Chapter 12 Mysterious Message
Jenny looked at Rick when he took out 500 Poh. She showed a slight disbelief in her eyes, but did not ask anything about it. She knew a bit about Rick's mother and how much she would give Rick as his daily allowance. That is the reason why, when they were on dates, she would sometimes pay for their meals. It was the first time that she saw him taking out such a huge amount of cash.
She suddenly has a new image of him in her mind. As a young woman, she would always see her friends boast of their boyfriends in front of her. Some of them would show off their new bags, bracelets, or stuff their boyfriends give them. She could not deny that she was a bit jealous. But though she felt that way, she did not want to leave Rick. He was her friend in high school, and admitted his feelings for her last summer before they entered college.
She too liked him. Though his fashion sense is weird and he is on the thin side, he has his own charms. He is kind and intelligent. Plus, she could feel his sincerity towards her, not just someone who wanted to chase after her skirt.
Soon, their order arrived.
"You know," Jenny said, taking a sip of her tea, "it's really nice to just… talk like this. Sometimes, with all the schoolwork and Joana's ambitious plans, I forget to just relax."
"I know the feeling," Rick replied, "but it's important to make time for the good things, isn't it? For moments like these." He gazed at her, feeling a profound connection, a sense of timeless belonging. This was his chance to re-weave the tapestry of their life together, to make it even stronger, more vibrant.
Their quick date lasted longer than they intended, stretching until they realized they were both perilously close to being late for their afternoon commitments.
"Oh, I really have to go!" Jenny exclaimed, checking her watch. "My study group will kill me if I'm late again."
They stood outside the cafe, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows. Rick hesitated, then, without thinking, he reached out and pulled her into a warm, gentle hug. She stiffened for a moment, surprised, then relaxed into his embrace, her arms circling his waist. He held her close, inhaling the faint, sweet scent of her hair, the simple act a balm to his soul. It had been so long since he'd felt her in his arms, really felt her.
He pulled back just slightly, his hands still on her shoulders, and looked down at her. Her eyes were wide, a soft question in them. He leaned in, gently kissing her forehead, then her cheek, and finally, softly, reverently, her lips. It was a chaste kiss, innocent and sweet, but it held all the weight of their past and future.
"I love you, Jenny," he whispered, the words heartfelt, resonant with decades of emotion. It was what he had always said, every single day, for all the years they were together. Saying it now, in this young body, in this resurrected moment, felt like coming home.
Jenny's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and her eyes fluttered shut for a moment before she opened them, a stunned, yet utterly happy expression on her face. "Rick…" she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. She didn't say it back, not yet. He knew she wouldn't. Not this soon. But the warmth in her gaze, the slight tremor in her hands as she pulled away, told him she felt something similar.
"Go," he said, smiling. "Don't want to make your study group mad."
She gave him a shy, beaming smile, then turned and hurried away, casting a quick glance over her shoulder before disappearing around the corner.
Rick stood there for a long moment, the warmth of her embrace still lingering. The encounter with Nortorn, the lottery plans, the future – all of it faded into the background. All that mattered was this renewed connection with Jenny. He knew he had a long road ahead, a complex game to play, but with her by his side, or rather, with him by her side, anything felt possible. He was rewriting their history, not just for his benefit, but for hers. He would ensure her bakery dream came true, that she never faced the struggles they had endured, that her life was filled with joy.
He started walking home, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The day had flown by, a whirlwind of emotions and subtle strategic maneuvers. He felt tired, but it was a good kind of tired, a fulfilling exhaustion. He needed to rest, to let his younger self manage the interim, and to prepare for the next 'dream'.
The world around him began to blur, the vibrant colors of City Bee fading, the sounds receding. The sensation of his younger body dissolved, replaced by the familiar weight of his older limbs.
He woke up with a jolt, his eyes snapping open. The soft, ambient glow of his smart home system illuminated his modern bedroom. The digital clock on his bedside table read 3:00 AM. Seven hours. He had spent seven hours in the past, living and breathing as his seventeen-year-old self.
A sigh escaped him. Only seven hours. He longed for more, for a full twelve-hour immersion, a chance to really delve deep, to accomplish more. But he knew, from the strange rules of this temporal dreaming, that the duration of his stay in the past was directly linked to the depth of his sleep in the present. And his body, even with all his wealth and comfort, struggled to consistently achieve truly deep, extended REM cycles. The more stress, the shorter the dream. He had to manage his real-world anxieties.
He stretched, feeling the familiar aches of his fifty-year-old body. The scent of fresh air and old books was gone, replaced by the sterile, slightly metallic smell of his air-conditioned room. He reached for his smartphone, checking for any urgent notifications from his restaurant managers from last night.
A new message blinked on the screen, not from work, but from an unfamiliar number.
Rick opened the message and frowned upon reading it.
"Rick, you might not know me, but I know you. I know the story about you and Jenny. You are a loyal man, but there is something you must know. Something that was hidden from you for a very long time. If you are interested, just contact me at this number."
Upon reading the message, Rick's heart skipped a beat. He felt a bit anxious and worried. This is something about his late wife and what has happened in the past. But he knew that his past with his late wife was not as pleasant a story as he wanted to listen to or hear.
He loved his wife, and she had hurt him deeply, yet that was what happened. But he has already forgiven her. And he knew that it was his uselessness that gave a crack to their life together. If only he had woken up sooner, if only he had been persistent, if only he had acted earlier, then none of these would have happened. He already knew that. He did not want other people to add to the past pain he had felt.
But deep inside his heart, something is pushing him to contact that person. However, his mind is already affixed to what he wants to do. He was given the chance to dream and travel to the past. He can change everything; he can change the current future where Jenny is still on his side.
He clicked out of the message and wanted to press delete, but his finger hesitated. With a frown, he just pressed home and put his smartphone down.
…
The next day, Rick went to his office as usual and became busy with his work. He signed a few documents, attended meetings, talked to his son, and relaxed for a bit. The day was busy, and he could not help but look forward to dreaming at night.
Suddenly, his phone received another message, it was from the same number.
"It seems that I did not have your attention yet. But soon, you will." The tone of the message suddenly turned arrogant.
Rick could not help but frown. He suspected someone he knew was behind that message. But why would this person send him such a message? It had been years already? If the person in his mind is the one he was thinking of, then this guy is crazy.
Rick frowned, then quickly typed. "Nortorn?"
After sending that name, he waited for a while, but there was no answer. He wanted to call, but he did not want to hear that guy's voice. He was the one who caused him pain, and he did not want to remember those things again.
Ten minutes later, the reply arrived.