Kick & Jump

I probably should be looking for more clues. There are so many unexplainable things that has happened to me in the past hour or so - from the haunted house, to the sudden changes to the campus, to meeting two kids who not only resembled Ken and Marie but had the same names as well - that I should be trying to figure out what’s going on.

Although, I guess some of it could be explained by me jumping back in time to the past. But, even that is a mystery that I don’t know how to begin solving.

I should be trying to find a way back at the minimum, but, since I was stuck, I’m procrastinating. I realize my current situation isn’t at the same scale as a math problem I’m having a hard time with, that I could delay solving by tidying up my room.

But, here I am playing Kick the Can with a bunch of kids. There were five of them - mini-Ken, mini-Marie and two more boys plus another girl.

The other girl I recognized as that host from the beef bowl eating contest. Or, at least, it was her younger version. I hadn’t realized she was friends with Ken and Marie even during childhood.

As for the other two, I don’t think I’ve met them before

Anyway, the game was quite a challenge for me. The playground didn’t really have much hiding places for anyone taller than the average grade-schooler.

There were bushes on the edges of the area, but I could barely hide even when crouched down. My head down to my shoulder was still exposed. I could lie down on the ground, but there’s no way I’m doing that on the dirt.

The walls on the slides couldn’t hide me entirely. My head and my legs would stick out.

The center of the seesaws were only wide enough to hide a kid if they lay down.

The streetlamps were wide enough for the smaller kids to hide behind if they stood parallel to it instead of facing it or with their back.

There was a pipe I could fit in, but I had to crawl to get inside. I could use it as a hiding place, but I would struggle to get out in time to race against the kid who’s it for the can.

There was only one tree within the bounds of the park and there’s the vending machine. I could hide behind either of those two, but that was it. I was predictable to the person who was it. I could beat any of the kids in a footrace, but, if I kept being found, it meant I was also constantly running to kick the can before the seeker could get back to it, which can obviously get tiring.

I won’t say I hate it, though. Just as my height is a handicap when I’m hiding, it’s my greatest asset when I’m the seeker.

We placed the can in the center of the playground. The area wasn’t that big, perhaps the same size as two rows of houses, maybe smaller, but I could see each corner from there. While there are still blind spots, I don’t need to move too far away to get a better angle. Our rule is that, if a hider is found, they have to kick the can before the seeker returns to it, so being able to have a decent view from the can's placement worked to my advantage.

There’s a kid crouching behind the bushes? I could just move a few steps towards their direction and I could see the top of their head. None of the kids realized I was using their different hairstyles to identify them.

On the slide? The tallest kid may have to climb to see who’s inside first, but I don’t even need to move far from the center since I could just sidestep from the can to take a peek.

No one is safe behind the seesaw because it was nearby. The angles may work against another kid, but I could easily see if anyone was lying in wait for me to move from the can.

Behind the streetlamps? Well, I need to move further from the can to change the angles, but they were so far from the center that they stood no chance of reaching the can before I could.

The tree, the vending machine and the pipe were the only hiding places that I needed to move further away from the can. But, I was only up against five kids. By the time I needed to check those places, I would have already spotted the other three. The two tend to move together as well, so, once I find one of them, the other would be nearby.

I kind of enjoyed playing the game in easy mode as I dominated the competition. My turn as the seeker would usually be quick.

However, when everyone’s been found or the time limit was up, we were deciding who was it through Rock-paper-scissors and I was losing constantly. I wouldn’t be surprised if my bad luck extended even to a simple game.

I didn’t mind since I was having more fun finding the kids anyway.

Although, my domination wouldn’t last forever. Eventually, mini-Ken and mini-Marie started playing smarter.

Their first try in outsmarting me, they tried baiting me to the bushes by sticking out a hand. Since it was only a hand, I had to move closer to get a better look on who’s hiding behind. While I made my approach, the other one would sneak up from my blind spot.

I wasn’t thinking the two would hide separately so I was caught off guard when I heard the metallic sound of the can being kicked.

“Run”, I heard mini-Marie shout, and the other kids that I have jailed scrambled to their new hiding places while I recovered the can.

After the restart and me jailing the other three, they tried it again, but I was more wary of their new tactic. This time, it was mini-Ken stalking me from my blind spot. I looked around after every step to make sure they weren’t going to pull the same trick on me, but, somehow, he managed to keep away from my sights each time.

I wasn’t sure how he was doing it, but, considering the terrain, I couldn’t help but imagine him hiding on every small obstacle and moving around sneakily in a cartoonish way.

I managed to catch sight of him when I made a feint and quickly looked back behind me. He didn’t seem to have hidden somewhere. Instead, he moved according to my blind spot. I was scanning my blind spots slowly, which is likely how he kept away from my sights. It caught him off guard when I made a sudden turn.

“Mini-Ken out in the open!” I shouted and ran for the can.

He was closer to the can at this point, but, luckily for me, he was slow to react, probably still surprised that I caught him.

We raced to get to the can first, both of us in full sprint.

In what seemed like a flash, perhaps due to the adrenaline, we both made it to the middle of the park at almost the same time. I got there quicker thanks to mini-Ken hesitating and I stepped on the can just before he could kick it.

Regardless, mini-Ken couldn’t kick it anymore so he’s now jailed. Now that he’s out of the picture, finding mini-Marie would be easy. Or, so I thought.

When I faced the direction I saw her in before, I heard the can being kicked almost immediately.

I thought it was mini-Ken ignoring the rules out of frustration or something. So, it was to my surprise to find mini-Marie standing on the spot the can used to be with a smug on her face.

Apparently, when I was running back to secure the can from mini-Ken, she had run as well to follow me behind my back. I didn’t notice her following from behind since I was focused on mini-Ken so, when I reached the can and stopped, she hid in my blind spot and waited for me to turn away from the can.

“Clever girl”, I commented, begrudging and impressed at the same time.

After that, I reset the can in the middle of the playground to begin play once more, but we were unable to finish the round since the other kids have been called home

Mini-Ken and mini-Marie stayed.

At the same time, I decided to rest. I was supposed to be resting, but here I am all tired again.

I headed for the vending machine to get something to drink, and the two kids followed me. They didn’t seem tired and still had the energy to run around more, but they followed me anyway.

Being the older one, I felt compelled to treat them to some juice so I got them a drink of their choice. I bought a sports drink for myself and sat on the same bench I was on before the kids invited me to play with them.

“Aren’t you two going to go home, too?” I asked, feeling like I had to make some small talk as the two sat beside me.

“I’m waiting for my mom to pick me up”, mini-Marie replied.

“I’m waiting for her mom to pick her up”, mini-Ken followed.

“Huh? Isn’t your mom going to pick you up?” I asked mini-Ken.

“She won’t be home until later”, he replied. “I live close by anyway so I always wait until Marie goes home.”

“Also, my mom tells me that I should start being nice to girls especially now that I have a baby sister”, he continued, offering that information voluntarily.

I was so touched by his attitude I went to the vending machine and offered to buy him another drink.

He declined, though. That one juice seemed to have been enough for him.

When I returned to my seat, Marie turned to me to say, “Big sis, you said earlier you were lost, right?”

I blinked twice. I didn’t think she’d pick that conversation back up again.

“That’s right. Why?”

“We can help you find your way”, she said. “We already know our way around this neighborhood.”

“Oh, no. I also know my way around here. It’s just that I don’t know my way back to where I’m supposed to be.”

The two seemed visibly confused by what I said.

After thinking about what I just said, I would be, too, if I didn’t know the entire context.

“If you know your way, then why are you lost?” mini-Marie asked.

“It’s a bit complicated.”

“Then, why don’t you just retrace your steps?” mini-Ken suggested.

“Hmm, I haven’t thought of that”, I said.

I haven’t tried reentering the room I came out of so it might be worth looking into to see what happens.

The three of us then chatted a bit more about unrelated things until mini-Marie’s mom appeared at the entrance. Mini-Marie promptly excused herself and ran to her mom.

Both mini-Ken and I watched mini-Marie and her mom disappear from our view. When they were out of sight, Ken quietly stared at the direction for a moment.

I was waiting for him to excuse himself next, but he turned to me all serious-like.

"Big sis, can I ask for advice?" he said.

“I don’t know why you’re asking someone you’ve only met an hour or so ago, but go ahead.”

“What’s it like being married?”

I almost spat my drink when I heard his question.

“Listen here, do I look that old to you?”

“You don’t look like a high-schooler.”

That stung a bit. It hasn’t even been a year since I was a high-schooler! I could still pass as one!

“Why do you think that?” I asked him.

“You’re not wearing a uniform.”

“Just because I’m not wearing a uniform doesn’t mean I’m not a student.”

“Then, a delinquent?”

“That’s not it either! I’m still in college!”

“Then, that means you’re already an adult. You can only be in college after you’re eighteen, right? When you’re eighteen, it means you’re an adult, right?”

“...That’s right”, I meekly answered.

I had no retort since he was technically correct.

“Then, that means you can already marry, right?”

“I mean, I can, but it doesn’t mean I am already married or should be married.”

“So, that means you’re old.”

“Let’s just get back to that advice you want!”

I didn’t want to drag the argument any further. It felt like, in his child mind, humans only have a state of being a kid and being old.

He hesitated for a moment looking like he was embarrassed to ask.

“You see, our classmates have been teasing me and Marie that we’re like husband and wife”, he finally said.

“Why do you think that is?”

“It’s because we’re always together.”

“And? You don’t like it?”

“Yeah…”

“No, I mean, do you not like that you’re always together with mini-Marie? Do you not like her?”

“No, I do like her. I just don’t like the teasing.”

“Then, why not just own it?”

He hung his head sideways then asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you like her, right?”

“Right.”

“Like, how much?”

“Lots.”

“I mean, do you like her enough that you want to marry her when you two are grown up?”

“Yes”, he shyly answered while his face turned red.

Seeing him turn timid, I wanted to pep him up a bit.

“I can’t hear you!” I said, raising my voice. “I said, do you like her enough to marry her when you grow up?! Stand up straight when you answer, boy!”

Mini-Ken jumped from his seat and loudly answered in full attention, “Yes!”

“How many kids do you want when you’re married?!”

“One soccer team!”

“That’s more like it”, I commented. “Then, own the teasing and make it real one day.”

“How do I do that?” he asked, his voice back to normal. “We’re still too young to get married.”

“I’m not saying you should get married already. Just stay as close friends for now and, when you’re a little more grown up, ask her if you could be her boyfriend. Then, once you’ve graduated college, you can ask her to marry you.”

“How grown up do I need to be to ask her if I could be her boyfriend?”

“I dunno, when you’re in middle school maybe? At the minimum. It’s up to you.”

“Marie’s dad says he won’t allow her to have a boyfriend until high school.”

“Then, wait until that time”, I said. Then, patting his shoulder as encouragement, I continued, “I know you can do it.”

Mini-Ken then stared into space for a second before nodding his head as if he had come into an understanding.

“Alright, I’ll do that”, he said before running off to the playground’s exit.

He stopped by the opening to wave at me and shout, “Thank you, auntie!”

I waved my fist at him and shouted, “It’s big sis!”

He then ran home, laughing.

As for me, I made my way back to the campus while mentally retracing my steps like the kids suggested. Apart from the room, there was one more thing that I found suspicious, so I was hoping either will lead me somewhere.

I didn’t bother making a stop at the place where the Northern Building was supposed to be. I feel like I’ve inspected it enough earlier in the afternoon and there wasn’t anything of note besides the missing building.

I went straight for the Eastern Building. The orange light from the sunset made it look like it was glowing due to extreme heat. Almost like I would burn if I entered, but I pushed on regardless.

I climbed up to the fourth floor to check on the room that I escaped out of that maze of a haunted house. However, a lecture was going on inside so all I could do was peek through the back door, which was left open.

The other rooms that made up the haunted house attraction were empty, though, so I inspected each of them for the moment. But, I found nothing of interest

When I gave up, the class in that one room was still ongoing so I decided to check on my second hint. It was also on this same building, on this same floor, so it was a short trip.

There was one person who had recognized me earlier. If I actually did jump back to the past, then it was highly suspicious. If Ken and Marie are grade-schoolers at this point in time, then I also would still be a kid. I wouldn’t even be found in this city yet.

So, in order to question this person, I headed for the Horror Society’s clubroom. I didn’t hesitate in knocking this time, although I did fear the girl I met earlier would no longer be inside.

When I didn’t hear an answer after a few seconds, my fear grew stronger.

I knocked once more and waited.

A few more seconds pass and still nothing.

I reached for the doorknob to see if the door would open, and it did. But, my fear was realized when I saw no one inside.

I sighed and told myself, “I guess I’ll wait.”

“Wait for who?” I heard some say from behind me.

I jumped forward out of surprise. I looked to see who it was that crept up behind me.

It was the same girl I met in this room earlier.

“Well, if it isn’t Kat”, she said as she entered the clubroom. “Were you looking for me? Sorry, I was in the other building trying to borrow a book for my next class.”

She was walking towards the center of the room as she talked. There was a row of bookcases which separated the Horror Society’s clubroom from whatever club occupied the other half. That seemed to have been her destination as she stopped in front of it to pick up some book.

Then, she started complaining. Puffing her cheeks, she said, “They’re all mean, you know. I do try to return their textbooks, but sometimes they skip classes so I don’t know where to find them.”

“You’re a student here?”

“During this time period, yes.”

“‘Time period’?” That particular phrase caught my attention. “Does that mean this is a different time from when I am?”

“That’s right, we are currently ten years into the past.”

“Ten years?” I gasped.

I had my suspicions, but it was still surprising to hear.

“Does that mean you’re also from the future?” I asked. But, another thought quickly came to me. “Wait, but, if you’re a student during this time period, why am I currently the same age as I was in the future?”

“What do you mean?”

“If you’re a student now, then doesn’t that mean you’re older in our present time?”

“Technically, yes?”

“Then, if you became younger when you came to this time, how come I remained the same age?”

“Oh, that’s because I’m only borrowing this body from myself. By that, I mean from the me in this time period.”

“Huh? I’m sorry, can you explain it in a way I can understand?”

“I’m already dead ten years from now; I’m simply possessing the body when I was still alive, which is the present time.”

There was a lot to unpack with her explanation, but there was one thing I was most curious about.

“Why?” I asked her.

“Why, in order to meet you”, she said.

“No, I mean, if you’re dead in the future, why are you still attending classes instead of, you know, ‘living it up’, so to speak? Or, at least, try to prevent your death?”

Her eyes widened for a moment.

“You’re full of surprises, you know that?” she commented. “I prepared a script to answer the questions I thought you’d be asking from the things I’m about to tell you, but you keep pulling curve balls on me.”

She then showed me a piece of paper from the book she had on hand. It didn’t seem like it was a page from the book itself and more like a sheet from a notepad.

“But, to answer your question, I can’t prevent my death. I died because of a rare disease that has no cure yet. By the new year, I’ll be in a hospital bed, dying.”

Before continuing, she returned the book she just took back to the shelf.

“To answer your other question, I’m trying not to change my routine too much so it won’t affect the future. Also, I’m actually trying to ‘live it up’, you know?”

She then stared at me. I wasn’t sure if she was waiting for me to respond to her statement, but after a moment of silence, she started walking towards me.

“It’s actually the reason I brought you here with me”, she said as she approached.

My eyes widened this time. I stared at her until she stood within an arm's length in front of me.

“You brought me here? Why?”

“Remember some weeks ago - oh, that’s from the perspective of your current time - when your friends set up a matchmaking game for you?”

“I do. What of it?” I said with my voice sounding a bit shaky.

I was beginning to feel tense.

“I’m door number four!” she said cheerfully while having both her hands point at her face in a cutesy manner.

I don’t know if it was her intention, but her action diffused the tense air that was building between us.

Because of that, I wasn’t as surprised as I thought I would be when I monotonously reacted, “You’re the ghost from that time?”

“Geez, I was hoping you’d have a more dramatic reaction than that”, the girl protested.

“Sorry, but I’m out of energy for reactions”, I said. “So, what do you want from me? What should I do to get back to my time?”

“I want to collect on that prize of a date”, she stated.

“A date?” I asked.  "Why?"

"Well, it was the prize, right?"

“Yeah, but I'm sorry. I’m tired, I just want to get home, so I'm not in the mood for a date. Can’t we do it some other time?”

“Oh, don’t worry”, she assured me. “Let’s just sit and talk until my next class.”

I found it suspicious. I asked, “Is that it?”

“Yes”, she said as she grabbed my hand.

She then pulled me next to a chair desk by the window and motioned for me to sit.

I was still skeptical, but I sat down anyway. She sat down as well on the chair next to mine.

I waited for something else to happen, or for her to make another demand, but nothing of the sort happened.

She talked about books. I talked about my campus life, including complaining about how Ken and Marie treated me sometimes. We only sat and talked, just like what she said.

While we were in conversation, I couldn’t help but look at my surroundings. Half the bookcases were empty and the other half weren’t even fully filled with books. There were a few more chairs, but they were stacked on top of each other, looking like they have never been used in a long while. There was a lectern, too, perhaps from a time when the room was still used as a classroom, but on top of it was only the girl’s backpack.

“Say, where are the other members?” I asked the girl.

I couldn’t help but ask since the room didn’t feel like it’s being used much.

She gave a nervous laugh before answering, “There’s nobody else; I’m the only member.”

She then talked about her love of books and that her favorite genres are horror and mystery, which is why she joined the Horror Society as a first year. But, at that point, the rest of the members were juniors and seniors. She was also the only freshman to have joined from her batch.

When she became a sophomore, no one joined from the new first years. So, by the following year, everyone else had graduated and she was left alone.

“Oh, but don’t feel bad”, she said, somewhat cheerfully. “I actually enjoyed having this room all to myself. It felt like I had an exclusive hideout within campus.”

A few minutes later, the bell rang, indicating the end of the current period.

The girl took it as her signal to stand up.

“Too bad”, she said. “I have to get to class.”

I stood up as well and said, “Then, can you tell me how to get back to my time?”

“Hmm”, she voiced as she placed a finger on her cheek. “I don’t know.”

I stared at her, brows furrowed and mouth open.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” I asked, unintentionally raising my voice.

She laughed and said, “Calm down, I don’t exactly know how, but I have an idea.”

My expression didn’t return to my resting face since I didn’t believe her, and it probably showed as she told me, “Just follow me.”

So, I did as she said. She took me to a classroom, which was the same room that I went through escaping from the haunted house attraction.

“It’s probably here”, she said. “Unfortunately, I don’t exactly know how you would return to your time, but I’ll leave that up to you.”

“What? You brought me here so you should help me find a hint”, I protested.

“Sorry, but I really have to get to class”, she said as she walked towards the opposite room. Before she entered, she told me, “Don’t worry, you’ll definitely find your way.”

Begrudgingly, I entered the room. There were already students inside waiting for their class to start. Others were also pouring in one by one.

Looking out the window, it was already dark out. I didn’t realize there were still plenty of students taking classes at this hour until I saw the room with only a few open seats.

That wasn’t the only thing I noticed. There was some strange reflection coming out of one of the windows. There was the black backdrop caused by the night sky. There were the reflections of everyone inside the room caused by the fluorescent lights inside. Then, there was something else beyond the mirror, but when I take a look behind it, there was nothing.

I was trying to make sense of its shape, but I was distracted when a middle-aged man called to me in a loud voice to say, “Young lady, the class is about to start.”

It was the lecturer.

It directed the attention of everyone in the class to me as well.

I glanced at the window and finally recognized the shape.

“Young lady, have a seat so we can start”, the lecturer advised me again.

“Sorry, I’m not actually a part of this class”, I replied.

“If you want to sit in, feel free, but I would still ask you to take a seat”, he said. “Otherwise, please exit the room.”

I took a quick look back at the window again before facing the lecturer to say, “I think I’ll do the latter.”

Then, I opened the window I was staring at and jumped from it, betting everything on the image I saw is the ghoul with the green face which I kept seeing in that haunted house and is my way out of here.