oh, you mean this?!" I grabbed the ball behind me. "Hmm.... let me think about it."

"Wh—what do you mean? Just give it to me, man!"

"Like I said...." I started skateboarding around them, while holding the ball in my hand. "Let me think about it."

"Lee Sun-shin!" the jocks yelled.

I skated around them while holding the ball, and they did their level best to grab it from me, but I also did my level best to keep it in my hands. I continued skating around them and even did skateboard flips, which only enraged them.

"For f*ck's sake, Lee!" Reggie said furiously. "Give it to me! Don't make me punch you just for me to get it. You wouldn't like your perfect 'original visual' face to be crashed, right?!" (He used my self-proclaimed title!)

"Ohh wow, some flattery!" I snickered. "But come on, Reggie. Praising my handsome face won't do it. It's already a fact, dude."

I kept skating and even began dribbling the ball. And the jocks still can't catch it from me.

"What the hell, mate?!" Peter said and almost grabbed it from me, but slipped on the floor afterwards, which was so funny.

More jocks tried to grab it from me, but I set traps for them. I made them all slip, just like Peter.

"Bruh....." I whined. "I thought you guys were athletes. How come you can't grab it from me? I don't even play basketball. How can you even beat your opponents, if you can't even grab the ball from me? What are you even called 'The Olympian Pegasi' for?"

The jocks just ignored me and continued chasing me for the ball, but none of them succeeded. Ahh, weaklings!

"Keep trying, dudes. Are you really this weak? I am so so disappointed!"

They still couldn't grab the ball from me.

"Try harder, chickens!"

I was focused on the others that I didn't notice Reggie's anger fueling up immensely. As unpredictable as he always was in court, he jumped on me and downed me to the ground, then held me by the neck. But I still didn't give up the ball.

"You want harder?!" Reggie exhaled deeply. "This is the hardest I could ever give!"

"Well, sure." I smirked. "But that's too much hard. You just fell to my trap."

Reggie tensed, his eyes hilariously left in shock. "What trap?"

"Too late. It's on your shoes now."

Reggie let go of me and checked his shoes, only to find out he stepped at some sticky nasty slime (thanks to my slime bomb).

"Ugh!" he threw his slimy shoes away. "What the actual f*ck?!"

"Will you be even angrier at me if I told you that Peter, Philip, Danny, Lloyd and Ricky got slime on their shoes too? That's why you slipped a while ago, right? You were so focused on my ball, you didn't notice my slime bombs."

And they all panicked.

"My Jordan 12 shoes!" Philip cried. "No! These are brand new!"

"Curse you, Lee Sun-shin!" Danny yelled. "Go to hell, you childish idiot!"

While everyone else was crying over their slimed shoes, I approached the ring, jumped high and threw the ball. And for someone who never played basketball before, I got lucky.

"Wew." I sighed. "I'm lowkey a Stephen Curry."

Satisfied with my pranks, I left the gym and made my way to my locker, to get and leave things.

There, I met Choi Tae-young, my fellow Feature writer in Athena's Owl who's a year older than me and one of my few friends. She's really loving her shoulder-length short hair and bangs, and I'm proudly supporting it.

"Hey, Tae."

(She's my senior and I'm supposed to call her noona, but I always forget and it's fine with her, so whatever.)

"Hey, Sunny!" she smiled. "Sup?"

"Oh, you know." I managed to laugh. "The same, but it's all good. Nothing's changing, but I'm quite used to it."

"That's good," she nodded as she closed her locker. "As for me, I'm getting occupied."

"Is third year really hard?"

"Sunny, you have no idea." her smile faded. "It's completely hell. So, enjoy your sophomore year while things are still way easier."

(Wow. On a side-note, I'd like to say that her English skills have really improved tremendously. She's no longer stuttering!)

"Actually," I faked a laugh. "Things are also hard, but I guess in your case, it is double the difficulty."

"Yes." she smiled, then prepared to leave, holding two books in her hand. "I gotta go, Sunny. Good to see you here all good and happy. Catch you again soon. Good luck!"

"Yeah, you too."

As we exchanged bows and smiles, I headed to my locker and grabbed some... secret prank equipment.

Man, standing beside Tae-young is hard whenever she's wearing her heels. She's already as tall as 5'6 for a girl, and yet she's wearing two-inches heels? Noona, you're an awesome person, but it bothers me that you still wanna be tall even if you're already tall.  Do you really want me to feel like an ant like how it is with Reggie?

Suddenly, I heard a familiar loud voice.

The voice was extremely loud it was as if the person was using a microphone, but he wasn't. His voice was just naturally loud, he would never need a microphone in public speeches.

"Hey!" it was Flynn, captain of the Olympian Centaurs, our football team. "Watch where you're going, little girl!"

"Joesonghamnida," I heard Tae-young's voice, and that made me tense.

I checked the scene and saw an angered football captain, with his fellow athletes looking like they're ready to back him up in a fight. Seeing their varsity jackets only annoyed me. They wear it all the single time, for what?! To boast around and show everyone they're in power? God, you're just students just like all of us, being an athlete doesn't make you any higher or more privileged than us. Your skills in sports don't give you rights to be a bully.

Tae-young was bowing repeatedly to the Olympian Centaurs and tears were already falling from her face. She was clearly anxious of what may happen to her, knowing she may be the next victim of such bullies.

Oh no. Noona. What if they beat her up?

"Better know your place next time, ugly." John, Flynn's right-hand man, bumped Tae-young by the shoulder, as they continued passing by.

I thought it was just a light shoulder blow, until I saw the pain in noona's eyes.

I really wished I could help noona and teach those football boys a lesson, but I could never..... the football players bully me too. If I interfere, they'd kill me, for sure. They've been fed up with my pranks last year.

No, wait. I might actually be able to do something more subtle.

Ha! Time to call Antonio.

I've had enough, anyway. I can no longer afford to see the jocks winning against the dead kids again. I want to see them lose and be humiliated, at least once.

Besides, they're going below the belt. They're already disrespecting a lady, and I can't just let them get away with that.

So, I pulled my own move discretely. I advanced stealthily and positioned myself somewhere before the athletes' paths. (For some weird reason, I have already memorized their routes.)

As Flynn was walking with pride, he felt something crawling on his back.

"Ahh!!" he cried. "What the f*ck is this? Something's crawling behind me!"

John studied the figure moving around Flynn's back. "I think it's a cockroach, dude."

"F*ck!" Flynn flinched hard. He tried desperately to get rid of the insect, but it was too fast. It kept crawling continuously around his body, until it reached his..... that part.

"AHH!!!" he shrieked like a girl. "My birdie!"

Good job, Antonio.

Keith and Luke were about to help their captain, but a shower of worms suddenly fell on them. Like Flynn, they screamed like girls.

"Something's weird, or am I just crazy—" Ralph looked around as he felt something peculiar, then suddenly froze. "Ugh! A snake!"

That's my boy, Stephen the Snake, who brings out fear every time he slithers.

"I'll help you guys!" John ran to Ralph, but a banana peel blocked his way, and he tripped on the floor.

And when he checked his shining white shoes, it was already filled with paint, which is permanent stain.

"No!" he bellowed. "These shoes are expensive! I spent my whole allowance just for this!"

"How much is that?" I muttered. "Is it as much as the dignity you keep trampling on? Is it as valuable as the respect you should have been giving to women like Tae-young?!"

"Forgive me, Jesus, but.... I was in the mood to stain some expensive rubber shoes."

The whole crowd who witnessed what happened were in extreme laughter, and some of them were even recording it. From the look in their faces, I can tell they liked seeing this—the monsters of the campus, our enemies who make our lives as students even harder, getting just what they deserve.

Flynn was still trying to get rid of the wild cockroach inside him. Keith and Luke were already puking at the sight of the earthworms around them. Ralph couldn't get the snake away from him due to his fear of it. And John kept crying over the paint stain on his shoes.

Damn, I feel like a hero.

Oh, dearest, most beloved and most respected Lee Sun-shin, I hope I have made you proud.

Lucky for me, the Olympian Centaurs would not know or suspect it was me because 1). they have bullied a lot of people who obviously wants revenge and 2). I never pulled this prank on them before and on anyone else.

I went with my next pranks. Through my long-ranged sniper water rifle, I was wetting random students and they were clueless on where that water was coming from, some even started blaming janitors and fellow students passing by.

Afterwards, I placed water balloons as traps in strategic locations. As I expected, they stepped on it and got their socks and pants wet. Their enraged reactions only made me laugh.

When I was done, I took some time to eat. (Yes, ten minutes before the time, because that's just how I do it.)

"Sunny!" Joseph, the friendly canteen staff greeted me. "You're late for lunch again, huh."

"Oh, come on, sir." I snickered. "I'm not late! I was never late. This is just the time I eat my lunch."

"Okay, then. May I take your order?"

"Give me some...." I checked the menu, and my favorite Bulgogi has ran out of stock. "What? Bulgogi is sold out today?"

"Surprisingly, yes." Joseph laughed. "You gotta be happy about it, though. You're not the only Bulgogi lover of this school anymore."

"Bah!" I snorted. "I like it better being the only Bulgogi lover, so all the Bulgogi is mine."

"Of course."

"Now, sir, get me a Bibimbap instead."

"Aight, your order is coming up!"

After eating, it was back to class. Novel Writing with Mr. Jacob Seo was fun, but the last two subjects that followed bored me, so I decided to just sleep it through.

I changed my route going home to avoid that park.

So, what did I do at home? Anything to forget about my weird dream.

Thank the heavens for having Hwang Hyunwoo, who messaged me and reminded me about my task in Athena's Owl.

Hyunwoo gave me details on what I should research about and I should focus on, for my feature article about BLM. He gave me the links, but wow, he also included a key person I should interview.

"This is Jemila Nkomadu from Nigeria," I read Hyunwoo hyung's message. "20 years old, I guess the same age as you. Her brother was an African immigrant in the US, and years ago, the police brutally abused and killed him. So, Jemila sought revenge, but unfortunately, no one ever heard her and wanted to. It was only until now when BLM emerged that she got the chance, so she's definitely not missing it. As you may notice in her posts, she has been actively joining the BLM movement since it started. The reason I chose her is because she is very approachable, she replies to messages quickly and is willing to interact with anyone across the globe about BLM. So, go interview her anytime you're free this week, but I recommend as early as possible, because she may be suddenly busy with stuff. But it's alright if you do it late, just tell me right away, I can always give you due extensions. That's all. Thank you in advance, Sunny!"

Okay. Sounds interesting.

Hold up, how exactly do you pronounce this girl's last name? Nomadu, as in silent 'k'? Nakomadu? Nikomadu? Nokomadu? Or is it Komadu, as in silent 'N'?

Bah! Whatever! It's not like you pronounce the words you write. You just simply write it down, do you actually speak it?

I immediately checked the Nigerian girl's account in Facebook. Being a curious cat, I read about the basic information.

Goes to Emerald International School

Lives in Lagos, Nigeria

IG: @jemthegem

TWT: @jmlnkmd

(Nice. She studies in an international school too.)

Pictures are not the first thing I notice in stalking accounts, but she has no pictures of herself. Her recent profile pictures are all about BLM and anti-racism.

Oh, there. Her older profile pictures are the real her.

Wow. She's gorgeous. She's got nice eyes and her dark skin fits her facial features very well, I must say. She looks small, maybe about 5'2 or 5'3? And her face looks matured for her age.

I didn't check the rest of her older photos because I'm not really a fully-fledged stalker like some of you out there. (Kidding! Peace off!)

I moved to her Twitter account next, and as expected, a lot of tweets about BLM. I immediately followed her and sent her a polite message.

Hi! This is Lee Sun-shin, a journalist from Olympus University in Seoul, South Korea.

On behalf of my journalism organization, Athena's Owl, I would like to interview you, for a feature article about the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Because you are evidently active here in the social media world and is easily approachable, we have chosen you to be the key person dispensing information for our article.

If it is okay with you, may you please take some time for a short interview? I will just send you the questions, and you may take your time this week on answering it.

I apologize for this disturbance, and thank you in advance!

Let's see how approachable she is. Will I get a reply within five minutes or less? This is your approachability test, Jemila.

While waiting for her 'fast reply,' I decided to check her tweets.

Whoa! Her tweets have a lot of likes and retweets. And she got a million followers. Wow. How I wish I was this famous.

I was enjoying reading her tweets, until I stumbled upon her "Liked tweets" and saw something peculiarly familiar. At first, I thought they were just popular tweets, until....

jemila liked

Science Insider @SciInsider

Are alternate dimensions real? Check out this theory made by scientists! [link]

jemila liked

Let's Talk About Science! @LTAScience

10 Signs There Is Actually An Alternate Dimension; And 10 Signs There Is Not [link]

jemila liked

casey @caseywilliams:

What if there is really an alternate dimension, but we just don't know it exists? Or only few people do? Maybe it explains why some things in this world are unexplainably weird, right?!

jemila liked

half-human, half-chicken nugget @TheRealSofie

ATTENTION, NUGGETS! THE ALTERNATE DIMENSION IS REAL!!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I HAD A DREAM ABOUT IT! THE ALTERNATE DIMENSION IS REAL!!!!!!

jemila liked

chelsea ⁷ @jimingotnojams

Sometimes I'm starting to believe there is an alternate dimension, because think about it.......... How come there remains unsolved mysteries? It's all because of an alternate dimension. I repeat, an alternate dimension!

jemila liked

Tsukikaze Eru @erusan:

I just had a dream that alternate dimensions here in Akihabara exist. It might just be from my anime imagination. But for real, I'm gonna move out of Japan if I find out they are actually real, maybe move to China or South Korea? No, move to Mars! Lmao

jemila liked

Koreaboo @Koreaboo:

Former foreign trainees from SM Entertainment, South Korea made up stories about an alternate dimension? Find out more here: [link]

What is this? She's into alternate dimensions too? Has she... seen it too?

Why does this alternate dimension have to follow me everywhere I go?!

My hands almost exploded from trembling, but with the force of my feet, I threw my phone to my bed.

Whether or not Jemila is just curious of alternate dimensions, I just can't and shouldn't see such things.

Let me just play Fortnite for a while.

SunshinePro13 is coming to wreck y'all!!

I was playing for about thirty minutes and ignoring my vibrating phone (those are probably just messages from Hyunwoo and Jemila, I'll reply to them later).

All of a sudden, I heard that sound.

I dropped my controller. My character died in the game. And my heart went back to its jumpy beating again.

No. Why follow me here?! What do you want from me?

Don't be a coward, I told myself. Face it!

I did some small body exercises, particularly hand-stretching, then punched my chest and slapped my face.

"Yeah. I'm SunshinePro13. I have to face this."

I looked around and analyzed the surroundings, thinking about where the sound may have come from.

I didn't know what was with me and my stupid instincts, but I grabbed my giant baseball bat and prepared to swing it as if there was an intruder inside.

"Yo, alternate dimension!" I called. "Where the hell are you? Come out and don't be a coward!"

I waited.

"Hey! You coward! Why don't you face me, huh? Instead of hiding in the shadows, why don't you show yourself and fight me! I'm ready for ya'! But, are you ready for me?! Ha! I guess you're a weakling! A noob! Eew...."

I kept waiting.

(Remind me again why am I talking to a non-existent alternate dimension? If such alternate dimension is actually real, what exactly is the point of me talking to it as if it is a living thing? I really really don't understand myself.)

"Come on! Come out, you stupid weak noob—"

I stopped when I noticed a figure slowly moving from the kitchen.

Is alternate dimension a person now? I guess my calling out is not pointless, after all.

As the figure walked closer, I also made my way towards him.

"What the—"

Oh my God.

"Please!" he quickly knelt. "I'm so sorry for trespassing. It was an accident. Please don't hurt me!"

I put down my giant baseball bat.

How?!

My body started quivering again, but I controlled myself.

I turned around and hid behind my couch to take a few seconds of a deep breath.

Calm down, Sunny.

You can do this. You can do this!

Face it. Face it. Face him!

You're no noob, you're a pro. You gotta prove that!

Come on, Sunny!

I slowly rose when I got my air back and cleared my anxiety.

"Spanish Boy," I ran to my intruder. "What the hell is this now?"

"Are you even.... real?"

I touched his arms, his clothes, his cheeks, his eyes and his hair. Huh. He is real. But how did he even get here?

"I can explain how I got here..." his sweat started raining down from his hair. "It's the portal."

Portal? Say, what, now?

"The alternate dimension I told you about," he swallowed. "It's real, man. I've been getting there for a week now, and I've figured out enough about it."

Jeez. Please tell me this is just all from my imagination. If only I could throw a Spanish boy from the window or ask the guards to kick him out from the building....

"I, ugh..." I tried to say some words. "Never mind, go on."

"So, I've figured out how to manipulate it. Only a few people like me, and maybe, you, can see it and enter in it. Long story, but I now know how to make portals in between the bases. And before you ask, bases.... they're in different countries, apparently. I'm not sure about the others, but I can confirm Nigeria is also part of it. Granada, Gangnam in Seoul, and somewhere in Lagos. Today, I've seen you, but a few days ago, I saw someone else.... it was a girl, but I never got to meet her because I couldn't control the dimension that time. A while ago, when I met you, I was able to control it. Now, you are—"

I'm a slow person, but what he said about Lagos and a girl seemed vaguely familiar.

"Hold up," I gasped for air. "Somewhere in Lagos? You saw a girl, from Lagos?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Why? You think you know her?"

Jemila. So that's not a coincidence? Is it really fate? Did the alternate dimension arrange all these?

No way. That's too delusional.

Wait... I need more seconds to breathe.

I gestured the Spanish boy to wait. I turned around and took rounds of deep breathing and chest-thumping.

You can do this, Sunny.

Luckily, it only took me a minute this time. I stood up again and faced my.... intruder.

"Unfortunately, yes." I rubbed my hands. "She, uh... let's say I got a project in, uh, my journalism group, you know.... I was tasked for an article about BLM where I'm supposed to interview an activist fighting about it in social media, and my editor-in-chief recommended her. Not sure if that's even a coincidence, but... when I stalked her a while ago, I saw that she's been liking tweets about an alternate dimension. Is this just merely a coincidence?"

The Spanish boy spent a moment to think, but I could tell he was shocked. On the other hand, I tried to calm myself. The alternate dimension is real?! I have to listen to this guy first.

"I'm not sure if that is a coincidence," he chattered his teeth. "But she has definitely seen the alternate dimension. What's her name?"

"Maybe it's best I show you the tweets she has liked."

I retrieved my phone from the bed.

It looks like Jemila hasn't replied to my message yet. Ha! So much for approachability.

Only messages of Hyunwoo giving me more reference links and Taeyoung's chain message of daily bible verses.

The Spanish boy took his time analyzing the tweets.

"And... she's offline for at least an hour now?"

"I don't know. But I did message her a while ago, perhaps forty minutes ago. No reply still."

He nodded. "That's a sign. She may be in the alternate dimension right now."

So, it's real?

"I think, uhh...." he made some hand gestures. "There could be seven other people from different countries seeing this alternate dimension right now, but maybe I don't see them because... they happen to end up in the dimension at a different time. Technically, there are—"

Okay. I can't hold it anymore. I think this is too much.

"Excuse me, Mr. Blue Vest." I cleared my throat. "Please. Why are you talking to me as if you think I'm buying this 'alternate dimension' thing you're telling me about?

"I, I—I thought..." he stammered nervously. "Look, I—I'm sorry, I thought you were."

"Well, I'm not, man!" I sighed. "Do you expect me to believe that such fantasy exists? I'm pretty sure it's just you making things up. That laser thing? Jesus Christ, it's probably just a sound you're making. I get it, alright. You're talented in sound effects. So, why not apply to be a Foley artist instead of scaring me with it? What will I do with your talent? Let the world hear it!"

"What?" he scratched his head. "Dude, I'm not.... that's not.... argh. You don't understand."

"What is it that I don't understand?" I bit my lip. "I see where you're going, Hermano. You're gonna tell me that there is an alternate dimension out there. Yay! Hooray! Amazing! Then, you're gonna tell me facts all about it to convince me it's real and you've witnessed it. You're telling me you're not the only one seeing it and I'm one of those 'other people' who can see it too. And you're telling me that there are different countries for this alternate dimension. Blah blah blah and blah blah blah, I'm really sorry, Hermano, but I just can't make myself believe such things. Maybe you should stop watching Sci-Fi movies. It's getting unhealthy for you, bub."

"I—I.... ugh.... actu—"

He tried to process everything and formulate his words, but he ended up struggling.

"Look, man." he took off his vest in frustration. "I'm telling you the truth. It is the truth, okay?! I really saw an alternate dimension. It is out there, and you saw it too! You just keep denying it! And I understand that. I was like that at first. Probably Jemila, too. The others too. So please, you gotta believe me. I'm telling the truth, alright?! I ain't lying or making this up, if that's what you think."

"Uh-huh," I laughed mockingly. "Too unconvincing. Give me a better argument than that. You know ethos, logos and pathos? Use persuasion techniques, and I'll believe you."

"Joder!" he threw his vest away. "Why can't you just believe me, man? I said I'm telling the truth!"

"Well, first of all, I don't have a lie detector here, so I can't really confirm whether you're telling the truth or not. And I'm no psychologist either, to see the truth in your eyes. One thing I learned from dramas in my country is that you should never trust someone who says I'm telling the truth, because plot twist: they're not, they just fooled you."

The Spanish boy, who always appeared soft and nerdy, showed off his rage. He threw his necktie far in the kitchen, then dropped himself on the floor, sitting down and holding his knees in disappointment.

"I don't have time for this...." he muttered. "This alternate dimension is gonna end our world in a few weeks from now. You noticed how tremors kept occurring in Seoul for the past weeks, right? It's the same in Spain, Nigeria and seven other countries. Why? Because the world is ending. It ends in a few weeks, if we don't stop it from ending!"

That only made me laugh.

"And who the hell told you that?"

"How would you even know," he gulped. "If you never let me finish?! If you never give me a chance to tell you everything. Okay, fine, I'll tell you. It's some guy... speaking inside that dimension, but he appears only rarely to remind us of the disaster. Look, I don't wanna lose my family, man. I'm sure you don't wanna lose yours too."

Ouch. A bit of a sensitive topic now.

"Well, two things." I crossed my arms. "One, it's good you still have a family. As you can see, I don't. My mom is too busy to be my family. I'm practically alone, so my family is me. Two, this sounds like it came from watching too much Marvel and DC. Look, I love Marvel, but I never get it in my head like this. And let's make it three things. Three, so what if the world ends? If it's fate, it's fate. We can't really control what's meant to happen for us, can we? Because if we can, my dad should have never left us. And my mom would never overwork herself abroad. So, stop trying now, because that 'end of the world' card is never gonna work on me."

I slowly marched towards the water dispenser and got myself a glass of water. Jeez, this conversation is too exhausting.

The Spanish boy spent a few seconds to think of what to say. Apparently, I have savaged him.

"It's a video game, dude." he said in a surprisingly calm tone. "The alternate dimension is a realistic video game."

At first, I was shocked and I started imagining it, but reality quickly slapped me.

This guy is getting way hilarious already.

"Okay, hermano." I stifled my laughter. "Looks like video games have consumed you as well. It's best to control yourself for a while and occupy yourself with other, more productive things."

He grabbed his vest and necktie, and fixed himself. He opened the door and took a peek at the corridors, as if he was conscious someone was hearing us.

"I guess you'll never understand," he nodded reluctantly. "Take your time to think about it. I may not be able to convince now, but soon, you'll convince yourself. I'll wait for that."

I didn't understand how his rage turned into acceptance in just seconds. Instead of being happy he accepted my rejection, I am left in confusion.

As I thought about him, the laser sound came again.

I flinched, and the moment I opened my eyes again, he was gone.

Huh. Weird.

Not sure if there was really an alternate dimension, and if that portal thing of his is true or he just really ran fast, or he and everything else just came from my wild imagination, but... whatever. He left, anyway. I'm not looking for him anymore, and I should stop thinking about this alternate dimension, that's just plain stupid.

Before I closed the door, I saw if there was still a sign of him.

No more. Good. Very good.

Let's go back to Fortnite.

He said the alternate dimension was a video game? Excuse me, but that's a big disrespect to video games.

Should I even believe him?

No! Why should I?

But he felt real. He was with you in the alternate dimension a while ago.

Real, yes. And maybe that's not an alternate dimension. Maybe that's a real park hidden behind that door. He was really there, yes. And he's probably not from Spain; he's from Seoul all this time, which is why he was able to follow me here. Portal what? He followed me.

The laser sound....

That's nothing, Sunny. I told you, he's tremendously talented in sound effects! He could be a Foley artist, but he just haven't discovered his passion in it yet.

The glowing light from the door....

Yeah, he may have made that light by himself to attract other people. Maybe, for a prank?! Oh, wait! He might be a prankster, like me! And I, as a prankster, admit that I would do the same prank, because why not?

The shifts and teleportations....

He may have drugged me, or knocked me unconscious to make me think that. Maybe he hit me with his camera or something hard to knock me out, then carried me back to the stone bench, then when I went back to the hidden park and saw his camera lying on the ground, he hit me again, and brought me back to the classroom. Boom! That theory makes much more sense!

Seriously, none of his theory on alternate dimension makes sense. It's all made up from his nerdy mind. He should really stop watching too much movies and playing too much video games. He's getting.... delusional.

And oh, about Jemila. Maybe she's just really interested in alternate dimensions lately. Probably the effect of movies too.

Anyway, let me just relax for a little while.

What could possibly go wrong?

If the world is ending, so what? We have to accept our fates, no matter what. Because that's life. We don't control life, we live it.

Alternate dimension? That's bullsh*t.

There is only one world, one life; which is why we must treasure it.

Aigoo, why am I speaking like a philosopher now?

Well. All I can say is....

F*ck you, alternate dimension!

***

Starring:

Miguel Herran as Spanish Boy

Introducing:

Park Sooyoung as Choi Tae-young (cameo)

Nafessa Williams as Jemila Nkomadu (picture)

***

A / N:

Guys, I'll reveal the portrayers of the other cameo appearances like Hyunwoo, Reggie, Flynn and etc, and siyempre si Mr. Yang, soon. Di ko pa kasi sila maisipan ng portrayers at the moment HAHAHAH.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Wala pa masyadong nangyayari, pero ayun, it's the start and yung ibang characters ay maiintroduce na rin soon!!

The third chapter will be out the day after tomorrow. Big things are coming, so stay tuned!

If you have reactions or questions, just comment it down or tell me personally.

Have a safe and great day/night!

~AR