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𝄞 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙙. 

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𝄞 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙙. 

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New York, everyone’s dream city. Filled with inspiration, innovation, high business acumen, hope, happiness, perfection. The city that’s unforgettable, especially the memories made with someone will last an eternity from the stay at this picture-perfect paradise. And who dare to care about the loners that doesn’t fit in the perfect picture?  Well, this story is about them anyway.

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A cleanly shaved man, dressed in colourful clothes, neat haircut, skin glistening in the neon light coming from the ceiling of this tiny but well-stocked bar as he enters the intimate, dark room flooded with partying lonely crowds. He did not look like anything special at all. In fact, a very ordinary man. The few rays of multicoloured lights still could not hide the blue aura of these people dancing, pretending to be happy and problem-free.

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Thinking that alcohol will wash away his problems, fifteen tequila shots later and from the pooled tears, they’re flowing pass his cheeks unstoppable. Tears distort vision; he couldn’t tell what the blurry, dazzling element was while slobbering his way in a dark, isolated valley home. It is the part of New York that is ugly, dirty, scandalous. Mad traffic with vicious people hunting for dollar bills from the same empty-pocket people; that he called home. As he continues walking and losing his last spark of hope, there was a distinct spark of light slowly glowing in thin air.

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He could not believe what he saw, he thought it was an effect from drinking, but the illusion turned out to be a man properly covered in tuxedo. His figure was outlined by the bright light that he appeared from; he was tall, middle size and muscly built as shown from the tuxedo that tightly wrapped around those cruel pair of arms. In a blink of an eye, from about a few metres the mysterious man was standing, he appeared a few centimetres from the crying drunk lad that stood in confusion, stunned and tears froze. The two were a pinch close to each other that they could feel the warm breath inhaling and exhaling from one’s body. Three seconds that lasted like the time had stopped, the mysterious man pulled himself back and immediately looked around him only to realised that he’s lost.

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‘Old Sport! What had just happened?’ the mysterious man locked his eyes with the confused Old Sport.

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There was not a sound. The loud music that was blasting the entire alley had just suddenly stopped.

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‘Old Sport? Nick!’ the mysterious man tried get a word out from the frozen statue standing in front of him.

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‘Who are you? What just happened? Did you- What? Aa- Are you a ghost? Did I die? Are you an angel? Are you here to pick me up?’

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‘Calm down Old Sport. What are you talking about? We were just on our way for a swim, don’t you remember? And then we, well I was pulled into a very bright, magical light and here I am.’

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‘Why are you calling me Old Sport? I’ve never been involved in any kind of sport before… I’m not a professional, I think you are mistaken. Although I have no idea how you guessed my name, I’m Nick – Nick Quinn.’

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As they stared in silent, it seemed that words were hiding in the air around them, it was one of those ‘moment’. A connection that Nick had never felt before. The mysterious feeling that suddenly comforted him on this starry but gloomy night. The ominous feeling that was strangely washed away in seconds had left a vacuum that jollity is starting to fill in. The feeling of being strangers but yet it felt like they knew each other very well.

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As the first light of the day started to leap through the tall buildings touching the sky, Nick sobered up.

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‘Hey man, I don’t know if this is some kind of a movie scene or a prank, but I’m not interested. And now if I may, I’m heading home,’ Nick said.

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‘Well then I supposed you’re just a look-alike. If you’re not Nick Caraway; the man I’m seeking, then I now will kindly excuse myself…’ the mysterious man paused, lowered his head, adjusted his tie, elegantly stroked his hair and softly sighed. ‘But anyhow, it was nice to meet you Mr. Quinn. My name is Jay Gatsby.’

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‘You name is oddly familiar. I don’t know. It’s like I’ve heard of it before.’ Nick leaned closer, ‘are you talking about Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby the novel?’

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Jay took a step backward, ‘a- a novel?’

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‘Yeah, are you cosplaying? You should go home though. It’s going to pour soon,’ Nick chuckled as he takes a step to the side and continue walking down the alley, leaving Jay behind.

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A sudden sprinkle of cold rain turned into heavier droplets of water, and into rainstorm washing down the confusion Jay holds. Knowing that he’s in a land of nowhere, he drops his questions that altogether flowed into the sideroad drain and raced himself to catch up with the figure that’s slowly getting swallowed by the darkness.

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‘Old sport! Wait!’ Jay planted his hands on his knees, struggling to catch a single breath, ‘I really don’t know how I got here. Everyone and everything are very odd.  You’re my only hope.’ Jay reached for Nick’s hand. But just before he let out a single word, Nick had evaporated into green glowing dust, same for Nick’s side; Jay had disappeared into dust. Nick can’t believe what he just saw, jaws dropped, and he stood still for a good three minutes. He came to a realisation: alcohol had taken a toll; he went home.

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As the midday sun bathed the tall buildings in its warm light, Nick sat hopelessly watching the tiny specks of dust dancing in the light. He waited and waited for phone calls from the many companies he submitted his novel to…but he did not felt a single vibration.

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Thousands of thoughts ran through his head, and one of them was ‘You’re my only hope.’ He lifted his chin and began walking in circular loops. Although the part of the memory when the man trembled into glittery dust does not make sense in reality and was too surreal to believe…so there he thought; it was a dream. For the rest of the day Nick locked himself silently in his tiny home with nothing more than a pile of books and an old wooden chair with two missing back slats. The unexpected barking of faraway dogs broke the silence of the night and Nick impulsively stood up and grabbed his leather coat as he stormed out the door after he turned off the radio discussing about a multiverse portal opening in Antarctica. Usually, these multiverse sciences would get Nick to jump out of his chair and dance around excitedly. But this time, he suddenly felt numb, as if something…or a part of him had wasn’t alive anymore…

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Same process as last night, he drank, almost passed out, almost regurgitated, and crab-walked home at first light. Although there was one thing, there was a man dressed in full-black tuxedo; it was Jay, standing in front of Nick’s house. This time, he seemed to be talking to someone…but there were no one. He continued to speak…with the empty spaces as far as Nick can tell. But before he gets to approach Jay, a numb feeling festered, black vision conquered him, and then he collapsed just like the leaves in autumn.

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'W-where am I?’ Nick said to himself. Although unexpectedly, he received a reply:

‘You’re at my home, old sport.’

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Nick blushed heavily as he was pressed against Gatsby. "You suddenly appeared after I got home, you were sleeping on my pavement, so I wanted to give you a little upgrade. Although you wouldn't wake up, so I took you into my home and then I passed out." Gatsby looked down at the flustered Nick in his arms. He smiled softly. "Rest, old sport. You need it."

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‘You know that we’ve met twice, and how can you trust someone this much that you put them on your bed?’ Nick’s voice cracked as he determinedly stared at Gatsby for an answer.

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‘I’ve known you for longer. You just haven’t realised.’ Jay whisper as he throw his face closer to Nick’s. Nick startled and jumped out of bed.

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‘What were you about to do? Have you lost your mind? First you kidnapped me, threw me on your bed and now you’re about to…about to…’ Before Nick could finished his sentence, he broke down into tears and ran out the exit hiding behind white curtains jazzing in strong breezes.

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‘What do you think of me?’ Jay asked Nick as he flashed a perfect smile at him that girls would soon over.

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Nick wiped his tears and replied, ‘Think of you?’

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‘Yes, old sport. What is your opinion of me?’

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Nick thought that this was such an odd question to ask a stranger or just in general. Yet he thought about it. Looked ahead to see the scenic lake view and wondering where he is, he replied, ‘You’re an opportunist. Nothing more, nothing less. Well, maybe add wealthy to the list.’

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Jay immediately chuckled, ‘Is that so?’

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Nick nodded softly and scanned the castle from the veranda he is standing on; the house was not a house, it’s a luxurious castle…a princess castle.

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Silence stayed for quite a while until Jay brought up small talk that fuelled the conversation for about ten minutes and then Jay’s expression dropped. Nick didn’t have a choice but to ask him about the sudden change of mood.

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‘A good friend of mine recently passed away because of me.’

Nick twitched his head to look at Jay and communicated with his eyes. No words were spoken, but the two seemed to know what each other were saying, silently.

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‘It was a friend I mentioned to you before. Nick Carraway. There was an incident, he ran to block a bullet that was meant for my head.’

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Nick paused and unclenched his fist. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’ Though it made him realised that what he experienced on that night was not a dream after all, ‘Jay really did disappeared…into glowing dust!’ He thought. Nick could not pull senses out of the situations he’s processing in his head, but Jay seemed calm, strangely calm.

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‘Why are you so unbothered? That night- I- I saw you disappeared into green dust…I can’t explain it. I don’t know how it was scientifically possible. But I swear I really did saw it. I really did-’

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‘Old sport! Stop. It’s alright. I saw the same. And I suspect that we are exposed to some kind of universe-opening error. After that night, Nick- Nick Carraway and I, we went to the book store and looked at the old men’s papers. It all made sense. All of us have at least one part of ourselves in all the hundreds of universes. They all connect to one another, same soul, same face, same body, just different memories.’ Jay smiled, ‘thus, you’re Nick Carraway in your world.’ Jay took a step forward, ‘and the reason we saw each other broken down into green dust was because we were touching one’s naked skin.’

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‘I- This- I can’t believe it.’

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Jay looked at Nick and took a step forward, Nick followed. The journey led to the castle’s backyard and one stone beautifully decorated by colourful flowers planted in the middle of the neatly cut grass field. It was Carraway’s grave stone. A tingly sensation raced up from the tip of Nick’s limb. Within seconds since the moment Nick glazed his sight over the grave stone, he came to realisation. As if he had just gained knowledge without experiencing it – they were memories he didn’t know he had.

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A floating green light suddenly appeared in front of the two, out of instinct, they followed it. It led them to the pier. The green light that was floating right close to their faces had lit up a distanced beacon across the lake. Jay reached out his arms towards the green light, miserably trying to pull it close.

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‘Let’s not waste your time on someone who doesn’t want you anymore. If she loved you truly, she wouldn’t have fallen for Tom, Jay. It hurts me to see that you’re hurting.’

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Nick wrapped his arms around Jay and placed his head on Jay’s shoulder. Jay’s arm dropped beside his body, he couldn’t see Nick’s face, but felt Nick’s rock-hard body pressed against his back. Nick Quinn that had merged with Nick Carraway, always had and always will have their heart for one man only: Jay Gatsby – the love of their soul. If hugs do heal, he’d hold him forever. They hugged long enough to predict the next breath from the rhythm of each other’s breathing.

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But before Nick and Jay could continue, they were interrupted by a deep, echoing voice:

‘Error. An Error has occurred. An entity has fallen into the wrong world. Please stand by for further instructions.’

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‘What the actually heck is happening now? Am I still high or are you hearing this too Jay!’ Nick yelled out.

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‘This is thrilling! But what are you?’ Jay broke the mood with his broken humour.

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‘Nick Quinn, not only you’ve crossed universe, but you’ve also met Nick Carraway; yourself in a different universe…this means that you’ve gained memories that Nick Carraway possessed during his time with life. But unfortunately, we can’t allow that. Apologies to us for overlooking the error that have led you to this world, we will solve the situation in less than 24 hours. You will be back to area 419 by then.’

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Nick and Jay were speechless. Not by the fact that they’ve crossed worlds, but by the fact that they will need to part. Before Nick could withdraw his mind from the miserable upcoming truth, Jay’s arms rewrapped him, just before Nick start to slowly disintegrate into green dust, a soft, gentle, and tender pair of lips met. For every heartbeat that they felt pounding on one’s chest, each one got quicker and louder. They moulded together, exploring the taste of each other, they felt as though they’d found a moment of forever. However, their lips slipped apart as grief poured out in a flood of uncontrollable tears knowing that it’s time to say goodbye.

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For there were two hearts that were meant to align. But like a solar eclipse, their love was rare. Destined to happen but always destined to end.

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Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice, but I watched ours end in nothing but the sun beaming as we both crumbled into dusts… It’s been 4 months since it all happened. And here I am, back to where I belong but still beholding the memories that trigger my tears every time it run through my head. But as quoted by an anonymous stranger, ‘Some things are just never meant to be, no matter how much we wish they were.’ However, I argue, we were always meant to be; just never meant to last…so maybe in another place, another time, I’ll love you in all the beautiful ways I couldn’t love you now, Jay.