World to Come

[ Manila, Philippines// 7 P.M// Monday, March 12, 20XX] It was an ordinary day for everyone, even for me. There was a busted water pipe in my area that caused flooding and I went to work looking like a wet chick, there was another delay on the LRT, got blasted by my boss for spilling coffee over important documents, and my long time friend from another department came and consoled me during our last break before going home, he even offered to go home with me, but I refused. I think I'm soon going to lose this job, so on my way home I surfed the internet for possible job openings and didn't bother to give up my seat to the ladies standing up, gender equality, please. No, it's because I'm tired myself. The LRT stopped in the middle of the track once again after a couple of stations, another delay. It was a normal occurrence now. The bunch of passengers started to leave their respective cars, but I didn't, like hell I would. I'm not dumb to go in the sea of people, it's rush hour, I would just tire myself out waiting for a jeepney ride home. There were only a few people left in my car; a sleeping kid with his mom, an elderly lady, a police officer, a couple of students and me. It was peaceful, no one was making a noise apart from the people outside who grumbled and complained about the unfortunate event, as if it doesn't happen almost every rush hour. I went back on my phone when I saw a notification about a game. Wait, a game? What is this all about? [ Player, you have been chosen to take part in our exciting adventure. Continue? Yes or No Warning!! Choosing option "No" may result in a penalty] What nonsense is this? I didn't register for any games. Did my device get hacked? I looked around just to see if I could already get out of the car, but weirdly, everyone was looking at their phones. *Ping* *Ping* *Ping* [3 minutes left.... Please decide, or else...] The hacker is threatening me somehow, annoying. "Mama!? Mama!? Where are you!?" I looked, wait, the sleeping kid is now alone. Where did his mom go? Did she leave him? Really? I approached him and said, "Hey, kid. Do you not have a phone on you? Maybe you can call your mama." I just feel bad for this kid, he's trembling from nervousness. He looks hesitant to talk to me. Well, good, don't just talk to strangers, well done, kid. "U-uhmmm..." "Hi kid, I'm PO1 Santos, I'm a police officer, see. Do you know the contact number of your mama? I can help you contact her," the police officer said. "Uhm, I know, I have a phone on me, but, she doesn't like calls, she only replies to me through text. She gets angry when I call her," the child said. Is that even reasonable? I guess, if she's at work, but he's her child though. "But, what if it's an emergency like this, you're alone here, it might take time for her to go back here and fetch you." I said, feeling really bad for the child. "I'll just have to wait." He said, like, really? I thought this kind of mistreatment to kids only happens inside a telenovela. Am I in one? Susmaryosep. "Okay, see if you can open your phone, then contact your mom, I'll talk to her, 'kay?" Police Officer Santos said. He looks big, like big big, you know? He's tall and buff, like hell I'd be crushed with those arms in seconds, even his shirt and pants are working hard. He also had dark hair, cut to a clean hairstyle, fit for a police officer. and his well defined features looks really great with his tanned skin He looks reliable, no wonder the child can trust him enough to be comfortable. "Okay!" The kid said cheerfully. It looks like PO1 Santos got his trust, that's nice. I looked at the phone again and just pressed the option "No" because I won't be playing any games offered to me without even knowing where it came from. Hmm, it's eerily quiet outside, is the crowd gone? That's cool, I can get out of my car now. I looked back at the other passengers and they're still staring at their phones, pressed something and continued to stay inside the car. I wonder what they chose? Well, none of my business, I just want to go home and look for job openings, 'cause it's better safe than sorry. I didn't even get far from my car when someone called me. "Kuya!! Kuya!!" I looked back to see the kid while being carried by the police officer running towards me. "What, why did you leave the car? Your mama might not be able to fetch you if you leave your spot." I said. "Well, there was something on the screen of my phone and I pressed the yes button but I didn't read it carefully, but now the contacts and other apps are gone." I looked at PO1 Santos, as if asking, what about you? "Well, I also pressed yes, just cause I like to play mobile games, I got too excited and didn't really think that it would delete all of my apps." Really? Susmaryosep, I took my phone out of my pocket and gave it to PO1 Santos. "Seriously PO1 Santos? Oh, here, you can use mine, but the call time might be limited since my load is almost running out." "You can just call me Leander, or just Santos," he said while grinning a little from the embarrassment of his thoughtless decision earlier. "Uhm, sir.." Oh yeah, he doesn't know my name. "Buwan, just Buwan is fine, don't laugh, I know, it's ridiculous." "Ah yes, uhm, Buwan, your phone screen is also inaccessible," he said as he gave my phone back to me. [Player chose option "No" Time left before the penalty 00:59] Then the countdown started. Wait, what? What's happening, I can't understand. Am I actually dumb? "Kuya Leander, look, it says to pick your favorite thing, I like stuffed toys and animals! How about you?" The child said and excitedly tapped his phone. Leander also looked at his phone, "I like protecting people and my friends." He said with a smile on his face. [Player chose option "No" Time left before the penalty 00:20] Wait, what is the penalty? Will my phone explode or something? Right then, I heard a voice counting. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The penalty is death. The voice from nowhere said, and immediately I heard people screaming, some were ahead of us, some from below the platform, some even from the building by the elevated track. What's happening? Fire? Earthquake? Is the world ending? Zombie apocalypse? "Kuya, behind you," the child said and pointed behind me. I ignored him and looked around, there's water rising from below, and the people are either drowning, getting attacked by sea serpents and some are fighting with their powers. I did a double take and some were flying, some has fire coming out of their hands, and some had weapons appear out of nowhere. What is actually happening? A shadow loomed over me, it was huge. I looked behind to where the child was pointing at earlier and froze. It's a giant sea serpent, stretched out to the sky looking like it wants to devour the moon above us. Bakunawa. The myth itself is in front of me. "Buwan we have to run! BUWAN!!" Leander shouted at me but I couldn't move my feet, I'm frozen in place from fear and amusement. It's in front of me, the one responsible for the eclipses, well according to myths. "BUWAN!!" Leander shouted once again, louder, then the Bakunawa heard Leander and looked at me, as if familiar to my name. It stopped chasing after the ever so beautiful moon and started to dive towards me. Ah, another eclipse, but this time, I'm one of the seven moons the Bakunawa wanted for itself. "BUWAN!!!" "Kuya, I see mama, MAMA!!" Those were the last things I heard before everything went black. I'm glad I actually didn't accept my friend's offer. I hope he's okay. --------++--------- It's so hot!! I woke up dripping with sweat from everywhere a sweat could be. Is it hot to be inside a Bakunawa's stomach? But all I see is the crusty white ceiling that I know too well. I got up, looked around and I'm back in my room. Did I unknowingly went home yesterday and dreamt of that weird night? I don't know, all I know is that it's so hot!! I turned to the electric fan, it's set to 3 but it's not running, I look at the power source, it's plugged in. Brownout. Nice. I got out of bed and into my living room, well, more of a living space really. I looked at the scattered paper works in my all-in-one dining table, coffee table, and work desk. Looks like I already redid the document, since my boss told me to redo it because I spilled coffee all over it at work. I went to the kitchen and made myself coffee because there's no use of forcing myself to sleep in this heat. And, maybe I'm still half asleep because as I walk towards my living area, I tripped and spilled my coffee over the papers. Deja vu? But, wait! Those are important documents for later! I looked for my laptop bag and opened it to redo the document, again, and I looked at the screen as it reboots. [ Sunday, March 11// 3 A.M] Wait, what? It's supposed to be Tuesday morning now, because I'm pretty sure the events before I went home were real. What exactly is happening? I stared at the screen until my eyes just got strained. This is impossible, it's supposed to be Tuesday now, because my Monday felt so so real or is it just my mind playing tricks on me? Yeah, maybe that's it. I just ignored all my thoughts and went to the bathroom, I took a shower just to relieve the heat, because, I'm saying this again, it's so hot. After all that, I shut down my laptop, opened up my windows and went back to sleep. I woke up to, you guessed it, being sweaty. It's now peak noon, so it's hotter than before. I got out of bed took a shower then actually sat and did the needed documents again, and this time, I read it properly and saw a lot of errors. I mean, even if I didn't spill my coffee on the original one earlier this morning, I would still get reprimanded by my boss. I spent the whole day just chugging away coffee and fixing the documents needed for tomorrow, then went back to sleep completely forgetting everything that happened in my dream, even if everything felt real. Since I actually slept a little earlier than normal yesterday, I also woke up earlier and I took this opportunity to go to work a little earlier. As I was walking along our street, a water pipe bursts. Is this actually real? I didn't get wet, it happened after I passed by it, is it because I went out earlier than in my dreams? So, while it was only a little bit of water on the road I quickly made a run for it and went straight for the LRT station near me. I got off with time to spare so I went to the print shop just outside the business complex where my company is at. I got my USB out and printed the documents needed for later, and just to be extra careful, I bought 2 plastic envelope, I put the documents in one and put the other inside of the empty envelope upside down. I'm being extra careful but the coincidence of things happening the same way it happened in my dream is scary. I got to work and just what happened in my dream, I spilled coffee over it, but luckily, it actually is in a plastic envelope this time so everything's safe. Now, I'm more confused, even if I got praised by my boss about the documents, I still don't understand everything that's happening. I'm pretty sure I experienced this already, I went through this already, it's not just a simple Deja vu. Every detail happened, I couldn't prevent it from happening but I was able to avoid the consequences of the events, I was able to at least be earlier, later or extra careful. The only thing left is what will happen on the way home? If I remember correctly, I died from the Bakunawa that appeared in my dream because I chose the "No" option on the game ad on my phone. I felt chills, I became nervous as the meetings finished, as I finalized the paper works I had for the day, as I chat with my workmates. I can't get this thought out of my head. "Hoy, 'Wan! Look at you, you look so stressed, did you even sleep last night?" ah, there's my long time friend. "Uy, Chan. I actually slept early last night. I'm just very nervous for no reason." I answered, Chan has been with me since high school and we've been working for almost 5 years now in the same company, though we're in different departments. He's a bit taller than me, maybe about a few inches, has blonde hair, I'm actually surprised the company let him keep it, and has fair skin, so fair his cheeks are even rosy. He has defined facial features and long eye lashes, yow who is this guy again? He's supposed to be my friend, well he is, my best at that. But, overall, he looks like a foreigner, but in reality he's actually pure Filipino. He's also very laid-back but gets very serious every now and then. "Nervous? You? I never thought I would hear those two words in one sentence. What's up? Care to explain?" He said jokingly. I sighed, and he turned serious. "I don't even know if you'll believe me or not, because I don't even believe myself." I mean to be honest, who would believe me? I'll just sound crazy that I might actually end up inside Mandaluyong. "Hey, I'm your friend, and I've seen and heard way crazier things from you, of course I'll believe you." he said assuring me, I looked at him and told him what I saw in my dreams, or at least that's what I want to think. "Wait, so everything that happened today, you saw in your dreams, isn't that just a very detailed Deja vu?" he questioned me. "Well, I'd be happy if it's just some detailed Deja vu, which I've never heard happened before. What I'm very worried is the part where I have to go home, I feel chills whenever I think of the Bakunawa in my dreams swallowing me whole, it felt too real." I said and hugged myself. Chan patted me in the shoulders and said, "Well, if that's what you're really worried about then I'll go home with you today, there's nothing left for me to do anyways, unlike other days." I don't know, I was extremely relieved in my dreams that I actually didn't accept his offer. What should I do? Maybe, if he's with me, I can actually know what he picked and make sure that we both survive. Sure, let's do that. Maybe we'll end up differently this time. "Yeah, sound fine to me. I'll see you later, Chan." I said and went back in to our building. "Sure, see you!" He said with a smile on his face, I'm really lucky to have a friend like him. After a few hours of working, I actually forgot about the nervousness of going home, and now that I'm actually walking to the station with Chan, I'm starting to feel chills again. Everything went fine aside from the occasional chills that I get. "Hey, 'Wan, you okay?" He asked, I started feeling really nauseous now that we're near the platform. Are we going to be okay? I'm so scared. We had to stop a few minutes to wait for my nausea to wear off. "Let's go, I'm fine now, thanks Chan." When we got to the platform, it was 6:59 P.M already, in my dreams I got here way earlier. This is a change. The train finally arrived and we got on the cars, I wanted to avoid the car I got into in my dreams, but I have no way of knowing aside from the people I'm with in the car, so I have to be inside already. I saw familiar faces, the kid, his mom, and Leander, they're here. I wanted to tell Chan that we have to change cars, or at least in my mind, changing the cars we're in will change something in the events that will happen. But, unfortunately, the cars are full and there's no more space to move into. We stayed there, not even half-way far from the platform we boarded on, when the train stopped, just like in my dreams but this time, it's not after a few stations away but just a few feet away from the station platform we got on. The passengers started to complain and grumble just like in my dream and they manually opened the doors just like before. And as they exited the cars, the same people were left on ours. "'Wan, are we not getting off? Looks like there's another delay." Chan asked. I didn't answer I was waiting for my phone to ring a notification. I'm getting tensed as the time goes by. And as if on cue, it rang, right on 7:02 P.M My hands trembled. I slowly faced the phone to me and saw the same red screen as in my dream. [ Player, you have been chosen to take part in our exciting adventure. Continue? Yes or No Warning!! Choosing option "No" may result in a penalty] No, this can't be happening, maybe this is still a dream. Maybe I'm just hallucinating. "Ch-chan, can you read what it says on the screen?" I asked, he it read to me out loud, I was not wrong. "Wait, the mother of this kid, where is she?" I asked, I noticed the mom was once again gone. I can't remember her face, but I'm very sure she was still here until earlier. "Oh, she said she just wants to go to the restroom, I actually ran after her when I saw her leaving her child." Leander said. I looked at him, and felt relieved. Another change. "Sorry, I didn't mean to butt in your conversation. Also, are you okay?" He said and offered me his hand for assistance. "Yeah, I'm fine thanks." I said and grabbed his hands. "Chan, look at your phone and press "Yes", okay?" I said. He nodded and I looked back at my screen. This time, I'll make a different decision. I pressed "Yes" [Well done, player! You chose the correct choice this time! A reward will be given after all the players have chosen.] It's mocking me, so everything that happened last night was real. The realization hit me, but this time, maybe we'll be able to survive together after all. "What's this, is this the one you've been talking about 'Wan? It looks like a virus of some sort." "No, Chan, it isn't. Just press "Yes" and don't be stubborn" I asked a little annoyed, because he can be seriously stubborn when he thinks he is correct. "Nah, I won't press it." he said and put the his phone back in his pocket. [Player who have chosen to come along our adventure, Pick what you like the most. Others: _______ Warning: Please, be reminded that your skill will be permanent but upgrades are available. So, choose wisely] -----------------END of CHAPTER 1---------------------- Buwan- the mc's name literally means moon in Tagalog. Bakunawa- a mythical sea serpent in Filipino mythology. Originating from the Bicol and Visayan region, this creature is know to be the reason for lunar eclipses as it likes to devour the moon. There are many version of it's story, but I will mainly follow one specific version of it. Inside Mandaluyong - it's an old Filipino joke, there's actually a well known mental asylum in Mandaluyong, that's why people from Mandaluyong always say "Taga-Mandaluyong ako, pero sa labas"(I'm from Mandaluyong but outside) joking that they're from Mandaluyong but outside the mental asylum, and when our mc said he might end up inside Mandaluyong, he might end up in the mental asylum located in Mandaluyong. Kuya- the Tagalog word for older brother/cousin or in general a man older than you by a few years. Susmaryosep- It's an expression showing frustration or disbelief that you have no other resort but to call to the Holy Family Jesus the child, Mary the virgin mother, and Saint Joseph for help or guidance.