Chapter 2

Lava was their volleyball team's former manager back in high school. Right after they won the spring tournament, Crowfire seniors left the volleyball club and they, first year and second years took over. The third years left include Scarlet, their regular manager, Thor, Hammer, and Thunder. Lava took over being the regular manager of the club. She had been really close to those boys especially on Tom who was her first friend.

Right after they graduated high school, by coincidence, Lava and Tom attended the same college. Since it is closer to their houses, every afternoon they tend to go home together.

What happened is not always happening. Lava always trying to refrain her words on Tom. She knows, scolding him will only worsen his condition since he didn't mean this fate to happen nor he didn't do something responsible for this. She knew he didn't. Instead, he pushed himself to his limits. But there are two outcomes if Tom never took a bit of rest from his frustrations, total breakdown or going beyond his boundaries.

But today, she didn't hold control.

Tom's agony in college will be soon over. He has to overtake it before it marks on him for the rest of his life. It will be a mark that will remind of him about this, the anguish he never had beaten away. She thought, he has to play volleyball again, to bring himself back.

He has to, or he will never wanted to anymore. He will never be that high-spirited boy she first knew ever again.

"I know!" Lava yelled. " I know one, Tom!"

Tom turned to her and looked at her. He just paused and never speak.

"We could visit the well at the sun shrine. You only need to pay 5 cents for the entrance fee." Lava said quietly, almost mumbling.

She knew it was a weird and helpless idea, but she never really know what to say. She looked at him, slowly lifting her head, expecting his annoyed face. But she was wrong. Tom is still looking at her, blankly, as if nothing came from her.

He spoke soft but she still heard, "If that will make you stop worrying about me, then let's go."

The two of them walked in complete silence. Lava holds her bike while Tom still had his hands in his pockets. No one instigated a conversation. For Lava, this silent walk with Tom is not new since it has been four years they are together. And yet, today is quite different.

After few more streets, they reached the foot of the hilltop and a grand staircase where up above was the sun shrine and its famous well.

"Do you know the myths of the multiverse, Tom? Lava finally spoke as they walk upon the staircase. He did not answer. She continued, "According to history, some people accounted to travel in a different world, and then returning back. It is hard to believe but people had fun with it."

Tom darted his eyes on her. She still speaks while looking on the steps.

"People built shrines for them to simply commemorate history. But for some, they believe it is the gateway to another world, a portal through that multiverse." Lava said. She smiled. "But then, they are just stories, myths that people like to talk about."

Tom just nodded.

Not longer a moment, they reached the end of the hill top. The sun shrine stood in front of them. Though dusk passed, many visitors are still ambling around and looking for stuff. Some of their schoolmates are dating and some are just eating.

Lava pulled Tom towards the famous wishing well and looked the dark abyss below.

"Alright. Let us get this over with. Hold your breath then scream." Lava instructed, while acting what she was saying.

"I know, Lava." He said.

"I wish Tom could play volleyball again. But more than that, I wish he could be himself again, that jolly inspiring person I first met in Crowfire." Lava screamed down the well.

"Lava." Tom paused for a moment. He nailed his eyes on her after hearing her words. People started to look at them.

He gripped his hands and closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes and mumbled over himself.

"I could play volleyball again." he said quietly. The popping sound reverberated.

After that, the two of them looked each other. Lava smiled on him. For the first time in that moment, Tom gave her back a smile on his face.

They eventually left the shrine and holding each other's hand.

"I want for today Tom is to see you smile." Lava said while walking.

 "Thanks for that, Lava. See you tomorrow." Tom said softly.

They left each other in one of the street intersections towards home.

For now, Tom was lying on his bed. He was pillowing his arms while looking their wooden ceiling. That gave him time to think for things.

He couldn't sleep, thinking what he and Lava did. He knows, Lava will do everything to help him since their telling of wishes is the way of telling a promise. Could he really be causing her much trouble? He knew he was. He knew Lava did so much effort to make him feel alright. The least he could do was be happy, eased for a while for her. He hoped she'll be okay. He turned and pillowed his arms.  

Multiverse. The word struck his mind. He wondered what is it. It is just a story. What Lava told him was just myths. He remembered his mythology class in school, and that is all it is.  Yet, something strange bugged him after he went to the sun shrine. He thought, could there be a parallel worlds beyond their knowledge that those legendary ones resembling people in his world actually exist. He thought he may exist in other worlds as the little giant in form of legends or any other materialize stuff.

Who knows? Could it be that the shrines can be a gateway to another world? Ridiculous questions hit his head. He knows it wasn't really logical in his perspective but he wondered it might really be a part of their reality.

His frustrations took him too much beyond normal reason.

He knew he has to play volleyball again. More than anything he could do, more than anywhere he could be, he still pictures out in his head, he was playing volleyball.

Until things he never realized to happen came, devouring him out of the last piece of his sanity.

He felt his existence wasn't right. As if that world is not really his own.