See You Again

“You said you have an appointment. Where did you go exactly?”

“After we had that fight yesterday, I went back to my room but I couldn’t sleep. I waited until dad fell asleep, then went to his safe to check the file he has on you.” He told me with a guilty look on his face. “I took a photo of the whole file, then went back to my room. After that, it didn’t take long to find you.”

“I told you not to look for me.”

“Yeah, you did. And up until now, I did just that.” I didn’t ask him what changed his mind. There was no need for that. I stood up as if I was just taking a stroll around the room. I could no longer bear seeing him kneel before me. “In reality, you aren’t that much older than me. Why didn’t you tell me?” I was standing with my back to him but I could still imagine the accusing look he most likely has on his face.

“I supposed you can count. I did tell you that your present right now is ten years into my past. And I’m thirty-one now. What did you expect?” I asked and turned around to face him.

“Anyway, I went to look for you at the university you go to. I mean, you went to,” he corrected himself and stood up. “I even saw one of your volleyball matches. It was quite impressive how your team won.”

“It was just a varsity team, not a big deal,” I said trying to stay indifferent.

“Maybe... But I’m pretty sure it must have felt great to celebrate the victory with your teammates. Especially with the one you were dating,” he told me in a low voice and came dangerously closer, almost pinning me to the wardrobe behind me.” After that, I’m pretty sure you did a celebratory f...”

“Hey!” I interrupted him angrily and pushed him away to free myself. “It’s not like we’re still together. We’re already his... over. Besides, I only told you not to find my past self because I didn’t want you to change anything in my past with your actions and thus change my future,” I told him the truth embarrassedly.

“But you’re free to change my present and thus, from your point of view my past and my future as well,” he told me seriously and put his hands in his pockets. He looked quite domineering like this but I decided not to give in.

“You know it’s not like that.”

“If you say so. Then... Why did you reject me? Twice.”

“As I said before, you are too young, It feels weird. You, too, wouldn’t do anything to my past self, would you?”

“Well...,” his voice became hesitant and he looked to the side, not making eye contact with me.

“Would you?” I repeated anxiously.

“Sorry, you’re too good-looking to resist, whether it be your younger self or your future self,” he said grinning. Hearing this, I became embarrassed and shy all of a sudden. I almost felt my face turning red from his obvious flirting. “What?” he grinned at me again. “Look at you all blushing. Are you gonna act like a little maiden now?” he said and took a few steps forward toward me. “I won’t believe you even if you tell me you are. Not after I saw you kissing your teammate. ‘Cause that was sizzling hot. At least now I know how we look from the outside.”

“Sorry.”

“For what?” he asked surprised at what I just said.

“Because you had to see that.”

“It’s alright. You didn’t know me back then.”

“But still...”

“You can make it up to me.”

“How?” I asked already afraid of his answer.

“Let’s agree to meet in your present. Choose any date you like,” he said earnestly.

“How about 25 March, 2023? It’s exactly one year from the day we first met,” I said after a bit of thinking.

“Why wait a year? We could just as well meet on the day right after you came here,” he said curiously.

“It’s okay. I have some things to settle at first after I go back. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair for you to wait so long compared to my measly one day.”

“But... What if you forget?” As he asked this, he seemed worried and sad and avoided looking at me.

“That won’t ever happen,” I assured him, and this time, I was the one who stepped closer to him.

“Why?”

“Because it’s my birthday.”

“But a year is a long time,” he said in a low voice, still not convinced.

“So are ten years,” I pointed out in case he forgot that’s how long he has to wait until we meet again. Compared to this, my one-year-long waiting feels ridiculously short, almost negligible. “But anyways, just consider it as a temporary breakup.”

“You know how to cheer someone up,” he sneered at me bitterly.

“Then try to think about the details instead. Like where should we meet?” He didn’t say anything after this for a while and when I thought he won’t, he raised his head to look at me.

“Do you remember the clocks I’ve shown you?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Meet me there at five p.m.”

“And what if it’s not on display?” I asked the first thing that came to my mind. “Don’t look at me like that!” I reprimanded him. “I’m not into modern art. I’d never been there until you brought me to the museum. So, I have no idea what is currently on display in my time.”

“Then let’s just meet at that spot. Whatever is in its place, it doesn’t matter.”

“Fine,” I agreed.

“Then that’s settled,” he said, trying to sound casual but I could feel how he dreads the moment of my departure. I could see teardrops in the corner of his eyes. Possibly not because of me leaving but the uncertainty of whether we will see each other ever again or whether we will even be able to remember each other or we will forget everything after I left.

“Here’s a goodbye kiss for you to remember,” I told him as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders to kiss him. He looked absolutely cute when this took him by surprise which encouraged me to use all the skills I’m supposed to have and re-enact that sizzling hot kiss he saw and seemed to like so much.

It’s a cliché but I felt like time has stopped for us just this once. Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking. Still, I enjoyed every second of it.

******

We waited until the house fell silent as a sign of everyone sleeping already and only then did we go down to the living room. I picked up my phone, the original one, not the one Jack gave me, the box with the cufflinks he gifted me, and that watch that is to blame for everything that has happened. Well, for almost everything.

We went to the same spot I landed on that fateful night and just stood there in silence for a while. I didn’t look into the mirror but I must look just as sad as him.

“Are you ready?” he asked after a while, probably just to say something.

“I am as ready as I can ever be,” I told him and tried not to worry. After all, I cannot do anything else but leave it to fate to decide whether we will retain our memories after this, and even if we do, whether our love is strong enough to last through such a long time. And if it turns out that we are one of those so-called star-crossed lovers, then it was my destiny and I cannot do anything about it. “Remember to live your life well. Ten years is a long time. Don’t you dare be alone,” I told him my final wish. He didn’t say anything just nodded but that was enough for me. I smiled at him one last time, then adjusted the time on the watch to the time I left my reality, and then I was gone for good.