Arthur (Aug 15th, 10:36 PM): “Hi, hope this goes through”

Truc (Aug 15th, 11:51 PM): “Hi! It did :)”

Truc (Aug 15th, 11:53 PM): “Did you have issues with your socmed? You don’t usually send texts”

Arthur couldn’t believe it. Somehow his message not only had been sent out but he could also receive replies!! Did he perhaps...manage to create some link with the modern world? With his timeline? If that was the case then it would be great! He didn’t know yet how useful it could be but the idea to not be left alone helpless in the past gave him great comfort and relief. He now had some kind of helpline—if he couldn’t use the internet, then his friend Truc surely could!

Arthur wrote back as excitedly, as he finally had someone to comfortably talk to and confide in.

Arthur (Aug 16th, 7:08 AM): “I know you might not believe me”

Arthur (Aug 16th, 7:10 AM): “I’m safe I didn’t disappear, srry for missing today’s outing, hope everyones safe but there’s no need to look for me ok? I’ll try to make it quick bc my battery’s dyin”

Arthur (Aug 16th, 7:13 AM): “Idk how but I’m stuck in the past rn no idea how to come back to our time but no danger yet, will explain to you later if I have any more info”

This time, the messages got sent fairly quickly. Truc however, hadn’t sent a response yet so Arthur put his phone down and started getting dressed in the same outfit as yesterday’s. Surprisingly, the night had been quite chilly and the rain refreshed the air, which meant he didn’t sweat profusely like he did the previous nights in Hanoi. He was even surprised at how cool and nice the weather was after the storm—the one that had sent him to the past—had passed.

Arthur looked for a mirror but didn’t find one so he sat back on the bed, arranging and brushing his hair with his fingers. They’d often get quite voluminous and even curlier whenever it rained so he usually had to take extra care of them during such days. Thankfully, he hadn’t cut his hair in a while due to the time he had put in passing his last year of Bachelor’s, so the weight of the hair didn’t make him as...puffy and ridiculous as it usually would when his hair was short.

At that moment, the screen of his phone lit up—Truc had replied.

Truc (Aug 16th, 7:37 AM): “Are you drunk???”

That wasn’t exactly the reply that Arthur expected but one that he surely should have expected. Of course he wouldn’t believe him, it made no sense...but then, did it mean that he didn’t disappear in the present? Arthur was pretty sure that all of them, including Truc, were supposed to meet today (well, in the present timeline) to go to the Perfume Pagoda. Surely, they wouldn’t act this nonchalantly if he had disappeared and didn’t show up for the trip, would they?!

Arthur (Aug 16th, 7:41 AM): “No it’s the truth, I really time traveled! I don’t know how to make you believe me but I’m not lying I didn’t drink”

Truc (Aug 16th, 7:43 AM): “lol”

Arthur (Aug 16th, 7:43 AM): “Idk what to tell you”

Truc (Aug 16th, 7:44 AM): “Of course I don’t believe you lol nobody would, that’s such a weird joke lmao ”

Arthur (Aug 16th, 7:47 AM): “hgjkfghjf pls I was so happy you answered and now you’re not believing me????”

Truc (Aug 16th, 7:48 AM): “yeah sure okay send proof then lmao”

Arthur (Aug 16th, 7:50 AM): “I can’t nothing works and the battery is low, nothing goes through I don’t even know what time I’m stuck in or what day or time it is”

Truc (Aug 16th, 7:55 AM): “?? Maybe your phone’s just broken then. It should be 4:24pm in the US right”

The last message made Arthur stop for a while. Why would Arthur ask him about the time in the US if they were both in Vietnam and had to meet on that day? It didn’t make sense unless he not only got the time wrong but also the day.

Arthur (Aug 16th, 7:59 AM): “Wait a second what day are we”

Truc (Aug 16th, 8:02 AM): “Are you sure you’re okay? You didn’t do anything bad did you? We just talked fine yesterday about your trip”

Arthur (Aug 16th, 8:04 AM): “wdym didn’t we meet yet”

Truc (Aug 16th, 8:05 AM): “How could we have met if you’re only coming in 5 months”

Arthur (Aug 16th, 8:07 AM): “Ok wait omg wait let me process it a bit”

For some reason, Arthur thought he had traveled back in time but that only the years had changed. He had never expected that he had gotten sent back at a random date...or did he? How did time work? He wasn’t sure but if there was one thing that was certain, it’s that his phone didn’t exactly make him communicate with present time but with five months prior that—so it was also possible that currently (very far in the past!), he wasn’t in August either.

Arthur (Aug 16th, 8:13 AM): “Can I ask you what’s the date today, like, on your side”

Truc (Aug 16th, 8:15 AM): “Thurday, March 16? Your phone’s really broken???”

Arthur (Aug 16th, 8:16 AM): “Ok thx my battery’s low so I’ll message you again once I figure out a way to make you believe me or something see ya later”

Arthur closed the texting application and immediately changed the date and time on his phone. It would be much easier to communicate this way, it would also be some kind of guide as to how much time would pass before the other side will reach his current timeline. According to what Truc had said, it should be March 16th, 6:50 AM.

Great, at least that was one major information. Even if Truc didn’t believe him, Arthur was still relieved to know that he still could have some kind of contact with his current (or almost) timeline. It would probably be wise to note this in his sketchbook as well.