"Okay, everyone. Let's welcome your new classmate from now on," Said the teacher with a warm smile.
"Come on, introduce yourself to the class. They are good kids just little troublesome," she added.
Okay here goes nothing. "Hello, everyone. good afternoon my name is Miguel Alon Santiago" I said to the class, trying my hide my nervousness.
" Hey, there's our new classmate. What do you think he likes to do" whispered one of the students to their friend, stealing curious glances.
"Okay, now can you tell me about yourself, if it's just okay to you?" she added warmly after my introduction.
"Umm... yeah, it's fine," I replied, trying to stay composed.
"So, umm... I come from the province. We just moved here to Manila," I started hesitantly, my eyes scanning the room as I spoke.
"My hobbies are drawing and sketching things I think are interesting or beautiful to look at. I play sports like basketball and biking.
I also do music—I've been learning guitar and piano, but I'm just a beginner. I've only been playing for a year, and I can sing... averagely."
I paused for a second, noticing a few curious looks from my classmates. "Oh, and I'm also learning how to make a game.
That's all, I guess. Oh—and I know my appearance might seem a little scary, but I promise I'm a good guy. Ha... ha... ha..." I forced out an awkward laugh, feeling my cheeks flush slightly.
Okayyyy, that was super awkward. Did I just accidentally boast about myself to the whole class? Ha... ha. Oh boy, this is going great.
+++++++++
Okay, so i know you're probably wondering what's happening.
Let me start from the beginning, It all started after i finished playing the game "Until Then" for the tenth time. Yup, you read that right - the tenth time. And guess what? I still tear up every single time i hit those heavy moments in the game- the ending, the flashbacks scenes.... You know the ones i'm talking about.
I've fallen completely in love with the story of the game.
The characters, the locations ( Okay maybe I'm biased as a fellow Filipino, Haha) But of course i am just happy that their is a Philippines based game.
The way they develop each scene and make the flow of the story feel so smooth and the plot twist shocking and gives you goosebumps.
The art style? Stunning. And the characters.... Wow. they nailed it. How they face their problems and failures and grow. Each one of them has this symphonic impact on the audience. You just feel for them. y'know? How they incorporated the culture, values and beliefs- it;s so authentic, it makes you proud to see it represented.
I love every aspect of the game. But if there's one thing i wish they'd differently, It's the final ending in the Tadhana Cafe (Tadhana means fate or destiny) Like, why couldn't Mark and Nicole become each other's date in the Final scene? Like what the F they become each other partners in Hundred lifetimes.
I mean, they deserve their happiness too right? Honestly, I've thought about it a lot- and i wish i could just be isekai'd into the world of this game. Imagine being there, seeing it all unfold and somehow give them the ending the ending they deserve. Ha, a wild thought, i know. But hey as a fan i can dream.
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As i finally finished playing the game and about to quit the game, my laptop that i've been faithfully for the past four years decided to give up in the most dramatic way possible. BOOM. it exploded.
The next thing that i knew. is that i wake up to the sounds of rain tapping against the window. i was in a car from what i know we don't have a car though. I just realized i was sitting into the backseat of the car with boxes of things. facing the window streaked with raindrops, my reflection faint and unfamiliar road. with my reflection faint and unfamiliar.
The sky outside was gray, the streets are wet and the glistening under the dim light of the afternoon. people hurried by, Umbrellas shielding them from the downpour. It felt.... strange. Familiar, yet it was not.
I glanced at the driver at front of me. a face i didn't recognize, dark hair, focused eyes, hands gripping the steering wheel with practiced ease. No words were exchange, but the car hummed steadily as we moved through the rainy streets. My heart raced. where was I ? who was this? and most importantly where in the world i am.
Just as I finished that thought, a sudden flash of memories hit me like a tidal wave. It was so overwhelming, like every fragment of a forgotten life was being forced to my brain all at once. I wanted to scream to throw up in the window of the car, but i held it in. After what felt like an eternity, the intensity began to subside, leaving me dazed and gasping for air.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed the man in the driver's seat my dad, or at least who i knew was supposed to be my dad, glance over at me with his brows furrowed in concern.
"Are you okay, Miguel?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with worry
"I'm fine, Dad, thanks for asking. just a little headache" I reply, trying to keep my voice steady despite the lingering fog in my mind.
He glanced to me again while driving, his hand tightening slightly on the steering wheel. " I know that you're probably still struggling to move on... about your mom missing..... and now..... with the Ruling destroying our house," He said, his voice heavy with worry.
There was a pause as he forced a smile, trying to mask the unease in his tone." But don't worry. Dad got a new job that pays good in the city. We still have some money saved thanks to your mother's planning."
He chuckled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"I know, Dad, I know," I said, furrowing my brow as I glanced at him."And that's.... good."(Mom is Missing? w-what, The Ruling? Isn't that the catastrophe that almost ended the world in the game, the natural yet unnatural phenomena, it just came crashing without any warning?) The realization hit me like a wave, chilling and undeniable. " I am in the World of Until Then)
The car fell into an awkward silence, the rain pattering sofly against the windows as we drove through the unfamiliar streets. My dad didn't sa anything more, and i couldn't bring myself to speak and ask questions for the moment, as every passing moment solidified the truth that this wasn't my world this was their but now it was mine.
Finally, we pulled into the driveway of what i assume would be our new home: simple, unassuming, just a regular house. As the engine quieted, I noticed that the rain had stopped. The sun broke through the clouds painting the sky with streaks of golds and orange, like it was welcoming us to this new chapter. A surreal calm washed over me, But beneath it was the unmistakable sense that something profound was about to begin.
++++++++++++
The morning sun filtered through the windows of the classroom as I stood at the front, every pair of eyes fixed on me.
My heart raced, and my palms were clammy, but there was no turning back now. The teacher motioned for me to begin.
"Okay, everyone, let's welcome your new classmate. Come on, introduce yourself," the teacher said.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to smile. "Hello, everyone. My name is Miguel Alon Santiago. You can either call me Miguel or by my surname, Santiago."
The teacher chuckled, breaking the tension. "Thank you, Miguel. Let's give him a warm welcome, class."
The students clapped politely, and I quickly made my way to an empty seat near the back. As I sat down, I couldn't help but wonder if anyone could tell how nervous I was.
(This is it. My new life in the world of Until Then. Now... what do I do next?)
++++++++++==
That's it. ohh Yeah, i also found that i have a system. but thats for another chapter. : )