Time & Confusion

“You’re blocking the way!” I was scolded by some random passerby before they moved around me.

Or, more like, they navigated through a sea of bodies. It was the end of a period so students and teachers alike poured in and out of the classrooms causing the hallway to become crowded.

Meanwhile, I just stood at the center of it, watching as people passed me by from every direction. That was probably why I got scolded a moment earlier.

I haven’t been standing here long since escaping from the haunted house. I was still disoriented from all that’s happened so far that I haven’t even thought of moving somewhere else. But, somebody talking to me, despite it being a complaint, pulled my mind back from the clouds.

Still, it was quite confusing to see the Eastern Building so lacking in abandoned boxes and so full of people instead, especially on the fourth floor. That is, if I didn’t somehow find myself someplace else, which would be even more baffling.

I grabbed the shoulders of the next person that came up in front of me and asked, “Which building are we in?”

It was some girl I don't know. She seemed shaken and surprised by my sudden action, but she gave an answer. She affirmed that I was, in fact, on the fourth floor of the Eastern Building.

I also asked if we were still in the university that I know of and she answered positively as well.

Still without letting her go, I asked, “What happened to the founder’s day?”

“What do you mean? That ended weeks ago.”

“Weeks? What day is today?”

My jaw dropped when I heard the answer. I was so shocked, I loosened my hold on the girl I caught and she quickly ran away from me.

Never mind the day, it was already the second week of December. It was closer to the winter break rather than the midterms. Somehow, I had jumped almost a month into the future!

However, there was still something that didn’t make sense. Why is the Eastern Building so different?

I looked to grab another person to question, but, while I was contemplating the answers given to me and the new questions that popped up, I hadn’t noticed that everyone had already taken their places in the classrooms. I was the only person left in the hallway.

Classes were also already ongoing and I didn’t want to disturb any of them, especially not at the risk of getting scolded by a lecturer, so I decided to head for the Northern Building. I could ask the first random person that I happen to meet, but, after reflecting on shaking down that girl earlier, I felt bad and embarrassed so I didn’t want to do it again. I thought it would be better if I asked someone I'm familiar with and I knew where to find them. I should be having classes right about now so that should be where they are.

I climbed down three flights of stairs in a hurry so I could reach my destination quickly. But, once I’ve made my way out of the building, I stopped on my tracks.

The sights were familiar, but it also seemed different.

On my left, I could see one of the southern buildings.

On my front is the sports field, and, past that, is the gymnasium, then the Central Building.

On my right, all I could see were the buildings from a distance. Then, beyond that, is the horizon. I wasn’t sure if I was just hallucinating, but there was supposed to be a building in that direction.

I rushed towards said direction, hoping it was just the sun playing tricks on my eyes from a distance. But, after getting past the sports field, I was met by a tall fence made of metal with no gaps or holes for me to look through.

I walked around it to find a way through and eventually found a chained and padlocked gate with a big “No Entry” sign alongside a "Hard Hat" sign. The gate was wide enough for large vehicles to pass through, but that was it. There was no entryway for pedestrians. The gate was also made from a sheet of metal so there was no peeking past it as well.

Either way, whenever I look up from any angle, I only see the sky. Whatever was behind the fence, it wasn’t as tall but it replaced the Northern Building.

Its disappearance was the least of my concerns, though.

I held my head with both hands to think.

What do I do now?

The Northern Building was where I had most of my classes with Naomi. If it’s not here, then where are the classes being held? Where can I find Naomi?

This building was also where I usually spot Ken and Marie. Where are their classes, too?

Do I look for them by combing through every classroom in the university?

I wish I had a way to contact them. Never mind that I wasn’t able to take my smartphone back from the organizers of that haunted house, I don’t even have one of their numbers memorized.

My train of thought was derailed by my stomach grumbling.

I don’t wear a wristwatch and I don’t have my phone, but the sun being past its peak tells me the time is closer to mid-afternoon. I haven’t had lunch before coming here, and I’ve missed lunchtime on this day as well.

I figured I should eat first so I could not only rest, but calm down as well. Although, the problem was I don’t know where the cafeteria is now that the building that housed it was gone, if there is still one on campus.

Despite my stomach’s complaints, I decided I would retrieve my phone first. If I recall correctly, Marie said the haunted house attraction was run by the Horror and Maze clubs. I don’t have an idea where their clubrooms are located exactly, but I at least know the building they were in, unlike Ken, Marie, Naomi or the cafeteria.

I made my way to the third floor of the Eastern Building where most of the clubs were located. Or, at least, where they were supposed to be.

I was surprised to find that there were lectures being held in the rooms there. Although, I guess, thinking about it, when there’s one whole building missing, they have to move where the classes are going to be held. Repurposing the clubrooms as classrooms made sense.

However, walking from one wing to the other, I found that all of the rooms are now classrooms. There were no signs of any club on this floor.

I went upstairs thinking that the clubrooms were moved, too. I feared they wouldn’t be there since it didn’t make sense to evict those on the third floor only to make them occupy the rooms on the higher floor.

I’ve seen the third floor clubrooms. All of them were converted from classrooms which were split by a thin wooden wall into two rooms. That enabled the university to host so many clubs and still have plenty of vacant rooms.

The fourth floor was different in that there were no renovations or modifications made to the rooms. It seemed easier to just take all the junk away from the fourth floor than to tear each of those walls if they needed more classrooms on short notice. Unless, they’ve completely done away with clubs.

To my relief, they were there on the other end of the building from where I found myself earlier. There was a row of rooms on each side of me so I slowly made my way down the hall, looking left to right, then left and back to right again, looking for a sign that says Horror Club or Maze Club.

I started from the end of the hall and, as I neared the center of the building, I became more nervous that I wouldn’t find either of them. Thankfully, I spotted the Horror Club, or rather, the Horror Society as the sign indicated, around that area.

I hesitated entering, though. I recognized the room from that time Ken and Marie pulled me in for some matchmaking game. But, I figured the floor has been given new life that whatever haunted the room was no longer there.

I knocked once and immediately got invited in, to my relief. I was worried there wouldn’t be anyone in the room.

Upon entering, I spotted a lone girl inside. She was holding a book, which gave the impression she was reading before I knocked on the door.

“I’ve been expecting you, Kat”, she said while wearing a knowing smile.

But, despite not knowing her, I didn’t flinch when she said my name. I was too nervous to talk to someone I didn't know that my mind didn’t have enough capacity to process anything else apart from the thing I came to do.

“Oh, you have?” I asked, then chuckled nervously. “Then, this should be quick. I’m looking for my phone that I left with you guys during the festival.”

“Huh? What?”

Instead, it was the girl who seemed surprised by our conversation for some reason.

“My phone”, I repeated, thinking she didn’t hear me the first time. “I left it with you guys before I entered your haunted house.”

“I-it’s not here”, she replied, stuttering a bit.

“I see, I was hoping to retrieve it so I could contact my friends”, I said, somewhat rambling. “If it’s not here, then does the Maze Club have it? If so, can you point me where their clubroom is?”

“I don’t think the Maze Society has it either considering the time we’re in right now. Also, as of the moment, your friends are probably at the mythical dungeon playing…”

“Is that so?” I said, cutting her off. “Thanks for the info!”

I then ran off.

I think I heard her telling me to wait, but I was too eager to meet a familiar face to stop and make sure. That playground she mentioned is at least fifteen minutes away even if I ran, too. Fearing they might move before I arrived, I felt the need to get there as quickly as possible.

It took longer than my estimated time to reach my destination, however. I knew of its general location thanks to Ken and Marie talking about it, but I still had to ask for directions since I’ve never been there before.

Once I arrived, I scanned the area of the playground. It was small enough that you could see each of its corners from one angle, but there were only a few people there - two men in a suits, probably taking a break as they sat and talked to each other while drinking canned coffee, and an elderly lady with a dog who was busy searching in the bushes.

The swings, the seesaws, the sandbox and the rest of the equipment were unoccupied as well.

I did not find a familiar face.

I wasn’t sure if I just missed them or I was lied to, but, either way, I was too tired from all the running to blame either my luck or that Horror Society girl. My belly also grumbled, reminding me that I haven’t fed it yet.

There was a vending machine near the bench that the two men were sitting at. I approached it and inserted money, hoping that my stomach would settle for a can of juice for the moment as I was too tired to find some place to eat. Some of the coins I inserted, though, were being rejected, which added to my frustration.

When I finally got my drink, I sat down on the empty bench on the other side of the vending machine before gulping it down. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was that I felt the need to buy a second helping. So, I stood up almost immediately after sitting down to go back to the vending machine then repeated the process. This time, I opted for water since the sugars from the juice that stuck in my mouth felt unpleasant.

Once my thirst was quenched, my body probably thought it was now time to rest so it slumped onto the bench as if I was melting into it.

The elderly lady with the dog passed by in front of me and looked in my direction disapprovingly before shaking her head. I wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but I didn’t have the energy to try and correct whatever notion she had of me as I slouched on that bench.

It wasn’t long until I could hear children’s voices coming from a distance. School must be out and the neighborhood kids are coming to play. Sure enough, a couple of kids raced through the entrance.

I thought they were a pair of boys at first. I remember my two elder brothers were always racing somewhere so I thought it was only boys who would race for no other reason than being faster than the other kid. But, the pair was a girl and a boy.

Once they’ve caught their breaths, they start arguing on who came first.

I wasn’t interested in watching them bicker so I leaned back on my seat to look up at the sky, contemplating if I should just go home. Perhaps, that should have been the first thing I did before searching for Ken and Marie, but what’s done is done.

Because my eyes were looking up, I hadn’t noticed that the two kids had approached me.

“Excuse us, auntie”, the girl said, calling to me.

That made me lean forward quickly so I could tell her, “It’s big sis, not auntie! I’m still young!”

The expression I made must have been terrible because the two of them seem to have flinched when I faced them.

“Big sis”, she corrected herself. Then, hesitatingly, she continued “You saw the two of us go through the entrance, right? Did you see who came first between me and him?”

She pointed to the boy as she asked that.

Before I could answer, he chimed in to ask me “It’s me, isn’t it?”

To which the girl immediately protested, “No, it’s me!”

The two went back and forth like that for a few times.

I silently watched the scene in front of me, amused. I found it kind of cute.

As I watched, I also thought the two reminded me of Ken and Marie when arguing about their contest's winner. In fact, the two kids in front of me seem to resemble that pair of lovers, not just in behavior, but in their faces as well. In fact, I don’t think I would be surprised if someone told me these two were their kids.

Although, that may just be my biases playing with my imagination. Besides, I don’t think I’ve gone that far into the future… Or have I?

Once the two kids had enough of their argument, they turned back to me.

“Did you see who came first?” they asked at the same time.

“To be honest, I couldn’t tell”, I replied. “I saw you both pass through the entrance at the same time.”

Both of them frowned at my answer. They seemed to have hoped I could resolve their argument. When that didn’t work, they turned to face each other to discuss what they were going to do about the result of the race.

I wasn’t interested in listening in on them this time so I slumped back onto the bench to stare at the sky. But, the two apparently weren’t done talking to me.

“Big sis, what’s wrong?” the girl asked, sounding more curious than worried. “Does your tummy hurt?”

Without waiting for me to answer his friend, the boy asked, “Did you get swindled by a man pretending to be nice to you so he could borrow money from you to fund his dreams of becoming a rock star?”

“That’s oddly specific, but, no, that didn’t happen to me”, I replied.

I couldn’t help but react to his question first.

“Then, did you realize the man of your dreams turned out to be a lazy bum who refuses to work after marrying him so you have two jobs to pay off his debts from his gambling addiction?”

“What’s up with that messed up scenario?” I commented. “And, no, that’s not it either! I’m not even married yet!”

“Then, did an older man promise to marry you once he’s divorced his current wife, but it’s been a year since he told you that and he’s still married to that old bag?”

“It doesn’t involve a man!” I replied, exasperated. “Where are you learning those things anyway?”

I wasn’t expecting an answer, but he did.

“My mom runs a salon and sometimes I hear her customers tell those stories to her”, he said.

Hearing that, he reminded me even more of Ken. His mom also ran a salon so it made me think that mothers who worked at those places bring their sons more often than I realized.

The girl, not wanting to be left out, repeated her question.

“Then, does your tummy hurt?”

“If anything, it’s my head that hurts”, I finally replied to her question.

“Why?”

“Let’s just say I’m a little lost.”

“Why?” she asked again.

“Why, you ask…”

I wasn’t sure how to explain my current situation to a kid. I barely even understand it myself.

Fortunately, their friends have arrived and called for the two so I was able to get out of answering her question. The pair then promptly excused themselves from me and went to their friends.

I thought that would be the end of my interaction with them, but it was barely a minute when the same pair ran back towards me.

“Auntie”, the boy called to me.

Before he could continue, I corrected him, “It’s big sis.”

“B-big sis”, he now said, looking intimidated.

But, instead of continuing what he was going to tell me, he turned to the girl and said, “Are you sure we can’t just pick from the trash?”

“I told you, that’s icky”, she replied, stressing that last word.

“Okay, but do we have to ask the scary auntie?”

I was contemplating cutting into their conversation because I knew he was referring to me. Though, I wasn’t sure whether to correct him again or to tell I could hear them. Either way, I held back.

“But, we need it”, the girl said.

“I know, but do we need to ask her, too?”

“Alright, I’ll do it myself”, the girl declared, sounding a bit annoyed. She then turned to me to say, “Big sis, do you want to play with us?”

“Kids, it’s probably a little late to say this, but haven’t your parents taught you not to talk to strangers, let alone invite them to play?”

“Yeah, but they only said if they’re scary adults.”

“She’s plenty scary if you ask me”, the boy commented.

I glared at him, which made him flinch.

Ironically, I probably proved his point.

The girl then continued, “You said you’re not an ‘auntie’, right? Then, that means you’re a bigger kid, right?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer her. Technically and legally, I’m already an adult, but, at the same time, I’m also still a teenager.

What I do know, however, is that I didn’t want to be called “auntie”, so I said, “Yes, I’m a bigger kid!”

“Our parents said to make friends with other kids and ask them to play with us”, she explained. Then, she pointed at the empty can of juice I had beside me and said, “And we need that to play Kick the Can.”

I was almost impressed that the two kids were being raised to be friendly people, but they just wanted my trash to play with.

Regardless, I was still invited to play with them. I thought it could be an opportunity to wind down, to forget everything that’s happened so far, so I accepted their invitation.

“By the way”, I said as I stood up with the empty can the two asked for in hand. “What are your names?”

It's been a long time since I've played Kick the Can, but I distinctly remember one of the rules is that the person who's it has to call the other players by their names. If we were going to play that game, I needed to know what I should call them with.

The girl then replied, “I'm Marie."

“I'm Ken”, the boy answered next.

My eyes widened after hearing their names.