TUNED IN (Wattys2021 WINNER)

Veilofthedark · 33 chapters · 11,777 words

ANNOUNCEMENT

Hi!

Today, after being in deep thoughts, I would like to inform you guys that TUNED IN, my first-ever science fiction novel published here on Wattpad, is joining Wattpad’s Paid Stories Program!

Words alone aren’t enough to show how grateful I am from all of the support that I have been receiving from you even before I joined the Wattpad community. Thank you for always reminding me that I am loved.

As a token of appreciation, I included ten (10) special chapters on this novel and two (2) Season 2 Special Chapters Preview. I am crossing my fingers that you are still with me as I open this new chapter of my life.

No worries—just like what I promised before, my other stories like the Law Series, will remain free. There’s no doubt about it.

To the ink of my pen, my dear readers: I love you guys a lot.

’Till our hearts beat the same again.

PART ONE: THE DAY OF FEBRUARY 14TH

“MAMAMATAY NA YATA AKO TODAY…”

Biglang napahinto ang lalaking nasa harapan ko. Ang kanina pa n’yang mahigpit na pagkakahawak sa kanyang bag ay mas lalo pang humigpit. Nilingon n’ya ako at nang makita ang takot sa mukha ko ay napangisi ito.

“Maxx, pwede ba?” natatawa nitong sabi. “Kapareho ng candy ang pangalan mo pero dapat iyong laki ng utak mo, hindi mo rin ginagaya sa candy.”

Inirapan ko s’ya.

“Zero, seryoso ako!” pagpupumilit ko.

Natigil kami nang may mga dumaan na maraming estudyante sa harap namin. Kasalukuyan kaming naglalakad sa kalye. Nang makaalis ang mga bata sa harapan namin ay tiningnan akong muli ni Zero.

“Every year ko na ’yang naririnig sa’yo, every 14th of February, to be exact,” sabi nito at isinuot ang ID n’ya mula sa bag. “Pero hanggang ngayon, look at yourself, Maxx. Buhay ka pa at malaki pa sa buntis ang tiyan.”

Tiningnan ko s’ya nang masama ngunit tawa lang ang naging tugon n’ya.

“Pero iba ang pakiramdam ko ngayon,” sabi ko. “Alam mo iyong pakiramdam na parang lahat ng sign sinasabing mamamatay ka na? May tawag doon eh, teka…”

“Ano?” naiinip na tanong ni Zero habang inaayos ang lace ng ID niya.

“Starts with letter p, eh, hindi ko lang maalala,” pag-iisip ko.

“P?” tanong niya. “Pag-iinarte?”

Tiningnan ko s’ya muli nang masama. “Gusto mong masaktan?”

“Joke,” sabi niya nang nakangisi. “Premonition.”

“AYUN!” sigaw ko. “Premonition! See? Ramdam ko s’ya. As in, something different will happen today. Trust me.”

“Paanong different?” tanong ni Zero habang tinitingnan ang relo niya. “Eh, ni isa nga sa mga predictions mo, wala namang tumatama.”

Tiningnan niya ang relo at bumuntonghininga. “Malapit na tayong ma-late. Nasa’n na ba kasi iyong mga bus?”

“Ah, basta!” pagwawalang-bahala ko sa sinabi niya. “I can feel it! Today is different.”

“Yeah, it’s indeed different,” he said. “Kasi this year, you have no date.”

He then laughed and looked at me with a wide grin.

“Happy break up, Maxx!”

I looked at him sharply. That’s when I noticed that Zero was wearing his usual neat uniform, his somewhat curly black hair, and his favorite NASA bomber jacket.

“Seriously, Zero?” tanong ko. “Kaibigan ba talaga kita? Hobby mo na bang i-bully ako, ha?”

“Why?” he asked. “Totoo naman, ah. Aminin mo na, kaya ka iritable kasi wala kang date. Why did you break up with Axes, though?”

Nagpintig ang tainga ko nang marinig ko ang pangalang iyon.

“S’ya ang nakipag-break, okay?” naiinis kong sabi.

He laughed.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, then,” he said, teasing me.

“Yeah, today’s Valentine’s, pero hindi lahat masaya kaya wag mong lagyan ng happy,” naiinis kong sabi at binilisan ang paglalakad.

“Gano’n ba?” Zero asked.

Binilisan n’ya rin ang paglalakad nang makitang binibilisan ko na rin.

“Alright,” he said. “Eh ’di, Valentine’s! Bilis mo naman magtampo. Ganda ka?”

I rolled my eyes that made him laugh.

“That’s way too corny, you know that?” I asked.

“Asus,” sabi niya. “Corny pero nangingiti.”

“Pero corny pa rin,” sabi ko.

“Yeah,” he said, grinning. “But you like it, see, you’re smiling!”

“No?!” I exclaimed as I tried to hide the smile on my lips.

“Yes, you do!” he insisted.

“I said no so don’t insist your assumption!” I defensively said.

“What do you call that shape as your lips curved kung hindi ’yan smile? As far as I know, hindi ka naman na-stroke.”

“A smirk, perhaps?” I said.

“A smirk or a repressed smile because you repressed your emotion for quite a long time and now, you don’t know how to handle and show them properly because the only emotion you are most familiar with is sadness. That’s why when someone made you smile, you tend to hide it because happiness is not the emotion you were so used to. So as a defense mechanism, you tend to deny it because you are afraid, you are scared to get out of your shell and get hurt—”

“OO NA!” sigaw ko at hinarap s’ya. “You won, weirdo. Stop with your TED talks. Mind you, wala akong naintindihan! Ang aga-aga!”

Natawa s’ya at halos mawala ang mata. Kapag kasi tumatawa itong si Zero, maging ang mga mata ay ngumingiti. Madalas tuloy siyang mapagkamalang intsik.

“Nasaan na ba kasi iyong mga bus na ’yan?!” naiinis kong sabi. “Kapag hindi ka sasakay, naglipana. Kapag kailangan, wala!”

“Kalma,” Zero said. “Alam mo naman ang nangyayari kapag nagsimula nang hindi maganda araw mo, ’di ba?”

I looked at him.

“Pinasasaya lang kita, Maxx. Alam natin pareho kung anong posibleng mangyari ngayong araw. Natatakot din ako, sa totoo lang. Besides, today is THE DAY.”

BEAT.

I heard my heart suddenly stop.

I faked a smile, trying to cover up the pain that was starting to build up in my chest.

When I met Zero’s eyes, I sensed how worried he was.

“Kung may mangyari ngayong araw, Maxx, you know I’m only one text way.”

Seeing the fear in Zero’s eyes made me lose hope that I can fight the impending tragedy that was about to happen.

Napalunok ako. Ilang araw akong na-a-anxious at napa-paranoid at ngayong dumating na ang tamang panahon, sa takot ay parang gusto kong maglaho.

“Okay ka lang?” tanong ni Zero nang mapansin ang pagiging tahimik ko.

“I’m fine,” pagsisinungaling ko.

“Nah,” he said. “Mukha kang paranoid, obvious naman. Just make sure you won’t mess up this day. Knowing you, lapitin ka pa naman ng gulo. Isako na lang kaya kita ta’s bitbitin buong araw? Para kung may mangyari man, damay ako. At least, may ghost-buddy ka.”

Natawa ako at ganoon din siya.

“Dami mong alam, ’no? Ba’t ’di mo gamitin ’yan sa pagsasagot sa Gen Math?” pang-iinis ko sa kanya dahil bagsak siya sa long quiz namin sa Gen Math last week.

“Can we stop pretending that Math makes sense?” sagot ni Zero na mas lalo naming ikinatawa.

“Mauna ka na, Zero,” sabi ko nang mapansing malapit na nga kami ma-late. “Dito na lang ako maghihintay ng bus.”

“Sure ka?” tanong niya.

Tumango ako.

Bus kasi ang ginagamit kong transportation papuntang school dahil madalang ang jeep dito sa amin. Si Zero naman ay nag-ba-bike lang at hindi naman ako marunong gumamit n’on. Sinubukan na niyang i-angkas ako dati. Kung hindi na-fa-flat ang gulong niya ay sumesemplang naman kami.

“Okay. I’ll go, then,” sabi niya at sumakay sa kanina pa niya dala-dalang bike. “Una na ’ko. See you at school!”

Just like that, umalis na si Zero at naiwan na akong mag-isa. I watched him vanish from my sight, and as soon as he was completely gone, I heaved a sigh.

He’s Zero, the person I wouldn’t be able to lie to.

Cliché pero magkaibigan na kami simula pa lang na nagkamalay na kami sa mundo. I had no choice. Nakatira sila malapit sa amin, not to mention na close pa ang parents namin.

Grabeng improvement ang nangyari sa kanya. He was once a really fat boy; he even resembled Snorlax at some point. Ganoon siguro talaga ’pag tinamaan ng puberty. Pero sa akin, wala naman kahit na anong nag-improve.

Mas matangkad pa nga ako noon sa kanya. Tapos bigla na lang s’yang lumaki at ngayo’y hanggang dibdib na lang niya ako.

Nakaiinis, ano?

Hay, puberty. Kahit sagasaan mo pa ’ko o apak-apakan, sige lang. Kaladkarin mo pa ako kung gusto mo, magpapasalamat pa ako sa ’yo.

I bit my lip, trying my best not to laugh in public because people might think I was losing my mind.

The last time it happened, I was talking to myself when people looked at me with judging eyes. I pretended I was just humming a song to save my ass from a public humiliation. Nakahihiya!

Pero, hindi lang ’yon ang humiliation na nangyayari sa buhay ko.

Would you believe me if I’ll say I may really die today?

That…

I can really know when?

No, wala akong super powers ha. Hindi ako nakakikita kung ilang oras na lang ang itatagal ng tao o kung ilang araw na lang ang mayroon sila.

Itigil na ang kaka-KDrama ninyo.

I know lahat tayo ay may perfect time set by the Creator above to die. But what if you can actually know the day that you would die?

Paano ko nararamdaman?

Dahil may pattern.

Something happens every time February 14 kicks in.

When I was a few months old, my babysitter died in front of me after her head hit the floor when she was cleaning my room. I was found playing with her blood.

When I was 3, the dog that I grew up with got crashed by a truck.

Run free, Tobby.

When I was 9, my dad died due to a heart attack while he was waiting for me outside my school.

When I was 12, my grandma died when we had a sleepover in my room. The next day, she was no longer breathing while her arms were still wrapped around me.

When I was 15, my school friend, Liz, got abducted and no one found her since then. Everyone believed that she’s dead.

See? This is what Zero warned me about—THE DAY.

THE MOST TRAGIC DAY OF MY EXISTENCE.

Lahat nang ’yon ay nangyari ng February 14—and today is February 14.

The thing is, all of them tackled about death.

Who knows? I may be the next this time?

“MISS, SAKAY NA!”

Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang kausapin ako ng konduktor.

Sumakay ako agad at halos lumipad pabaligtad nang biglang umandar ang bus. Dito talaga ako magkaka-super power for major balancing technique x2 x2 x2, eh. Physics who?

Nagsimula akong maglakad at maghanap ng upuan. Ngunit sa paghahanap ko ay nagkatinginan kami ng isang lalaking walang bahid na kahit na anong emosyon ang mukha.

Tatalikod sana ako upang maghanap ng ibang upuan sa harap pero maraming pasahero ang nasa likod ko at naghihintay na pumunta ako sa dulo.

I closed my eyes hardly.

Bakit naman ganito, Lord?

I didn’t move as if I got frozen in my place. Nang sigawan ako ng konduktor ay doon lang ako gumalaw. Pagkaharap ko ay nagtama na naman ang paningin namin ng lalaki.

He was wearing his usual everything—white earphones, his usual neat uniform, emotionless face, round specs, and his neat black hair

His face, it never changed at all.

I bit my lip.

“MISS, MAY UPUAN PA SA DULO!”

At dahil sa malakas na boses ni kuyang konduktor, lahat ng pasahero ay napatingin sa ’kin. Nang muling magtama ang paningin namin ay halos manlambot ang mga buto ko.

Ever since our break up, that was the first time that he laid his eyes on me again.

Axes, bakit ganito pa rin ang epekto mo sa akin?

I felt that his eyes were still looking at me and it made my heart pound harder. My mind was in chaos, and now, my legs were shaking. I started to walk and occupied the seat at the back later on.

Tiningnan ko s’yang muli and I suddenly felt my heart banging inside.

It’s been a year but I haven’t moved on still, I guess.

It’s been quite a long time, but why do I still feel the same?

Why do I always feel the same?

I sighed.

Nang makaupo ay binuksan ko na lang iyong cellphone ko. Pagkabukas ng Messenger ay siya agad ang nasa suggested.

Bakit naman ganito?

Ipinagdudukdukan ba sa akin ng mundo na part na lang s’ya ng memory ko? Kailangan talaga ipaalala ang sakit at the fact na ’di na kami nag-uusap?

At dahil isa pa akong marupok, pinundot ko iyong mukha n’ya sa active friends at tiningnan ang message namin.

Napangiwi ako. Ito pala iyong araw na naghabol ako.

“Hey, sorry ngayon lang nakapag-reply. Ang dami kasing gawain. Okay lang ako, ikaw ba? Hope you’re taking care of yourself,” sagot niya sa message ko noon.

“2 hours ago ko pa sinend ’yung message,” my reply said.

“Sorry, ’di ko napansin.”

“Paanong ’di mo napansin, eh delivered?”

“Eh sa hindi ko nga napansin.”

“’Di napansin o sinadyang ’di pansinin? Sa bagay, ano ba naman na ako sa ’yo? Wala na tayo.”

Napangiwi ako. Ang drama ko, buwisit.

“Nag-message ka ba para mangumusta o para mang-away? Kasi kung mang-aaway ka lang, we had enough fights and I have no time for that. Pagod ako.”

Sakit naman.

“Pagod sa gawain o sa ’kin?”

“Pareho. Pero mas nakapapagod ka. Nakapapagod ka isipin, nakapapagod ka intindihin.”

Aray, mars.

“Wow, parang dati lang, sabi mo whatever happens, it’ll be us versus the problem. Eh, ano nangyari ngayon? Wala na tayo, yes, pero why do I still care for you the same way? Kasi constant na ’yon eh. But you know what the saddest part is? You’re the reason of my tears, yet, you’re living exceptionally well without me when I can’t even breathe properly without you.”

My eyes widened.

Girl? Ganito ako ka-drama?

“That’s the case. Us vs problem but you know what? It’s you who became the problem. Nakapapagod ka intindihin, kahit sino ay mapapagod sa ’yo. Nakapanghihina ka mahalin. No matter how much I try to contemplate and understand, wala! Fights after fights and arguments after arguments just keep on coming. Nakasasawa,” reply n’yang muli. “Nakauubos. Nakawawala ng gana.”

Aray. Wait?

“Napaka-komplikado mong mahalin. Masyado kang malungkot.”

Napangiwi ako at napa-scroll sa huli naming pag-uusap months ago. Masyadong masakit iyon, ah.

Tiningnan ko ang huli naming pag-uusap. It happened on my birthday.

“HEY, STILL UP?”

I can remember how I sighed when I saw his message before. Naaalala ko kung paano ko iyon tinitigan para lang malaman na hindi ako niloloko ng mga mata ko.

Ngunit hindi iyon naglaho. Totoo ang mensahe.

Just like us marching to the inevitable journey towards death, I decided to close my eyes and ponder, trying to fight the impending burst of suppressed emotions that I have long decided to kill.

Hindi nga talaga kita kayang tiisin.

I finally opened the message. I tried to form a response but my mind was in absolute void.

How does his presence alone make this eloquent mind utterly speechless?

“You’ve seen it but you’re not responding,” the next message said. “Are you ignoring me on purpose?”

A shy smile was planted on my lips.

How could my mind hear his voice through plain text? How did he manage to dominate my system this way?

“No,” I replied. “May binabasa lang.”

“What is it, then?” he replied as fast as we fell in and we fell out of love.

“Some random things you’d complain about,” I answered.

He reacted angry on it.

I smiled—for the first time since we parted ways, that was probably the most genuine smile my lips have ever curved.

As expected. Only him can unleash the hidden genuineness in me.

“Ang bagal mo mag-reply,” he said. “Tulog na ’ko.”

“Be glad. I don’t even open messages these days,” I replied.

“HAHAHAHAHA.”

I stopped for a while.

That laugh. I could hear it. It used to be a lullaby to my ears.

“Anong oras na, nagbabasa ka pa. Tulog na,” he added.

“Nagpapaantok lang,” I replied. “Ikaw ba?”

“Inaantok na hahaha, naalimpungatan lang and went online for a while and saw you’re up kaya I sent you a message. Lagi ka kasing online ng ganitong oras which is unusual. Anyway, sige tutulog na ’ko. Happy birthday, Maxx. Nyt!”

I just reacted on the last message he sent, turned my phone off and looked at my room’s ceiling as I felt the chest pain crawling onto me.

There’s only one reason why I kept staying up late and reading a book was definitely not it.

I smiled bitterly.

It’s because I kept on seeing him in my dreams.

His smile.

His hug.

His kiss.

Every single thing felt so real.

Napatingin akong muli sa lalaking nasa ’di kalayuan. Nakapikit ito at nakasandal habang nakasalpak ang earphones sa tainga.

Napangiti ako.

“I miss you, Axes…” bulong ko. “I really, really do…”

PART TWO: TUNING INTO THE PARALLEL WORLD

“OPEN YOUR MESSENGER!”

Napatingin ako sa cellphone dahil tadtad na chats ni Zero ang nasa notification bar ko. Sunod-sunod din ang pagtunog kaya lahat ay napatitingin sa akin sa loob ng bus.

Buwisit na bubwit. Nag-da-drama pa ako rito, eh.

“Bakit ba?!” reply ko.

“Check mo GC. Bagsak ka, tanga.”

Dali-dali kong hinanap ang GC namin na naka-mute sa akin. Nang makita ang pangalan ko sa samahan ng mga bagsak ay hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman ko.

I failed my exam in Physics.

Again.

For the hundredth time.

Ngayon, imbis na pumunta sa organization namin, kailangan ko pang mag-remedial class.

Great.

I mean, nag-expect naman ako na babagsak talaga ako before. Ngayong bumagsak ako ay hindi ko alam bakit umaalma ako.

Napapikit ako.

Today, I am broken hearted, anxious about my death, and my grades were falling apart.

Ang husay! Iba ka talaga, February 14. Ano pang pasabog ang mayroon ka riyan?

Tiningnan ko ang mga grades ko sa iba ko pang subjects. Ang ilan ay ayos lang naman pero karamihan ay siguradong bibigyan ako ng sakit sa ulo at baka maging problema pa bago ako tumungtong ng college.

Bakit ba ako namomoblema kung magiging balakid ang grades ko? Eh, baka nga iyong college admission test na kinuha ko ilang buwan na ang nakararaan ay hindi ako pumasa?

With frustration, isinuot ko na lang ang earphones ko at pumikit.

Bahala na kung boba ako. Ang mahalaga, mabuti akong tao.

Napangiti ako sa sarili kong rason.

Sino nga ba’ng niloloko ko?

Boba pa rin naman ako.

Malapit nang mag-11 am. Mag-re-remedial class muna ako siguro bago pumunta sa school organization.

Tumugtog na ang kanta. It was Make it with You by Bread.

Napangiti ako.

Ah, yes. Comfort song.

It was going just fine when suddenly, I heard a strange sound.

Iyong tunog na maririnig mo kapag walang signal ang TV.

Napatanggal ako ng earphones at pinakinggan ang paligid. Wala namang ganitong tunog.

Napakibit-balikat na lang ako at inulit ang kanta. Ilang minuto lang ay ganoon uli ang maririnig. Iyong tunog ng TV na maingay at walang signal na humahalo sa kantang pinakikinggan ko.

Nang sinubukan kong dumilat ay kumalabog ang dibdib ko dahil hindi ko na magawa. I tried to move but I couldn’t move as well, as if I was frozen. I then felt my chest getting heavy as if something just sat on top of it.

WAIT.

Ano ’to?!

Lumakas ang kalabog ng dibdib ko nang may ideyang pumasok sa akin.

AM I HAVING SLEEP PARALYSIS?

SA LOOB NG BUS?!

Nagsimula akong mag-panic. Sinimulan kong gumalaw ngunit walang nangyayari. Sinubukan kong sumigaw pero maging ang labi ko ay animo’y nanigas.

Hanggang may nakita akong liwanag. Unti-unti itong lumaki hanggang sa—

“MISS, BAKA SUMOBRA KA?”

That’s when I finally opened my eyes. Mukha ng konduktor ang una kong nakita.

Halos mapatili ako. Hapong-hapong hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko at tiningnan ang paligid. Doon ko napagtantong ako na lang ang pasahero sa loob.

Sa takot ay agad kong kinuha ang bag ko at tumayo. Hinihingal man at kumakabog ang dibdib, bumaba na ako dahil baka ano pang mangyari sa ’kin sa loob.

SHEEZ!

I JUST HAD A SLEEP PARALYSIS INSIDE A BUS!

IN A FUCKING BUS!

I felt chills down my spine.

February 14, iba ka! Baka next time nito, mahahagip na ’ko ng—

“TUMABI KA!” sigaw ng naka-motor na halos bumangga sa ’kin sa pagtawid.

Nakagat ko ang dila ko at umirap.

Mamamatay talaga ako today!

Dali-dali akong pumasok ng campus. Sa bawat taong makatitinginan ko ay nagiging suspicious ako.

Paano kung bigla na lang may sumaksak sa ’kin dito?

Habang umaakyat sa hagdan papunta sa remedial class ay halos masabunutan ko ang sarili ko. Bigla kong naalala iyong pagsi-sleep paralysis ko sa bus.

Paano ba kasi nangyari ’yon?! And bakit doon of all places?!

Narating ko ang room namin at bumuntonghininga. Pero bago ko pa mabuksan ang pinto, bumukas na ito at naglabasan ang mga estudyante. Laking gulat ko nang mapansin kong mga kaklase ko iyon.

Aren’t we supposed to have a remedial class?

“Joyce, Joyce!” I called one of them. “Saan kayo pupunta?”

“We just got dismissed,” she said casually.

“Dismissed?!” I exclaimed, confused. “Hindi ba dapat ngayon pa lang magsisimula ang remedial? 10:55 pa lang.”

Natawa ito.

“Girl,” she said. “It was scheduled at 9AM to 11!”

“WHAT?!” tanong ko. “Ang nabasa ko sa GC ay 11, hindi 9.”

“Check the group chat, then. Saka, bakit mo kailangan ng remedial?” she asked, grinning.

“Uh, kasi isa ako sa mga bagsak?” nalilito kong tanong.

She just laughed.

“Humble talaga. Sige, una na ’ko, ha? See you around!”

With that, I was left baffled.

Anong nangyari kay Joyce? Dati lang ay ayaw nitong magpaikli ng buhok pero ngayo’y hanggang leeg na lang ang buhok niya.

At saka, humble? In what aspect? Eh ’yong grade ko nga plakda na, paano naging humble ’yon?

I shrugged.

I immediately opened my phone to check our group chat. Mula roon ay tiningnan ko ang announcement.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang makitang naka-schedule nga iyon for 9AM.

Bobo ako pero hindi ako bulag. I know I saw 11AM at hindi 9AM!

Ano ba’ng nangyayari kasi?

Natatarantang pumasok agad ako sa room at naabutan ang professor namin na nag-aayos ng gamit.

“Sir, sir,” I approached. “I’m so sorry. Hindi po ako naka-attend sa remedial class. Something came up po kasi, sir. Please do allow me for a special project, instead. Hindi po ako puwede bumagsak. I need to be admitted in any—”

“Hey hey,” awat niya sa ’kin. “What are you talking about?”

“11AM po kasi pagkakabasa ko about sa remedial class, sir—”

“What?” he asked. “Remedial class? Bakit mo kailangan n’on?”

Ilang beses ko bang dapat ulitin?

“Uh, kasi… bagsak po ako?”

My professor looked at me in the eyes and silence swallowed us both until—

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed. So hard. At me.

Lah? Saya ka, ghorl?

“Why would you need to attend my make up class, you silly kid. You aced my exam. You were even the highest!”

“Opo, sir pero—”

Wait.

WHAT?!

I WAS THE WHAT?!?

Nanlalaki ang mga matang tiningnan ko siya.

“Congrats, Maxx,” he said. “Keep up the good track, okay? You’re a good fit for a valedictorian, I must say.”

Tinapik nito ang balikat ko habang tumatawa pa rin paalis.

WAIT.

ANO RAW?!

VALEDICTORIAN?

WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?

My professor looked back.

“Oh, as per your university admission concern, I suggest na pumunta ka ngayon sa announcement board. The result is out.”

The next thing I knew, I was squeezing myself in a huge crowd.

“Excuse me. Excuse po!” sabi ko habang nakipagsisiksikan sa mga tao. Nang makarating sa gitna ng announcement board ay agad kong hinanap ang pangalan ko.

My eyes widened when I saw my name on top of the list with a score of—

“WE GOT 500/500 ADMISSION SCORE FROM MAXX!” sigaw ng isa naming professor.

Lahat sila’y tumingin sa ’kin and all I can hear were clapping hands and loud cheering voices.

Tiningnan ko muli ang listahan, making sure na ’di ako nililinlang ng mga mata ko pero walang nagbago. My name was written there still with a perfect score.

FIRST, I GOT THE HIGHEST SCORE IN A TEST I KNEW I FAILED.

NOW, I GOT A PERFECT SCORE IN OUR COUNTRY’S TOP PERFORMING UNIVERSITY WHEN I KNEW THE ONLY CORRECT THING I ANSWERED DURING THE TEST WAS MY NAME!

And for Pete’s sake, I have the lowest GPA in the whole school and now I’m a candidate for valedictorian?

WHAT. THE. HELL.

SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE!

EVERYTHING’S WRONG HERE!

“Hey.”

I almost jumped mid-air nang may biglang lumapit sa ’kin. Halos kumawala ang puso ko sa kaba nang malamang si Axes iyon.

“H-Hey,” I responded.

He smiled at me.

SHEEZ.

“Congrats pala,” he said. “I knew you’ll ace that.”

HE’S REALLY TALKING TO ME NOW? LIKE FOR REAL?

“Why are you giving me that face?” he asked when he noticed my shocked face. His eyes were looking deeply in my eyes.

I gulped.

“You look so awkward, Maxx. Loosen up!” he smilingly added.

I faked a smile.

Ano ba talagang nangyagari?

“I just find it really awkward,” I said. “Ngayon mo na lang ako uli kinausap after our break up last year…”

His eyes widened.

“Our what?” he asked, baffled.

“Our break up,” I repeated. “We broke up last year.”

“Why?” he asked, confused. “Why are we gonna break up?”

Confusion swallowed me too.

What’s happening?

“B-Because we were lovers?”

His eyes widened. “Maxx, we were not lovers. WE ARE FRIENDS!”

Huh?

WE ARE…. WHAT?

“FRIENDS. WE ARE FRIENDS!”

And the next thing I knew, the temperature changed.

Nang tingnan ko ang paligid ay wala na ako sa school. Ngayo’y nasa sidewalk na ako at palubog na ang araw.

Ano ba talagang nangyayari?!

Nang tingnan ko sino ang kausap ko ay nanlaki lalo ang mga mata ko.

It was no longer Axes.

It was Zero.

“ILANG BESES KO BA DAPAT SABIHIN NA MAGKAIBIGAN TAYO AT HINDI MAG-EX?!” he frustratedly asked.

I looked around.

“Anong… nangyayari?”

Zero looked at me with frustration.

“I DON’T KNOW. YOU ASK YOURSELF!” he said. “YOU WERE SO STRANGE IN SCHOOL!”

I was… what?!

“Una, nakipagtalo ka sa prof natin, proving yourself na mas matalino ka kaysa sa kanya kaya ayaw mong mag-remedial class. Ikalawa, you threw tantrums after seeing you failed the university admission test and only scored 45 out of 500 items. Nagwawala ka pa sa campus, saying you have to call your grandma which we all know na matanggal nang patay!” he said.

My jaw dropped.

I can’t remember doing those!

“Ngayon, pinagpipilitan mong ex mo ’ko at hindi best friend! Na ang best friend mo ay si Axes! AND GOODNESS GRACIOUS! Alam nating may trauma ka sa bike pero now look at yourself, riding that bike, following me around and insisting we were lovers!”

I looked at the thing I was holding at mabilis ko iyong binitawan.

WHY AM I USING A BIKE?!

WHAT THE ACTUAL F IS HAPPENING!

“Z… Zero…” I finally uttered while tears were forming in my eyes. “Y-You know I don’t know how to ride a bike…”

“EXACTLY!” he frustratedly exclaimed.

I felt my system shutting down.

DAMN.

“And… you know my grandma died five years ago…”

“That’s what I’m telling you!” he said. “Iyon nga ang kanina ko pa sinasabi sa ’yo pero hindi ka nakikinig!”

I bit my lip.

“And we are not lovers…”

“NOW YOU GET IT!” he exclaimed. “THANK GOD!”

“B-But Zero…” I said “I… aced the admission test, I scored 500… I AM SURE ABOUT IT, I SAW IT!”

“No, no, no,” he said. “Listen, Maxx. Nakita ko ’yon with my own eyes. Hindi iyon 500 but 45, kaya ka nga nagwala sa campus at isa pa, nakipagtalo sa professor natin.”

He met my eyes.

“Ang sabi mo, sa isang lugar ay posibleng may nag-e-exist pang ibang mundo na kagaya ng mayroon tayo. Sabi mo pa, kapag naramdaman mong parang naulit ang isang bagay na nangyari na, na tinatawag na deja vu, ibig sabihin, you experienced what your paralleled self did in a parallel universe.”

He gulped.

“Iyong para bang ginawa na ng bersyon mo sa ibang mundo iyong bagay na ’yon kaya ikaw na bersyon naman n’ya sa mundong ito ay pakiramdam na nangyari na iyon. By feeling so, sabi mo, an alignment between two universes was created, in which, our professor argued at sabi n’ya, repressed memories lang ang deja vu.”

Zero then paused, scanning my face.

“Of course, hindi ka nagpatalo at nag-cite ka pa ng reference from someone named Steven or Stephen something which provides the idea that a parallel universe is real. Like at any given instant, as you stated, there are radio waves literally everywhere.”

Tiningnan n’ya kung nakikinig pa ba ako.

“Katulad ng radio waves. Pero kapag nag-open ka ng radyo, sa iisang channel o frequency ka lang pwede makinig. As a result, we can only tune to one broadcast at a time. Likewise, in our universe, we are “tuned” into the frequency that corresponds to our physical reality but there are inﬁnite number of parallel realities co-existing with us in the same room, but we cannot “tune into” them because they have different frequencies at sa iisa lang tayo nakako-connect.“

He shrugged.

“Sabi mo pa, gumagawa na ng paraan ang mga scientist upang magbukas ng portal to discover the parallel universe, which is a fact. And with trillions upon trillions of atoms in each world, and since the frequency of these waves is promotional to its energy, this means that the waves of each world vibrate at different frequencies and cannot interact at some point.”

He licked his lower lip.

“Taking that as a take off point, to open a portal, scientists should be able to control frequency waves first and tune into whatever exists out of our world, and that’s how you won the argument. Nakapagtataka nga na alam mo ’yang mga ’yan, eh, ’di ba hate na hate mo ang science?”

Hindi ko alam anong nangyayari pero sigurado akong hindi ko ginawa iyon.

Paano ko ma-e-explain nang ganoon iyon, eh ngayon ngang nakikinig lang ako ay wala akong maintindihan?

Ano man ang nangyayari ngayon, isa lang ang sigurado ko. The me that Zero met today, I’m sure that wasn’t me. I’m pretty much sure about it.

“Zero,” I said. “Anong oras ’yong remedial class?”

“Uh, 11AM.”

I closed my eyes hardly.

“Zero…” I said and my voice even cracked. I felt my legs were trembling. “What if… hindi ako ’yong nasa klase kanina?”

Confusion swallowed him.

“Huh?”

“Zero, hindi ako nakapunta ng remedial class. Na-late ako. So, maybe, the one you spent the day with in school… what if… what if hindi ako ’yon?”

He scoffed.

“Are you on drugs or something?” he joked. “Yeah, I know you were kinda weird that time that you sounded so smart in class, that you threw tantrums when you saw you failed the admission test when you were expecting you’ll fail, that you thought… I was your ex and Axes was your best friend…”

That’s when the smile on his lips faded.

“…and that you wanna call your grandma as if she’s still alive and all suddenly you know how to ride a bike…”

His eyes widened.

“DAMN!” he exclaimed. “DON’T TELL ME—”

“Yes,” I said. “Hindi ako ’yon…”

His jaw dropped.

“Zero…” I said. “Today, I aced the physics exam kaya hindi ako nakadalo sa remedial class and there’s no way I could argue with our professor. I did not score 45 but 500!”

“Shit…” he murmured.

“Z-Zero…” I said. “I think… I think I met the world of my other self, and she encountered mine…”

“Oh, no, no please, it’s not real!” he said.

“What if it is, Zero? What if… what if I accidentally tuned into that different frequency? Paano kung napunta ako sa mundo ng paralleled self ko at s’ya naman ang napunta sa mundo ko?”

I bit my lip.

“And what if… a portal to a parallel universe where our other self lives has been opened that’s why I was able to tune into that parallel world and…”

“And what?” he asked, tensed.

“AND… WE CAN SWITCH LIVES…?”

PART THREE: SHE WHO VANISHED

“WOW, SO MARAMING WORLDS OUT THERE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE?!”

One of the students asked and no one was making any move. All of them were waiting for the reporter in front to clarify the question.

“Based on the theory,” the man wearing a school uniform said. “Probably.”

“Woah…” bulong ng ilan. “Paano? I mean, how does that thing work?”

Lahat ay tumingin muli sa lalaking nasa harapan at naghihintay ng susunod na sasabihin nito.

Kung titingnan kung paano s’ya tumindig, everyone will agree that the man possessed a nice figure; not that hunk, not that skinny either.

Kung tutuusin, nasa kalagitnaan s’ya ng pagiging cute at hot since he could do both at once without even trying. His white skin complexion and brown eyes were his best assets, not to mention his brain.

His name is Axes, my ex.

I sighed and looked at my wristwatch. Ten more minutes at dismissal na.

As I looked once again in front, I noticed how Axes pushed his glasses upward.

I gulped. It looked so manly for me.

My lips curved into a smile.

Would you believe that this hot yet smart guy in front used to be the man I thought I’d end up with?

And would you believe me if I would say in the parallel universe where I accidentally tuned into five months ago, I was the candidate for valedictorian and not him?

I shook my head.

Limang buwan na ang lumipas simula nang nangyari iyon at minsan ma’y hindi na iyon na-ulit pa.

Every single day, I was waiting for it to happen again, for me to tune into a different frequency but it never happened at all.

Habang tumatagal nga ay napag-iisipan namin ni Zero na baka isa lang ’yon sa mga delusions namin. Sinubukan naming magtanong sa iba kung may naranasan ba silang kakaiba nang araw na ’yon. Turned out, tanging kaming dalawa lang ni Zero ang nakaranas niyon at hanggang ngayo’y naaalala pa rin namin ang lahat.

Posible bang nag-hallucinate lang kami at some point?

I sighed.

“Well,” Axes cleared his throat. “The possible creation of a different universe boils down to the explosion of a singularity that we all know as what?” he asked and he smiled. “The Big Bang Theory.”

Axes followed, “After the explosion of the singularity 13.7 billion years ago, theoretically speaking, our world was not the only universe that was born,” he said as he continued to walk at the center of the room. “It was suggested before na kung ang space-time ay nabuo as flat, it would stretch and will create countless universes na identical sa kung anong mayroon tayo ngayon. At ’yon ang tinatawag nating…”

“Parallel universe…” bulong ng ilan.

Ngumiti si Axes. “That’s right.”

When Axes made sure all ears were on him, he continued.

“Kagaya na rin ng mga nasa balita, scientists are already working on opening a portal to a mirror universe,” he started. “In fact, a team of physicists at North Jensen Ox Laboratory are working on it. Nalaman pa nga nila na kailangan natin ng 85-megawatt nuclear reactor capable of firing billions of neutrons on command to possibly open a portal.”

“Anong basis nila riyan?” one of my classmates asked.

Axes smiled.

“Neutrons,” he answered.

He walked in front. Even our professor was listening quietly.

“If you will beam neutrons in a wall, no one should pass through that wall. If something did, it means they transformed in a mirror version of themselves, as what the physicists hypothesized.”

“In other words, kung lumusot sila sa wall na sinasabi mo, napunta sila sa ibang mundo?” one of my classmates asked.

Axes smiled. “We can assume that.”

“Wow!” some exclaimed.

“Neutron lasts for fourteen minutes and fourty-eight seconds in beams before they decay into protons,” Axes said. “Pero nang mag-conduct ng experiment ang ibang physicists by placing neutrons in a lab bottle, some of those neutrons broke down ten seconds faster, which is contradictory to their nature because neutrons, no matter what pressure we apply to them, will decay for fourteen minutes and fourty-eight seconds. Nothing more and nothing less.”

“What does that mean?” one of my classmates asked.

“It means…” Axes stopped and turned serious. “Those neutrons are not from our world, theoretically.”

Some of my classmates gasped. Some even cursed.

“Oh, so they’re working to create portals?” a guy at the back asked. “What if… what if we don’t need them? What if, matagal na ‘yong bukas?’

Lahat ay nagtinginan sa kanya. Nang makilala ko siya ay halos umirap ako.

“What do you mean by that, Zero?” Axes asked.

Zero with his curly hair and favorite jacket smiled when he got the attention he wanted.

“Well,” Zero started. “Sabi mo ang neutrons na ’yon ay hindi galing sa mundo natin… well again, theoretically. So paano sila napunta rito kung walang portal na nabuksan para magtagpo ang dalawa, o iilan pang mga mundo?”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Don’t tell me…

“Man, it’s vague,” Axes said. “What exactly are you trying to imply?”

“I’m just wondering,” Zero said with a smirk. “What if, hindi natin kailangan ng 85-megawatt para magbukas ng portal at ang kailangan lang ay mag-tune in tayo sa ibang frequencies para makapunta ro’n?”

“What… do you mean? Are you referring to an experience or something?” tanong ni Axes.

Lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko, animo’y kumakalabog ito sa loob ng dibdib ko.

Don’t tell ikukuwento n’ya ang nangyari sa ’min five months ago?!

Ngumisi si Zero. “Yes.”

I closed my eyes hardly.

WHAT THE HELL ZERO?!

“Take the Taured Man, as an example,” Zero said.

“Oh,” Axes said. “A great point you got there, Zero,” he added.

“Anong Taured Man?” tanong ng class secretary namin.

“On one of spring days of Japan in July 1954, as mentioned in the books namely The Directory of Possibilities (1981) page 86, and Strange but True Mysterious and Bizarre People (1999) page 64, a man reportedly arrived at Haneda Airport, also known as Tokyo International Airport,” Axes started to narrate.

“Wow,” bulungan ng ilan kong kaklase. “Pati page numbers kabisado niya.”

“You can’t expect less from Axes,” sagot ng katabi nito. “He will exceed any expectations you’ll set. No wonder why I like him.”

They giggled.

“The Taured Man was described as Caucasian with a beard, and wearing a really formal attire as if he was travelling overseas for some sort of business-related agenda,” Axes followed.

“He speaks French and many other languages. Nagsimulang mapansin ng mga tao na weird ang lalaki no’ng time na nasa airport na siya at ibinigay ng Taured Man ang passport niya for authentication process. The thing is, mukhang authentic yung passport n’ya pero ’yong country na nag-issue sa kanya nito, ang bansa na mismong pinanggalingan niya, ay hindi nag-e-exist. Nang tanungin siya, sabi ng lalaki, nagmula raw s’ya sa bansang tinatawag na Taured. The officers, of course, did not believe him because there’s no such country as Taured.”

Lahat ay interesado sa kwento. Bukod kasi sa maganda ang topic, ang malalim ngunit kalmadong boses ni Axes ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit ang sarap makinig. Para kang hinehele sa duyan.

“Pero siyempre, the Taured Man proved that such country exists. Nag-presinta pa nga siya ng mga dokumentong nagpapatunay na mula siya sa bansang iyon at totoong nag-e-exist ang bansang iyon. That confused the authorities because his documents were authentic—it means, the seals and everything were real. Sa katunayan, ilang beses na nga raw s’yang pabalik-balik sa Japan for business trips pero ngayon lang s’ya hinarang at kinuwestyon.”

Huminto si Axes at tiningnan ang klase.

“Isa pang ikinabahala ng mga officers ay ang mga stamps sa passport n’ya na nagpapatunay kung ilang beses na s’yang pumunta sa Japan at sa iba pang mga bansa. All was real. It means it is true that the Taured Man kept coming back and forth. Nang i-validate nilang muli ang mga stamps, they were all proven authentic.”

With all eyes were on him still, he continued.

“With that, the man was reportedly taken away for questioning. He tried to convince the immigration officers that Taured actually exists. Ayon sa kanya, Taured was located between France and Spain, and would have existed for a thousand years. Siyempre, hindi convinced ang mga awtoridad kaya kumuha sila ng mapa para hanapin niya roon ang sinasabi niyang bansa.”

Axes stopped and put his glasses upward.

“Nang makuha ang mapa, the Taured Maan pointed out the area occupied by the Principality of Andorra. Nang makita ang pangalan ng Andorra ay naguluhan siya dahil Taured daw dapat ang naroroon at hindi Andorra, dahil ang Andorra ay hindi naman daw nag-e-exist. The officers still didn’t believe him, and he himself didn’t also give in. Because of the conflicts, the officers decided to take him to a nearby hotel for the night while they were conducting an investigation. To ensure that the man would not try to escape during the night, two guards were placed outside his room to guard him. They confiscated his documents and belongings as well for their investigations.”

I gulped. This one’s getting intense!

“However, the next morning, when the officers wanted to talk to the man, they opened the guarded room and they realized that the man had disappeared, and there was no sign of his escape. He literally… vanished.”

“WHAT?!” one exclaimed. “So he just disappeared out of nowhere kahit may bantay sa labas ng room n’ya? How about his documents?”

Axes smirked. “They disappeared as well…”

“Paanong… nangyari ’yon…?” bulong ko.

“Some say the man is from the future who travelled to that current time,” paliwanag ni Axes. “Some also say the man unconsciously placed himself in another dimension and the man himself is from the paralleled universe near yet different from us, like for reference, the famous Kimi No Nawa.”

It yielded excitement from class.

“And that’s what Multiverse Theory is,” paliwanag ni Axes at pagko-konekta nito sa report niya. “It suggests that there are infinite universes around us and there might be a paralleled self of us in another dimension. There are instances that two paralleled universe, close yet not similar, tend to overlap and that’s when a connection is probably linked. And that, ladies and gentleman, is the content of my report.”

The class clapped.

“Grabe, idol talaga…” bulong ng ilan.

Pati ako ay nakipalakpak na rin.

“Nice job!” bati ng professor namin.

Axes never really disappoints…

“So before I totally end things, just to buy some time since we have three minutes before our dismissal,” sabi ni Axes. “You know, class activity lang kasi ang required.”

Natawa ang iilan maging ang professor namin.

“In case, like the Taured man na napunta ka sa parallel world na kung saan kaparehong-kapareho ito ng mundo natin at nakita mo ang paralleled self mo o ang bersyon mo sa mundong iyon, anong sasabihin mo sa kanya?”

That rendered amusement in everybody’s eyes. Some answered as if they were talking to their younger self. I was having fun hearing their thoughts until I heard something that made me deaf for a while.

“Miss Maxine, mind to cooperate and answer since you are so good and all?”

Some of my classmates laughed. Maging si Axes ay napatingin sa akin.

Simula nang awayin ng paralleled self ko ang prof ko five months ago ay ako na ang naging target niya sa klase. Kaya nga minsan pinipili ko na lang manahimik para ’di ako mapag-initan pero wala, eh.

Napalunok ako.

Kaya mo ’yan, Maxx!

“W-What was the question again?” I asked, confused.

The class continued to laugh and tease me.

“In case you are the Taured man,” Axes awkwardly re-stated while his eyes were looking at mine. “…and you tuned into a parallel universe and you met the version of yourself there, what will you say to her?”

“Why naman ganyan ang tanong…” bulong ko at gusto nang lamunin ng lupa.

“Just a phrase,” the professor said. “What will you say if you encounter her right now, in front of you?”

Yet, I couldn’t think of anything. I can’t think of anything to say. My goddamn ears were even burning red!

“Imagine I am your paralleled self,” Axes said. “What will you say to me?”

I looked at him, and everyone’s laughing voice faded.

Uhm… Thank you kasi inaway mo ang prof at ako napag-iinitan ngayon. Shuta ka?

I bit my lip. Ayun siguro ang masasabi ko talaga.

“Aren’t they exes?” I heard one ask.

My eyes widened.

“Oh shit. We forgot!”

“Awkward!”

When I met Axes’ eyes, nakatingin pa rin siya sa ’kin. Halos manlambot ang mga tuhod ko.

Shit. WHAT SHOULD I DO? WHAT SHOULD I DO? WHAT SHOULD I DO? AAAHHH!!!

“No thrill,” Zero suddenly meddled. “How about what will the reporter say if he encounters his paralleled self? Sounds good, right?”

Everyone made a noise.

I looked at Zero and our eyes met. He smiled and gave a wink.

Ugh, I really love this friend of mine. He’s always been like this—saving me from my mess.

Axes cleared his throat. “Is that even necessary?”

“Yes,” Zero said. “To buy some time, right? How about imagine Maxx is your paralleled self. What will you say to her?”

My eyes grew bigger. Everyone giggled and made a noise.

“MULING IBALIK,” pang-aasar nila.

WHAT THE FUCK ZERO?!?!

Sometimes, he really likes saving me but sometimes, he drags me to mud as well.

THAT MAN IS A LIVING DICKHEAD!

“O-Okay,” Axes said. “Sure. I’ll start.”

I gulped.

Oh shit, oh shit. He doesn’t need to do that!

He looked at me, as if I was his paralleled self and suddenly, he gave a sad yet melancholic smile.

“One cold day,” he started, “You gonna wake up alone, craving for her touch, seeking for her presence, looking for her traces and will then realize how special she is.”

Suddenly, Axes looked down and smiled so weak.

“…and when that day comes, she’ll be waking up next to the guy who has long known…”

PART FOUR: TUNING BACK IN

“DAMN…” bulong ng nasa harapan ko.

Everyone in class was shocked. Hindi namin alam na maririnig namin iyon mula kay Axes.

Pakiramdam ko ay para akong sinabuyan ng malamig na tubig

What… did I just hear?

Was he talking about me?

I gulped.

Possibly.

I was his first girlfriend and first ex. Nagsisisi ba siya?

I bit my lip.

Then why did he break up with me and ignored me since then?

Despite of the murmuring from our classmates, Axes looked at us again. This time, with a small smile.

“So do your best to keep her. Don’t give up on her in spite of the pain, because after all, she’s worthy of the pain. She is worthy of everything. Learn from my mistake in this world. Take it from me.”

And just like that, the school bell rang. Everyone was broken hearted. Kahit ang prof namin ay halatang nalungkot.

“L-Let’s call it a day,” sabi niya. “Class dismissed.”

Hindi ko malaman kung ano ba ang dapat kong maramdaman.

Was he really talking about me? Or may naging ex pa siya after me?

Ah, ang hirap maging assumera.

Pero who knows, ’di ba? Malay natin.

Habang isa-isang nag-aalisan ang mga kaklase namin kasabay ang prof namin ay animo’y nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Nanginginig man ang tuhod ay pinili kong tumayo.

Until in a snap, I saw myself walking to his direction. When I reached him and stood right in front of him, he looked at me and our eyes met. I could see countless of emotions in his eyes—pain, sadness, remorse.

Tiningnan ni Axes ang paligid. Nang makitang kami na lang ang naroroon ay tiningnan niya akong muli.

“Why?” he asked. “Do you have something to say?”

I gulped. “Can we talk?”

“We’re talking now, Maxx,” he timidly said.

“Not here,” I said. “I want it to be… somewhere else.”

“Where would that somewhere else be?” Axes asked.

“I don’t know,” sagot ko. “Anywhere. Anywhere private.”

Axes scoffed. “Who are you to demand about things?”

The pain and sadness in his eyes were replaced by nothing but anger.

“A-Axes…” I uttered.

“Haven’t I made myself clear the moment we broke up, Maxx?” he rhetorically asked. “That we won’t talk again unless we find her?”

My heart skipped a beat when I realized whom he was talking about.

“Unless…” Axes said and he paused. “Unless we found Liz?”

I felt the sudden chest pain when I heard the name of the woman who had never put me to sleep since she disappeared.

I felt my legs were becoming shaky. He sounded so calm yet there was a threat in his voice.

“It’s been a long time since Liz disappeared, Maxx, pero hindi pa rin siya nahahanap,” Axes said. “How could you… how could you live peacefully knowing someone died because of us?”

I bit my lip.

“Maxx… we… we put someone in danger! We… we killed someone!”

It echoed in my mind. Tears started to build up in my eyes.

“A-Axes,” I said. “We… We didn’t kill her, okay? We didn’t⁠—”

“If we didn’t, where is she, Maxx?” tanong ni Axes. “LIZ IS GONE!”

“THAT’S THE IDEA, AXES!” I exclaimed back. “Walang nakuhang bangkay. Wala silang nahanap. Hangga’t walang katawan na nakikita, hindi patay si Liz—”

“FUCK IT!” Axes exclaimed. “Are you gonna wait for a body to show up just to make sure she was dead⁠⁠—”

“STOP IT!” I shouted.

“Maxx, if we weren’t that curious for a skin, she won’t disappear—”

“I SAID STOP IT, AXES!” I shouted once more.

“WE COULD’VE INFORMED THE AUTHORITIES PARA MAGKAROON SILA NG IDEYA KUNG ANO BA ANG NANGYARI. BUT YOU WERE SCARED, MAXX! YOU ARE SELFISH⁠—”

“I TOLD YOU TO STOP!” I screamed.

It echoed in the whole room.

“We both know she wasn’t abducted, Maxx, you know that…”

Tears started to form in Axes’ eyes too.

“I know, Axes, okay?” I said. “Tingin mo ba pinapatulog ako ng konsensya ko? Do you… do you really see me as someone like that?!”

My tears fell when I remembered what happened to Liz.

“Do you know why I broke up with you?” Axes asked. “Yes, Maxx. I love you. Still. I feel the same. But whenever I look at you, I feel the remorse, the regret. Do me a favor, huh?”

Tears were forming more in his eyes while anger was on his face.

“Snob me. Don’t come to me. Don’t ever meet me. Don’t look at my eyes. Don’t talk to me. Act like we are strangers. Never look at my eyes again. Maxx, I love you, I do, but my anger is stronger than my love for you. I don’t wanna see nor hear anything from you again unless Liz is found, for our peace of mind. Until then, Maxx, I’m begging you to do this favor, okay?”

Axes looked at me and I can sense how much he hated me.

“MAXX,” he said. “FORGET ME.”

It murdered me.

Matapos niyang sabihin iyon ay kinuha niya ang bag niya at naglakad na papalayo habang ako naman ay naiwang nakatayo, hawak ang dibdib, at unti-unting pinapatay ng sakit.

That’s when the door opened and soon as Zero saw me, he sighed.

“I knew this will happen,” sabi niya at iniabot sa ’kin ang panyo niya. “I just gave you the privacy to talk but not the privilege to make you cry.”

Kinuha ko ang panyo at pinunasan ang mga mata ko.

“Who said Axes is a model student?” sabi ni Zero. “That man is a son of a bitch.”

Natawa ako nang marinig kung gaano siya kagalit. Ngumiti ito nang makita iyon.

“Okay ka na?” he asked, “Oh yeah, that’s a rhetorical question. You’re crying so of course you’re not. Sige, iyak pa. Ginusto mo ’yan, eh.”

I gave him a sharp look. I should be in pain right now but this dumb man made me wanna strangle him with barbed wires.

“Oh, whoa! Now you’re looking at me as if you wanna kill me!” pang-aasar nito. “Tell me, Maxx. Ba’t ’di mo ginanyan si Axes at siya ang minalditahan mo at hindi ako—”

“I WANNA TUNE IN AGAIN,” I halted him.

His eyebrows crossed. “What?”

I looked at him with eyes full of determination. “To the other universe⁠, Zero—I need to tune in again!”

Zero was taken aback.

“H-Hindi ba napag-usapan na nating… na ano… na delusions or hallucination or kung ano mang tawag sa buwisit na ’yon lang natin ang parallel world?”

“Zero, alam nating totoo iyon. We experienced it at hindi iyon parte lang ng utak natin!”

“For what?” he asked. “I mean, aside from the curiousity, is there even something important na gagawin mo ’pag napunta ka sa parallel world? Maxx, we are just putting ourselves at risk—”

“Meron,” sagot ko. “Hahanapin ko si Liz.”

“Find who⁠—WAIT⁠—WHAT?! Liz?!” gulat na reaksyon ni Zero. “’Di ba… ang sabi, patay—I mean, na-abduct siya or something? Bakit mo siya hahanapin doon?”

“Yes, ang sabi na-abduct siya,” sagot ko. “Pero paano kung wala naman talagang kumuha o nang-kidnap kay Liz? Paano kung… hindi pa siya patay at… kagaya ko, Zero, na nakapag-tune in sa kabilang mundo at paano kung naroroon lang si Liz at hindi lang siya makaalis?”

Zero’s eyes widened. “Maxx, malakas na ang tama mo…”

“Or kung wala na talaga si Liz, I’m gonna kidnap the Liz of that parallel universe and I will bring her here nang matapos na ang lahat! Pagod na pagod na ako, Zero. Hindi na ako pinatutulog ng konsensya ko.”

“For what exactly?” Zero asked

“If I got my best friend Liz back, it means matatahimik na ang konsensya ko. And if she’s safe, I would also get my love back,” I said.

Determination was in my eyes.

“I’m gonna get Axes back…”

Since that day, we started reading and studying on how we can tune in to that other frequency again.

However, weeks after weeks, wala namang nangyayari. Dahil doon, madalas na nasa bahay na namin si Zero at minsan pa nga ay nakatutulog sa kwarto ko. Akala tuloy ng nanay ko, may ginagawa na kaming kababalaghan sa kwarto ko at parati na niya akong inaasar. Little did she know, malayo iyong mangyari.

Whenever Zero and I’s skin touched, we were always close to having a fight and giving the massive “ew” face.

Axes, however, like a man of his words he was, never looked at me again since that day. I know, masakit, but there’s nothing I could do aside from tuning into that other world again and prove to him that Liz was alive.

Hanggang isang araw, sa sobrang desidido namin ni Zero na makapunta sa ibang mundo na ’yon ay trauma ang inabot namin.

“You said you experienced sleep paralysis before you heard that ‘tv-with-no-signal’ sound, right?” tanong ni Zero.

Tumango naman ako.

“At pagkagising mo, nasa ibang mundo ka na?”

“Yes,” sabi ko. “Zero, pwedeng bilisan natin? Baka dumating si mama, baka isipin n’on may ginagawa na naman tayo.”

“Ew?!” sagot ni Zero. “Going back, I have an idea. What if hindi iyon sleep paralysis?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“What if ang ginawa mo ay astral projection?”

My eyes widened. “Astral… what?”

“Astral projection,” pag-uulit niya. “It happens when your soul leaves your body—”

“WHAT?!” I exclaimed. “SOUL LEAVES WHAT?!”

“Your body,” sabi niya. “Umaalis ang kaluluwa mo sa katawan mo pero hindi ka pa patay. Kumbaga, iyong kaluluwa mo ay mag-ta-travel lang sa ibang dimensyon at babalik din kalaunan.”

“The hell?!” I exclaimed. “I did that?!”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Just a theory, though, maybe we could try?”

“Try what?” kabado kong tanong.

“Try that astral thing.”

“BUANG KA BA?!” tanong ko. “Paano kung may sumanib sa katawan natin habang wala iyong kaluluwa natin at nag-ta-travel?!”

“Nah,” he said. “Sabi nila, may naka-attach na cord sa katawan at kaluluwa natin kaya walang ibang pwedeng mag-occupy ng katawan natin. Well, unless, pumunta ka ng napakalayo at naputol ang cord. They say people who are comatose are like that.”

“Sabi nila, huh?” tanong ko. “At sino ’yang ‘sila’?”

“Physicist?” tanong ni Zero pabalik. “Someone who did astral projection before? No idea.”

“Paano kung trap ’yon?” tanong ko.

“Trap?” tanong niya.

“Oo,” sagot ko. “Paano kung ’yong mga nag-astral thing before na naputol ang cord at naligaw ay na-trap sa kung anong dimension man sila pumunta at may mga kaluluwa na nag-occupy na sa katawan nila at tuluyan nang inagaw ang katawan nila habang sila na totoong may-ari nito ay na-stuck na at hindi na makabalik?”

Zero’s eyes widened.

“At paano kung… ang rason kung bakit nila pino-promote ang astral whatever na ’yan ay para kapag nag-try tayo, kukuhanin ng mga stray souls ang mga katawan natin?”

“Oh, shit!” Zero exclaimed. “You’re right!”

It was a long hour of panicking and anxiety kicking in after we decided that maybe, we could try after all.

Wala e. Desperado na kami.

“So, how do we do that?” I asked.

“Hihiga lang tayo nang tuwid at dapat walang kahit na anong sound or ilaw na makapagdi-distract sa atin at dapat, hindi ka rin makatutulog. We will wait until our bodies felt something so itchy and we have to fight the urge because that’s our brain’s way to test if we are asleep or not. Kapag nawala na ang pangangati ay makararamdaman naman tayo ng mabigat sa dibdib natin at kailangan natin iyong hayaan and tada, our souls are already out of our body!”

Just like the dumb fuck that we were, Zero and I tried. We did. And we failed.

Why?

BECAUSE WE FELL ASLEEP.

As I opened my eyes, I saw my mom sitting at the corner of my bed.

“Mom…” I murmured and my eyes widened. “Nasa’n si Zero?!”

My mom smirked. “Oh, so you guys slept together again, huh?”

“Kadiri!” I exclaimed. “Bakit ba lagi niyo iyong pinipilit? Sobrang… ew!”

“I was just kidding, sweetheart,” she said. “Zero actually left a note. Here.”

I took the note.

“I went home. You snore so much.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I just dropped by to check on you. Luto na ang ulam, maghahain lang ako sa ibaba.”

Tumango lang ako at humiga ulit. Nang sumara ang pinto ay napatitig ako sa kisame ng kwarto.

I suddenly laughed. Imagine doing some astral shit and then you fell asleep along with the process. Imagine being that DUMB. Natawa akong muli at tinakpan ang mukha ko ng unan.

“Magkaibigang buang,” sabi ko at muling natawa.

However, my laugh faded soon as I heard something familiar—A SOUND OF TV WITH NO SIGNAL.

“Shit…” bulong ko.

As I sat back, I felt dizzy.

But then, I lost my hope when I realized the sound was coming from the radio in my room. I stood up and turned it off.

“Paasa,” sabi ko at ngumisi.

Akala ko pa naman, naka-tune in na ako ulit.

“KAKAIN NA!” I heard my mom shouted.

I sighed. Gusto ko na ulit mag-tune in. Gustong-gusto ko na.

“BUMABA KA NA, KAKAIN NA!” sigaw muli ni mama.

“MAMAYA NA, MA!” sigaw ko pabalik.

“XINE, BUMABA KA NA!”

I sighed hard.

“MAMAMAYA NA NGA SABI⁠—”

Beat.

What… did I just hear…?

“XINE, BUMABA KA NA DINE!”

I closed my eyes hardly and I opened it again.

Xine.

It echoed in my mind.

There was only one who person who called me that name and it wasn’t my mom.

“XINE, ANO BA!”

I gulped.

Damn…

Kumakalabog man ang dibdib ay agad kong binuksan ang pinto at halos manigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang makarinig ako ng asong tumatahol sa ibaba.

WE NO LONGER HAVE A DOG EVER SINCE TOBBY DIED…

With confusion rising inside me, I hurriedly went downstairs and there, my eyes grew bigger.

THERE WAS A DOG INSIDE OUR HOUSE.

It was a huge white dog.

Realization hit me.

It was my dog who died when I was 3!

IT WAS TOBBY!

Nang makita ako ay agad itong tumakbo papunta sa ’kin at dinilaan ang binti ko.

Anong nangyayari?

“Xine, halina’t kumain!”

My heart skipped a beat when I saw a woman carrying food and she placed it on the table.

That woman….

Nang tumingin ito sa akin ay ngumiti ito.

“Kumain ka na. Nangangayayat ka na, bata ka.”

I felt tears forming in my eyes.

She’s…

She’s my grandma…

ANONG NANGYAYARI?!

Wait.

My dog was dead, but he’s alive here. My grandma died when I was twelve but she’s also alive here.

WAIT.

WHAT THE—

DON’T TELL ME⁠—SON OF A BITCH!

My eyes grew even bigger. And suddenly, a smile curved on my lips.

I MADE IT!

I TUNED IN!

PART FIVE: CONQUERING THE TWO WORLDS

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.