Not Black

AFTER my first class was my vacant period. I've been so fond of going to the park just because it helps me think a lot and it is quiet there since it was relatively close to the library. I brought out the black notebook that Black owned and jotted more things down. I still can't wrap my head around everything that was happening to me.

How did Mrs. Dee manage to manipulate that kind of speed – that's a lot faster than the speed of light? How did she make it possible in such a third-world area? How.

"Who are you, really."

I turned and saw Mark walking towards the bench I was sitting on. "What do you mean?" I asked trying to be calmer now that I was actually talking to him like this. Never have I had a civilized conversation with him because the only thing he told me were the most painful words in the world – the very first and last thing he told me were the words: I'm. Sorry. I. Like. Another. Girl. And. You're. Not. My. Type.

"You don't often wear dresses anymore. You painted again. You actually participate in class discussions now. You even attend school now and you're acing your exams effortlessly."

I looked down but suddenly, he grabbed my wrist and scanned it like he was looking for something - I was surprised by this sudden gesture he was showing me. He rubbed my temple over my right wrist hard marking it a little red now. He frowned and gave me a glare.

"Who are you?" The strong grip he had over my wrist was painful that I couldn't even reply. His grip were on my wrist yet for some reason, I felt them over my neck making me speechless. "Who are you and where is Black?" he asked, eyes beaming like they were shooting fire.

I frowned in pain. "You're hurting me,"

"You fraud." He then flashed me the word, blacked inked over his wrist. "At first, I thought you were just covering it with concealer but you weren't because you're not her." His strong glare were making my knees weak. It was like the same time I ever spoke to Mark back at my Earth. "You're not Black."

"What do you mean, I'm not Black?" I asked still wondering why he somehow knew I wasn't the real Black. "I'm here aren't I?"

"Sure you're here but you're not her. Black had a tattoo that matches mine over her right wrist that only the two of us knew but you don't have it so it only means that you're not her." I gulped hard. "Who are you and where is Black? Why do you look like her and why is she not here?" He explains so now I didn't have any alibis left to cover up myself because Mark in Earth B was a lot smarter than the Mark I knew from my Earth.

I sighed and looked at his terrifying face. "You're right. I'm not Black but I'm Violet Allen."

"Violet is Black's real name. Stop giving me facts I already know because that doesn't change the fact that you're a hoax."

I stared at him for a moment. "Black's real name is Violet?"

He furrowed his brows deeper. So that's why she's still me in other Earths because she changed her name to Black in Earth B. I never would have guessed if Mark didn't tell me all this. I guess they were more than just friends and he was more than Black's fling judging by how Mark was interrogating me right now. It was obvious that he knew Black very well more than her friends did. "Cut the innocence and spill it. Who are you?"

I looked down and figured out how I could briefly explain to him what happened to me. "I am Black Allen from a parallel universe."

He shook his head. "Absurd. Quit the stories and tell me where you took Black."

I looked away. I knew even if I told anyone, they wouldn't believe me. Except possibly Mrs. Dee because we were both women of Science and we stand by the laws of Physics not Philosophy. "I am telling the truth." I said even though I knew it wouldn't convince him otherwise. "A teacher from my Earth was able to create a portal, a breach that leads to a different universe – your Earth."

He grip on my wrist loosened as he shook his head in disbelief. "No human is capable of creating speed that fast enough to make a breach. That's not possible."

"But it is on my Earth."

"Prove it." He stated. "Even if I think you're crazy right now, prove it."

I sighed and lifted up the skirt of my uniform and showed the bruises I got from my real father. "I got these from my father." I looked down at my leg. If I didn't have to prove anything, I wouldn't do this because I'm ashamed of the scars that my father left me but I had no choice. I needed to show Mark this so he can believe. "My real father. The one I have back on my Earth."

He looked at me frowning. "Your father is not capable of doing that to you. H-He's the kindest person I've ever met. Mr. Allen."

"Exactly." Now that Mark was calmer, he looked more of an angel than when he was gripping my wrist hard like a devil – almost burning my wrist. "Everything here..." I looked up to the sky with a feint smile. "Is so much better than where I was born. Everything here feels like a dream to me but I'm in no position to take whatever Black has."

Mark looked at me, still with a hint of doubt.

"I wouldn't be finding ways to get back to my Earth if I was planning to steal her life."

He doesn't look convinced but he was trying to understand. He was confused like me when I first here. "So you're Violet from—"

"A parallel universe,"

IT was past four when I arrived home – echoes from a different part of the room was audible from the entrance so I slowly took careful steps to find where the voices were and it was from the kitchen. Mother was already home and he was with a guy in an odd black loose slacks and a huge silky polo buttoned up shirt.

"You told me that many times now, Cecile but you always end up not paying me. What are you planning to do? Pay after a decade? Are you even planning to pay me? I'm not even asking for the interest anymore because I pitied you and this is how you repay me?"

"I will pay it soon, Edward. We're just really short on budget right now and with Black back—"

Suddenly, someone pulled me away and brought me up to the stairs. Blue dragged me all the way to her room and it was the first time I was seeing this. Her room was painted pale blue and the way her room looked in general was very organized. The way her books lined up in the shelf that was hanging above her study desk. It had a very different vibe from Black's room. Hers was calmer – way calmer.

"It's best to stay here."

"Blue, who was that man?" I asked and she turned to me.

She doesn't reply for a moment but sighs. "That guy collects debts,"

I frowned. "Debts?"

She pressed her lips together as if she was trying to keep something from me but she failed because I was making her spill everything like it was just a casual thing to say. "Mom borrowed a lot of money before and she still hasn't paid everything yet because her shop's not doing very well these days."

"Where'd she use all the money for?" I asked but it only made her furrow her brows as she stared at me as if she wasn't expecting me to say that and right then, I realized that I am asking too much question that I was out of my character.

"You, Black. You made her have all that debt because you were being so bratty about not having an iMac like all your classmates. Cars, makeup, new clothes, new phone - you wanted everything so selfishly. You wanted so much that she had to borrow money from other people just to give you what you want but you—"

"I did?" I wasn't Black but I felt guilty after hearing Blue say all those things. I felt really terrible. How am I like this on this Earth? How am I capable of making my mother do these things to me and end up suffering?

Blue stopped talking and the way she said all those made me feel like she was angry as well. "Mom buys everything you want and now she can't even find a way to repay all the money she used for you." She is angry. I would be angry as an older sister if my younger sister gets bratty like that but I never really scolded my younger sister on my Earth. Black on the other hand was bad at its finest and she's confusing me more. Last time I checked, she attended charity programs, now she's doing all these. Whatever happened between her and her parents is the reason why she's acting like this.

DURING dinner, I was very determined to fix whatever broken relationship Black marked in her family. I didn't want my other self to be like this at all so I figured it was the right time to tell my parents that I'm going up the stage with honors this semester. "Mom, dad, tomorrow's recognition day and—"

"You're getting recognized?" Mint cut me off so I nodded when she said the right words. "For academic?" She snorted and I was dumbfounded. "Are you really?"

Mother gulped down her drink, eyes widened and looked at me in disbelief. "You're getting recognized?!" I looked at everyone. I guess, Black never was a student who focused on her academics. Or maybe she just didn't like the idea of student's with honors; or maybe she just doesn't tell other people that she's an honor student. "Black's an honor student! Oh dear, I better prepare for this. What time is it? Where is it happening?"

"It's eight in the morning, tomorrow. At the gym."

"Congratulations, sweetheart." Dad patted my head and smiled at me as mother clapped her hands together in glee.

The day of the recognition came and my parents came with me well dressed. Dad was in a polo shirt, tucked in his lousey slacks; and mom was in a pretty yellow orange dress and some tall heels. "Violet Allen, with honors."

At first, I was a little bewildered that now I was hearing my real name for the first time in this Earth but I still stood and so did my parents. The three of us went up and a man in the center gestures us to hold our smiles as he captures a photograph of us.

After the recognition program, the three of us ate at a fancy restaurant that mother insisted us to go to. I didn't want her to waste more money for Black when she already did so I had to at least make my stay here worthwhile.

"I really am so proud of you sweetie. You have no idea how happy you made me today." Mother held my hand as she looked into my eyes.

"Us, sweet heart. It's us you made proud." Father corrected.

"It's the least I can do." Black may have been a brat and rebellious for the past years but it was time for her parents to be proud of her as well. Just for the time being. It was time for her to repay their sacrifices with my help and I hope I made it work.

"I did a little research about the multiverse."

It was another school day when Mark voluntarily approached and told me that. "So you believe me now?" I asked but he doesn't reply which means he was still doubting and I don't really blame him because if I met someone who tells me the same thing, I wouldn't believe them as well. "It's okay if you don't. I understand."

"No," he suddenly replied. "I'm not saying I believe you but it's the only thing that would explain Black's disappearance and why you're here taking her place and how similar you two look." I looked at Mark and he looked convinced but still confused. "So what made you different from Black? The parallel universe is a mirror of your own universe right? Am I there? You look like you knew me the first time you came back here as Black and you shouldn't have recognized me from another universe if you don't know me on your own."

"Well," I paused and wondered if I should tell him. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to tell him anything about my Earth because we're in a parallel universe. I am going to leave after all and I had no one to share about my Earth so it was nice that someone was curious about it. Mrs. Dee does let met talk about it but not about the people that I lived there with but the parallel universe itself. "I do know you from my Earth."

His lips curved a little as he diverted his attention to me. "So? What am I like?"

I paused and stared at him. Looking at him right now, talking to him right now, is just making my heart flutter so much. "You were from the same school as I am and—" He just looks at me and waits. "And uhm,"

"And?" He crinkled his eyes.

I couldn't even look at his eyes right now because it reminds me how awful my memory was with him but the tension I feel right now contradicts with what my heart was feeling. "And you," I can't continue. I can't.

"Don't tell me— were we dating in your Earth?"

My eyes widened as I shook my head saying no several times. "It's not that."

He looked at me strangely.

"I liked the Mark in my Earth."

He looked flustered. "W-What about me? Did I like you back?" I was speechless. I was surprised that he was giving follow up questions. "I mean, me and Black were dating here so it makes sense if I liked you in your Earth too."

I snorted in shame as I reminisced the memories of my past. "You rejected me."

He froze I bet feeling uncomfortable now. "O-Oh,"

I observed him. He looked like he regretted asking me about it. He looked cute when he was trying to look like he's not uncomfortable at all but it was definitely obvious. "We weren't friends. We never talked except that time I confessed to you. I just really admired you from a far. You looked like you were really nice and kind and then you turned me down so I thought you were different from how you looked."

He looked at me. "I've heard enough about me. What are you like in your Earth? As Black. You said you got those bruises from your real father. Are they different from the ones that the Black here has?"

I looked up and gulped before I spoke up. "Far different." I stopped and smiled at myself. "My parents on my Earth weren't as good as what they are as Black's. She has a better family, a better life, better friends,"

He continued staring at me.

"And I go by Violet in my Earth."

"Should I address you as Violet then?"

"I'd prefer you to call me that but whatever you're comfortable with and since you're the only one who knows this, I'm afraid it's best for you to call me Black."

He smiled. "How did you get here?"

"I accidentally got here after giving Mrs. Dee a drink for working on the portal."

He looked confused. "Mrs. Dee?"

"She's my Physics teacher. The one that built the portal."

"You were in your teacher's house? What were you doing in her house? Why were you in her house?"

I pressed my lips together now unsure if I should get more into detail about my life. "My parents kicked me out of the house when Mrs. Dee found me in the streets. She let me stay in her house and she was working on the portal during my stay there."

He just stared at me. "I'm sorry,"

I smiled shaking my head. "It actually feels nice to have someone to talk to when you know you're alone in a different world and learning Black is very interesting and hard at the same time. I can't explain how difficult she is."

"Black broke up with me because I was a jerk." He said. "I should have told her about that dinner with Iris but I didn't."

"Iris?" I asked now curious about Earth B's Mark too.

"Iris was Black's cousin and I went on a date with her before while we were dating. I didn't tell her and I know I should have before she found out from another person. That way, I could have prevented our break up. She was so pissed but she never really showed anger. She's getting even by going out with a lot of guys in front of me. Now, it's just making me regret everything I did and I miss her so much."

I don't know if I pity him after hearing his side of the story or if I should be mad that he went out with Black's cousin while they were dating and he never told her? "Why though? Why go on a date with her cousin? I don't get it."

"Iris did it, Violet. She asked me to go out with her. I did plan to tell Black but I was too late. She was already told by someone else. She broke up with me and never heard the truth behind it. Iris and I were just friends and I don't like her even if Black kept telling me that I secretly did. I don't. I don't like her because I really loved Black so much."

I stared deep into his eyes and they were so sincere and sad. The type that looked like they were about to cry. "Then you should tell her when I find her, Mark. You should. If I can't be with the Mark in my Earth, the me in this Earth should at least end up with you. That way, I get to at least be happy with someone I like even if it means not directly me."

He chuckled and smiled. "In your Earth, were you a player there too?"

I blinked at his question. "No," I shook my head. "I only liked Mark in my Earth."

He stared back at me. "How come I never liked you in your Earth? Any specific reasons?"

I was hesitant but I answered, still. "You said I wasn't your type."

"I guess it's my loss in your Earth."

I couldn't help but stare at him after that. I don't know if I should feel giddy about what he just said but the way he was staring at me was sending me tingly feelings down my spine. "I— W— D—" I stammered but he just chuckles.

"See you around, Violet."

"Allen!"

I jumped a little in fright when Mrs. Dee shook me by the shoulder. I turned to her dumbfounded. I couldn't pull myself together after that talk I had with Mark. I didn't know what to feel. I felt confused. I know the Mark here in this Earth liked Black but somehow I felt his sincerity when he was talking to me. "Sorry, I," I shook my head hoping I'd clear my mind off of things. "I wasn't quite myself."

"I can see that." Mrs. Dee gave me a glare. "I asked if you are certain that I am the one that built that thing in your Earth or you're making me look like a fool?"

"I'm pretty sure." I replied without hesitation.

"If I made the portal in your Earth, then it's possible for me to make a portal here too," Mrs. Dee said so I nodded in agreement. "But how did I come up with that much speed to create a light year passage that's the only possible way to make one?"

I dug onto my memories and tried to remember what Mrs. Dee had with her in her office. "A lot of equations. Two rings. I don't really know. I only came to Mrs. Dee's office once in a while so I can't really tell what equipment she used."

"Do people call me Mrs. Dee in your Earth?"

I nodded.

"So I married someone in your Earth and I made a portal of something I've been researching about in your Earth and even made it work. How genius am I in there? I think it would take tons of IQ to actually make the portal work."

"But it is possible, Mrs. Dee. You made it work on my Earth, so you can make it work here too. I trust you."