Saving Austin

Recorded

-Logan Ellis-

November 24, 2026
9:00 am
Emett District Subdivision, Ireal City

"Logan! Bumaba ka na! You said you're going to help Eric today, right?" Mom called outside my room meaning it's time to eat breakfast in order to assist that dude. Hindi pa rin ako umalis sa harapan ng salamin. I kept on cupping face knowing I was still confused despite waking up in my own body already.

It was a good thing that I came back in my real body rather than staying into Emery's. But the fact that I woke up on the day when Austin's going to die again? Come on! Sobrang frustrating kung malalaman kong panaginip lang pala ang lahat ng 'yon kasi kung totoo na ito ngayon, mauulit na naman ang pagliligtas namin kay Austin.

Ts. I wanted to blame whoever exchanged our bodies and turned back time to save Austin but I could not do it.

Hindi ko alam ang dapat kong paniwalaan. That dude died from an accident and he was buried! Yes! But we came back in time to save him, we discovered the cause of his accident and we did, save him!

"But what is the meaning of this?! November 24 ulit ng umaga? Pft! We're going to save him and this time! We will succeed!" I shouted to my own reflection and after a few seconds of thinking deep thoughts and staring at my face, I recalled what I'd just seen in my own eyes.

I didn't know if Austin's death was real or not but whoever that Raquel and Anthony were, I'm certain that they'd given me some significant message. And that Raquel's story....

Why did I even see it? How?

I couldn't disagree with it.

Emery had chatted me last night about her dream and we had the same experiences.

Lumabas na ako sa kuwarto saka dumiretso sa hapagkainan. I munched the fried rice as I drank my same old water every morning.

"Tutulungan mo si Eric ngayon, hindi ba?" tanong ni Mama noong nagsalin na ito ng fried rice sa plato niya. I swallowed my food first. "No, may lakad ako, Ma."

"Okay? Saan?" maamo biyang tanong ay kunwari ay kalmado lang ako nang malakas niyang idinapa ang baso ng tubig sa lamesa. But dude, deep inside, I was already trembling. Who knows what's this old woman's thinking right now?

"Sa Kiran Street. I'm gonna meet my friends out there to meet a new friend. Pagbigyan mo na ako. Austin called me," saad ko para pakiusapan si Mama pero nginitihan niya lang ako. Do not fool me with those angelic eyes, Dad always received that from you but badly, he's so foolish that he always ended up accepting your scolds.

"Sigurado ka ba? Kapag sinabi kong tutulungan mo si Eric, tutulungan mo, hindi ba?" maalumanay niyang paninigurado at halos hindi ko na malunok 'tong kinakain ko. This woman's aura's beyond any level's limits!

"Ibig sabihin niyon, Ma. Aalis pa rin ako," sagot ko sa kanya at hindi na siya nagsalita pa.

But hell, that's Mom. No one was found alive from her scolds! Knowing she made silence rein after forcing myself to cancel my assistance to Eric, I was already getting drowned in nervousness. Silence meant something so deep as for my mother. Scary.

At last! She let me leave the house to meet those dudes for now! Wala na akong pakialam kung gaano katagal niya akong sinermonan, basta ang importante! Makakaalis na ako.

Nang makabihis na ako at sinigurado ko pang mas guwapo pa ako sa August o sa Evan na 'yon, masigla akong lumabas ng bahay, dala ang cellphone ko.

I smiled brightly when there was no familiar truck on our Repair Shop. Because once that truck will appear here, everything's back into serious businesses.

Mabuti na lang at wala 'yong truck na 'yon. Pati 'yong dalawa. I guess, Emery succeeded from not letting David from drink that troublesome juice!

I seeked for Eric all over the Repair shop and I was not surprised to see him calling someone across his phone. He was stomping and kicking whatever it is that he kicks. He's cursing someone on the call and I remained eavesdropping. Hinintay kong matapos ang pakikipag-usap niya sa likod ng bahay at nagulat ito nang mahuli niyang nakatayo ako sa madadaanan niya.

This dude's caught.

I stopped the recording from my phone when he faced me with his frustrated expression.

"Good morning, want some juice? Dude?" I offered him and I even smirked happily.

He hissed, looking away. "Wala akong gana."

"Oh, come on! Dahil hindi ba kita matutulungan buong araw?" I even tapped his shoulders multiple times until he's pissed, he pushed my hands away. "Stop that, umalis ka na muna. Ako na ang bahala ngayon."

I whistled. "Whew, may away ba kayo ni Aira? You know? Pag-usapan niyo lang 'yong pinag-awayan niyo kanina, sa Sweet talk!"

Mas nainis siya sa pang-aasar ko nang diniinan ko ang 'Sweet Talk'   na sinabi ko. Bumuga na lang si Eric ng hangin dala ng pagkabigo saka naglakad palayo.

"You know nothing from our conversation! At..." He slowly gave me a threatening gaze. "Nakinig ka ba sa usapan namin ni Aira kanina?"

Umiling lang ako sabay pakita ng cellphone sa kanya. "No, I don't get your conversation so I didn't listen. Single ako kaya hindi ako makaka-relate. Anyway, my phone had recorded your sweet argument. So, kapag may girlfriend na ako, papakinggan ko na ito."

"Wait! What? Logan!"

I happily whistled when I passed by him and he kept calling my name. Begging me to delete the record. I swiftly turned around to face him before crossing our gate. "If you ever try to ruin that truck, your recorded argument our should I say--- sweet talk will be heard by the authorities."

Narinig ko pa ang mga ungot nito bago ako makaalis sa bahay.

I breathed heavily as I stared at my wristwatch. It's already 12:00 pm. And it seemed like nothing's going to happen today. Thanks to that long, realistic happenings we've experience or whatever it was.