Ranilo B. Vidal Jr.

Grade 11 – HUMSS Faith

Summary of Chimera
By: Khatrina Bonagua

I’ve always been fond of history that discovering something from the past thrills me. Maybe
that’s the reason why I collect antiques and my recent purchase was a wristwatch. I’ve never seen this
kind of watch instead of usual numbers, it has years from 1970-2010. It was pointing at 1989 my birth
year.
I woke up the next morning and to my surprise, I was not in my room. I scanned the room there’s
pink instead of yellow wallpaper. My gadgets, closets and antique collections it was nowhere to be
found. I wonder where I am.
And I noticed the watch I bought yesterday. It looked new, I tried to remove it but I couldn’t and
it was getting weird.
I saw my dad talking on phone across the room and he looks 18 years younger. I tried to
approach him; he was surprised and asked me who I was. I told him I was his daughter but he threw me
out of the house even I cried and knock the door.
Everything around was different yet seemed to look familiar. This was my village 18 years ago. I
was having a dream. I pinched and slapped my face but there is no use. I’m stock.
I watched my wristwatch because this must be the culprit. Its 1989 my birth year that was why
my dad was so excited. I walked and observed my surroundings. Familiar faces began to show up and
they all look 18 years younger. But the one who is wearing white shirt, sitting at the swing caught my
attention.
I approached him. We talked for hours and I did not mention I was from the future. And his
name was Red. We clicked together as if we knew each other before. My problems and confusion drifted
away and I began to like it here.
He asked me where I got my watch and told him I bought from antique shop. Suddenly, he
insisted we should go home and see each other soon.
I sneaked to my room and to my surprised I see the crib for me and after that I fall asleep. I
heard Red calling my name. I went down to talked to him. He explained that he knew I was from the
future and he knew how to bring me back.
I asked him, “How did you figure it out?” He said that he had this dream about the future. At first
he didn’t believe but his feelings told him it’s true. I don’t want to go. I was hugging and crying at him
but he told me, “I feel responsible for you.”
He said it was already time. I should be back between sunrise and sunset. He showed me the key
that can unlock the watch. I asked Red If I could stay here but he said that I didn’t belong in this time
even though we like each other. There was no use. I was from the future and he was from the past. He
gave me a necklace where the pendant is the key. He said it was a remembrance but I gave it back to him
because memories of him were enough for me.
I was blinded by light I opened my eyes and realized I was back. I was crying and I couldn’t
believe it was all a dream.
Its year 2010 and I can still remember that very wonderful dream. I had no regrets experiencing
being in a time machine. It has been year since I last visited the antique shop and I saw a guy about my
age and I was shock to see his key necklace. Then he removed it and handed to me and explained that
it’s from his father who passed away five years ago. His father said he would find out what it was for.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Why is the selection titled “Chimera”?
- It is entitled Chimera because the story tells about falling in love in different time
and we all know that this event is something that we hope or wish for even it is
just impossible to happen.
2. Describe you protagonist.
- The protagonist likes to collect antique things, she loves discovering from the
past, and history gives her thrill.
3. What is the conflict in the story?
- The conflict of the story is the time because they met in shorter time but feel like
they knew each other very well even though she is from the future while Red is
from the past they can’t do anything because they found the perfect love at
wrong time.
4. Did you have a similar experience? If so, narrate briefly your story.
- Yes, this was happened when I was elementary that I have a friend who also love
to play basketball, we are so closed that we played everyday but one day he just
left me behind and since I’m just a child I don’t care if he don’t want to talked to
me but after 1 month he migrated to Canada. If I can just go back to the time that
I can ask him what is the problem, and if I can go back to time where I can spend
my remaining days playing with him but I know that I will not happen anymore.
5. If you were the writer, how would you conclude the story?
- If I am the writer I will end my story that they will met again even for the last
time so that they will have a closure to what happened to them.
6. What insights have you gained from reading the selection?
- The insights I have gained from reading the story is the we cannot control what
faith has given to us and even though we want to discover or go back to what
happened to us, we already know that we can never manipulate the time
because it is the impossible thing to happen.