"OPEN YOUR MESSENGER!"

Napatingin ako sa cellphone dahil tadtad na chats ni Zero ang nasa notification bar ko. Sunod-sunod din ang pagtunog kaya lahat ay napatitingin sa akin sa loob ng bus.

Buwisit na bubwit. Nag-da-drama pa ako rito, eh.

"Bakit ba?!" reply ko.

"Check mo GC. Bagsak ka, tanga."

Dali-dali kong hinanap ang GC namin na naka-mute sa akin. Nang makita ang pangalan ko sa samahan ng mga bagsak ay hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman ko.

I failed my exam in Physics.

Again.

For the hundredth time.

Ngayon, imbis na pumunta sa organization namin, kailangan ko pang mag-remedial class.

Great.

I mean, nag-expect naman ako na babagsak talaga ako before. Ngayong bumagsak ako ay hindi ko alam bakit umaalma ako.

Napapikit ako.

Today, I am broken hearted, anxious about my death, and my grades were falling apart.

Ang husay! Iba ka talaga, February 14. Ano pang pasabog ang mayroon ka riyan?

Tiningnan ko ang mga grades ko sa iba ko pang subjects. Ang ilan ay ayos lang naman pero karamihan ay siguradong bibigyan ako ng sakit sa ulo at baka maging problema pa bago ako tumungtong ng college.

Bakit ba ako namomoblema kung magiging balakid ang grades ko? Eh, baka nga iyong college admission test na kinuha ko ilang buwan na ang nakararaan ay hindi ako pumasa?

With frustration, isinuot ko na lang ang earphones ko at pumikit.

Bahala na kung boba ako. Ang mahalaga, mabuti akong tao.

Napangiti ako sa sarili kong rason.

Sino nga ba’ng niloloko ko?

Boba pa rin naman ako.

Malapit nang mag-11 am. Mag-re-remedial class muna ako siguro bago pumunta sa school organization.

Tumugtog na ang kanta. It was Make it with You by Bread.

Napangiti ako.

Ah, yes. Comfort song.

It was going just fine when suddenly, I heard a strange sound.

Iyong tunog na maririnig mo kapag walang signal ang TV.

Napatanggal ako ng earphones at pinakinggan ang paligid. Wala namang ganitong tunog.

Napakibit-balikat na lang ako at inulit ang kanta. Ilang minuto lang ay ganoon uli ang maririnig. Iyong tunog ng TV na maingay at walang signal na humahalo sa kantang pinakikinggan ko.

Nang sinubukan kong dumilat ay kumalabog ang dibdib ko dahil hindi ko na magawa. I tried to move but I couldn't move as well, as if I was frozen. I then felt my chest getting heavy as if something just sat on top of it.

WAIT.

Ano 'to?!

Lumakas ang kalabog ng dibdib ko nang may ideyang pumasok sa akin.

AM I HAVING SLEEP PARALYSIS?

SA LOOB NG BUS?!

Nagsimula akong mag-panic. Sinimulan kong gumalaw ngunit walang nangyayari. Sinubukan kong sumigaw pero maging ang labi ko ay animo'y nanigas.

Hanggang may nakita akong liwanag. Unti-unti itong lumaki hanggang sa—

"MISS, BAKA SUMOBRA KA?"

That's when I finally opened my eyes. Mukha ng konduktor ang una kong nakita.

Halos mapatili ako. Hapong-hapong hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko at tiningnan ang paligid. Doon ko napagtantong ako na lang ang pasahero sa loob.

Sa takot ay agad kong kinuha ang bag ko at tumayo. Hinihingal man at kumakabog ang dibdib, bumaba na ako dahil baka ano pang mangyari sa 'kin sa loob.

SHEEZ!

I JUST HAD A SLEEP PARALYSIS INSIDE A BUS!

IN A FUCKING BUS!

I felt chills down my spine.

February 14, iba ka! Baka next time nito, mahahagip na 'ko ng—

"TUMABI KA!" sigaw ng naka-motor na halos bumangga sa 'kin sa pagtawid.

Nakagat ko ang dila ko at umirap.

Mamamatay talaga ako today!

Dali-dali akong pumasok ng campus. Sa bawat taong makatitinginan ko ay nagiging suspicious ako.

Paano kung bigla na lang may sumaksak sa 'kin dito?

Habang umaakyat sa hagdan papunta sa remedial class ay halos masabunutan ko ang sarili ko. Bigla kong naalala iyong pagsi-sleep paralysis ko sa bus.

Paano ba kasi nangyari 'yon?! And bakit doon of all places?!

Narating ko ang room namin at bumuntonghininga. Pero bago ko pa mabuksan ang pinto, bumukas na ito at naglabasan ang mga estudyante. Laking gulat ko nang mapansin kong mga kaklase ko iyon.

Aren't we supposed to have a remedial class?

"Joyce, Joyce!" I called one of them. "Saan kayo pupunta?"

"We just got dismissed," she said casually.

"Dismissed?!" I exclaimed, confused. "Hindi ba dapat ngayon pa lang magsisimula ang remedial? 10:55 pa lang."

Natawa ito.

"Girl," she said. "It was scheduled at 9AM to 11!"

"WHAT?!" tanong ko. "Ang nabasa ko sa GC ay 11, hindi 9."

"Check the group chat, then. Saka, bakit mo kailangan ng remedial?" she asked, grinning.

"Uh, kasi isa ako sa mga bagsak?" nalilito kong tanong.

She just laughed.

"Humble talaga. Sige, una na 'ko, ha? See you around!"

With that, I was left baffled.

Anong nangyari kay Joyce? Dati lang ay ayaw nitong magpaikli ng buhok pero ngayo'y hanggang leeg na lang ang buhok niya.

At saka, humble? In what aspect? Eh 'yong grade ko nga plakda na, paano naging humble 'yon?

I shrugged.

I immediately opened my phone to check our group chat. Mula roon ay tiningnan ko ang announcement.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang makitang naka-schedule nga iyon for 9AM.

Bobo ako pero hindi ako bulag. I know I saw 11AM at hindi 9AM!

Ano ba’ng nangyayari kasi?

Natatarantang pumasok agad ako sa room at naabutan ang professor namin na nag-aayos ng gamit.

"Sir, sir," I approached. "I'm so sorry. Hindi po ako naka-attend sa remedial class. Something came up po kasi, sir. Please do allow me for a special project, instead. Hindi po ako puwede bumagsak. I need to be admitted in any—"

"Hey hey," awat niya sa 'kin. "What are you talking about?"

"11AM po kasi pagkakabasa ko about sa remedial class, sir—"

"What?" he asked. "Remedial class? Bakit mo kailangan n'on?"

Ilang beses ko bang dapat ulitin?

"Uh, kasi... bagsak po ako?"

My professor looked at me in the eyes and silence swallowed us both until—

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

He laughed. So hard. At me.

Lah? Saya ka, ghorl?

"Why would you need to attend my make up class, you silly kid. You aced my exam. You were even the highest!"

"Opo, sir pero—"

Wait.

WHAT?!

I WAS THE WHAT?!?

Nanlalaki ang mga matang tiningnan ko siya.

"Congrats, Maxx," he said. "Keep up the good track, okay? You're a good fit for a valedictorian, I must say."

Tinapik nito ang balikat ko habang tumatawa pa rin paalis.

WAIT.

ANO RAW?!

VALEDICTORIAN?

WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?

My professor looked back.

"Oh, as per your university admission concern, I suggest na pumunta ka ngayon sa announcement board. The result is out."

The next thing I knew, I was squeezing myself in a huge crowd.

"Excuse me. Excuse po!" sabi ko habang nakipagsisiksikan sa mga tao. Nang makarating sa gitna ng announcement board ay agad kong hinanap ang pangalan ko.

My eyes widened when I saw my name on top of the list with a score of—

"WE GOT 500/500 ADMISSION SCORE FROM MAXX!" sigaw ng isa naming professor.

Lahat sila'y tumingin sa 'kin and all I can hear were clapping hands and loud cheering voices.

Tiningnan ko muli ang listahan, making sure na 'di ako nililinlang ng mga mata ko pero walang nagbago. My name was written there still with a perfect score.

FIRST, I GOT THE HIGHEST SCORE IN A TEST I KNEW I FAILED.

NOW, I GOT A PERFECT SCORE IN OUR COUNTRY'S TOP PERFORMING UNIVERSITY WHEN I KNEW THE ONLY CORRECT THING I ANSWERED DURING THE TEST WAS MY NAME!

And for Pete's sake, I have the lowest GPA in the whole school and now I'm a candidate for valedictorian?

WHAT. THE. HELL.

SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE!

EVERYTHING'S WRONG HERE!

"Hey."

I almost jumped mid-air nang may biglang lumapit sa 'kin. Halos kumawala ang puso ko sa kaba nang malamang si Axes iyon.

"H-Hey," I responded.

He smiled at me.

SHEEZ.

"Congrats pala," he said. "I knew you'll ace that."

HE'S REALLY TALKING TO ME NOW? LIKE FOR REAL?

"Why are you giving me that face?" he asked when he noticed my shocked face. His eyes were looking deeply in my eyes.

I gulped.

"You look so awkward, Maxx. Loosen up!" he smilingly added.

I faked a smile.

Ano ba talagang nangyagari?

"I just find it really awkward," I said. "Ngayon mo na lang ako uli kinausap after our break up last year..."

His eyes widened.

"Our what?" he asked, baffled.

"Our break up," I repeated. "We broke up last year."

"Why?" he asked, confused. "Why are we gonna break up?"

Confusion swallowed me too.

What's happening?

"B-Because we were lovers?"

His eyes widened. "Maxx, we were not lovers. WE ARE FRIENDS!"

Huh?

WE ARE.... WHAT?

"FRIENDS. WE ARE FRIENDS!"

And the next thing I knew, the temperature changed.

Nang tingnan ko ang paligid ay wala na ako sa school. Ngayo'y nasa sidewalk na ako at palubog na ang araw.

Ano ba talagang nangyayari?!

Nang tingnan ko sino ang kausap ko ay nanlaki lalo ang mga mata ko.

It was no longer Axes.

It was Zero.

"ILANG BESES KO BA DAPAT SABIHIN NA MAGKAIBIGAN TAYO AT HINDI MAG-EX?!" he frustratedly asked.

I looked around.

"Anong... nangyayari?"

Zero looked at me with frustration.

"I DON'T KNOW. YOU ASK YOURSELF!" he said. "YOU WERE SO STRANGE IN SCHOOL!"

I was... what?!

"Una, nakipagtalo ka sa prof natin, proving yourself na mas matalino ka kaysa sa kanya kaya ayaw mong mag-remedial class. Ikalawa, you threw tantrums after seeing you failed the university admission test and only scored 45 out of 500 items. Nagwawala ka pa sa campus, saying you have to call your grandma which we all know na matanggal nang patay!" he said.

My jaw dropped.

I can't remember doing those!

"Ngayon, pinagpipilitan mong ex mo 'ko at hindi best friend! Na ang best friend mo ay si Axes! AND GOODNESS GRACIOUS! Alam nating may trauma ka sa bike pero now look at yourself, riding that bike, following me around and insisting we were lovers!"

I looked at the thing I was holding at mabilis ko iyong binitawan.

WHY AM I USING A BIKE?!

WHAT THE ACTUAL F IS HAPPENING!

"Z... Zero..." I finally uttered while tears were forming in my eyes. "Y-You know I don't know how to ride a bike..."

"EXACTLY!" he frustratedly exclaimed.

I felt my system shutting down.

DAMN.

"And... you know my grandma died five years ago..."

"That's what I'm telling you!" he said. "Iyon nga ang kanina ko pa sinasabi sa 'yo pero hindi ka nakikinig!"

I bit my lip.

"And we are not lovers..."

"NOW YOU GET IT!" he exclaimed. "THANK GOD!"

"B-But Zero..." I said "I... aced the admission test, I scored 500... I AM SURE ABOUT IT, I SAW IT!"

"No, no, no," he said. "Listen, Maxx. Nakita ko 'yon with my own eyes. Hindi iyon 500 but 45, kaya ka nga nagwala sa campus at isa pa, nakipagtalo sa professor natin."

He met my eyes.

"Ang sabi mo, sa isang lugar ay posibleng may nag-e-exist pang ibang mundo na kagaya ng mayroon tayo. Sabi mo pa, kapag naramdaman mong parang naulit ang isang bagay na nangyari na, na tinatawag na deja vu, ibig sabihin, you experienced what your paralleled self did in a parallel universe."

He gulped.

"Iyong para bang ginawa na ng bersyon mo sa ibang mundo iyong bagay na 'yon kaya ikaw na bersyon naman n'ya sa mundong ito ay pakiramdam na nangyari na iyon. By feeling so, sabi mo, an alignment between two universes was created, in which, our professor argued at sabi n'ya, repressed memories lang ang deja vu."

Zero then paused, scanning my face.

"Of course, hindi ka nagpatalo at nag-cite ka pa ng reference from someone named Steven or Stephen something which provides the idea that a parallel universe is real. Like at any given instant, as you stated, there are radio waves literally everywhere."

Tiningnan n'ya kung nakikinig pa ba ako.

"Katulad ng radio waves. Pero kapag nag-open ka ng radyo, sa iisang channel o frequency ka lang pwede makinig. As a result, we can only tune to one broadcast at a time. Likewise, in our universe, we are "tuned" into the frequency that corresponds to our physical reality but there are infinite number of parallel realities co-existing with us in the same room, but we cannot "tune into" them because they have different frequencies at sa iisa lang tayo nakako-connect."

He shrugged.

"Sabi mo pa, gumagawa na ng paraan ang mga scientist upang magbukas ng portal to discover the parallel universe, which is a fact. And with trillions upon trillions of atoms in each world, and since the frequency of these waves is promotional to its energy, this means that the waves of each world vibrate at different frequencies and cannot interact at some point."

He licked his lower lip.

"Taking that as a take off point, to open a portal, scientists should be able to control frequency waves first and tune into whatever exists out of our world, and that's how you won the argument. Nakapagtataka nga na alam mo 'yang mga 'yan, eh, 'di ba hate na hate mo ang science?"

Hindi ko alam anong nangyayari pero sigurado akong hindi ko ginawa iyon.

Paano ko ma-e-explain nang ganoon iyon, eh ngayon ngang nakikinig lang ako ay wala akong maintindihan?

Ano man ang nangyayari ngayon, isa lang ang sigurado ko. The me that Zero met today, I'm sure that wasn't me. I'm pretty much sure about it.

"Zero," I said. "Anong oras 'yong remedial class?"

"Uh, 11AM."

I closed my eyes hardly.

"Zero..." I said and my voice even cracked. I felt my legs were trembling. "What if... hindi ako 'yong nasa klase kanina?"

Confusion swallowed him.

"Huh?"

"Zero, hindi ako nakapunta ng remedial class. Na-late ako. So, maybe, the one you spent the day with in school... what if... what if hindi ako 'yon?"

He scoffed.

"Are you on drugs or something?" he joked. "Yeah, I know you were kinda weird that time that you sounded so smart in class, that you threw tantrums when you saw you failed the admission test when you were expecting you'll fail, that you thought... I was your ex and Axes was your best friend..."

That's when the smile on his lips faded.

"...and that you wanna call your grandma as if she's still alive and all suddenly you know how to ride a bike..."

His eyes widened.

"DAMN!" he exclaimed. "DON'T TELL ME—"

"Yes," I said. "Hindi ako 'yon..."

His jaw dropped.

"Zero..." I said. "Today, I aced the physics exam kaya hindi ako nakadalo sa remedial class and there's no way I could argue with our professor. I did not score 45 but 500!"

"Shit..." he murmured.

"Z-Zero..." I said. "I think... I think I met the world of my other self, and she encountered mine..."

"Oh, no, no please, it's not real!" he said.

"What if it is, Zero? What if... what if I accidentally tuned into that different frequency? Paano kung napunta ako sa mundo ng paralleled self ko at s'ya naman ang napunta sa mundo ko?"

I bit my lip.

"And what if... a portal to a parallel universe where our other self lives has been opened that's why I was able to tune into that parallel world and..."

"And what?" he asked, tensed.

"AND... WE CAN SWITCH LIVES...?"