Act 1 : Chapter 3

“Do you want to jump from the past or future?” The dialogue box says on the screen. The screen turned off itself after a minute of being idle.

It puzzles me. What is the real purpose behind this? Why do I have this thing with me? How can this thing work? Is it like on the movie? Then another notification from the tablet blinked.

“Do you want to bind this “machine” to yourself?” says on the screen. There are two options. Yes and No at the bottom. I pressed yes and then a new dialogue box appeared with a warning.

Rule #1. This “machine” cannot be seen by others if binded to you. You cannot CHANGE anything in the PAST or you cannot bring anything from the FUTURE. It will also take a new form once binded.”

Rule #2. Anything from to the past or future will be destroyed once you return to the present.”

Rule #3. You cannot talk to yourself from the past and future. You cannot also prevent any event happening in the past or future, doing so will create something in the present. Any event that will harm the user or will lead to death, the user will be rendered as ethereal form in past or future and will be instantly warped back in the present.”

Rule #4. You can talk to others from the past and future. They will lose the memory with you after you warp back to present. You can also become invisible if you pick it on the dialog box after setting the date and location of time travel. 60 Minutes of staying in the past or future is equivalent only to a minute in the present. You can only time travel once a day.”

Rule #5. If you changed something in the past or future you can create a time paradox. It can change something in the preset such as; you not existing anymore. You only have 60 minutes of staying at the past or future. Lasting more than 60 minutes will automatically warp you back at the present. However there is an exception on this rule. You can exchange your “3 months of life” for another 60 Minutes stay on the particular event. Every 59th Minute of staying, a warning will be given to the user.”

I quickly turned off the screen after seeing it. I need to think about it. I have nothing to do in the past or future; do I? But this is a huge advantage for me! I can be a god at exams! I mean; I’ll jump from the future to know the answers then go back at the present. Rule #2 said that whatever I bring back to the present will be lost when I returned. Well, it’s not a material thing; it said nothing about information and such.

The next day, I quickly searched for the tablet in my bag. It was there. The terms/rules are still flashing. I quickly tapped on the “Not Now” box. And then it returned to the date settings. I returned it back to my bag and I hid it carefully so that neither Aeira nor Laureen can see it.

Both of them are still asleep at the sofa bed. I quickly ran near the fridge to cook something, I opened the fridge but all I can see was liquors. I took a picture of what’s inside the ref and sent it to Aunt Paine and all I got was a laughing emoticon. “You can drink anything you want! Get wasted Aeina!” She chatted then I replied, “Aunt I wanted to cook pancakes. What’s this then? A pancake beer flavored?” I asked at chat. Another notification appeared at my phone when she replied “Why not? I’ve tried it at London and it was good I think? Your uncle Jheck hates sit though.” She replied.

I called Aunt Jeanne via video call to let her know that I will be entering her Condo Unit she then told me that Laureen has the spare keys.

I walked on the opposite building where Aunt Jeanne’s unit is. I opened their ref and got some frozen foods and canned goods. I wondered, what was their wedding looked like? Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Khalil’s wedding day. I’m curious about their past. All of them, for me I wanted to know them more. We’re not blood related and yet they still treat us like a real niece. Where did they go when their honeymoon period started? Mom and Dad, Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Khalil, Aunt Paine and Uncle Jheck, and Aunt Mavis and Uncle Lanz. I was really curious about those.

But then I remembered Rule #3 which states “You cannot talk to yourself from the past and future. You cannot also prevent any event happening in the past or future, doing so will create something in the present.”

I was walking going back to Aunt Paine’s unit when I had a quick detour at a milktea shop. I love it so I bought some for mine and for Aeira and Laureen too.

   “Two Wintermelon, One cookies and cream and one macha please.” I said at the Barista that quickly notes my order.

“I want them at 75% sugar please.” I added.

“What size Ma’am?” The barista asked.

“All of them are Grande please.” I answered as I handed my cash. She then proceed to give me my receipt and then told me to wait at the farthest corner of the long table where the servers are.

I took five minutes to prepare the drinks I was taking it when someone tried to hold my hand. I was shocked; and to my defense response I quickly shook off his hands away.

“Aeina? Are you perhaps Ms. Augustos Aeina?” He humbly asked of me. He kinda looked like Dad when Dad was a teenager.

“What if I am? What now?” I angrily asked him.

“I finally found you. Care to chat for a minute?” He asked.

I quickly declined his offer and continued walking the pathway. He then shouted; “Where can I find you later? I need to talk to you. We have a mission!” And he got my attention.

“What? Mission?” I answered shouting too. I got my curiosity piqued.

“The tablet. I also have one. We have to find someone in the past. Some info also regarding you and your sister will come to light.” He said.

“Well, here is my digits, +699454065xxx, here is also my iCloud so you can iMessage me lnnnk22xx@xmail.com, you can call or text me.

“I will. I can be anywhere for you.” He replied before saying goodbye.

I’m getting near at the Condo of Aunt Paine when Aeira came across.

“I thought you left us for some guy.” She jokingly said.

“I don’t have someone I fancy you idiot. But I met someone who looked exactly like Dad.” It made Aeira’s eye wider.

We entered the unit. Both of them just took a bath. I handed over what I purchased earlier to both of them while I cook. Bacon, Omelette, Sweetened Ham, French Toast and little serving of rice, enough for three people when Eisen returned home.

“Hey bros!” He energetically greeted us with high five. His face is flushed.

“Hey! Let’s eat?” says Aeira.

“Nah! I gotta sleep. I’m tired from party.” He declined while getting close to the dining table.

“This looks good.” He mumbled at the French toast.

“Yeah it’s good, it tastes good like the one who cooked it.” I joked.

“Fuck off Aeina.” Answered by Eisen and Aeira with a serious face then laugh.

“Maybe if you stopped dressing like a guy then you’ll be a great woman. I think.” Said Eisen while going at his room.

Aeira took out her phone and she was calling someone while we’re eating. I presumed it’s Dad. Aeira is the type of outgoing but she wants to go home cause she misses Dad already. Yeah, they are that close. She slammed the phone at the table, she seems to be pissed at something.

“Dad didn’t picked up?” I asked.

“NO! I’m calling Skye! Not Dad, but I miss him though.”

“What? You wanna go drag later this evening?”

“Yes. I want to race with her. I’ll be betting my whole week worth of allowance for this race.”

“Ohh! I’m betting on Skye then! Fifteen Hundred!” I wagered.

Skye has a age gap of two years from us. We’re older than her. Like us, she liked Car Racing. She’s spoiled by her grandmother. Drag Racing is illegal that’s why it’s always at night.

“So where’s the loc?” I asked Aeira.

“Mindanao Avenue and Visayas Avenue Market.”

I’ll just withraw money. Don’t go yet. What car are you using?” I asked Aeira.

“The ford GT Carrera on my Condo Unit, it’s on welcome rotunda. I need to bring it to my mechanic for tune ups, I’ll just ride an Uber or something. You go ahead at the venue and call me after arriving. Take Laureen with you too or not.” She suggested.

“Yes Ma’am.” Sarcastically while I punched her shoulder which made her giggle.