Her Future
By Yaj Imagination
If I could travel back in time, I would've treated your better. But now, you're just a memory, that I kept on holding into.
How should I put this? I’m a hopeless romantic?
Nah! It’s not the proper way of introducing yourself. But yeah, I’m a hopeless romantic. The name’s Angelo Justice and pretty much not the type of guy that is famous among people.
Not a cutie or not the talented one. The only good thing about me is that I’m honest… though sometimes that honesty isn’t really helping. Like the time I confessed to someone about my feelings. Yeah, it’s the most idiotic thing I ever done.
Why?
First of all, I confessed yet I was still like a classmate to her. We’re not close to be called close friends. And now, things are getting awkward. Even my classmates were teasing us, only making things worse.
Now, I can’t even talk to her… Wait… Did I even have a proper conversation with her? Now that I thought of it, we weren’t really that close that we’d chat to each other.
Class had started and everyone’s already here, except for her. And like always, she’s running late for who knows why.
“Hey, are you looking for someone?” Charlie asked.
“Ah, no one…” I excused.
“Don’t be like that… Staying in love in her isn’t good for you. You know there are a lot of girls in the world. Don’t waste your time in a single person” Couleen said.
Again, the words I always hear whenever I get dumped. Isn’t there anything new? I’ve been hearing those words since high school that I’m getting sick of it.
There nothing new on what was today’s event. And as usual, it started to get awkward when she arrive and yet, I couldn’t stop myself from taking glimpses of her. She’s really pretty if you ask me. She has straight long hair and it was a bit blonde. She’s wearing her eye glasses and her eyes were as beautiful as ever.
If only those eyes would look at me with love, it would be the greatest moment of my life. But what the heck, it is impossible. Winning a million peso is more possible than winning her heart.
But to be honest, even winning a lottery isn’t possible for me yet I still couldn’t help myself from falling for her.
Imagine, the girl you like, having a conversation to a friend and her smile as well as her gaze is like she’s in love. I couldn’t even look at it for a second. How I wish she would smile at me like that. That smile that looks like full of love.
I excused myself from class, reasoning for my fake asthma. But truth be told, I’m actually in pain. It’s like asthma but deeper. It was my heart aching. It’s killing me… it really is. But instead of going to the clinic, I made my way to the swing at the campus. It was also near the clinic so I guess it’s like I still went there.
It was broad daylight and an hour left before our class session end. Sure, skipping wasn’t a good idea but what should I do? I feel suffocated in there.
I was looking at the sky as the swing swings back and forth. It calms my heart when I do things like this. Yeah, these childish things like; swinging in a swing, lying in patch grass, sleeping under a tree, and so much more. It helps me somehow in calming my mind.
I was so focus in my leisure time that I didn’t realized someone was approaching. “So you’re here”
“Oh, it’s you” I replied.
“I thought you’re going to the clinic?” Anna asked.
“I AM at the clinic” I replied.
“No, I mean IN the clinic. Inside it” she said.
“Well, this place is the clinic for me. It calms me and heals me somehow”
“It's about her again, isn’t it?” she asked.
“It’s always about her. She always makes me anxious and I feel terrible every time. You could say that I’m jealous when she’s talking to someone else”
“Well, that’s life… Sometimes, we get what we want and sometimes... we don’t” she said.
I suddenly stopped swinging and sit still. “I know…” I don’t know what I should say. I want to justify that I really like her but… I feel like I’m just being obsessed about her. “But why does it had to be so hard? Why do I have to be in pain?”
“Hey, if you don’t feel pain then you’re not in love at all” she replied as I look up in the sky, thinking, yeah, I guess I’m really in love to her.
Just a couple of seconds, a shooting star passed. “Did you see that?”
“Saw what?” Anna asked.
I closed my eyes and said “I wish I could be the one for her”. As I opened my eyes, Anna was staring at me.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Making a wish in the shooting star that just passed”
“Angelo, I was also looking at the sky. I didn’t see anything except for this clouds and pigeons” she replied.
Really? Then, what did I saw? An illusion? “Doesn’t matter, I still wish it would happen”
Anna went back to the classroom but I choose to stay a bit longer here. Contemplating on my own thoughts and world, daydreaming of the impossible.
The timing was perfect by the time I went back to the class. It was also the time the class session ended. Almost all have already left and some chose to stay and play games. I didn’t stay and went on my own way. It’s not that I’m not close to everyone. It’s just… I am not capable of being an awesome company. I don’t know how to be an interesting person and I guess, being with them bores them.
So, I just went outside the school campus and looked for a place to eat before heading home. I have no classes with them this afternoon. Oh, I forgot to mention, I’m an irregular first year college student. I failed some subjects and now I’m paying the price. I should have done something but hey, no one can master the art of drawing in just a couple of days. It was the practical courses that I have failed, not the academic ones.
Street foods are okay, I guess? They lack nutrients but they sure are tasty. The only problem is… when there are too many customers. I find it hard to go against a crowd of people, just to buy some street food. So, every time a scene like that happens, I just abandon the thought of buying something to eat.
But today, there weren’t a lot of people so I think I’ll have one.
I was standing by the stall where I bought the street food. It was so hot that I was sweating like crazy. I wiped my sweat in my face then continued eating. It was delicious… why? Because it tasted like pancake and maybe it really is pancake but they made it like a small round shape pancake to be more resourceful. As well as making more money. But hey, it’s tasty that I think I’ll have another one.
As I was eating the second batch, I saw her. Mika Moonlight. The pretty girl in glasses and the person I’ve had a crush on.
But something was strange… I mean, it’s broad daylight but she looks like she was walking under the rain. Her clothes were wet as well as her hair. And she looked more matured. I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She wasn’t really the type of person that would look at me, but now… she’s looking at me, directly in my eyes. Then I notice those liquid falling in her eyes. It wasn’t raindrops; it was tears from her eyes.
Everyone in the street was looking at her and I’m guessing they are also thinking of how she ends up showered when the sun is up. And has she been in that place all this time? If so, then why didn’t saw her a while ago? She’s just five meters away from me and I’m sure it’s really her.
It didn’t take long before she suddenly ran towards me. I don’t know the reason but I was thinking… She might slap me in the face or scold me for something. So, I suddenly closed my eyes and wait for something to happened. I even dropped the food I was eating.
I felt it… I felt it alright. Not the pain of someone being slapped in the face but the feeling of someone hugging me. Yeah, she hugged me. I don’t know why but I feel her pain somehow. She’s crying and her grip towards me was getting tighter.
I couldn’t say a word for I admit… I don’t want her to stop hugging me. I don’t want her to leave me. But seeing her in pain… I couldn’t take it. I spoke words I didn’t know why and how I was able to say that.
“It’s ok… don’t cry now. I’ll always be here for you, I promise”.
Chapter 1:
Wish upon a star
Chapter 2:
Close, or maybe not
She was soaked when I found her. Her clothes were wet and so was her hair. When I realized that she might get sick because of it, I started panicking. I grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her to the classroom where their next class should start, and rubbed her hair with a handkerchief I had until it dries… but I didn’t know what to do with her soaked clothes.
“Do you have any spare clothes?”
She nodded in response and took out her P.E. uniform from her bag then went to the comfort room. Strange… why is she carrying those? It’s not P.E. day today… But what gives? I’m really glad she brought it with her.
As she came back, there’s something I noticed. One, she looked a bit matured. I mean, it’s like she aged a bit. I think she might have gotten a bit taller too. Second, her hair… it is pure black now. Just this morning, I was sure it was partly blonde. How come this happened? Something isn’t right…
She’s still silent, making me think that I might have done something wrong. And I hope not cause I’m already dying of embarrassment right now. How was I able to say that to her? The words, I won’t leave her and will stay by her side. I’m turning red and my hearts pounding hard. This really is a sudden moment. Maybe the wish I made did come true and now it’s happening.
“I’ll just head to the clinic” she said.
“Okay… do you want me to go with you?”
“It’s okay. I think I can go there by myself” she replied, brushing her hair to side.
“I see…” I said. I guess… that wish ended pretty quickly.
“Thanks Angelo…” she said then left the room.
It didn’t take long for the others to come. One after another, all of my classmates enters the room. Wait, why should I be here? I don’t even have classes this afternoon. Even the others were asking why I was here.
I pretended that I left something but there was this someone who saw me at the school entrance a while ago.
“So, what really happened?” Nicole asked.
No one was near so I told her what really had happened. I told her what had happened to Mika but there were doubt in her eyes. She even thought I was making up stories. But when she asked Jena and heard her story, I started to have doubts about myself.
They said she was with Jena the whole time and just went to the canteen to buy extra snacks. Then who was I with? Am I being haunted? Am I getting paranoid?
“Angelo?” Jena asked.
“Maybe it was just a dream. I must have fallen asleep” I laughed. But what did I just saw? What’s happening?
“Speaking of Mika, she’s here” Nicole said.
Then I saw her entering the door. This time, she looked the same this morning. Partial blonde hair and she’s wearing her school uniform, not the P.E. one. And it struck me. I am really going crazy.
“Could you… not mention what I just said about her earlier?”
“Sure…”Jena and Nicole replied.
I was leaving when I heard Jeremy talked. “Hey Mika, I thought you were soaked?”
“What are you even talking about?” Mika asked.
“Oh yeah, I thought you changed into your P.E. uniform?” Anna asked.
“Really guys? Don’t joke around like that” Mika complained.
“We’re not joking. Ask Angelo. He was the one who brought you inside the school” Jeremy said. She suddenly looked at me then looked away just as fast as she looked.
I don’t know what’s happening but I guess I’m still not paranoid. There were people who saw us together but there were also people who were with her at different location.
Thinking of it just makes my head ache. I went and left the room, knowing that I have no longer had anything to do there. I thought of going to the clinic, yeah, the usual one. Now really is the time that I need to go there.
While I was walking, I noticed that I was being followed. So I walked faster but I suddenly stopped because I can’t believe what I am just seeing.
“Hey, what did you say about…?” Even Mika, who was following me, couldn’t believe it. “No way…”
“Yeah, even I couldn’t believe it”
“But how? How come that person looked like me?” she asked. Another Mika was sitting in a swing where I usually hang out. Mika was curious but couldn’t approach her double. She was somewhat afraid that it might be a doppelganger or a ghost.
Out of nowhere, she grabbed my hand, firmly held it and approached that person. Mika wasn’t complaining but I know she’s feeling awkward about me holding her hand.
As we approach, I was full of questions like who are you and why are you here? I wanted to ask those questions but instead, I asked… “Are you okay?”
Chapter 3:
She's not her but I still care
“Are you okay?” I asked. I thought that I would be scared by her but I felt her sadness that I couldn’t help to worry.
“I’m okay… I just… can’t believe I’m here” she replied.
“Who are you?” Mika asked her double. She wasn’t mad, but she was a bit frightened that her grip in my hands is tightening.
“I am you… from the future I guess…” she said.
“From the future?” I asked. Is it even possible? Sure, I watch sci-fi movies but it, actually happening in the real world… Is not what you say, Normal.
Mika asked her a lot of questions about herself, just to know if she’s lying or not. And amazingly, her double was able to answer all of them. She even told us that there will be a black out. And in just few seconds, a transformer explodes just outside school premises.
Now I’m convinced, she really is her future self. But why come back? Why does she have to go back? Does she want to change something in this time? And when you look at her, sure she matured a bit but I don’t think she came farther in the further. She could be just from a month later or a year.
“Why did you come back? It’s not that I don’t want you to be here. I just want to know why?” Mika asked.
“I didn’t go back in time on purpose… I was sent here…” She replied.
“Sent?” I asked.
“Anyway, even if you’re from the future or not, I still can’t let myself be in misery.” Mika said. Hey, even I was in pain whenever I see you in that position. Mika released my hand and crossed her arms. “So, why are you sad? Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Like I said, I don’t want to see myself like that. Come on, were going somewhere”
We went to a fast-food chain outside the school to eat. I guess food makes the two of them happy. Maybe I should take down notes… Wait, what am I even thinking of being here with them? I’m a bit short in budget, and I’d probably be only able to buy a one set of lunch.
Yeah, fast-foods are expensive for me.
“What should we buy?” her future-self asked. I was able to smile for she was back to being the way she was. A bit childish but still cute.
“I don’t know… you pick?” Mika asked. I don’t think she even had enough for the both of them though, judging by the look on her face.
“Okay, Three sundaes and three burgers” Her future said in the counter. The both of us we’re shock. How are we supposed to pay for that? Maybe we should call the others. You know, for extra budget?
In just few minutes, Mika from the future approached us. “Sorry, I forgot I only have a budget for one person” Mika said.
“It’s okay, I already paid for it. So, where do we sit?” Her Future-self asked.
“Really? How? Did I win a lottery in the future?” Mika asked.
“No silly, we worked part-time jobs” she said. “Really?” Mika asked. “Common, let’s find some empty seats” She cheered.
Upon sitting, Mika again asked another question. “So you said WE worked part-time jobs… By mean WE you mean?”
“Yeah, Angelo and you… I mean me…. Oh, even I am starting to get confused” she said.
What? We worked together? How? We weren’t that close. Sure, I wanted something like that but… Is it really possible?
“Are you sure it’s was Angelo?” Mika asked. Hey, that’s mean…
“Yeah, he’s Angelo. But I always ignored him while working” she said. Now that’s even worse…
We got unto a conversation that we forgot that Mika here, still have classes. “I forgot. I got to go… I’m really late in my class. Really late” Mika said.
“Don’t worry, the professor isn’t coming.” Her future reasoned.
“Really?” Mika asked.
“Of course, because I’m here” We didn’t realized. Ma’am Elena was here at the fast-food chain and she’s standing behind Mika from the future.
“What are you doing here?” Ma’am Elena scolded.
“We’re just taking lunch” Mika excused.
“Lunch eh? You expect me to believe that? So your lunch is burgers and sundaes?” Ma’am Elena asked. Mika just bowed and didn’t know what to say.
“Ma’am, I don’t think you’ll believe us if we told you the real reason…” I said.
“Why would i? You skipped school and hanged around in a fast-food chain? You’ve got plenty of time. Well then, why not we add more works in your projects?” Ma’am Elena said.
Mika was starting to get depressed and why not? Extra task means harder projects.
“Can you please hear us out first?” I asked.
“I’m listening…” Ma’am Elena said.
“Hey, Mika... why don’t you greet our professor?” I asked.
Our teacher was a bit confused but then when Mika stood up, I mean her future-self stood up, our teacher was shocked.
“How… What is this?” Ma’am Elena asked.
“Good afternoon Ma’am” Future Mika greeted. She couldn’t believe what she just saw and even thought that she was her twin sister but our teacher knew that Mika doesn’t have a twin. Instead of being scolded again, she sat down and listened to our story. At first, she wasn’t convinced but then again, what couldn’t convince her? The evidence is already here, talking to her.
In the end, we couldn’t decide where we should leave her. I mean, I can’t take her with me. Of course I wanted to but I can’t say it to them. It would be… creepy. A guy taking a girl home? No way, I still have respect to girls and besides, I have my siblings with me in the dorm.
Mika herself can’t take her with her for it would really shock her family, literally. So, we had no choice but to let our teacher take care of her for now.
As she was leaving with ma’am Elena, the two of us were left. “I think something happened to me in the future” Mika suggested.
“Yeah, you changed…” I replied. She looked at me like I was annoying then looked away.
“I’m going back to school” she said then left.
Alone again huh… But today was a turn of event. I was able to talk to her, the two of her, present and future. But why is she sad? What had happened to her? I wish I knew why. It was like she was avoiding that part when we were talking to her a while ago.
Interlude 1:
How I got here
At this very moment, I’m in our professor’s house. It was big and beautiful… come to think of it, it’s my first time here and now, I’m living here with her for the time being. Even the guest room she told me where I would be staying was amazing.
“Do you need anything else dear?” She asked.
“Oh, I’m fine. Thank you ma’am for letting me stay here” I replied.
“It’s ok. I can’t just let you kids by your own. And from now on, call me auntie. I’m going to introduce you as my niece from abroad just for your safety” she said.
Our teacher isn’t really that bad, she’s just strict when it comes to academics and school stuff. But this place really is amazing. It’s almost looked like a mansion though smaller.
I remember a while ago. They asked me what happened to me. Why was I here… I don’t know how I got here. I couldn’t tell them what happened to me. And for some reason, I think I know why I am here. Because I wished for it…
Earlier in the future
The whole class was lively as ever. There were people playing with their phones with online games, some were in a jam session just outside the classroom and the others… asleep. And as for me, I was with the people who were having a jam session. But I couldn’t help crying whenever they play love song.
“Hey, don’t make Mika cry” Anna complained.
“Sorry about that, are you ok?” Lyndon asked.
“Well, all songs are made for love” Millard said.
“Just shut it Millard” Karen complained.
“It’s ok… I’ll just go to the comfort room” I excused.
It’s been a week since he left. But I still can’t believe it. He left… why did that day had to happen? Why?
The sky wasn’t very clear and the clouds looked upset. It could be raining anytime soon.
“I guess I’m right, you really are here” Anna said. She was breathing hard… did she just ran?
“Oh, you’re here…” I murmured.
“When you said you’d go to the comfort room, I had the feeling that you’d go here” she said.
“He used to hang out here” I said.
“I know… he always does” she said.
It felt awkward that no one spoke for a moment. It was getting colder and the wind was getting stronger. “I think we should go inside now. I don’t think is just an ordinary rainfall” Anna said.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked. She was confused on what I just said. “Did I go too hard on him? Am I the reason why he left?”
“No, that’s not it…” she reasoned. I did not know why but I suddenly ran away.
I was running while the rain was pouring hard. I was so soaked that it was starting to chill. But my heart was the coldest… it was so cold that I can’t even think why I was crying. Maybe I couldn’t accept that he’s gone. Maybe I don’t want him to leave. I wish I could see him again.
I closed my eyes knowing that my heart is in pain. I imagine the time he never left even though I ignored his presence. I was so in pain that I accidentally thought out loud.
“I wish I could see you again”
Out of nowhere, it suddenly became hot and the presence of the storm was gone. As I opened my eyes, Angelo was there, standing five meters away. I thought that this was just a dream. So I ran towards him then hugged him. It felt so real… Am I really dreaming?
Their present
I must have fallen asleep… Huh? I’m really here. In the past and their present… there’s still hope. That day mustn’t come. That day he died…