Chapter 13: Defective

JULIAN

My parents have always told me—and truly believed—that our ancestors were geniuses. They claimed that our family originally came from Europe. A European couple who, at some point, moved to this country, where I was born and where our family has lived for generations.

But now, I seriously doubt it.

Because what the hell?! What is wrong with this so-called teleportation ability? Is this really my family's gift?

The teleportation was defective. It created an error again!

I need to calm myself down... For someone like me who has never been the most patient person, I seriously have to calm down and think!

The first time I time-traveled, I met Noelle in high school.

But what the hell is this now?! Why the hell have I turned into a kid?!

I was truly bewildered.

I wanted to at least talk to my grandmother, but she and my grandpa had gone abroad for a vacation. When I asked my mom, she immediately dismissed me and told me not to disturb the old couple. I sighed.

So I had no choice but to go back and save Noelle—because time is running out.

Maybe I lost my focus. Or maybe I missed the timing. Or I unknowingly envisioned the wrong place? Damn it! That's probably why I ended up traveling even further back in time... to when I was still an elementary school student!

What the heck...

"Julian! What are you doing?! Are you slacking off during practice?!"

Napalingon ako.

And when I saw him—when I saw Coach—my very first coach...

Bigla na lang akong napakilos. I ran toward him, and I hugged him tight.

I almost couldn't believe it. Coach is here! He's right in front of me again!

In the future, he was no longer with us...

Maaga kasi siyang nawala... dahil nagkasakit siya noon.

There was a time in my soccer career when I lost all motivation. And that was because I had just lost Coach. I was probably mourning. At bata pa ako noon. I was just a little brat who didn't want a new coach to teach him—because his coach was gone.

Isa rin siguro iyon sa mga dahilan kung bakit naging aloof ako sa iba, o kung bakit naging masungit ako at bihira na lang mamansin. Maybe, unconsciously, I didn't want to form another bond with someone... only to lose them again.

And so, I just focused on soccer—and nothing else.

"Coach?" My voice wavered as I looked up at him, still holding on to his shirt.

I almost couldn't believe it. He's alive! He's supposed to be gone... His health had deteriorated when I was still in high school, and yet... he's here again, right in front of me!

"I can't believe it, Coach!" I exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

He was like my second dad. At close nga rin sila ni Daddy. He's my dad's friend, and he was the one who chose him to coach me. Ang alam ko, magkasama rin sila noon noong naglalaro pa sila ni Dad ng soccer.

"What are you talking about, kid?" His forehead creased, confusion evident on his face. He didn't understand why I suddenly ran to him and hugged him so tightly.

Kumalas ako sa pagkakayakap sa kanya, tiningnan ko ang maliliit kong mga kamay. I'm so small right now. A little kid. I traveled back to a time when I was just starting to play soccer—and when Coach was still alive.

I smiled up at him. "You're here, Coach," I said, my voice filled with delight.

Lalo pang lumalim ang kunot sa noo niya habang nakatitig sa akin. "Of course, I'm here, kid. What are you on about? Stop slacking and go back to training!" saway niya sa akin.

Nakangiti lang akong tumango at bumalik na sa field para mag-practice.

Later that day, sinundo ako ni Daddy—just like how I remembered it. After every training session, he would pick me up. Minsan nga, nag-uusap pa sila ni Coach bago kami umuwi. Other times, the three of us would go out to eat, and they'd have drinks together, reminiscing about their old soccer days.

At dahil kay Coach, halos nakalimutan ko ang totoong dahilan kung bakit ako nandito. I came back to this time to find Noelle. But now that I was just a little boy again, I didn't know where to start or how I could find her at this point in time.

"Julian."

"Daddy!" Agad akong tumakbo papunta sa kanya.

Nakasunod naman sa akin si Coach, at nagtagal pa sila saglit sa tabi ng field para mag-usap bago kami umuwi.

"Tapos na ba siya sa training niya ngayon?"

Coach nodded. "Oo,"

Habang nag-uusap pa sila, I quietly excused myself, my mind still racing with thoughts of Noelle. Where could she be right now?

We were just training at my elementary school's soccer field when I noticed a group of students passing by. Mukhang uwian na, at may ilang mga grade one pupils din tulad ko. I wasn't paying much attention—until my eyes landed on someone familiar.

Napakalaki ng pagkagulat ko.

Bata pa siya sa panahon na 'to, pero hindi ako maaaring magkamali. Wala namang masyadong nagbago sa kanya kahit noong nasa high school na kami. Her brown hair was the same—she was just smaller, but I knew it was her.

Noelle Sarina Velasco!

I started dragging my feet toward her. Naglalakad siya kasama ang isang teacher at iba pang mga estudyante. Alam kong uwian na, pero ako, palagi pang nagtatagal sa school para mag-training kasama si Coach.

"Noelle!" I called her right away, unable to hide the excitement in my voice.

I smiled at her instantly, expecting her to recognize me too.

Pero hindi siya ngumiti pabalik. She just stared at me like I was a complete stranger.

Lumapit pa ako sa kanya, hindi alintana ang pagtataka sa mukha niya.

"You're Noelle Sarina Velasco, right?" I asked.

She blinked. Then, she slowly nodded. "Yes... Who are you?"

I froze.

Wait... What?

We stood there, just staring at each other like the six-year-olds we currently were. The wind blew past us, messing up her bangs slightly.

What I didn't know was that Noelle had known me later on—but at this time, she didn't know me yet. She had no idea who I was when I approached her...