How it When to This?

Elsewhere

Chapter 2

Summer, 2027 — 11 Years Earlier

They lived in two different cities.

Two different lives.

And they had absolutely no idea the other even existed.

---

5:00 A.M.

Eight-year-old Rhone was still asleep, hugging his mom while snoring peacefully.

Meanwhile...

Seven-year-old Scalia had already woken up beside her best friend, Amber.

"Hey, wake up," Scalia said, nudging her. "Go brush your teeth. Your breath stinks."

"Ugh... ten more minutes..." Amber groaned before pulling the blanket over her head.

Scalia just rolled her eyes and went to take a shower.

---

5:40 A.M.

Rhone?

Yeah...

He's still sleeping.

Scalia smiled as Amber's mom placed breakfast on the table.

"Aww, thank you, Auntie."

"Amber!" her mom shouted. "Wake up! Scalia's already done. You'll be late for school."

"Okay..."

The three of them ate breakfast together.

---

5:55 A.M.

Rhone was still snoring...

"Bye, Auntie!" Scalia waved. "Don't worry, I'll wash the dishes when I get home."

"Bye, Mom..." Amber yawned while rubbing her eyes.

Scalia looked at her.

"Wait... you didn't even take a shower?"

"So what?" Amber shrugged.

The two girls laughed as they walked to school together.

---

8:40 A.M.

Rhone wasn't in bed anymore...

Yeah.

Now he was sleeping on the sofa.

At school...

"Scalia! Sam has a crush on you!" one of her classmates shouted.

"Hahaha!"

"Eww." Scalia rolled her eyes.

"Tell him to take a shower first."

---

12:30 P.M.

Rhone finally woke up.

"Maaa! My socks are still wet!"

"So what?" Irish, his cousin, replied. "Auntie's not here."

Rhone grinned.

"I guess I'm not going to school today."

"Hehehe."

Irish immediately chased after him.

"You i***t! Get back here!"

"HEHEHE! BYE!"

Rhone laughed as he ran straight toward the nearest computer shop.

---

Scalia and Amber had already arrived home.

Scalia immediately started doing the house chores while Amber went outside to play.

"Okay, Auntie. I'm done!"

"I'm going outside now. Bye!"

She ran out the door.

Amber's mom smiled.

"Aww... this poor little girl."

As she cleaned Scalia's school bag, something caught her eye.

A medal.

She gently held it in her hands.

"...My goodness."

---

12:55 P.M.

Rhone was busy playing games.

"RUN!"

"HAHAHA!"

"You're so bad, Rhone!"

The entire computer shop was filled with yelling and laughter.

Just then...

Scalia walked into another computer shop in her own city.

"Hi, Auntie!"

Maria smiled.

"Oh, look who's here."

"Our little bully."

"Hehe."

Scalia laughed before looking around for someone to play with.

Her eyes landed on one of the computers.

"Whoa..."

"Is that GTA: San Andreas?"

She walked over.

"Hey."

"Want me to put some cheats on it?"

She smiled mischievously.

---

3:00 P.M.

"HAHAHA!"

"YOU SUCK, RHONE!"

"You lose again!"

Rhone stared at the keyboard with trembling hands.

"...Dang."

"My time's up."

Meanwhile...

The kid Scalia was playing with had started crying.

"HAHAHA!"

"My stomach hurts!"

The kid pointed at the screen.

"Why did you give me six stars?!"

"Wasted!"

"I'm telling my mom!"

Scalia couldn't stop laughing.

"Go ahead."

"I don't care!"

---

Rhone's City

Rhone noticed someone sitting in the very last row.

A man wearing a black hoodie.

He wasn't playing games.

He wasn't watching touyube

He was doing... something else.

Rhone slowly walked over.

"Whoa..."

"That's so cool."

"What is that?"

"Is it real?"

The hooded man didn't even look at him.

"Get away, kid."

"It's not for you."

Rhone's eyes widened.

"What?!"

"That's awesome..."

The hooded man finally spoke.

"Shut your mouth... and just watch."

Rhone couldn't take his eyes off the screen.

"Can you teach me where you're watching that?"

The hooded man chuckled.

"hehe of course this one is pretty basic"

"Hmm but you're too young to understand this"

"...But I can teach you something else"

Rhone nodded.

"Okay..."

---

Meanwhile... In Scalia's City

Scalia also noticed someone sitting in the very last row.

Another man wearing a black hoodie.

He wasn't playing games.

He wasn't just watching videos.

He was doing... something else.

Scalia walked over and frowned.

"Hey, old stinky dude."

"What are you doing?"

"What are you even watching?"

"Go home, kid," the hooded man replied.

Scalia tilted her head.

"Why is that guy skinning someone?"

The hooded man looked at her.

"Shut your mouth... and just watch."

Scalia crossed her arms.

"Yeah, okay, fatass."

"But you better teach me that number thing you're doing too."

The hooded man chuckled.

"You're too young to understand coding."

"...But I can teach you how to get into the dark web."

Scalia immediately stepped closer.

"No."

"Teach me both."

End.