Someone I'm Not

17 [pt.2]| There's Always Consequences

"So, where's is Mister Oasis- I mean, miss Greene?" Houdini welcomes Eduardus with a question. Eduardus instantly rolls his eyes as he closes the door behind.

"Where do you think she is now?" He answers him with another question before sitting on the wooden couch.

"Probably inside your pocket?" He then sarcastically answers back with another question that made Eduardus groan silently.

"You're seriously going to raise a question over the other, huh?" Eduardus asks with such annoyance. The fact that they've been enemies for so long makes him ask himself about the 'what ifs': what if they had a good connection? What if they're not like water and oil? What if they're best friends? But for some reason, he couldn't seem to envision himself being friends with him.

"Wow. Says the one who started the conversation with NO INTENTION of getting serious." Houdini replies as he made a thirty-degree turn to face Eduardus. Eduardus scoffs as he stretches his suit jacket lightly by gripping on its lapel to show his coolness.

"And you decided to ask me back with a question. How's that, hmm?" Eduardus pinpoints as he responds with a fake smile and wiggling eyebrows. This time, it was Houdini's turn to roll his eyes from him before slowly releasing a charlatan laugh.

"You know what, Eduardus? I am just SO HAPPY that you're still so calm at these times of your life. Should I remind you who I am?" He raises the question as if Houdini had an intention that he, Eduardus, should be afraid of. But then, Eduardus thought it wasn't the best time to show him that for the very first time, he felt uncomfortable with something.

"Well, maybe you're just a d*uchebag to me that so suddenly and suspiciously sent and made official for the goddess of justice, Goddess Dyke." He replies with a bit of anger starting to paint all over his face. His expected reaction made an advantage for Houdini, now knowing that what he said came out like more than just a reminder, but a threat. He smiles viciously as he leans forward, still retaining a reasonable distance between them, only their knees brushing off of each other.

"You know, Eduardus, one day we will both come to realize that we may be both scarcely two different people, but we have the same work, and that is. . . Well, to be used without any suspicion. Too bad I was the first to be open with it. . . How about you? When will you ever find out?"

They both stare at each other's eyes as Eduardus tried to find a hint that the man in front of him is just messing with him. But then-

'Why do I feel like he's telling me something that will be coming true?' he thought to himself that they didn't even notice the door swing open.

"Hey, guys! My sister and I are truly sorry to have kept you waiting!" Both of them hear Soroya's voice echo from a short distance. Eduardus still wanted to say something, but he pulls himself back from talking. A sense of fear creeps around his system as he watches Houdini turns his attention to her and stands up.

"Houdini? What the hell are you doing here?" Soroya asks with no hesitation, not caring what her sister will think about it

"Is that how you usually grey your guests, miss Green? Or was I the first one to be treated this way?" Houdini was calm and contained when he said that. And to Eduardus, everything moves at a languid pace, making him feel any weirder. Houdini then smiles as he extends his right hand for her to shake. Soroya then stares at it for a brief moment before grabbing his hand to hers, lightly shaking it for a fraction of time.

"I'm sorry, I'm just kind of surprised you'd come and visit me. But anyway, hi. It is SO NICE to see you." Soroya returns the smile by giving him a fake one, which he noticed instantly. They stare at each other as their hands continue to be in touch, together with the rising tension between them.

"Anyways, guys. . ." Eduardus and his thoughts were disturbed when he hears Vianne talk. The same reaction with Soroya and Houdini, all three of them turn their attention at her in unison.

"Yes? What is it?" Soroya asks immediately, not wanting the tension that's continuously building inside the house. Vianne then claps her hand before giving them all a small smile.

"I'm heading out, realized that I need to buy an ingredient for the dish I'm going to cook for dinner." She announces as she waited for any reaction. She even expected Eduardus to volunteer himself to join her, thinking that having an 'alone time' with him might clear a few more things for her to understand. She wants to ask about Houdini; she wants to ask why they both wear a suit when all they have to do is visit her sister; she wanted to ask what was Houdini's intention all along. Is he safe? Or a scream of danger.

But then, all he did is stare at her, which pained her for expecting too much.

"Okay, so I guess I won't be receiving any reaction. . . In going now, just make yourself feel at home, okay? Soroya will manage. Right, Lil sis?" She asks as she flashes forced happiness over at her sister. Soroya nodded in retort.

"Yeah! Yeah, sure. Just take care, sis. Call me when you feel that something is wrong." She says before Vianne nodded.

"Great! I'll just grab my purse from the room." She says before going straight into the room. The three of them just throw each other glances without saying anything, not wanting to be heard by her sister. When she's finally out, Vianne wears the black cap as she waves at them before heading out. As the moment comes for Vianne to close the door, Soroya exhales before slumping on the same couch where Eduardus is seated. Houdini sits back as he leans his back in the chair, still attaining that stance that would make the other think he's gay. But before Houdini could start, Soroya interrupts him by raising her point finger upwards.

"So, let me ask you one thing." Soroya raises the question, wanting to have an answer to her urgent concern.

"Sure, go ahead." He replies as he waited for her to talk. "I'm always ready for questions."

"Okay, if you say so. . . But are you THE HOUDINI that's mean, arrogant, think highly of himself-"

"Stop it right there, missy!" Houdini cuts her by raising his palm open in front of her face. "Is that how you think of me?"

"Well, it was my first impression so, can you blame me?" She asks back that made Eduardus laugh. Houdini glares at him before clearing his throat.

"Fair point. But all of the characteristics you've mentioned were-"

"True? Because I would certainly disagree if you will." Eduardus, this time, cuts him off. He's still chuckling from the rustic truth that rubbed off of Houdini's face.

"Whatever, Eduardus, but I'm just going to say yes. . . But it only applies to THE Houdini from the court. Outside the court of Justice? That Houdini is indisputably a very different person."

"Oh really?" He teases back that made Houdini want to reapply when Soroya noticed the mockery between them.

"Enough of you two! You guys aren't helping at all if you two keep this childish behavior. Understood?"

The two men were put to their own places when Soroya talks. They didn't reply for a second that made her repeat herself. "Understood!?"

"Yes, yes."

"Yes! You don't have to shout!" They reply in unison that made her nod.

"Great! Now, let's get down to business. . . Mister Houdini-"

"Just Mister H is fine." Houdini corrects. "That's what all the clients of any guardian should address me, so please. . . continue."

"Okay, let's get back to the top. . . Mister H, why are you here-"

"A bingo question for you, Mister Oasis!" He exclaims as he leans forward. Before he knows it, he pushes him lightly by the chest that makes her gasp for air, only to realize what he just did.

At that moment, Phoenix has detached once again from Soroya's body, whose head is now resting on Houdini's arm. Eduardus's eyes widen when he sees what he just did that made him want to attack Houdini already but seeing his intention with him pushing his client, Eduardus wasn't expecting what he's witnessing.

"But, it's too early! He's just been possessing Miss Greene for just a week!" He says as he stands up to have a better look at Phoenix.

"What do you mean? Early? What early?"

"He must have done something that might have triggered the already written present," Houdini replies to Eduardus's question, as they both disregard the fact that he's still there.

"And what could that trigger be?" Eduardus asks, still, his eyes are wide open.

"It could a place he has gone or something he ate to challenge his tongue when he wasn't able to change when he still possesses his own identity, it could be anything that might have created a new lane for them pen of destiny to write on. This could change his present."

"Change the present-" Phoenix tries to push himself inside the conversation but finding the right timing was a bit difficult to deal with at the moment.

"Then, does that mean he can manipulate the-"

"GUYS!"

The irritation in her tone to be treated invisible is enough for him to shout just to get their attention. And it worked.

"Can you please talk to me? Do you have to make me feel like I'm not part of the plan?" He speaks out that made them feel bad.

"I'm sorry, Mister Oasis. At times like this, clients don't actually care about what the conversation is about."

"So, what does it have to do with me, exactly?" He raises a brow that made Houdini and Eduardus stare at each other for just a couple of seconds before turning back to him.

"You're the second one to be interested in what we're going to talk about this sudden glitch," Houdini answers honestly. Silence fills the air for that moment before Phoenix asks again.

"How did this happen? What do you mean too early?" He asks directly as Houdini nods at Eduardus, giving his consent to do the talking.

"Client 100, this drawback we call the Gap Glitch, commonly happens two weeks after they start to possess a body because the first week would just be the adapting change or the stage where our clients would just try to figure out and just be comfortable with the new body they've just possessed, but when they still haven't felt the gap glitch before the first weekends, then their fate would most likely not be changed any longer."

"Meaning?" Phoenix gulps, not knowing if asking that would make him feel a bit better or not.

"Meaning that they'll remain dead until the mission ends. . . But then, your condition is different because it happened in the first week, exactly Saturday."

"So? What are you trying to say then?"

"What I'm trying to say is that this doesn't occur to most of our clients. There's only point one percent of possibility a client would come to experience this opportunity."

"But, I still don't get why this gap glitch on the fists week is any special than the others." She asks with such confusion she couldn't keep her mind straight. Houdini and Eduardus look at each other again before signing. Houdini leans forward but still maintaining a good posture. With a serious face and voice, he continues to talk.

"Mister Oasis, being able to experience this glitch could mean that there's a slight possibility that you could make adjustments that can change your present time. Since you came here, at this moment, which is just a few months back, this opportunity is a sign that could mean that YOU can help change your present.

" But?. . ."

"But that still depends on how determined you are on how willing you are to devote yourself to the fate that's written for you. Luckily, you've passed level one, which is the Gap Glitch. Now, you just have to prove yourself by moving fast to see how your killer is. And you've only had a few weeks to find out who."

"So, are you trying to say that I can still be alive when I finish this task successfully? Like, actual alive? No gunshot wounds?" Phoenix asks, feeling himself getting more and more nervous, and at the same time, the hope in her heart starts to flame determination.

"Yes.".

"But. . . Please tell me this is just a joke."

"Why would I joke out into something as serious as this? You know I don't do jokes, especially when it comes to me, just doing my job." He says that made Phoenix sigh in relief.

'Then does this mean I could till save myself from getting killed!?'

But before someone could answer his thought, Houdini looks at his watch, realizing that he had no much time left. At that moment, he decides to stand up to fix his suit. When he's done, he then turns to Eduardus who's eyes are already in him.

"Mister Oasis, could I take Mister Eduardus for a minute? We have an important discussion to talk about that DOESN'T concern you. So, would it be okay for you to use your room?" He asks as she's about to respond when he decided to walk towards the room without getting any reply. Eduardus follows with any question, knowing that what they're about to talk about is something serious that can only be secluded between them.

"We'll be right back," Eduardus whispers before walking past Phoenix. She nodded without asking what's going on between them.

But before Houdini pushes himself inside the room, he turns to where Phoenix is standing.

"Oh, and I almost forgot. . ." In just a snap of a finger, Phoenix feels a pull from his body that he feels familiar with. He jerks back into the sleeping body, making him gasp for air in a split second after.

As he realizes that he's already inside Soroya's body, he sighs.

"How many times would I have to beal with that whiplash?" He mumbles to himself before burying his face into his palms.