Connected: Fragments

Arc 1 : Chapter 3

“Do you want to Jump from Past or Future?” At may dalawang button sa baba nito na Past and Future. Makalipas ang isang minuto ay naging blanko itong muli.

It puzzles me. What is the purpose of this device? Why do I have this thing with me? How can this thing works like movies? Muli itong nag notify.

“To you want to bind this “machine” to yourself?” May yes at no nanaman ito sa baba ng dialog box. Pinindot ko ang yes at may sumunod na warning mula sa tablet.

Rule #1. This “machine” cannot be seen by others if binded to you. You cannot CHANGE anything in the PAST or you cannot bring anything from the FUTURE. It will also take a new form once binded.”

Rule #2. Any thing from to the past or future will be destroyed once you return to the present.”

Rule #3. You cannot talk to yourself from the past and future. You cannot also prevent any event happening in the past or future, doing so will create something in the present. Any event that will harm the user or will lead to death, the user will be rendered as ethereal form in past or future and will be instantly warped back in the present.”

Rule #4. You can talk to others from the past and future. They will lose the memory with you after you warp back to present. You can also become invisible if you pick it on the dialog box after setting the date and location of time travel. 60 Minutes of staying in the past or future is equivalent only to a minute in the present. You can only time travel once a day.”

Rule #5. If you changed something in the past or future you can create a time paradox. It can change something in the preset such as; you not existing anymore. You only have 60 minutes of staying at the past or future. Lasting more than 60 minutes will automatically warp you back at the present. However there is an exception on this rule. You can exchange your “3 months of life” for another 60 Minutes stay on the particular event. Every 59th Minute of staying, a warning will be given to the user.”

 “Tap YES if you agree with this terms. Or tap Not Now for another trial.”

Pinatay ko ang tablet sa nabasa ko. Pag iisipan ko muna ito. Mukang wala din naman akong magagawa kung babalik ako sa past o pupunta sa future hindi ba? Pero malaking bagay to ah. Pwede ako mag god mode sa exams! I mean jump from the future then see the exam answers then back to present ganerns! Pero sabi sa Rule #2 na kahit anong bagay ang meron ako sa past o future ay mawawala kapag bumalik ako sa present. Well, bagay lang naman hindi naman sinabing information.

Kinabukasan, agad kong tiningnan ang tablet sa bag ko. Nandon pa din ito. Naka flash pa din ang Terms/Rules and Regulation at ang mga alok dito. Nag tap ako sa “Not Now” Button at bumalik ito sa Date Settings. Binalik ko ito sa bag ko at tinago ko ang bag ko para hindi makita ni Aeira o ni Laureen. Dahil tulog pa ang dalawa sa sofa ay mag luluto ako. Binuksan ko ang ref at nabigla ako sa nakita ko. Puros alak lang ang naka stock dito. Nag picture ako ng loob ng ref nila Tita Paine at sinend ko ito sakanya. Naka kuha lang ako ng laugh emoji na reply at “Inom lang ng gusto! Get wasted Aeina!” nag reply naman ako ng “Tita I want to cook pancakes. Ano to? Pancake beer flavoured?” Hindi ko pa naibababa ang cellphone ko ng mag notif ito. Nag reply si Tita Paine. “Why not!? I’ve tried it at London and it was good I think? Your Tito Jheck hates it though.” Dahil hindi na ko maka tiis ay nag video call ako kay Tita Jeanne. Malapit lang naman ang unit nito at nakay Laureen ang susi ng unit niya.

“Tita JL, do you have something on your ref? When are you guys coming back?” Tanong ko kay Tita Jeanne.

“I think? I dunno. Last time I check puro beer eh. Laureen hates our ref kasi puro raw alak. Go ahead and check the ref, you can also get some food at the freezer baka kasi wala kayong makain diyan at halimaw si Eisenhoward. Tomorrow ang balik namin. May pupuntahan pa kasi kami sa isang event sa Camarines Sur.”

“Sige Tita. I gotta go. Tulog pa si Laureen kasi.” At pinakita ko ang video feed ko habang naka nganga si Aeira at Laureen na tulog.

“I’ll just tell her you said hi.” And Tita JL waved goodbye along with Tita Paine, Tito Khalil, Tito Jheck and Tito Lanzelot.

Nagpunta ako sa kabilang tower at pumasok sa unit ni Tita Jeanne. Kinuha ko ang ilang frozen foods at de lata na tuna. Ano kaya ang nangyari sa kasal nila ni Tito Khalil? Parang gusto ko tingnan ang nakaraan nilang lahat. Para sakin kasi gusto ko pa silang mas makilala bukod sa we’re not blood related kasi they still treat me like a real niece. Curious lang ako sa past. Kung saan nag honeymoon si Mommy and Daddy, sina Tita JL at Tito Khalil, sina Tita Paine at Tito Jheck, mga ganong bagay ba. Pero naalala ko ang terms ng tablet. Rule #3 “ You cannot talk to yourself from the past and future. You cannot also prevent any event happening in the past or future, doing so will create something in the present.”

Pabalik na ako sa unit nila Tita Paine pero dumaan muna ako sa isang milktea shop para bumili ng para sakin at sa dalawang kasama ko.

“Two wintermelon, one cookies and cream and one macha. All 75% sugar please. All grande. Thank you.” Salita ko sa nag ta-take ng order. Binigyan ako nito ng reciept at pinag hintay sa dulo ng counter. Five minutes at binigay na ang order ko. Pero bago pa man ito maiabot sakin ay may humawak sa kamay ko. Nabigla ako dito kaya naman parang pumalag ako sa pag kaka hawak niya ng kamay ko.

“Aeina? Are you perhaps Ms. Augustos Aeina?” Tanong ng lalaking medyo hawig ni Daddy.

“What if I am? What now?” Irita kong tanong.

“I finally found you. Care to chat for a minute?” Tanong niya.

“No I’m busy. I gotta jet.” Sabi ko na medyo iritado.

“Where can I find you later? I need to talk to you. We have a mission.” Pabulong na sinabi niya.

“What? Mission?” Halos manlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.

“The tablet. I also have one. We have to find someone in the past. Some info also regarding you and your sister will come to light.” Mahabang sagot niya.

“Okay. Here’s my digit. 094540659xx, here’s also my iCloud lnnnk22xx@xmail.com text me or message me.”

“I will. I can be anywhere for you.” Tugon niya.

Nagpaalam na ako sa naka encounter ko. Malapit na ako sa unit ni Tita Paine ng naka salubong ko si Aeira.

“I thought, you left us for some guy.” Pabiro niya

“I don’t have someone I fancy, you idiot. But I met someone who looked exactly like Dad.”

Pumasok na kami ulit ni Aeira sa loob ng unit. Naka ligo na silang parehas.

“Here, have some milktea first while I cook.” At inabot ko sakanilang dalawa ang milk tea nila.

Bacon, Omelette, Sweetened Ham, French Toast at konting rice ang niluto ko para saming tatlo ng biglang dumating si Eisen.

“Hey bros!” Bati nito saming tatlo at nakipag high five. Namumula ang muka nito.

“Hey. Let’s eat?” Tanong ni Aeira sakanya.

“Nah! I gotta sleep.” Pag tanggi nito habang palapit sa table namin.

“This looks good.” At kumuha ito ng french toast.

“Yeah it’s good, masarap katulad ng nag luto.” Sabi ko.

“f**k off Aeina.” Sagot ni Eisen at Aeira ng sabay na natawa naman si Laureen.

“Maybe, if you stopped dressing like a guy, then you’ll be a great woman. I think.” Sabi ni Eisen habang papunta ng kwarto nito.

Kinuha ni Aeira ang phone niya at may tinatawagan habang kumakain. I pressume si Daddy ang tinatawagan nito. Si Aeira kasi ang tipong gustong gusto ng outing pero gusto agad umuwi dahil na “mi-miss” na nito si Daddy. Ganon silang dalawa ka close. Padabog nito binaba ang cellphone.

“Dad didn’t picked up?” Tanong ko.

“No! I’m calling Skye! Not dad, pero miss ko na si Dad.” Sagot niya naman.

“What? You wanna go drag later evening?” Tanong ko sakanya.

“Oo. I want to race with her. I’ll be betting my whole week worth of allowance for this race.”

“Ohhh! I’m betting on Skye. Fifteen Thousand for Skye!” sabi ko.

Dalawang taon lang ang tanda namin kay Skye. Anak siya ni Tita JL. Katulad namin, nahilig din ito sa Car Racing. Sobrang spoiled ito kumpara samin dahil sa lola niyang kilalang artista. Dahil illegal ang Drag Racing, gabi ito ginagawa.

“So where’s the location?” Tanong ko kay Aeira.

“Mindanao Avenue and Visayas Avenue Bayan.” Sagot niya habang naka titig sa phone.

“Withraw lang ako ha. Wag kayo aalis. Kanino gagamitin mong car?” Tanong ko sakanya.

“Yung Ford Carrera GT ko sa Welcome. Kukuhanin ko mamaya, dadalin ko pa sa Mechanic ko para ma tune up sandali, baka mag Grab na lang ako papunta. Mauna ka sa venue tapos tawagan mo ko. Si Laureen sama mo na din.” Bilin nito habang nag ta-type sa phone niya.

“Opo Maam.” Lumapit ako dito at binatukan ko ito ng mahina. Na natawa ito.

Nag notify ang phone ko at binasa ko ang message dito.

“Hey Aeina this is the mission guy. Can we meet today? Anywhere is fine.”

“Hey Mission Guy. Yeah sure we can. How about at Ali Mall?”

“Sure. Meet you at Dairy Queen. My treat. Bring also the tablet.”

“Thanks. Will do.”

Nag withraw ako sa ATM malapit sa Ali Mall para pang pusta mamaya sa karera. Nag tungo ako sa 3rd floor ng Ali Mall para hanapin si “Mission Guy”. Nauna ako dumating dito sa Dairy Queen kaya naman nag text ako sakanya na nandito na ko. Walang limang minuto ay dumating agad ito.

“I’m sorry earlier, nakalimutan ko mag pakilala. I’m Dominique Knight.” At nakipag kamay ito.

“Aeina Beatrix Augustos. Nice to meet you.”

“So what’s up? Fill me up?” Tanong ko dito.

“You see here. I haven’t binded yet my tablet, I wasn’t sure what mission this is, pero sabi nung nag bigay nito sakin ay may ipapa hanap daw ito satin na tao sa nakaraan na kaylangan ko din muna na makilala ang certain person na nag ngangalang “Aeina Beatrix Augustos”, ikaw daw ang may alam kung saan tayo pupunta, you see, sa Nueva Ecija kasi ang location ng pinapahanap niya. Galing ako sa future, and I really placed that tablet inside the unit of someone that is very close to you.” Paliwanag niya ng mabuti.

“So you want to go at Nueva Ecija? Then we will find someone there? I have no clue who that is.” Tugon ko.

“But I have a clue. You see here, may aksidente nangyari about 18 years ago. Your Dad, Mom, and their friends got caught up on it. The code she left me was “Moonlight’s Shadow.” Kelangan natin makita kung pano ang aksidente at sino ang may gawa ng lahat nito.” Paliwanag  niya ulit.

“Is that a person we’re looking for?” Tanong ko.

“People. Three of them. Maybe that Moonlight Shadow code is a name? I dunno. Kaya ikaw ang gusto isama ng maker ng “Machine” na ito ay ikaw ang malalapit sa mga tao, that was caught up on the accident.”

“I don’t even have a memory of my childhood since I frequent hospitals, like Mom.” Sagot ko sakanya habang kinakain ang Cookies and Cream.

Nag usap pa kami sa mga posibleng taong hahanapin namin. Isa sa mga ito ay si Tita Mavis Nana. Bestfriend ni Mommy since nag move sila Mommy sa Nueva Ecija.

“Why don’t you bind the “Machine” already? Para hindi na maging sagabal sayo?” Tanong niya.

Out of the blue ay bigla ko na lang sinabi sakanya ang

“Why do you looked like my Dad when he was a Teenager?”

“Whoa there Ms. Augustos!” Nagulat na salita niya.

“Look.” At pinakita ko nga ang picture ni Dad nung bata pa ito kasama si Mom. Sabi ni Dad ay nag triple date sila nila Tita JL when Tita Mavis took the photos.

“Maputi ka lang sakanya and Dad looked tougher than you? Para kang mapipilayan kasi kapag nasuntok ka? I dunno. Guess we have to ask my twin to punch you to know. Haha.” Dagdag ko.

“But your twin loves your Dad more than anything else. She can lose anything she has just not him. Right?” Tanong pa niya na parang kilalang kilala niya kami.

“How’d you know that? She hides it very well when someone’s around.” Halos mangiwi ako sa impormasyon na binigay niya.

“I told you. I can be anywhere.” Sabay tawa ng mahina.

“Oh s**t I have to go. We have a race later. I’ll call you I guess? Don’t worry I’ll bind the “machine” later when I got to the unit.”

“Don’t bet on Skye. She’ll lose this one on your sister. There’s someone who will bet Five Hundred Thousand on Skye. Go bet on your sister about the same. She’ll win it.” Payo pa ni Dominique.

“Is that so...” Halos humaba ang nguso ko.

“Also sa Visayas ka na mag punta wag na sa Mindanao. Mag kaka hulihan sa Mindanao Avenue later. I’m telling you this kasi I have some exception sa Rules ng “machine”.

“Okay? I guess? Sige. I’ll tell Aeira about that too.”

Nag paalam na ako sakanya at naka balik sa unit ni Tita Paine ng maabutan ko doon si Tito Jheck.

“Hey Pumpkin. Nasan ka kanina?” Tanong niya agad habang nag mano ako dito.

“May pinuntahan lang To, si Tita?” Tanong ko sakanya.

“Na kina Mommy sa Batasan dinala si Aurora. Umuwi kasi si Dad. I mean ung Papa ni Paine.” Sagot nito habang aktong parang kakain.

“I have to go Tito. Where’s Aeira?”

“She just left. Sa Visayas Bayan na raw kayo mag kita. What business you have there?”

“I’ll be betting Five Hundred Grand on Aeira hahaha!” Salita ko habang kinukuha ang Knapsack ko na bag at pinindot ang “Yes” sa tablet at kumislap ito at naging isang singsing na kasya sa Thumb Finger ko.

“Just don’t get caught or else yari ako sa Daddy niyo.” Sigaw nito mula sa kwarto habang nag bibihis ako sa guest room.