Chapter 3: An Error

I heard Daddy's subtle laughter through my phone's screen. It looked like he had just come home from the office. He works at the Mayor's office now—always near Mommy to assist her better. He also does investments. That was what he taught me too after I became a professional athlete. Dad also helped me invest, allowing me to focus on my soccer career without worrying about my finances, since he's also my advisor and is really good at handling our family's finances.

"Really? Then that's good, son."

"Uh-huh. Hmm, Dad?"

"Yes, son?"

"May kasambahay kasi tayo rito... and, uhm, she's still young and studying. Kaya lang, hindi pa pala siya makapag-aral nang maayos dahil wala pa raw pampaaral sa kaniya ang parents niya..."

"Oh."

I nodded slightly. "Yes, Dad. Her name is Rose, short for Roselia. She's the daughter of a neighbor of Manang and our driver. They helped her get a job here at the Dela Torre mansion while I'm staying here." Rose might be behind on her studies dahil nga patigiltigil siya. While I can have my vacations anytime like this and just study at home if I can't attend university, Rose doesn't have that same privilege. At my school, I'm allowed to study at home, especially because of my sports commitments. Even when I miss classes, my teachers and some tutors come to our house to help me study so I can still take exams. But Rose doesn't have that option.

"That's new coming from you, Julian Ellis," Dad remarked.

"What do you mean, Dad?"

He shook his head. "No, I just mean you've changed. You weren't this compassionate before—towards anyone outside our family... What happened, son?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. It's just... she's like a little sister here." I let out a sigh.

And I can't even imagine having to work so hard just to afford my own schooling. It's made me appreciate my family and everything they've given me.

Daddy smiled at me. "It's all right, son... and that's good. So you found yourself a little sister there, huh. Do you still wish for a baby sister?"

I shook my head. "It's all right now, Dad. Ayaw ko rin naman pilitin kayo ni Mommy. Anyway, can we help Rose?"

Dad nodded, smiling reassuringly. "Yes, son. We can. I'll tell your mom. Your grandma also has a foundation that helps young people continue their education."

"Thank you, Dad."

"You're welcome, my little Julian," he grinned at me through the screen.

I almost rolled my eyes, though I still smiled. My dad treated me like a kid sometimes. "How can you still call me little now, Dad? I've grown taller than you."

"Oh, really now, huh?"

We both chuckled. Dad's also tall, and I probably got my height from him and his natural athletic build. Hindi ko alam kung kanino naman ako mas nagmana sa mukha since people say I resemble both of them. Si Mommy naman sobrang ganda rin, kaya nga nag-settle agad si Daddy. I smirked at my simple thoughts about my two loving parents.

After talking for about an hour, I said goodnight. "Goodnight, Dad."

"Goodnight, Julian. Take care, okay? I'll call again tomorrow, and maybe your mom will join."

"Okay, Dad. Goodnight. Ingat din po kayo ni Mommy palagi."

I saw him still smiling, not ending the video call on his end, while I was already lying in bed, half my face buried in the pillow. Dad just watched as I got ready to sleep. "'Night, Dad."

"Goodnight, Julian Ellis. My Julian Ellis." He grinned on the screen again.

I just smiled and then ended the call.

I remembered something else Daddy had said earlier, something I couldn't forget.

"Sometimes we think that a situation we're in wasn't a good idea, but along the way, we learn that it wasn't so bad. Julian, some things in life lead us to something greater. So don't be discouraged by what happened, okay? Minsan may mga nangyayari, but rejection might just mean redirection," he said with a gentle smile.

I found myself nodding slowly as I listened to him.

"You see, I don't think it was a bad idea that we sent you there for a while." Daddy smiled.

I gave a small smile back.

"Just take your time there to rest and relax, son, and to think things over."

In the end, I nodded to my dad.

But after the call ended, I quickly got up from bed. I wasn't sleepy. My stomach felt fine again after the earlier discomfort.

I left my room quietly and went downstairs, making sure not to make a sound. I had to push the car far enough from the mansion before starting it so no one would hear.

Then I drove to the clock tower in the dead of night...

Santa Mariana is a small town. In the middle of the night, the place was deserted, especially here in the center. With such a small population, most people return to their farms early in the evening.

"It's time," I murmured to myself, almost midnight. After weeks of studying old records in the Dela Torre mansion library, I was finally here, trying to see if it worked. It might be a bluff, but I wanted to satisfy my curiosity.

The short hand of the clock hit twelve, followed by the longer hand. I closed my eyes and thought of where I wanted to teleport. The record said it could take you anywhere if you were a Dela Torre descendant and were here, at exactly 12:00 midnight.

But then...

I heard the clock tower chime as it struck midnight. When I opened my eyes, I was in a different place. This wasn't right. Why did it look so different? And why was it morning here when it was night just a moment ago? I had only wanted to teleport back to Metro Manila, specifically to my apartment. I study in a university there, and my parents live elsewhere for my mom's job as city mayor.

Where am I now? What... just happened? Was there an error?

I mean, I still teleported, right? It worked? Oh, damn, it really worked! But... wait, where exactly am I?

I looked around. I was in a field... wait, was this a soccer field?

"U-uh, J-Julian..." A girl approached me, probably in high school.

"Okay ka lang ba?" she asked slowly.

"Huh?" I replied, looking around. Then my eyes widened as I realized I was in the middle of a soccer game!

It seemed like a practice game since there were only a few people on the bleachers.

The buzzer sounded, signaling the game's start. The girl left, and despite my shock, I managed to play well and even scored goals.

"You're amazing, Julian!" My teammates cheered.

I just smiled.

But then I noticed something strange. I recognized some of my old high school teammates, but they looked younger. And we were wearing our high school soccer jerseys...

The girl from earlier walked over, handing me a water bottle. "U-uh, Julian... water? Ayos ka lang ba? You spaced out earlier. Coach thought you weren't feeling well."

"Who am I? Do you know me?" I asked.

Her forehead creased at my question. "Uhm, you're... Julian Ellis Trinidad..." she said shyly.

My mouth fell open as I looked around. Everything looked familiar, as if I had been here before...

"Where are we?" I asked again.

"Uh, we're at our school's soccer field..." She seemed even more confused.

"Oh, damn..." I muttered.

"How old am I now? Or... do you have a mirror? I need to see myself..."

"Julian..." she called softly, but I left quickly, running toward the locker rooms. They were empty, so I found a full-sized mirror.

I indeed looked younger. What... what just happened? Did I somehow travel back in time instead of teleporting to my apartment?

I stared at the calendar on the wall, checking the date and year...

What really happened? Did I actually travel back in time to my high school years? Was this real, or was I dreaming?

Teleportation... time travel... Was there an error?

And, more importantly... how do I get back to the Dela Torre mansion? How do I return to Santa Mariana?