It is just another ordinary day for almost everyone, but it is different for Alice Meyers.
Today, December 21, 2023, is her eighteenth birthday. She can finally move out of her parent's house and live on her own. Having saved enough money through part-time jobs as a commercial model and an extra in various movies, Alice feels a sense of independence. However, she doesn’t have many real friends—just acquaintances or people who want to be close to her, but she keeps them at arm's length.
Johnson Taylor and Odette Sanchez are the childhood friends she cherishes. The three of them have known each other since they were five years old and attended the same school. Alice isn’t the friendly type; she often feels different from them and worries that they would think she’s weird if they ever learned about her true self. To her, she is a freak with extrasensory perception. In addition, she can make things happen when her emotions are particularly intense.
Her only two friends remain unaware of this hidden part of her life.
“Happy birthday!” Her parents, along with the Taylors and the Sanchez family, who happened to be their neighbors, greeted her as soon as she entered the living room.
“Is this for real?” Alice stared at the crowd before her, having just come home and feeling genuinely surprised.
Odette rushed over and hugged her. “Happy birthday, honey!” She handed Alice an envelope. “This is my gift for you. I know you will need this.”
“Thank you, Odette.” Johnson then stepped forward and hugged her too. “Happy birthday, sweetheart. You’ll find out what my gift is… later.” He smirked, but when Alice tried to read his mind, all she could see were the various dishes laid out on the table.
One by one, the other guests took turns greeting and hugging her. Finally, her parents stepped up. “Happy birthday, dear. We love you so much; you already know that!” Her mom’s eyes glistened with tears. Alice could hear her thoughts: I’m really afraid to let her go. I hope she’ll just stay with us.
“You’re a grown woman now, and we can’t hold you back from doing what you think is best for you. Happy birthday!” her dad added. “We will always be here when you need us.”
“Uncle, auntie, this is supposed to be a happy celebration! Why don’t we all eat before the food gets cold?” Johnson chimed in, as usual, thinking about food.
“How come you are such a glutton, but it doesn’t show in your figure?” Odette asked, looking at Johnson with envy.
“Just don’t think about going on a diet on my birthday!” Alice smiled and began filling her plate. “Let’s eat, everyone. I appreciate this wonderful surprise!” she said, happily munching on pasta.
“Yeah, we know!” Gordon, Odette’s younger brother, remarked, eyeing Alice’s plate piled high with food. Laughter filled the room as everyone grabbed food and settled into their chairs.
The surprise party was a success. Eventually, the older guests left, and the younger ones continued celebrating. Hours passed, and soon all the other visitors had departed, leaving just Johnson behind.
“Hey, remember what I told you earlier about my gift?” he asked Alice.
“Of course, I remember!” she replied, gazing at his handsome face. Hmm, I’ll try not to read his mind. I love surprises! she thought to herself.
“Come with me, then!” He took her hand and led her to his car.
“Where are we going?” she asked casually.
“You’ll see.” She sensed his excitement but didn’t press further.
Johnson drove for over an hour, and Alice eventually fell asleep during the journey. In her dream, she saw Odette running naked in the streets.
“Alice, help me!” Odette’s desperate cries pierced through the dream. Alice wanted to hug her and offer her the jacket she wore, but a crowd chased Odette, intent on harming her. Alice could hear their thoughts: Kill her! Kill her! Kill, kill…! She tried to run after Odette, but it felt as if she was moving in slow motion, floating helplessly in the air. Tears streamed down her face.
“Sweetheart, wake up. We’re already here!” Johnson’s voice pulled her back to reality. He noticed the tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong? I thought you were sleeping.”
“I fell asleep, but I had this weird dream about Odette,” she confessed.
Alice could interpret dreams, a talent she kept secret from everyone, including Johnson and Odette. She understood the significance of her dreams but often dismissed them, leaving everything to fate and destiny.
“You know dreams often mean the opposite. If you dream of being poor, it usually means you’ll be rich. Just don’t take it too seriously; sometimes they don’t mean anything at all.” Johnson waved his hand dismissively.
“Come on, let’s go, and I’ll show you something!” He got out of the car, and Alice followed.
As she looked around, she realized they were in a garage. A gate and a small garden caught her attention, and when she turned, she saw a beautiful house. “Oh my! Where are we?”
“Just shut up and let’s go inside!” Johnson laughed, unlocking the front door and pulling her in excitedly.
They walked through a spacious living room and climbed a staircase that led to a bedroom. When the door opened, Alice’s eyes widened in amazement. The room was adorned with purple wallpaper, and a small bookshelf sat on one side. The bed was covered with a galaxy-inspired blanket and matching pillow covers.
A glass door on the other side led to a balcony, and the ceiling appeared to be made of thick glass, revealing the bright moon and stars outside. It had an automatic cover and uncover function operated by remote control.
“Do you love it? This is my surprise for you!” Johnson beamed.
“I love it! This is my dream room!” Alice felt a surge of happiness and began to think it was time to open up to her friends without fear of their reactions. Now that she was eighteen, it was time to let her friends in and treat them as true friends, free of secrets.
“My dad bought this house for me after learning that I applied for a scholarship at the university. He said the house was affordable and would be perfect for when we start college.” Johnson explained as he opened the door to another room.
This room was similar to the first, though decorated differently. “Remember when we were in kindergarten and our teacher asked us to draw our dream house?” That was nearly thirteen years ago, but Alice knew Johnson had a remarkable memory.
“Yes, of course I remember. A lot of our classmates wanted the same house I drew,” she smiled.
“It inspired me too, and I promised myself that when we grew older, we would have the same house. For now, you and Odette won’t need to rent. We’ll all go to the same university and live in this house until we start building our careers or businesses.” Johnson was optimistic about their future.
“You’re embarrassing me. I know your family is wealthy, but did you tell them about your plans? About me and Odette living here?” she asked, already knowing the answer but asking out of formality.
She was aware that Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were kind and generous, so there would be no issues. Both she and Johnson were only children, but her family wasn't as affluent.
Johnson waved his hand dismissively. “As if you don’t know how nice they are, just like me.” He chuckled.
“Oh yeah, I know you’ve been nice since we were kids—when you tried to bully me several times!” Alice retorted.
“Hey! I’m not a bully. I just wanted us to be friends, but you were such a snob back then!” he shot back.
“What do you mean, snob? I’m not snobbish!” Alice sat on the bed, grabbed a pillow, and tossed it at Johnson.
“Oh, you want a pillow fight, huh?” he laughed, throwing the pillow back at her. Alice suddenly raised her hands in surrender.
“I surrender, I surrender!” she yelled, laughing.
Johnson sat on the bed too and was suddenly tackled by Alice, causing him to lie beneath her. “You cheater! I knew you had tricks up your sleeve!” He began rolling on the bed, trying to flip her over. They had always had these wrestling matches since childhood, but Johnson wondered why Alice was so strong, even as a girl. She remained surprisingly strong, despite his efforts to build a muscular body.
As they laughed and played, Alice suddenly saw a vision: Johnson’s face was covered in blood, with a gaping hole in the center of his forehead. Horror washed over her, and she cried out in terror, her beautiful face reflecting the shock. Tears instantly filled her eyes as she stared at Johnson.
Feeling her distress, Johnson looked back at her, concern etched on his face. Alice shook her head vigorously and composed herself, asking where the bathroom was.
“There’s a bathroom in this room, just like your future room,” he replied, pointing to a door near the study table. There she goes again—just as we’re having fun, she withdraws. Is it a sin for her to enjoy herself so much? Johnson thought to himself.
Alice hurried to the bathroom, her heart racing as she splashed cold water on her face. She couldn't shake the image from her vision—Johnson's bloodied forehead haunted her thoughts. I don’t have to tell him about this. He might think I’m a freak! she chided herself. Taking a deep breath, she calmed her mind and emerged from the bathroom with a smile, despite the turmoil inside.“I’m sorry, it must be the alcohol. I suddenly felt like I needed to vomit,” she said, embarrassed, knowing she was lying through her teeth.“Well, why don’t you come here and let’s do some star-gazing? We’ll just go home later,” Johnson said, patting the space beside him on the bed.“Okay.” She lay down beside him and gazed at the galaxy through the glass roof of the room.“Get some rest first, then we’ll leave later.” They lay in comfortable silence, watching the stars, Alice feeling a deep connection to the universe. She marveled at the movement of the moon and the stars until she spotted a shooting star.Sh
Johnson was already waiting for Odette and Alice when they arrived at the house where the three of them would live. He had said goodbye to his parents earlier that morning, making him the first to move into the house.Odette stepped out of her car first and grabbed her suitcase from the trunk. “It’s good to have a very rich friend! Now we don’t have to pay rent!” she said loudly to Alice.“Hey, who said you’re not going to chip in?” Johnson interjected. “Since I’m providing the house rent-free, you two should handle the food, utilities, and other bills. Haha!”“No problem, we’ll take care of everything else,” Alice replied. She didn’t have a credit card yet but had plenty of money in her savings account linked to a debit card. She had no plans to get a credit card since she could always use her debit card.Among the three friends, none of them lacked money. Although Odette’s family was large, her parents were financially well-off, running a successful real estate business with projects
"Hey guys, dinner will be ready in a few minutes!" Johnson shouted from the kitchen. He was preparing vegetable salad and buffalo wings with garlic butter sauce. He also made a fresh fruit beverage, blending it in the kitchen.The mention of food made Alice's mouth water instantly. She realized they hadn’t eaten anything during their shopping trip. She left the room and decided to help Johnson with dinner. She set out plates on the table and sat on the dining chair, watching her friend cook the buffalo wings."It smells delicious!" Odette exclaimed as she came out of her room and headed straight into the kitchen. "What are you cooking?" she asked."It's for me to know and for you to find out!" Johnson smirked.He knew that whatever he cooked would be delicious. It was like an inborn talent for him. He could whip up meals from scratch that tasted like something from a fine dining restaurant."Hmm, I can’t wait. Let me have an appetizer first," Odette said, trying to sip the spicy chicke
“Why are you so nervous?” Johnson asked, eyeing Alice with a teasing grin.“If it was someone else, I wouldn’t feel this shy. But you’re like a brother to me—of course, it feels awkward at first,” Alice said defensively.“What? You’d rather kiss a stranger?” Johnson asked incredulously.“That’s not what I meant!” she exclaimed. “It’s just that those actors are co-workers, and I guess they’re used to scenes like this. But you… you’re different!” She avoided his gaze.“Oh, so I’m special?” Johnson teased.“Of course! You and Odette are special to me—we’ve known each other all our lives,” she blurted out, thinking, I know your secrets, but you don’t know mine yet.“I see,” Johnson replied, although her answer didn’t completely satisfy him. Still, he was excited to help Alice practice, especially the romantic scenes. As they practiced, during the last kiss, Johnson got carried away and kissed Alice for several minutes. She, too, got swept up in the moment, letting him lay her down on the b
"Okay, let's go," he said, guiding her toward the van. His manager glanced at them but didn’t react. He was used to Corey bringing girls into the van to pass the time while waiting for his next scene. As long as the girls weren’t clingy or a threat to his career, it was fine by him.Once Odette and Corey entered the van, Odette was immediately impressed. "Oh, this is so cool! I love customized vehicles! It feels like a home away from home," she said, noticing how comfortable the bed in the back looked.Corey followed her and said, "Yeah, it's super convenient, especially when the set is far away or when I'm waiting between scenes. Want to try it out?" He headed toward the bed."Sure!" Odette said, flattered, as she sat down beside him.When Corey lay down, he gestured for her to lie beside him. "You should feel how comfortable it is. It's easier to chat when we're relaxed." He patted the space next to him.Odette didn't hesitate. She lay beside him, and they began to chat for a bit. Mo
Alice woke to the sound of a rooster crowing outside, signaling the break of dawn. She sat up, feeling a slight headache. To her surprise, she was on a bamboo bunk bed, with Odette still fast asleep beside her. Across the room, Johnson lay on a single bamboo bed, also asleep."What the…!" Alice exclaimed as she looked down at herself. She was dressed in an old-fashioned printed skirt that reached her mid-calf, paired with a cotton blouse with a simple round neck. Odette wore a similar outfit, and Johnson was clad in what appeared to be a collarless polo shirt and old trousers.Looking around, Alice realized they were no longer in their familiar surroundings. The room was entirely made of wood, and voices outside caught her attention."I’m afraid the Japanese will take over the whole country, and the Americans won’t be able to stop them," said a man."Do you think the American we saved is a soldier?" a woman replied.Alice instinctively tried to use her powers to figure out what was hap
Once the family stepped outside, Odette and Johnson immediately began bombarding Alice with questions. They fired them off one after another, barely giving her a moment to think. Overwhelmed, Alice raised her hands in surrender."Wait, wait! Let me ask you something first," she said, looking at Odette. "What’s the last thing you remember before you both woke up?"Odette responded quickly. "We were in your room, and you were about to tell us something about the secret you kept mentioning.""Yeah," Johnson chimed in. "You said you'd share your secret, but then suddenly, you looked so shocked and started crying. That’s the last thing I remember.""Alright, I’ll tell you what really happened," Alice said, feeling a pang of guilt for not revealing the truth earlier. "I didn’t want you to think I was a freak, but it’s necessary now because I saw both of you in grave danger." She looked at them apologetically.Odette's face softened, though she seemed hurt. "Whatever it is, we’re your friends
“Supper is ready!” Rosa shouted from the kitchen.“Is it going to be rice again?” Odette asked the young men.“Of course, there will be rice at every meal,” Pedro answered.“It’s the main food here in the Philippines—rice or corn, and sometimes potatoes or sweet potatoes,” Isagani informed them.“It’s all carbs. I don’t want to get fat!” Odette looked horrified as she imagined herself eating all these carbohydrate-heavy foods.“Carbs? What’s that?” Pedro asked.“Uhm... I mean, isn’t all that food going to make you fat?” she said, embarrassed.“We balance our food with fruits and vegetables, and with everything going on right now, it’s impossible for us to get fat! Hahaha!” Pedro laughed at her reddened face.“Besides, you’re not fat. Anyone who says you are must be blind!” he added, stealing a glance at Odette’s body from head to toe.Odette’s face grew even redder upon hearing those flattering words from the young man. “I know, right?” she laughed, pretending to be self-confident, tho
When they arrived in California in the early 1960s, they didn’t just cross an ocean, they crossed into an entirely new version of themselves. The paperwork was processed slowly, over weeks, and interviews and translations and signatures that Ramon didn’t understand but trusted Simon to guide.On one particular form, Ramon was asked his family name again. The immigration officer, tired and thick-accented himself, looked up and said, “Do you want to keep the old spelling? We can Anglicize it.”Ramon blinked. “Anglicize?”“Make it easier for Americans to pronounce,” the officer said, already halfway through typing.Simon looked at his father. “We can change it, if you want.”Ramon glanced at Marisa, at his sons, at Leonora who nodded once. A future was waiting, and it needed a name.“Taylor,” Ramon said. “We’ll be the Taylor family now.”The officer nodded and finished typing.And just like that, it was done.Pedro, legally became Peter Taylor.The name felt strange at first, like a suit
In the days after the wedding, after the time slip and the letter from Tomas, Alice finally began to breathe again.For the first time in years, the world felt like it was shifting under her feet, not because she was time-traveling but because she was finally grounded.And somehow, as all the loose ends of their wild, overlapping journeys began to settle, her mind and heart came full circle, back to Johnson.They had known each other since childhood. They were both stubborn, fiercely competitive, and raised on discipline and quick reflexes.They trained martial arts side by side, trained under the same instructors, and earned their belts on the same mats. As teenagers, they sparred in tournaments and sometimes walked home with matching bruises and matching trophies.They had always been close, even before magic and time travel turned Alice’s world into something only he could understand. Johnson has loved her since their childhood when everyone else thought Alice was weird and anti-s
The sound of laughter faded like a dream.For a moment, everything was light... Leonora’s arms wrapped around her, Pedro’s promise still echoing in the night air, the scent of sampaguita filling her lungs. The glow of lanterns, the feel of bare earth beneath her heels, it was all there.And then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone.The lanterns became Edison bulbs. The laughter turned to modern chatter. The floral scent gave way to the sharp tang of city air and grilled skewers.Alice opened her eyes and blinked.She was back in Pasadena.Back in 2024.And... she was sitting on the same chair, beneath the same string of lights at Fernando and Odette’s wedding reception. Only seconds had passed for the people around her.Her champagne glass still sat on the table, full. Her plate of untouched food was still warm.The music continued playing, and no one seemed to have noticed her absence.No one except Johnson.He had turned just in time to see her blink strangely, her eyes suddenly gl
The church bells were still echoing faintly through the trees as guests made their way from the small church in Tipas to the reception at Ramon's house. The modest home had been transformed into a wedding wonderland: the entire front yard covered with strings of capiz lanterns, white curtains billowing gently in the afternoon breeze, and long tables lined with woven banig runners, fresh flowers, and candleholders fashioned from hollowed coconut shells.Children dashed under the tables, roosters crowed from behind the bamboo fence, and neighbors arrived bearing food wrapped in banana leaves, bowls of ice, and stories to share.A bamboo arch wrapped with palm fronds and sampaguita marked the entrance. The smell of roasting pork, fresh lumpia, and sweet coconut drifted in the air like a call to gather.Alice stood off to the side for a moment, taking it all in. Time travel had never felt quite this… alive.“I forgot how vivid it all was,” she whispered to herself, hands clasped tightly i
Days passed quietly in Johnson and Alice’s lives but not in the household of the Sanchez family.Odette sat on the wooden bench just outside her parents’ house, twisting the edge of her skirt with trembling fingers. Fernando stood beside her, tall, tense, eyes darting between her and the half-opened door where angry voices spilled out.“I still can’t believe this,” her mother was saying, for what felt like the hundredth time. “You’re pregnant? And he’s a foreigner?”Odette winced.“He’s not just some foreigner, Mom,” she said loudly, trying to stay composed. “I love him.”“You barely know him,” her father thundered from inside. “And you expect us to just smile and clap while you get married to someone who can’t even tell where he came from?”Odette squeezed Fernando’s hand. “Just let me talk to them.”After a few more minutes of raised voices and family tension, her parents finally came outside—her mother pursing her lips tightly, her father eyeing Fernando like he was the cause of ev
2024In the stillness of the night, Alice twisted under her sheets, a faint crease of worry etched between her brows. Her breath was uneven, caught somewhere between sleep and panic. The dream had returned—but this time, it was more vivid than ever.She was not in her room anymore. She was standing in a dimly lit alley that reeked of urine and old sweat. The air was heavy. Thick. The kind that clung to your skin and didn’t let go.And there was Leonora.Beautiful. Broken.She stood near the edge of the alley, barefoot, bruised, and trembling in a thin, torn dress. Her hair, once jet black and glossy, was now matted and dulled by grime and blood. Her eyes—those eyes Alice knew so well—were hollow. But they flickered, faintly, with something deep underneath: rage, shame, fear, and a sliver of hope that refused to die.Then Alice saw her.Corazon.Still alive.Still poisonous.She stood a few meters away, counting thick wads of pesos with one hand and holding a small ledger with the othe
Simon stood on the steps of the barracks, gripping the edge of the railing like it might steady his nerves. The sun was just breaking over the Clark Airfield compound, casting long shadows across the jeep parked near the mess hall. Nathan, wiping grease from his hands after an early inspection run, looked up with a furrowed brow.“You okay?” he asked. “You look like you just got drafted again.”Simon scratched the back of his head. “I need a favor.”Nathan narrowed his eyes. “Let me guess. It involves a girl.”Simon laughed nervously. “Yeah. Leonora.”“Figured. What is it?”“I want to go to Tipas. Not just to visit,” Simon said, standing straighter. “I want to meet her family. Do it the right way. Ask for their blessing.”Nathan raised his eyebrows. “So you’re going full ‘suitor from the provinces’ now?”Simon grinned. “Apparently there’s a whole tradition—harana, pamanhikan, everything. I’ve been reading, practicing my Tagalog... failing at it.”Nathan crossed his arms, smirking. “Yo
The early morning haze still lingered over the rice paddies when Pedro found Leonora barefoot in the field behind Ramon’s house, her hands cupped around a wounded kingfisher. Dew glistened on the leaves, catching the pale gold light of sunrise. Pedro watched as she whispered something under her breath. A soft glow flickered from her palms, and within seconds, the kingfisher’s wing straightened with a crack that sounded more like relief than pain.It chirped once, flapped its wings, and took off into the sky.“You could’ve told me you were leaving before dawn,” Pedro called out.Leonora glanced back with a faint smile. “You were still asleep. And you snore like a bull carabao.”Pedro scoffed, approaching with a lazy grin. “You’ve been hanging around Ramon too long. You’re starting to sound like family.”Leonora shrugged, brushing dirt from her skirt. “Maybe I am.”Their bond had shifted over the last few months—not romantic, not quite friendship either. Something rooted deeper. He was
1953.Pedro groaned as he sat up on the damp earth, brushing off leaves and bits of moss from his shirt. Around him, the air smelled of pine and fresh rain, and the faint chirping of birds replaced the oppressive silence of Corazon’s mansion. A low hum of magical residue lingered in the air, fading quickly. Leonora knelt nearby, her hands glowing faintly as she steadied herself."Are you alright?" she asked, her voice steadier than before."I’ve had better landings," Pedro muttered, wincing. "But yes. You?"Leonora looked down at her hands, her brows furrowing. "I feel... different. Stronger. The dungeon must have suppressed my powers. But now... it’s like they’re waking up."She reached out to touch the bark of a tree beside her. As her fingers met the rough surface, the wilted moss covering its roots began to glow with gentle green light, slowly rejuvenating. Flowers bloomed at its base within seconds.Pedro watched, wide-eyed. "You’re healing the forest."Leonora stepped back, awe