The Right Choice

Even if I don't really trust people, her offer made me curious about it. I just want to know what it is. That's all!

"What is it?" I walk towards her slowly, not putting my guard down. She just smiled at me. I think she knows that I'm wary of her.

"Before I tell you what my offer is, I'll tell you who I am and where I came from. But first, let's talk in a more private area. Follow me," she said and started to walk outside without looking back. It seems like she's sure that I'll follow her. But I'm still battling with myself about whether to follow her or not.

She was moving away from me but still didn't look back. There, I realized that she gave me a choice because she knew I don't trust easily. She was waiting for me to follow her, but if I don't, she's really going back to where she's from. And that thought makes me feel like I just lost something. She said that she knows everything about me, and I'm still curious about it. Do I have to take a risk and trust her? Do I have to follow her?

But before I decided whether to trust her or not, my feet had their own minds and started to follow her. I ran just to catch up to her.

"Wait for me!" I stopped and tried to catch my breath. She's really fast. I looked around me and saw that no one's there but the two of us. Are we far from the university now? Just how fast did she walk?

I think she heard me because she stopped. I saw her looking in my way and just smiled. She knew that I followed her, even if I had trust issues. I wonder why she always seems to know everything.

"You made the right choice, Alexandra," she said, smiling. She suddenly holds out her hand to me. I, without thinking, took her hand.

Then suddenly, the scenery changed. We are now in the middle of the jungle.

"What the---!" I was beyond shocked. I looked around the scenery in incredulity. What in the world is happening?! I continuously rubbed my eyes because I still couldn't believe it. What did I just put myself into? Am I in the world of otherworldly beings? Does she also want me to be like them? No way!

"I know you're shocked right now." No! I am beyond that! "But as I said earlier, I'll explain it to you."

She started walking toward the north. I followed her. I need to stick by her side because she's the only way out of here.

"Welcome to my world, Alexandra." I stopped when I heard her say'my world'. It's not my imagination, right? What kind of world did she mean?

"So you're saying I'm in a different world?" I said that as a joke, but you can't imagine the shock on my face when she nodded her head. What the heck?

" This is not Earth anymore. This is another planet in another galaxy where I'm their goddess." It makes sense. She didn't seem to be a human from Earth when I first saw her. She came to me from the Philippines, and she didn't look like a Filipino. I thought she was a foreigner. But I still don't believe it.

"Then why do we speak the same language?" I asked her. She just smiled at me. She really knew that I would not immediately believe what other people were saying.

"I also know how to speak Filipino, Alexandra. English and Filipino languages are the 'lenggwahe' (language) of my people." She just speaks a Filipino word! This is absurd! And on top of that, she won't have an accent when she says that Filipino word. It's like she's used to saying it.

"But why do you only have two languages in your world?" She smiled and didn't answer it.

"There's a history of that recorded by my humans. You will know it if you accept my offer," she said. And that reminds me of the offer she made earlier.

"Are you really a goddess? Are we really on a different planet? Is this even real?" I don't know what to believe anymore. I wish I could just trust people easily. Now, I'm very confused. I feel like I'm going crazy thinking about whether this is all real. What are the possibilities if I trust her words?

She stretched her hand to me again and smiled. Why do I ever feel comfortable when I see that smile? My worries disappeared like a bubble because of her smile. Her kind smile makes me trust her a little bit. I'll just accept her hand for now. My curiosity is still not satisfied.

"Just see for yourself."

I took her hands once again, and we're in a different scenery again. I looked around me and stared at the scene in amazement. This place is like the Middle Ages in Europe. The houses here, the clothes, and even the transportation are the same as theirs. Now I'm wondering if there's also a hierarchy of nobility here. No, wait! Does this mean that I believe that all of this is true?

"My people here look the same as your people in the past, right? Although they're the same, they're different in their languages. In your world, British and English were the languages; ours here is also English, but some people speak Taglish," she said with a proud smile on her face.

If I was holding a glass of water right now, I'm sure I would have spilled it. I can't imagine the Middle Ages-like people speaking in Taglish. I laughed at that thought.

"Why is your language Taglish? Why not just English or Tagalog?" I asked her in confusion. I'm really curious about this so-called "another world" of hers.

"You see, this empire is the largest of all empires because back then, it was two kingdoms. They were merged many years ago. The first kingdom, Ku Kingdom, speaks English, while the second kingdom, Lay (Lai) Kingdom, speaks Tagalog," she answered. I feel like I choked on my saliva from what I heard from her.

"So, it's called the Kulay Empire now?" I said it while suppressing my laughter. Who would have thought there's really a kingdom named Kulay (Color) Empire? It was so funny that I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. I didn't realize that I was being insensitive right now. I really can't help but laugh at that name. Yes, it's new and unique, but I'm laughing because it's too cute for an empire, and the largest one at that.

She just kindly smiled at me, as if she understood me. I felt guilty.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed." I just bowed my head in shame.

"It's okay, Alexandra. It means that this empire really has a very unique name," she said and started to walk through the bustling streets. I followed her again.

"There are other kingdoms here in this world, right? But why bring me here?" I asked and still followed her, heading somewhere.

"I brought you here because this is where I want you to be. My offer lies here, and that's what we'll talk about later. I just want you to understand the situation you're about to put yourself in before you decide to accept this. But that's IF you want to accept this," she said and continued to walk. I followed her until we stopped in the plaza, where there was an enormous statue facing me.

Wait. This statue is so familiar. I immediately looked at Adara, who is smiling at me right now. She—she's the statue! I felt my jaw drop from what I'm seeing right now. The people here really worship her!

I felt in myself that I'm starting to believe these. But I can't deny that I still have my doubts. Maybe this is all an illusion, and she's just fooling me around.

"Why do the people here not notice me when, for them, I'm wearing this weird outfit?" I pointed at my short dress, which was under my toga earlier. I just left my toga on Earth when I followed Adara.

I saw Adara smile again. Is she not tired of always smiling like nothing is happening? But, wait, why was there a bit of sadness in her smile? Was it because I didn't trust her? Was that it? She's making me uneasy right now.

"This is just a memory of the past. We are inside of a memory. I made this just to make you understand the situation you're going to put yourself into," she answered.

I looked at her, who's now showing sadness in her face. I feel like there's something bad happening in the present, and that's why she showed me the memory of the past.

"What happened?" I asked her. I don't know, but I don't have a good feeling about this. I always trust my instincts because there is something likely to happen if I feel something bad or good. What really is her offer? I feel like I'm almost nearing the truth of this offer.

"I'll bring you to the present after I show you the thing we're coming here for," she said, continuing to walk again.

The doubts running through my head are slowly vanishing. I now believe that this world is real and that she's really a goddess. Now, I just want to know what the heck's happening in this world.

I just followed her while I stared in amazement at the mansions of the nobles here. They're really very rich! I can see the precious stones decorated on the outside of their house. Tch. I wish they just gave their precious decorations to the poor people who even got none to eat. But, knowing the greedy nobles, it's hopeless.

I stopped when Adara stopped walking. I looked around at the place we just stopped. My jaw drops at the sight! An enormous mansion is in my eyes right now. The expansive mansion's intricate design exuded a sense of grandeur and splendor befitting a king or queen. Wait—am I wrong? Is this even a mansion? It’s like looking at a royal palace! Wow!

How many times did I find myself in amazement today?

This mansion is so much more beautiful than the others! I don't know why I saw this as the most beautiful mansion. Maybe because I can almost feel the warmth here from the inside. It seems like a happy family lived here. I felt like a needle just pricked my heart. I let out a bitter laugh. I'm jealous of that warmth.

"Let's go inside."