Chapter 13: "Twenty Stan" (I).

Kai

Why is he shirtless?!

"Huh? K- Kai?" He stuttered, looking at me with extended eyes. I wasn't too aware of what he was feeling because in front of me was a much older Stan but younger than the present. He had his eyes glued to me and all I could see was that he was partially naked - wearing a grey (sweatpants) and on top of all that, he was sweaty.

I gulped when I saw him like that, and while all in all, I was trying to figure out what had happened to him.

He then lurched towards me, his strong arms grabbing my arms. I shrunk when he does that, when he looked at me with an expression that showed guilty. It was as if he did something towards me. But I didn't know what.

"What?! W- Why are you here?" He asked confusingly, his bedazzled eyes search mine like they haven't seen them for years. What has been asked yet again is repeated again by him, but in a more calm way because somehow he seems to realize he was at a different place. "No... wait. Why are we at the door?"

I just feel like I went bonkers for a second there because of his questions and his shocked state of mind. Which I mentally shake it off and looked at him with the same amount of confusion. "The real question here is why are you shirtless?! And what are you even talking about?! You were the one who closed the door on me when...," I trail off slowly as I saw something that brings me back to Christmas 2023.

It was the ring that I saw in his car back when we left the mall. The ring that I thought was his engagement ring but in truth, he said it was just for looks. For the reason that he doesn't anyone flirting with him.

My lips tremble when I reach to touch the ring that he wore. Which had him widened his eyes back again and stare at me with awareness. "Kai, no. That- That's not what it looks like-," He quickly denied, but I knew so well. Instead, I cut him off with my question.

"How old are you?" I demanded, staring at his face to see his features - grown much sharper than the last time.

"M-my age? That's not-,"

"Just answer the goddamn question!" I snapped. I needed to know if this is what I think it was.

He winced hearing my loud voice. "T-twenty...,"

Shit.

I was becoming more and more at lost of my words when I realized that I was true. This can't be happening. What- what was going on? How come he was twenty when a few days ago he's...

"Oh no... This can't be! There's no way...," I covered my face, pushing Stan away from me to let myself breathe even better. I couldn't even think straight of why was this even happening. The only thing that ran through my mind was that it would be only Seventeen Stan... not this... twenty-year-old version of him. Furthermore, that year was when we still fell apart from each other.

"Kai?" He reached out, his hand begging to touch me.

I backed away, avoiding his touch. "Ugh! Just how the hell is this even happening?!" I shouted, particularly at no one, and it made the man in front of me stepped back swiftly - scared of my abrupt tantrum. Of course, he should be scared, I was losing my mind day by day just facing this.

-

After what it seemed an hour passed, I gained back my composure from the worst terrible mental breakdown that I have ever faced. But not the first.

Although I was feeling quite confused and angry by what happened, I didn't try to be mad at Stan during that one hour. Even so, of course, I was angry and confused. This whole fiasco turns into something more than just a mystery for me to solve. Why?

I thought that Seventeen him time travelled here, and it would be only him. Only Seventeen Stan. But I didn't expect for the Seventeen Stan to change into his twenty-year-old self in one burning second. I thought he fainted when he didn't answer me or wrapped inside the bed's blanket and ending up being an 'angry caterpillar' again.

Therefore, after that one hour passed, I had to explain to him again about what had happened and why was he here - which specifically did not have an answer, but I told him that he was here for a reason. A reason I didn't know what.

Maybe the reason was, is to torture my life. Who knows?

In the midst of explaining, Stan would nod his head then at random times he would squint his eyes trying to understand what I said. Oh, did I mention that I was explaining to him while he was shirtless?

I had no idea why he was shirtless and why at that time of period when he was twenty he was shirtless. The same way that I didn't want to pry, I let him be. Which was why sometimes it was hard for me to explain to him when he's like that. But it was stupid for me as well for not considering him wearing any shirt before I even do the teachings.

"So, you're saying that I'm five years into the future? But I'm still twenty?" He claimed, sitting on the couch while I stand in front of him with my hands hugging myself.

I close my eyes at him, nodding that he understands my explanation. "That's right. Just a while ago... and a few days ago, your younger self from eight years ago was here... and it seems that he was replaced by you. Don't ask me how that happened, but it did," I mentioned, opening my eyes again to think about what could possibly happen to the teenage him.

Did he get back home? And if he did... how?

"Yo!!! That's amazing! I never thought I had the power to time travel! So like I'm a superhero now? You're not kidding right?! This is 2026?!" gushed the shirtless man, his hands balling into a fist with his eyes glittering with elation to what he just went through.

Ah... looks like I'm going to have to go through this 'kidding' stage for the second time.

"And my seventeen-year-old self disappeared when I came here, huh?" He continued, staring at me for so long that it felt all too familiar. "Yes... sort of disappeared. Maybe he got home? I honestly don't know...," I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to hide the tiredness and the weird feeling about this.

But as I pull my hand away from my face, I can't help but see that he was still staring at me. No... all of this seems to be so familiar.

"You've really become more and more handsome...," As I thought.

"You haven't really changed at all, huh," I returned. This time I learned so well from before that I was prepared to not be flushed from that statement.

He raised his brow. "Really?" He asked, looking with a puzzled expression - eyes squinting to figure out what hasn't really changed about him.

In the name of his curiosity, I've decided that the topic would be enough to let him off and think about while I go and get a shower after the long day. Due to him, I can't even relax first when I get back home. To make that up, I'm going to go have a long comforting shower while he sat there thinking about himself.

"You must be shocked about what happened. Have a rest for now while I'll go-,"

"Wait," He cuts in, grabbing my sleeve and pulling me back courageously towards him.

I almost tripped at my feet when he does that, but not almost enough that I fall onto him. Instead, he stands up as well and held both of my arms while he wore a saddened face. I was bewildered by why he looked that way until I remembered that this was still that time of year.

"Look... about what happened in 2018. The way I treated you and leave you without giving you any reason was stupid of me...," It was. "But I thought about it a lot and I wanted to tell you about it, about what really happened and why I-,"

"It's okay... you've already told me all of it. In 2023," I chimed in, ending his sentence because I already know about it.

He stares at me with a gleam then he smiles at the knowledge that he told me about all of the past problems we had together. It's very nice that he would know about all of this. Even when he's not the type to know about his future... this type of information would help him ease the worries he had over trying to try and apologize to me.

"Really?! I mean - of course! We're still together!" Not after five years... "-And I gave you this house! Selling all of my guitars paid off!!" Hm, if only you know how much that costed you. Those guitars you sold just for you to have a permanent job. I know well enough that deep inside that heart of yours, you still love your sold guitars.

Luckily, I still kept one of yours - your special one at that time. And I gave it to you for Christmas.

"Good for you, then. Now... I'm gonna get a shower. And please, wear a shirt," I let out, turning the other way to make my way towards the bedroom. It is a must that I need to get away before anything else happens but...

He then wrapped his hands over my shoulder, hugging me from behind. "Aw... I was just finishing my workout session. I think it's better if you know... we shower together and in the meantime-," Too soon before he could finish his dirty thoughts, I raised my hand then...

Slap!

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