The day looks brighter on a sunny day in May. Celine checks on the fridge to see if she already needs to buy more supplies. It feels better every day even if she knows that she's not living on her timeline.
It's much simpler 21 years before the present time. She wonders if she should start a career around here already. It's the same year when the company she works for as an academic writer started.
Maybe she can create some documents to adjust to this date. That will help her get a job around here. She knows that their funds are running low already. Drake brought about 300K old peso bills.
But since they have to buy some supplies for the lab, it seems to run out quickly. Good thing that the prices of the goods around this time are not too expensive. They will still survive for another month with the money that they have.
Although Drake may not approve of her working around here. She started to get worried about making a living. What if they got stuck here forever! That means that somehow, they need to earn some cash to survive.
"I have to go to the grocery to buy some milk and eggs!" Celine informed Drake.
He's busy doing some tweaks with the charging ports that they made. When May started, Drake made sure to perfect their only way back to the present time. Although it looks good already, Celine can't tell if this would work.
"Alright, but I can't come with you right now. It might start raining soon!" Drake responded.
"That's okay, babe! I'll be back before you know it." Celine replied and kissed his cheek.
She headed out of the house to make sure that she would be back before lunch. It's still early for going to the supermarket. But Drake didn't know that since he's busy underground.
Celine decided to just take a look at that company she used to work with. During this year, internet cafes are all over the place. She will go to the nearby cafe to get into the internet.
Maybe she can find something helpful there. After all, her former job was online. She can apply via email to start writing academic papers again. She can't just wait for the lightning storm to happen.
As she's walking, she notices that the Wa Nam Restaurant is missing. That made her take a second look. She went back to its location and saw a bank standing there. But how is it even possible? They were just there yesterday!
Being a time traveler for a few months now, she can't help but feel worried. Something might happen and it causes her surroundings to change. Even the supermarket she was supposed to go to is no longer in that location.
The internet cafe is still there but it's bigger now than yesterday. It seems that everything changes overnight. She also notices that other establishments weren't there before. As if the year 2000 is becoming 2021 already!
Celine tried not to panic after realizing what the place now looks like during 2021. There are some differences but still, it was not like that yesterday. She wanted to go home right away to inform Drake of the situation.
But she decided to go to the internet cafe as planned. Maybe she can do something from there to communicate with Chad. He's their only hope of going home. If everything changes because of them staying in this year, they need to do something about it fast.
"How many hours?" The teenage girl cafe attendant asked.
"Just make it open time!" Celine felt weird saying that.
Good thing she was able to still remember those old slangs. At least she will not look too out of place around here. The attendant gave her a number that corresponds to the computer number she's allowed to use.
"Here, we have a promo for customers who will go for the open time!" The attendant informed her.
She gave Celine a cup of ramen and an energy drink. Those are the official diet of internet cafe gamers. Celine thanked the girl and she went on her way to computer number 28. It's on the furthest side of the cafe.
Celine can see the gamer's area as she walks past them. It gave her a nostalgic feeling since she also likes staying in cafes when she turns into a teenager. But it will be after 5 more years from this year. Although she enjoys the feeling of being there.
Then she saw the room name of this part of the internet cafe. It says, "Time Traveller Lounge" which made her feel guilty. When she gets inside, there's no one else around but her. But as she approaches the computer, there's a small printed instruction on the side.
It reads:
Warning! For time travelers' eyes only!
If you feel lost in time, here's what you can do:
Create an email to www.timetraveler.org
Send an email to your future self.
Provide instructions on how to get you.
Go back to check for a reply.
Good luck!
Celine feels chills on her spine! If this is for real, she can just send a message to her future self to come and rescue her and Drake! That means that they don't have to wait for the rainy season to go back to their time.
She immediately takes her seat and goes to the website from the instructions. It's worth the try to create her time traveler's email address. She saw Chad's face on the website as the creator. It looks like he was able to find a way to get in touch with them!
Celine started typing her message to Chad instead. She told him the date they are currently in as well as the address of their apartment. Hopefully, Chad will be able to go to their timeline and finally rescue them. She sends her message right away.
After that, she decided to create her email address on the website as well. Then send a message to her email address. Maybe her future self will get it and reply to her message. Now, she's excited to go home to tell Drake all about it!