CHAPTER 6: REUNION

My mental stability is all over the place, it's like I'm gonna explode any time now.

Anger, rage, confusion, sadness, and loss, every bad emotion is flowing through my veins. Suddenly, something felt, different.

A weird and warm sensation and then I realized that I was glowing again, is this what a god feels?

All these emotions are the catalyst to my power.

I heard a voice, from the second he spoke, everything was cold and dark like time stopped for that exact moment he said those words

"Do it."

I didn't even care who it was, it's a sign.

I was glowing and glowing to the point where rocks are melting, the water is evaporating and everything is burning.

All I wanted was to go home and be normal but you put me in this misery, and you'll pay the price.

"TAAAKE MEEE HOOOOME!!"

I heard Lakanbakod, he is trying to me.

"Paul, Stop! The sun is getting brighter, you'll burn everything alive!"

"I DOOOOOON'T CAAAAAAAAAAAAARE!!"

If I can't have a happy life, then no one will.

This is the end of me and everything in this shitty world.

Let's see if your prayers can save your asses.

Then a very bright light appeared, like a star, a floating star.

I know I'm glowing but this feels, soft and warm.

Out of that light, something appears. It's a man, an old but beautiful man. The beard speaks to itself.

The moment he stepped down on the floor, everything went back to normal. The Deities bowed down like he's some kind of king or something.

"MAHAL NA B-"

"SHHH"

The room seems so serious and glorious at the same time, it's like Queen Elizabeth just entered the room.

I really don't know who this is, and I don't why I feel so, nostalgic.

"WHO THE HELL ARE Y-"

With the rise of his finger, he stopped whatever was happening.

The leaves stopped falling, everything else just stopped moving.

He put his hand on my shoulder and told me one word.

"Anak"

My whole life was flashing through my eyes.

Random images appeared out of nowhere in one moment, one second, it felt like those were memories.

It wasn't clear what it is and what is happening but it felt like they were mine.

Then suddenly, it felt cold, everything went black. Then-

<the young man was holding a dead body in a place full of corpses, the sky was red and a giant snake is going to put the whole planet inside into its mouth.>

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

...

And just like that, I was on my bed, tired with my shorts. I slapped myself as many times as possible because that felt real, super real.

"What the hell is that? Was that real, a dream or the beer?"

Went to the bathroom and started throwing up, my body feels so heavy, it really was the beer.

Someone is knocking on my door, and I keep on hesitating to open it. Maybe it's the glowing guy or whoever those crazy wizards are.

"siiiir, are you dead? open up the door"

It's just Yaya.

"uuhh sir, it's 2 in the afternoon, your lunch is getting cold."

I just nod, I feel so speechless from what I saw a while ago. It's pretty clear that it's a dream but why can't I stop thinking about it. What the hell is happening to me.

"For the millionth time man, no more beers. Pull yourself together"

Along with the million other things I promised, that's life for you.

Turned on the TV because why not then the first thing that popped was-

"BFP regarding a fire incident that transpired on the aforesaid place of an incident wherein the bar was owned by a celebrity, Steve Valencia. Fire out was declared at about 4:55 AM of the same date, no injuries have been recorded."

That was the bar where the weird stuff started. I knew each and anyone on that place that night, and one of the crazy wizard guys told me I was presumed dead. I may be reckless but I'm not stupid, this is not right.

"Breaking News, Romualdo Magat, a waiter in the said bar was indicated as the suspect of the fire burning incident."

I dropped my spoon as soon I saw the man's face, he's one of the crazy guys who's making the trees grow faster.

"NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO"

My hands were shivering, my hair in my arms are standing, at that moment I knew that what happened a while ago we're not dreams.

"Yaya, do you believe in magic or Gods or ghost or something like that?" I asked

"I think you mean, God. I don't believe in magic and ghosts but I believe in Jesus. Why?"

Of course, she does, she's a Christian. Almost all of us are Christians. An obvious answer to an obvious question.

"Well, if you keep questioning something, try to find the answer yourself."

Well fuck it, she's got a point though. I watch my Sherlock Holmes every now and then, how hard can it be?

Went to the Police Station and asked about the Roman-, romual-, who?

"there's no Romualdo Magat in this facility sir if we caught the person and sent him to jail, his name should be listed in our records."

I know they're messing with me, filthy cops.

Showed them the Report about the fire incident a while ago, but it was gone. I even searched it on the internet and everything was gone. They think I'm hallucinating.

It's no use if I keep showing no evidence even if I said I saw it with my own eyes, they're like my parents.

So I went to the bar to and

"What the-"

It's not burned, nor destroyed.

Went inside and everything seems to be okay.

Saw my so-called "friends" there, acting like they didn't leave me.

Carlos shouted: "Paul wait! C'mon man, let's drink."

"Drink?! After you left me, you want me to join you asses to drink? Screw all of you.

"Left you? When? And why?"

"Don't be stupid before I rub your face on the floor.

"We just want to hang out you dude, chill out."

"I thought you were my brothers, why did you leave me dying in that fire"

"Fire? What are yo-"

Punched that sucker in the gut, I tried to warn him.

The others tried to attack me but that gay told them to stop.

"stop being a dick man, go home, let's go back boys leave that scumbag alone."

"Who cares about you bastards anyway, YOU SHITS ARE NOTHING WITHOUT ME!"

If I had my glowing powers, I'd burn them alive.

and then I realized, I don't have anyone to rely on anymore, I'm all alone.

Riding my motorcycle while thinking about my past friends, relationships, and my parents were the most heartbreaking experience in my entire life, yeah I've been through a lot of hell but this was different. You know what they say, the ache hurts more when you love.

Heading to a bridge, I decided to end this road of misery here.

Turned right and ram into the bridge.

But time suddenly stopped again. The blood stopped dripping and I stopped falling.

...

Moments later, I'm in another place.

I was gonna die a while ago but now, there's not a scratch on my body.

These people taking pictures from the small hills.

Wait a minute, this is the Chocolate hills. I'm in Bohol.

"How did I-"

"You have a bigger purpose Paul, you are destined for greatness, and wasting your life like that is a disgrace to our family. The universe needs a new leader."

The old guy with a nice beard and Sando-shirt said to me.

I didn't understand a single word he said and it's confusing how he knows my name and what happened but I bet he's a dad for wearing crocs.

"uhh who are you and how did you-?"

"you already asked that question, and it's rude to not recognize your own father, anak."