Above Heavens

Fifth Glitch

V A U G H N

I know I'm more than 30 minutes late in my morning class. It's already 8:34. I was running in haste.

Napuyat ako kagabi kakabasa ng mga theories about time travel. Multiverse, at kung anu-ano lang na may kinalaman ang Extra Sensory Perception.

When Candary DM me, I knew it!

Maybe is it that possible to meet our future selves?

I used to call myself 'Anak ng Science' 'cause I refused to be labeled as God's child. LOL.

But it doesn't mean that, I'm Einstein.

That I can understand what's going on.

Damn!

It gives me headache.

I gasped with relief nang dumating ako sa classroom. Wala pa ang prof.

"Vaughn, nako late." Bungad sa akin Rai. He's playing an online game oh his phone.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Rai na hindi man lang siya binati pabalik.

So Lady Luck favored me today huh?

Those thoughts didn't left my mind.

Kahit ako sigurong Mechanical Engineering ang course, hindi ako gagawa ng time machine. Hell yeah it's freaking impossible. Sa lahat ng SciFi movies na alam ko, pabalik o 'di kaya naman papunta sa future ang pagta-travel.

I can say that I already confirmed what's happening when Candary messaged me. LOL I never met her these past few days. Who the hell will pretend that he's me? Clone? And why would he do it?

But I need to re-confirm it later. I need to talk to Ezplasa s**t. We need to talk. We both experienced meeting those prankster.

"Pre, nag-review ka na?" Ibinaba ni Rai 'yong phone niya. Well, I'm in deep thought.

"Uy pre!" Siniko na ako ni Rai. The train of thought suddenly vanished.

Damn we have a long quiz in our major subject but I didn't study last night.

Shit!

"Vaughn-Vaughn! Bakit 'di ka pumunta sa birthday ko?" Bungad sa akin ni Vil pagkapasok ko palang sa classroom. It's ten minutes before our class will start.

"Ano? I think you love Ary na! Naiilang ka noh! Ayiie!" He teased. Hanggang makarating ako sa dulong seat kung saan may bakanteng arm chair nakasunod siya.

"Have you seen her?" I asked Vil. Bahala na sa iisipin niya. Curiosity gets the best of me.

"OMG! You miss her na? Grabe si Ary haba ng hair. Wait I'll text her!". He took his phone out from his pocket.

"'Wag na." Tsaka ko ginabayan pababa ang phone niya sa armchair.

Saktong paglingon ko sa pinto ay ang pagpasok naman ni Candary.

"Ary! Dito ka na!" Tawag naman ni Vil. Ge gestured his hand on his left side-pertaining to the empty armchair beside him.

Ezplasa smiled at him and quickly sat on the chair.

"Hi Vaughn!" She greeted me. Mariin ko siyang tinignan.

Ito naman si Vil, sa pagitan namin ay abot tainga ang ngiti. He even clasped his hands as if he's praying for something.

"Llo." Isaid in monotone.

"Grabe naman ang sungit mo Vaughn-vaughn!" Vil rolled his eyes, while Candary stifled her laughter.

Until one of our classmate stood in front. She have a pixie cut hair but I'm not really interested with her name. It's hard for me to remember names. Lalo na 'yong 'di ko kausap.

"Guys!" Nakuha niya ang atensyon naming lahat. She's like a pabibo kid. I can only remember how active she is during our recitations. Kahit walang sense ay sinasabi.

"Mag-ol kayo sa Google classroom. Sabi ni Sir 'di raw siya makakarating ngayon. Urgent meeting daw."

Everybody starts murmuring except me. Tuwang-tuwa naman ang iba. Some are disappointed. Sayang pamasahe.

We also checked our phones.

"Pero may iniwang activity! Expanding-universe-theory-"

Binasa naming lahat ang nakasaad sa post announcement ni Sir. Ah, experiment.

By threes.

"Ah so bahala raw tayo sino groupmates naten." She continued.

Akala mo naman hindi namin naiintindihan 'yung announcement. She annoys me.

"OMG!" Vil held my left hand and Candary's right hand.

"Kayong mag-jowa na groupmates ko ah!" He winked both sides. Trying to look cute.

Kung sa bagay wala naman akong masyadong ka-close. Sa klase na 'to, o kahit saang klase.

"Sure!" Masiglang tugon ni Candary. Hindi naman ako kumibo.

"Ano Vaughn? Okay lang ba sa 'yo." She asked. I still remained silent.

Tinatamad akong magsalita. I'm saving my energy.

"Ay ayaw sumagot crush ka talaga oh! Okay silence means yes!" Binasa ni Vil ang instructions na ibinigay ni Sir. Monday next week pa naman 'yon ipapasa. Dalhin daw sa faculty. Wala naman din kaming dalang mga materials ngayon.

Most of our classmates left the room after finding their groupmates.

It's time to talk to her. Mas mahabang orad mas mainam.

But Vil is here.

I gave Candary a meaningful look. Habang nakasukbit na ang bag ko sa kanang balikat.

"Uh! Oo, oo." She got what I meant.

"Vil, sorry una na muna ako." Pagpapaalam niya kay Vil habang inaayos ang bag.

"What? Wala naman si Sir ah?" Naglagay pa siya ng cheek tint. He made a sad look.

"Oh kaya nga, may aasikasuhin lang." She felt awkward I can sense it.

Nauna na akong lumabas ng room. Ayokong ma-issue sa kanya.

I sent Candary a message earlier. Sabi ko sa library kami mag-usap.

I headed to the library. Buti na lang at malamig dito. Usually, maraming nakatambay.

"Huy! Sorry nag-CR pa me." Candary pulled the chair facing me.

"Alright. I'll be straightforward." I cleared my throat. "Hindi ako 'yong kung sinumang na-meet mo." I sighed. I don't know if she'll believe me.

"Huh? Nung Monday? Nagso-sorry ka. Tapos kahapon sa-sabi mo galing ka sa future. Tapos bigla kang nawala tapos nung 'di ko malamang tunog. Arggh!" She caressed her temple. Probably, her mind right now is full of questions.

"Okay. Hindi rin naman ikaw kamo 'yong na-meet ko sa bookstore? The one asking me if I like her. It totally looks like you. Mas mahaba lang ang buhok. That's why I'm asking you if you had a haircut."

"Huh?" She's now bewildered.

"Wait. Let me finish first. That's why I want you to say sorry on me. I thought you're pranking me. I even stalked your-" Ugh. Bigla kong naalala 'yong aksidente ko siyang na-follow.

"Ano?" Nakunot na ang noo niya. Nakasalong-baba siya gamit ang dalawang nakakuyom na kamao.

"To check if you have a twin sister, or a sibling that looks exactly like you. Pero wala." At last, I finally explained that thingy.

"Wala akong kapatid. Only Child."

"Then the day before Vil's birthday, I saw you in our dormitory. Sitting pretty in my bed."

"What? Baka sitting lang walang pretty. Hehe joke. Uy! Ako pupunta sa dorm mo?" Pinanlakihan niya ako ng mga mata. Nagtinginan naman sa kanya ang ibang estudyante sa biglaang lakas ng boses niya.

"Calm down. That's when I knew that you're not her. I asked Vil to send me a video. Nakita kita roon. So who's the girl that likes to trespassed now. Still you, the future you."

"Fu-future me? So totoo ngang may future tayo? I mean, am, magic ba 'to o ano? Ibig sabihin-" As if she's slowly getting the point.

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos dahil alam kong iisa lang ang naiisip namin ngayon.

"Yes. I met the future you, and you met the future me." I directly blurted out.

Her jaw almost dropped. Kahit ako ayaw ko rin naman paniwalaan. This is not freaking happening. But the feeling? I'm half convinced. Am I?

"Akala ko nababaliw na ko eh! Alam mo bang nung bago mawala 'yong kamukha mo may malakas na tunog at liwanag ang nan-destruct sa mga tao?" So she also experienced that thing?

"Yeah It also happened in our dormitory when you trespassed. Ah, I mean the Candary older than us."

"So ibig sabihin, dalawang beses na nating nakita Ang isa't-isa kung gano'n pala. Hays, ano ba ang nangyayari?" She caressed her head again and took her phone out from her pocket when it suddenly beeped.

"Wait, 'yong Best friend ko na-nasa clinic daw." Nahaluan ng kaba ang kaninang puro tanong niyang mukha.

Napadukmo na lang siya sa sobrang pag-iisip.

"Do you want to know what's happening?" Iasked though the answer is obvious. Stupid Vaughn.

"O-oo naman! 'di 'ata ako patutulugin nito noh!"

"Okay fine. Puntahan mo muna 'yong kaibigan mo. She needs you right now. Let's meet to the city library am, when? 'Yong mahaba sana oras mo?"

"Why library?" Takang tanong nito.

"To read some paradoxical shits and summon the demons sige." I sarcastically responded.

"Sa Sabado. Bago tayo pumunta kila Vil para gawin 'yong activity. May dalawa pa 'kong quizzes at take home activities kasi eh."

I know she wants to discover the truth. Pero 'di naman naming pwedeng pabayaan ang acads.

"Okay. Saturday then. 9:00 AM" Ako na ang nagbigay ng oras. Tumango-tango naman siya.

Paalis na siya nang lingunin akong muli.

"Vaughn, ang sabi ni Vaughn the second, may kailangang ayusin sa hinaharap." And then she walked in hurry vanishing from my sight.

So the future her told me that something bad will happen because of me. And this Stupid future me, told her that there's something to be fixed in the future.

This is getting interesting yet stressing.