Chapter 11: Out...

Seventeen Stan

Going out today with future Kai was incredibly fun!

Not that I'm saying the Kai back at home was boring... he was perfect the way he was. And he grew up to be someone that was successful, fun and just admirable. When I saw him, I immediately thought that the man couldn't get any more charming as time went by because look at him! He's like a real-life prince who would soon to be married to someone like me! In the future!

We bought a lot of stuff at the mall mainly for me. Kai insisted me to buy as much stuff that I needed and although I was extremely excited about it, I felt kind of guilty because I was using his money instead of mine.

Because of that, I promise to treat him with so much love and buy a lot of stuff for him when I go back home.

He would be confused why I do so but sooner, I will tell 2018 Kai all about this.

This trip to the future I would love to call it. In other words, being here made me feel happy that we were still together and going on stronger than ever.

"Phew! It was a tiring day, but I had so much fun!" I gushed, walking inside the house with Kai following behind. "Being able to go out was fun but that was when getting my own underwear makes it more exhilarating. Hallelujah!"

Kai chuckled hearing my statement. His laughter made me melt away like I was a burning candle. "I see...," He replied, walking forward to put away his car keys. But then as he does that, his demeanour changes and I stare at him worried and confused.

"I'm tired... gonna wash up," He spoke indifferently, walking away from where I stand. Future Kai always looked so cold when I'm around him. I just felt worried that I did something wrong... or was the present me did something wrong. Sometimes I presumed that he had grown colder but that couldn't be true... Kai is bubbly... and shy but at the same time, energetic.

In order to see I was true, I asked him.

"Kai...," He stopped walking, then turning around with a tired face. Exhaling a nervous breath, I walk closer towards him. My hand went to grab his hand, rubbing his skin with my thumb gently.

"Tell me... did we fight? Did my present self fight with you? Did he say something awful? Was he treating you not right?" I asked, curious and anxious running through my whole body.

When he didn't answer me... I finally got my answer.

"Looks like it's true,"

He turns away, closing his eyes. "It's not like that,"

"What do you mean it's not like that?! Then... why are you so cold? You seem so distant. You never even hug me once... You... just... kept avoiding me," I sobbed in such a way that he turns back to me. "It's not like that!" He declined yet I didn't believe him. I know him... even if he's older than me here.

"And...," I continued... closing my eyes. "You never lied to me about what you're feeling,"

That statement made him silent. I knew he was angry with me from the start, but I didn't dare to ask him immediately. I was scared if I got it wrong but..., I was right.

"See...?" I resumed then goes on to grab him both with my hands - pulling him close so that he can feel what I felt.

"I don't know what I did wrong or what my future self did wrong to you... but please... don't be angry with me,"

Kai reaches to grab my face, bringing me to look at him. His eyes were softer now, they were irradiating brown orbs of that held so many emotions - the same way his eyes always been. They were always emotionally beautiful.

"You didn't do anything wrong... Stan," He comforted, his fingers brushing my hair away. I took the time to stare at his face longingly. He was just very appealing. "Now... just thinks positive things. In the meantime, try ordering something to eat while I'm showering. The menu book is on the table,"

He then left afterwards, leaving me to order dinner for us. I walked towards the menu book that contains all the flyers of food. Flipping through the pages of delicacies, I struggled to choose any food that I wanted to eat.

"Um, Kai! Can we order the fried chicken that we got the other day?" I shouted, letting him know that I didn't have any other options for dinner. He pops his head from the bedroom, gazing at me with one brow raised. "Chicken? Again? Isn't there anything else you want to eat rather than that?" He inquired. My lips went into a thin line as I tried to think of any.

"Not really...," I replied but not until I saw some pasta advertisement.

"Well... um, how about pasta? I don't really mind as long as it is delicious," I suggest, earning a nod from him. "Sure then...,"

-

The next day, Kai went off to work in the early morning, and I was again... being left alone in the house. But I knew now that I can go outside if I was bored. He even left me some money if I even need some. As he said, and I quote 'if you want to buy something you saw outside, don't hesitate. If it makes you happy then go for it'.

I never knew Kai would be this gracious. It was so commendable!

"Will you be home late?" I asked, walking towards him with a blanket wrapped around my whole body.

He looks at me with a little smile. "Well... I'm not sure. Some days I would be early, some days I would be late. But I don't have anything important, then I'll come back by five," I nodded at him, implanting it in my head that he would home by five.

"You're going out today, right? It would be fun for you. Also, if anything happens... remember to...," He paused, letting me finish his sentence. He's treating me like a kid... I don't like it. To me, he was the kid.

But I answered nonetheless. "-send you a message right away...,"

"Good... I'm going now. Be home soon and please... stay out of trouble,"

"Okay... I will," I said as he closes the door and off to his workplace.

When he got out, I thought about what I wanted to do first alone. Should I stay at home first? Should I get out?

But Kai said that if I got bored, and I should go out. Likewise, I'm bored already. I'm bored because Kai isn't near me and I don't even know what I wanted to do at home alone. How was he the one working so hard? Did my future work that hard too?

It's not fair... which made me realize that if 2018 Kai and I were to grow older like as of now. I would never let him work that hard. It's like he needed some days off as well. Not that he shouldn't work hard but seeing him so made him looked tired, and I never wanted that for him in our relationship.

I want him to live his days to the fullest with me. Not with some work... he's not married to work. He's gonna married to me!

So yeah, I promised myself that if he wants to do this job... I would never let him. We will find other jobs to do together so that we stay with each other all the time. I was sure of it.

Following that, I decided that I want to go out and explore the town. So, I change into the clothes that we bought from the mall and went straight outside, taking the bicycle that I saw leaning outside the house then cycle my way through the city lights.

That was when I arrived in the city I opted to walk instead of riding the bicycle. Walking through crowds of people has never been not suffocating. If only they made something futuristic for pedestrians as well.

Then, my eyes spotted a very familiar place that I never ever seen before. It was a café... sort of like a café and there were so many people at the store as if someone famous had just gone there for a picture.

"Maverest...," I murmured, reading the name of the café - finding it to be a very interesting name. I wonder who was the owner.

"Stan?" Someone called from behind. I raised my eyebrows to wonder who it was then turning around to see my best friend... my older-self best friend, Felix. "Oh god, it's you! What's with you nowadays? Why aren't you picking up your phone? Dude... where did you go?!"

"Huh?" I frowned, not understanding what he meant.

"Did you had a fight with Kai? Because he was asking me if I could contact you,"

My mind went blank. What did he mean? "Wait? What?"

"Seriously, man... how come you let one month passed without even contacting me? Even Kai... I thought something terrible happened to you," He ended. The new information sank deep inside my brain, and it made me felt something wrong was actually happening. I was g-gone? For one month?

I gawked at him with both of my hands flapping around. "Y-you mean! That I didn't contact anyone for one month?!" He leans back from me, surprised by my sudden reaction.

"Yeah... you were gone for so long, Stan. I thought you were dead,"

I gasped. He thought my present self was dead?! "No way...o-one month?"

"Hey, are you okay? Stan? You're scaring me. Did something happen? Tell me, are you alright?" I couldn't even hear his words as I tried to comprehend my present situation. This was different from what I thought. Kai never told me about this... D-did he lied to me?

"I gotta go," I spoke immediately, not waiting for a reply from Future Felix and running as fast as I could back home. My feet were running as fast as it can - my body wasn't even feeling what the wind was doing to my face. I just can't believe it. My heart was pounding every single second from both running and feeling anxious about what my future self had been through. It was just hard for me to take it all in. I thought... I thought that I was here... my older self... I thought he was here but where?

One month... one month, it's that long. How could it happen? What happened?

Everyone never heard of me for one month. It can't be... h-he... he thought I died. I can't...

Kai...

Why did he not tell me about this...?

- - -

Oh, no...