It was spring again, the most beautiful time of the year. The trees and flowers are in full bloom and so are the hearts of the young ones. While I was walking down our school's hallway, I could make up a couple of stares from the secret campus lovers. I mean it's not a secret anymore if you could make out their side glances at one another.
"MAIA!!!"
I turned around to see Iavan running with her backpack strapped in front of her. She was panting like crazy. I chuckled when I realized what kind of predicament she went through.
"You were late again weren't you?"
The moment she caught up to me, she just flopped down on the floor which was the answer to my question.
"The headmistress was on the gate, I could barely sneak in"
I laughed at her and helped her stand up before taking her hand. Together we walked until we finally reached our room.
Inside we could see Miisa, soul etched on the book she was reading. She was so focused on it that she barely noticed us placing our bags on our desks, which were near her.
I took a peek at what she was reading and smiled when I saw that she was reading a romance novel again. Something that Iavan grimaced at.
"Earth to Miisa, hello"
Iavan waved her hand in front of Miisa's face which the latter slapped out of the way.
"I'm on the climax Iavan, stop pissing me off"
Instead of stopping, however, Iavan took Miisa's book and read aloud the line that I think she said was the climax.
"And that was when I had realized.
It was a dream. Another reality where our paths would never cross.
A story where we can't hurt each other anymore.
A line where neither of us will cross."
Before Iavan could finish reading, Miisa took the book from her hands and shut it close. Her face was annoyed but instead of shouting at Iavan, she just let out a sigh.
"Iavan, if you don't want romance then don't limit it to yourself, you imbecile"
I chuckled. Others might find her words too harsh but that was just how she normally talks to the two of us.
"Love is a fleeting moment and romance is certainly something utterly useless."
Not entirely wrong.
"Love is about finding a person who will be both your companion and friend and lover. It's like a full package where you don't need to exert that much effort to find"
But not entirely right too.
I sat down at my table and watched the two of them argue about what love is. I rested my head on my hand and looked outside.
The trees were swaying with the wind. Amidst the bickering of Iavan and Miisa, you could hear loud happy cheers from everyone below and our other classmates.
"It's peaceful"
I blurted out and instantly felt Iavan and Miisa's gaze land on me. I glanced at them and smiled.
"It's such a wonderful feeling to just be free and at peace isn't it?"
The two looked at each other before looking back at me once again.
"What the hell, that just sounded like something straight out of a comic book"
I laughed at them and just closed my eyes. It's serene, moments like this just keep me happy and at peace. I don't care if my life is boring, as long as it's peaceful then that much is enough for me.
After school hours, Miisa's dad, Uncle Sei went to pick up her only daughter. I bid them both goodbye and started heading the other way. Iavan was caught up in detention the headmistress caught her being late this morning. So her marathon-like sprint was all for naught.
Near my house, there was an old park that was rarely being used by children. Since this next generation had been too focused on online games and mobile phones. Parks like this one go unnoticed. Even if they did see it, they'd just pass by it since it's not aesthetically pleasing to the eyes.
But, the cool breeze and the relaxing sensation of the park can't be compared to anything.
I sat on one of the swings there and took out the book that I was planning on reading earlier.
Coincidentally, it was the same book that Miisa was reading.
It was about a girl who had several dreams all about her or at least the her that exists in a parallel dimension. It's a fantasy, romance kind of novel so it hooked a lot of people not to say the least, young adults.
I started reading it but was immediately interrupted when a baseball hat landed just by my feet.
I closed my book and leaned down to reach it.
"Hi sorry that's mine"
I looked up to the person to whom the voice belonged. Holy cow, he's handsome. I felt myself staring at him while clutching the baseball hat that I was holding.
"Uhm"
I snapped back at reality and what I saw was a face where worries were etched all over his face. Before I could ask why I felt my throat stiffen. Like a huge block was holding back my words. That was when I felt the tears running down my face one at a time, all at a fast pace.
"Huh? Oh I'm sorry"
I took my handkerchief from the pocket of my skirt and wiped my eyes.
What the hell was wrong with me.
Not to mention that I was making a fool of myself.
"I'm sorry I don't know what happened honestly"
It was a moment that went into a blur, he closed the distance between the two of us and embraced me. His warm body closed on my smaller form. I could make out his cologne mixed with his sweat.
And I don't know why but he felt familiar.
"Uhm hey"
"Like a dream from faraway"
A dream from faraway?
"I knew you. Atleast another me knew you. I dreamt of you, but it was painful and heartbreaking. Im probably creeping you out right now but it just feels perfect."
There was a theory. The theory from the book that I was reading. That parallel worlds exist but in every other world, different versions of yourself exist. Different past, different present, and different future. But, once in a while, something extraordinary happens.
As he pull away from me, I realized that I'm experiencing that miracle-like happening.
There is one thing that is constant throughout the world. A connection forms when that constant thing is achieved, fulfilled, or met.
And this man, in another world, in another life, I knew him.
No, I could still hear his name being called. It was in the back of my mind.
It was a name that was engraved on my memory.
"Damian"