When Time Doesn’t Exist

Chapter 8

They were still waiting in the minimalist room. This room looks like where Lyn was in earlier but it is completely different. They are like on the other side of the world inside the mirror where they cannot touch their past nor future selves. Their past or future selves must also not introduce themselves to their present selves that they are from the past or future. That is also one of the rules when they might encounter themselves on the other side of the world. The clock is ticking and it was already 6:41 am. Four more minutes before 6:45 am hits when Lyn was supposed to look at her past self through the maze of glasses and mirrors. She was kinda bored waiting since they were sitting at the corner for a few minutes now. All that she could do to beat the boredom is to braid her long brown wavy hair that was currently on her face now. It was as long as a river and it flows down on her back.

“Something is off,” said Enjo as he went towards Benji. He broke the silence that was roaming around the room for a few minutes.

“Shh… let’s be patient,” replied Benji while not facing him and watching the long hand of his vintage watch moving.

Two more minutes left before 6:45 am his. Benji was busy talking to Lyn about the rules in meeting her past self. He made the explanations basic as possible so Lyn could understand what he was saying. While Benji was busy talking to Lyn, Enjo was worried and he can’t even stay still because something is bothering him. He could feel that something unexpected would happen anytime soon. While waiting for 6:45 am, Lyn was still braiding her long hair and she was not done yet since it was long. After braiding it, she plucked one strand of her brown hair so she could tie her hair and prevent her braid from falling apart. The strand that she received from her hair was too short so she put it away and she plucked another one. A minute before 6:45 am, she remembers that her past self would not notice that she was from the future so she has to act like a reflection from the mirror and she should look like what she used to be earlier. She took away the strand of her hair from her braid and loosens the braid to let her hair down.

“Alright, it’s the time!” shouted Benji to inform Lyn that she could go see her past self now from the maze of glasses and mirrors.

“Yay!” shouted Lyn back with excitement like a preschooler, who was picked up by her parents from school. She was a bit scared but she was also excited at the same time.

Lyn started to slowly walk to the entrance where she would see her past self and the maze of glasses and mirrors. Benji silently observed her, walking and ready to face her past self through it. They did this to her so she could learn the basics and common possible events that she would encounter throughout their journey. He was so happy that he met a friend, Lyn because she has the same vibes as his. When Lyn passed successfully entered the entrance, Benji wouldn’t have a chance to see and observe her. As Lyn saw the light blue eyes of hers from the past, she was stunned and she couldn’t even believe that she met her past self. It was so cool seeing her past self for the first time. Because of it, she was much more excited to also have a peek at the future even though it sounds complicated.

“Mom is coming,” said Enjo to his brother so Benji immediately went to Lyn and held her arm so they could travel to another place. “I knew something was off,” whispered Enjo to himself.

“Close your eyes,” said Benji to Lyn while holding her arms so they could travel together.

Enjo also went near them so he could cover Benji and Lyn at least. That is when Lyn’s past self saw Enjo’s silhouette. Benji and Lyn already teleported to the other place where it was strange and Benji was not familiar with. Since he was shocked and in a hurry, he didn’t notice where he teleported. Benji feels like he has been here before but it was also unfamiliar to him at the same time which is really strange for him. They were in a place where a tall tree was standing and staying strong in the center. The reason why Benji felt like he has been here before because there are a lot of natural trees still standing when he was still a child. It was kinda rare to find a natural tree these days since they were running out of natural resources. Benji looked at it closely and he touched it so he could determine whether it is a natural tree or a man-made one. Unexpectedly, the trunk of it is fragile and sensitive so it means that it really is a natural tree.

“I never thought that there would still have a natural tree standing today,” said Benji while still admiring the beauty of the tree.

“Is it rare to find a natural tree here these days?” she asked him while she was looking at Benji’s eyes that are full of admiration and appreciation.

“Very rare,” he simply said to her. “It’s impossible that we traveled back to the past because I can’t control and leap through time,” he continued.

After a minute passed, Benji thought that it is already over and Enjo already explained everything to their mom. Enjo was really good at explaining and confronting their mom since he is always confident and he is also good at lying or hiding something for their sake. Also, he closer to their mom while Benji is the opposite of Enjo. Their mom always sees the good sides and strengths of Enjo while she always sees the bad sides and liabilities of Benji. Even though Benji knows that he was treated differently, he still loves his mom and he still forgives her every time she did something that would hurt him and his feelings. The happy and carefree Benji is different in front of their mom because everyone has a history and past. He knows that it has something to do with his parents.

“You are crying,” said Lyn to him while he was still looking at the natural tree. There are a lot of memories that were unlocked when Benji looked at the natural tree.

“I’m sorry,” apologized Benji to her. He just couldn’t take back his tears while reminiscing about the past that he has.

“Don’t be sorry,” she said as she looked at him awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

“Oh, okay, sorry,” he replied while wiping off his tears that were falling down.

Lyn looked at him with confusion with her eyebrows furrowed because he kept saying sorry to her even though he didn’t even do or say something offensive. Suddenly, their attention quickly went to the truck that was not so far away from the natural tree. It was shaking and it seems like there is something in there. They didn’t even notice it at first.