Chapter 2: Parallel World

[2018]

Maple University.

Nestled in the heart of vibrant Toronto, it gave a stunning view of Lake Ontario.

A popular college known for its innovative programs in sustainable science and technology, multicultural studies and the performing arts, it attracted students from all across Canada and around the globe.

The campus itself was lively today as usual, with college students buzzing around, either to attend lectures, discussing about mundane things at outdoor seating areas or participating in various club activities.

And yet, far removed from it all was a young man aged 20 years, currently been spoken to in the Chancellor's office present in the administrative block.

"Mr. Kestis. We regret to inform you that the Maple-Grant Scholarship which has been withdrawn by the foundation cannot be reinstated" the chancellor, a woman in her mid-fifties with perfectly coiffed hair spoke to the young man before her.

"Due to confidential reasons unknown to us, the foundation is unwilling to provide any source of reason behind why it was suddenly revoked" she lied through her teeth.

"We sincerely apologize for the unfortunate incident but our hands are tied here" the chancellor concluded with a regretful expression.

There was truly nothing they could do as the people who granted the scholarship, wouldn't be so willing to reinstate it again, despite knowing fully well that the young man was not at fault.

Sighing inwardly in resignation, the elderly woman stared at the young chap before her.

Raven black hair which was messily scattered around the front and sides of his face.

The messy hair itself, almost completely covered his sapphire-blue eyes which was further framed by thick, black, square-framed reading glasses, presumably from a prescription.

He had naturally broad shoulders, a fairly average build with an impressive 6'1 height, all along with a light skinned color tone.

Overall, dressed in just a simple white shirt and faded dark-blue jeans, along with Maple University's blue and white custom jacket, the young man had a pretty nerdy feel to him.

Right now though, he was currently staring back at the Chancellor, a calm expression present on his features without saying anything.

'The average adult would be going absolutely bonkers with all I had just said and yet, he seems so composed…' the Chancellor thought to herself as she asked.

"Anything you'd like to say Mr. Kestis?"

Slowly getting up from his chair, Kyle calmly replied to the woman.

"Nothing at all Chancellor"

"If that's all you want to say, may I take my leave now?" he respectfully requested and the Chancellor obliged.

As he was about to open the door to exit, the elderly woman spoke again, this time in a much-less, business-like manner and in a much-more gentle tone, a hint of guilt present in her voice.

"I'd love for you to be able to graduate with your peers Mr. Kestis as you're one of our very best students…" she softly said, knowing fully well that the $15,000 fee was not something anyone could remotely even get close to easily making as a busy college student.

Slightly nodding in response, Kyle made his way out of the room, out of the administrative building itself and back into the buzzing lawns of the university.

Walking with light, casual steps, some of the college students who had gotten a wind of what happened, directed gazes of pity towards him as they walked past.

And then, all of a sudden, without even the slightest warning, a heavy carton of milk slammed straight onto Kyle's face, drenching him in its wet, disgusting and rotten smell.

The carton of milk was expired.

"Oh did that hit you Kyle?! My bad! Was just aiming for one of my buddies actually!" a loud, obnoxious male voice cascaded over and boomed across the lawn, drawing everyone's attention.

With a sigh, a small crowd now staring at him, Kyle casually turned around and then stared straight at Seth Douglas, or as he liked to refer to him as; Shit Douchebag.

Beside Shit Douchebag, was a beautiful lady, with short, shoulder-length dark auburn hair whom was also staring at Kyle with her light brown eyes, a snicker playing on her lips.

She, the irredeemable bitch, also a courtesy of Kyle's quote unquote, 'exceptional' naming sense, was the girlfriend to the shitty hunk of her blonde jock boyfriend who had just 'mistakenly' thrown the milk carton.

At the same time, she, named Haley, had also been the perpetrator of the pitiable state Kyle was currently in.

Surrounding those two were about five of their friends, all exchanging mischievous and mocking chuckles between themselves.

As the crowd was slowly increasing by the second, all of them pitying Kyle even more and more due to how the set of very rich spoiled brats had now deemed him their next target, they soon heard another voice speak.

"What are you staring at weirdo?!" irredeemable bitch suddenly called out while adding as if she was stating the obvious.

"He said he was sorry, alright!"

'Nope. He did not' Kyle simply wiped his face a bit and then, without giving them what they wanted, calmly walked off, surprising everyone else who had expected him to lash back at them.

But then again, everyone on campus knew Kyle; the quietest, seemingly nerdy student on campus who was pretty much a loner in every sense of the word.

It was as if he was just existing, day-in day-out, just for the purpose of it.

Several times, people had made efforts to befriend him due to his calm nature but none had been able have a proper conversation with him as he would just give a few curt responses and wouldn't actively engage with them.

'Yeah! You better keep walking on you fucking loser!!' Haley thought to herself with a mocking smile on her face as she watched Kyle's figure slowly recede into the distance.

Clenching her pretty little fist, a wicked smile on her lips, Haley vowed to make sure Kyle paid for how he rejected her advances… even if it had only been a prank orchestrated by her friends.

As all this was happening, another lady, having short, dark-blonde hair and hazel-colored irises, whom had also been watching the entire thing play out, suddenly got a text message on her phone.

⸢ Good day to you. We hope this message finds you well.

Miss. Lily Lockhart, we are pleased to inform that you have been selected once again to star in this season of 'Rising Voices'.

Do read the PDF file attached below for more information if you're interested.

We hope to hear from you soon. ⸥

Giving herself a gleeful smile, Lily suddenly felt as if her steps got lighter and her day was made!

The young male adult on the other hand, had already disappeared from the vicinity and soon reached an outdoor basin where he could hopefully get rid of the rotten milk smell emanating from his hair.

Truth be told, Kyle, as he washed his hair and face in the basin, always felt like something had always been missing from his life.

Like he had always been really different from others.

Like something was inherently lost from the very start when it should've been there.

Like an uncompleted puzzle board with that singular, last, puzzle piece that would complete him, was nowhere to be found.

And this morning, after waking up, like any other normal day, Kyle had realized that he had been living in a parallel world, similar to the earth he knew, for twenty, freaking years now!

Although the time range was vastly different, he knew for sure, that was the only explanation to the very confounding scenario he found himself in.

A good bunch of his other life's memories also came rushing back to him… and along with it was the experience he had also gained from that life.

However, he also couldn't remember most things from that life; like the most popular songs, movies, literary works of arts and what-nots; all of which felt blurred out for some reason.

Probably it was due to him already spending a few years on this earth, the young man couldn't exactly say.

That being said, the core memories of what made him Kyle and the memories of the things that were most important to him in his past life, was just as fresh as the morning's dew.

But even then, Kyle still very much felt like a man in his early twenties, but with a lot more composure than the average one.

If he had naturally always been a calm person, he was even far more composed now that he got his most important memories back.

Washing his face continuously for about a minute, Kyle soon realized that tears were slowly beginning to stream down his eyes.

'I never even got the chance to attend their burials…' he thought to himself with a saddened heart.

Even after unknowingly adapting to a parallel earth for twenty years, Kyle's memories of Ollie, Mary, Joel, Rebecca and Paul still remained so fresh in his heart.

And so did the pain of losing them too.

As the young man silently cried for a few more minutes, he eventually willed himself to stop after a while, his eyes a bit reddened.

Raising his head up, Kyle then offered a strong, heartfelt prayer for all five of them to rest in eternal peace.

Having done that, Kyle, just as he was about to reach for his glasses to don them back on, watched an unbelievable phenomenon present itself before his very eyes.

___________________________

{Kyle Kestis} – Exp. Points (25,000)

⸶Skills⸷

| [Soulful Vocals (P)] [Empty] [Empty]…

* Exp. Points can be used to create skills.

⸶Levels⸷

| Singing › Level 4

| Acting › Level 5

| Composing › Level 6

| Dancing › Level 4

| Instrument Mastery (Piano/Guitar) › Level 6/5

* Levels will increase in accordance to your growth.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

'What the-?!' he inwardly exclaimed in fright, almost jumping back the moment softly pulsing, light-blue translucent screen, appeared right in front of his eyes.

For someone who had realized just hours ago that he had been living in a parallel world all this while, this probably shouldn't have come as a shocker to him.

But the undeniable fact was that Kyle Kestis was a human being through and through, and things like this would still shock anyone regardless of whatever previous life they had.

Unable to wrap his head around the entire thing, Kyle just kept staring at the blank air before him, soliciting a few confused stares from the students who walked on right past.

For the young man though, after staring for a few more minutes, he soon realized how weird he was being.

Almost about to put on his glasses and quickly scurry along before things got any weirder, a singular pop-up message suddenly filled the entirety of the translucent screen.