Chapter 4: Unknown Girl

I went out of the locker rooms, almost spacing out because I still couldn't fully grasp what was happening.

Paglabas ko, nakita ko muli iyong babaeng nakausap ko kanina, na siya ring nagbigay ng tubig sa akin. Who is she? Although I seem to be uncaring, kilala ko naman ang mga naging kaklase ko—at least their faces. I just don't bother to remember all their names because it can be a hassle.

But this girl? I don't remember her from my past. Yet here she is. And I'm back in my past self now, right?

"J-Julian..." Yumuko pa siya at halos hindi makatingin sa akin. "S-sorry sinundan na kita because Coach is worried about you," she said a bit hastily.

I looked at her, trying to remember, but nothing. I don't recall her from before. But she's probably a schoolmate. And she knows Coach?

"Who are you? I mean," saglit akong mariing napapikit, "what's your name?" I asked her a bit politely.

She looked up at me, and we locked eyes. I just noticed she has a cute, pretty face...

She seems to know me—probably because I play soccer with the school team. We're enrolled in the same high school, right?

But I feel like she really knows me... more than that? Maybe I'm just having a weird feeling...

I looked at her, and she smiled at me kindly... and cutely... even though she still looked shy. "I'm... Noelle Sarina Velasco..." she timidly introduced herself.

Even her name doesn't sound familiar.

I sighed and kept thinking. I still can't believe what's happening. Is this even real? Tsk.

For all I know, I might just be dreaming...

"Julian, ayos ka lang ba talaga? Uh, masama ba ang pakiramdam mo? Gusto mo ba na pumunta tayo ngayon sa school clinic?" she asked me again.

I looked at her again.

I really don't recall meeting her before. She's unfamiliar.

But right now, I think she's the only one who can help me? It's just a feeling.

Umiling ako sa kaniya at naglakad na kami paalis. I turned to her as we quietly walked side by side. "Uhm, your name is Noelle, right?" I asked.

She looked at me and slowly nodded.

"And, uh, you're not my classmate, right?"

She shook her head. "Hindi, uh..."

"Like I thought, we're only schoolmates," tahimik kong sinabi habang napapaisip.

"Ayos ka lang ba talaga, Julian? Malapit na lang dito ang school clinic natin... Baka gusto mong pumunta na lang muna doon..." she asked worriedly, her voice gentle.

I turned to her and smiled. I think her face turned a little red? The sun's hot on our faces. She'll probably get sunburned, while I'm already used to it since I'm an athlete.

I shook my head. "No need. And, uhm, what are you doing here?" I asked again. I'm not used to talking with girls, even though they often come up to me. I just never had time to chat.

"Uhm, I'm the new student manager for the soccer club..." she quietly said. She's really timid—and cute.

My eyes widened slightly. "Oh, really?" I was a bit shocked. I didn't know she was our student manager. What happened?

"Oh... I'm sorry, but I don't really remember..." Not that I try to remember people around... I sighed.

Parang hindi ko na nga rin maalala kung sino ba ang manager namin dati noong high school. Kaya baka nga hindi ko na siya nakilala. And since she's this timid, baka nga hindi kami nagkausap dati pa?

"Well, uhm, just think I have a little amnesia, okay? And that's why I can't remember you," sabi ko na medyo nagdadalawang-isip.

She smiled at me and shook her head. "Ayos lang. Uhm, I was indeed an unknown girl to you... Hindi ko nga akalain na kakausapin mo ako ngayon..." she said, voice softening.

My eyes widened again. "Oh, really?" Ganoon ba talaga ako ka suplado dati para isipin niya na hindi ko siya kakausapin? Well, I didn't really talk to many people even back then...

I just didn't like talking. And what would I even discuss with others? I'm only interested in soccer.

"I'm sorry about that," I don't know why, but I felt the need to apologize...

But she shook her head. "Ayos lang, uh—"

We were cut off as a teammate of mine called my name. I still can't believe I've gone back to my high school days. This is... I don't know. I'm still overwhelmed. Siguro ay nanaginip lang din ako ngayon? But it seems real?

"Julian! Tawag ka na ni Coach," a teammate called out. He noticed Noelle beside me.

I turned to Noelle and saw her looking away, shy again. Mukhang mahiyain nga talaga siya. I couldn't help but smile as I looked at her. She's really shy and cute.

"All right, I'm coming," I told my teammate.

We started walking, following my teammate to Coach.

"Coach," I greeted him.

"Julian, are you all right?" He looked at Noelle, whom he'd asked to follow me to the lockers.

Ako na ang sumagot kay Coach. "I'm okay, Coach. I just had to answer my Mom's call earlier..." I even lied. Well, just a white lie?

Coach nodded. "Okay. You're doing great, Julian. As expected of our child prodigy in soccer." He smiled. "We're only preparing now for the qualifiers, but I'm sure we'll earn our spot since we have you here."

I smiled back at Coach. And I know what's going to happen. Tama siya—we'll end up winning. Our school will make it to the qualifiers.

After we talked, I excused myself. I feel sweaty from playing soccer earlier, so this isn't just a dream, right? I sighed. I need to get changed.

"Okay, you can go," Coach said, still talking to my teammates, who seemed to be getting feedback on their performance.

I got changed into fresh clothes and took a quick shower in the school's locker room. Then I thought about how I'd just talked to Noelle. Did I smell bad? Tsk. I sighed again.

When did I start caring about stuff like that?

I looked for Noelle as I left the lockers.

"Noelle," I called.

She turned to me, looking like she was about to leave after Coach gave her some tasks following our game. Good, I caught her in time.

"Julian..."

I looked at her, noticing how she gripped the straps of her cute, small gym bag.

I couldn't help but smile. "Are you leaving?" I asked.

She slowly nodded. "Uh, oo..."

"All right, but I need your help," I told her.

We locked eyes.

I don't know why, but I thought I could trust her with what happened to me. It was a gut feeling, like she would understand my situation?

My mind was swirling with questions about myself, about what really happened. Could this really be real? I wasn't truly a hundred percent sure back then that it would work, that it was even real. And wow, my ancestors were really cool, huh?

But I can't stay here. I'm still waiting for the decisions to change, to get called up to play for the National team in the FIFA World Cup, you know? I still want to play. I can't accept that they were just unfair to me.

So I thought I needed someone's help to go back. And that someone would be Noelle Sarina Velasco. Somehow, I even remembered her name though she only mentioned it once.

"My help... for what?" She looked a little confused.

I sighed. I wasn't used to asking anyone for help. But I truly felt deep down that Noelle could be trusted.

I heaved a sigh before revealing it to her. "I actually just went back in time. This has all happened before. What happened earlier—the practice game—we've already won these matches..."

I saw her lips parting as she listened.

I sighed again. "Yes, Noelle, I think I have time-traveled." I said, looking straight at her.

She couldn't answer immediately, still looking shocked by my words. She might just laugh at me and think I'm crazy. But I chose to trust my intuition and her—that she'd somehow believe me...