"When do you think the mothers will start talking about moving back?"

 

"I think we shouldn't say anything. Just pretend nothing happened. Trust me," Jinn, who was driving, replied quickly without thinking.

 

"Yeah, I think so too. If we hadn't gotten together, what do you think we'd be like now?" Jerome, sitting in the passenger seat, asked, chuckling.

 

"I think I'll end up back in the hospital again. It's been so long, almost two months. There's no way I can endure this," Jinn said, voicing his thoughts. If it weren't for Jerome's premonitory visions, which were the turning point, there's no way they could have stayed together this long.

 

"Yeah, that's probably it. Or maybe they're trying to figure out how to cheat us, trying to keep it a secret from our parents."

 

"That's possible," Jinn said, turning the steering wheel along the road. "My destination this time is the shopping mall, as usual. I have to admit, both Jerome and I are lazy, especially when it comes to washing dishes. We can do it, but if we have a choice, we'd rather not. So we prefer stopping for something to eat after school on the way rather than ordering food to eat in our room."

 

“I’m just trying to find a connection, you know, like, what would we be like if I couldn’t see the future now? But as you said, it’s not like that anymore. Everything has changed so much that almost nothing is the same anymore. So… I’m a little scared.” The large hand stroked the driver’s thigh, just as he often did. Jinn raised an eyebrow, but understood what the other man was afraid of.

 

"I know. You're afraid it'll be like in the movies, right? Where if you change one thing in the past, the future will never be the same."

 

"Something like that, but I'm not that scared because things are going to be different anyway. I'm just afraid of overlooking something. Right now, the dream isn't over yet. It's like it's jumping back and forth, but it's good because I'm learning a lot more. Because, in the beginning, when I dreamt, I only saw and heard one person. It was like you were talking to yourself. As I started to understand things in real life, the dream seemed to unfold more. Do you understand? That's why I think it must be connected. It's like the future wants me to see it gradually, not all at once. Why?"

 

This was something Jerome had always wondered about, but he still couldn't figure it out. Even though it should have come down to a proper conclusion in the future, he kept overlooking it, seeing things as sometimes useful, sometimes nonsensical, as if they were indirectly relevant.

 

"Maybe it's because they want you to solve it piece by piece? Like, if you solve this equation, another equation will be revealed, so you don't make any mistakes in the process... Damn, when they say that, it sounds like someone's guiding you..."

 

"Yeah," Jerome's eyes widened slightly when he heard his lover's words. Yes, it was true. Ever since he saw the future, he has been acting on what he saw, whether it was Jinn’s preferences, even going so far as to invite him for ice cream as he'd never done before, or the diary thing itself.

 

Okay, what's next? The past few nights have been nothing but lewd dreams. Waking up with his little brother standing erect every day. If the previous dreams were about illness? But everything's been fine at the checkups, from head to toe. Nothing's wrong at all. What is it? What's the matter?

 

"...Auntie Chan?"

 

"Huh? Did you see my mother?"

 

"No, no, I just thought of something, and it's just about your mother," Jerome said, sweating profusely. It seemed he was finally grasping the core of what needed to be resolved. The death of Jan... but his initial estimate was that it would be two or three years from now, right? So why did he dream about it before? Does that mean that by changing the story now, he might shift the timeline, bringing certain events closer? Does that mean this story can be changed?

 

Amen, may it be possible too!

 

Because Jerome knew that Jinn’s apparent illness and future physical decline must be related to this, if Jan hadn't died, perhaps those illnesses or nightmares wouldn't have occurred. Yes, it must be.

 

Jerome had decided that he had to do everything in his power to prevent Jan from dying. Even though he knew everyone is born to die, at least she shouldn't die at the hands of Jinn, as her future self had said. It couldn't be like that.

 

"You know what, Jay? I bet my future isn't going to be good, is it? That's why you've never told me anything," Jinn turned to look at his lover with a knowing gaze. He wasn't stupid. No matter how many times he asked about their future, the other person always dodged the question, always saying to wait, to wait until more is clear, that he wanted to see things clearly. He said it every time. Honestly, who wouldn't think that?

 

“I won’t tell you. You can guess all you want. I’ll tell you when I stop dreaming, because then it will mean the future has completely changed, okay?” Jerome knew his lover was curious too, but what could he do if he didn’t tell him? There was no point in trying to pry his mouth open!

 

"That idiot," Jinn rolled his eyes in annoyance. He knew that if Jerome didn't want to tell him, he wouldn't, no matter what. Jerome was incredibly good at keeping secrets. In the past, he could hardly find any weaknesses in him; nothing ever slipped out.

 

“Come on, just know I mean well. I’ll tell you everything when it’s all over. Come on, what do you want to eat?” Jerome changed the subject immediately. He opened the car door on his side, then put his arm around his lover, who was only five centimetres shorter than him, and walked into the mall.

 

I never thought having a boyfriend who's about the same height as me would make everything so much easier. My neck doesn't get tired when I talk, and when we kiss, I barely have to bend down. I can hug his neck or waist, and everything fits perfectly in my hands. Why didn't I realise this when I was sixteen? Otherwise, we'd have celebrated our fourth anniversary a long time ago!

 

Jerome, at this moment, didn't care at all when he started liking Jinn. He just assumed he'd wanted him for a long time. If they had dated back then, there wouldn't be issues like "JJ and Jinn don't get along," "JJ and Jinn don't get along," or "When will JJ and Jinn make up?" There would only be "JJ and Jinn are dating." Sigh, what a pity.

 

Group: What's wrong with JJ today?

 

"OMG! I'm sure they're back together now. No more pretending. They were recently seen walking around the mall arm in arm!"

 

"Yeah, I think that's the end of the story. JJ and Jinn are just friends now. Hahaha"

"But why do I have a weird feeling? Is he really just his friend?"

 

"Yeah, I felt it too. They were smiling sweetly at each other. I see them in the parking lot in front of the faculty building all the time. Jerome always has his usual sweet smile, but he's always putting his arm around his neck. And Jinn, he doesn't smirk anymore. He smiles affectionately now. I'm serious, I'm not making it up!"

 

"It's that picture she sent to the group chat the other day. My friend, who's in fashion studies, took a picture of herself but accidentally included JJ, who was lying on top of him in the costume studio! They're always together!"

 

"Or should we change our catchphrase? From 'JJ and JJ don't get along' to 'JJ and JJ eat each other'?"

 

"Wow, this is good! Hahaha. I'll write it down in case I need it."

 

"You fujoshi girls! Your brains are melting! It has to be JJ getting married! OMG! I'm so happy!"

 

"I'm so full," Jinn, who was about to open the driver's side door, stopped abruptly when he felt a warm pressure against his back. He kissed him softly. "I'll drive, Jinn. Please feel free to sit beside me," Jerome whispered in his lover's ear.

 

"Stay outside, you bastard!" Jinn lightly elbowed the person standing behind him in the stomach before giving them the middle finger again as he himself was shoved by the large body and sent flying out from beside the door.

 

"Is this your invitation, you son of a bitch?"

 

"Go on, just sit still, I'll drive," Jerome teased, because if he did anything more, he'd be the one in trouble.

 

"Damn it," Jinn shook his head in exasperation. Aside from their feelings, the young man couldn't see anything about them—how they seemed like people who liked each other or were dating. If it weren't for Jerome's gaze and actions clearly showing it, Jinn might have thought they were just playing a prank. Definitely.

 

Luckily, it wasn't like that, because if it were, he wouldn't mind smashing his face in until even his parents wouldn't recognise him.

 

"Ah, what a missed position." Although sitting still is very comfortable, Jerome also wishes he could drive occasionally.

 

A black car pulled out of the shopping mall parking lot and headed back to the condo. The people inside were alternating between joking and insulting each other, giving off a feeling of love one moment and hate the next, making it almost impossible to distinguish between them. If a third person were present, they'd surely think these two were bipolar.

 

"Jay, wait! Make a U-turn. I think I saw the shop's lights were still on. It's almost 9 PM. Why hasn't Mom come back yet?" Jinn frowned in displeasure and immediately ordered the driver.

 

“Ah, okay.”

 

This road is almost a main road or a secondary road. It's not as busy as the main roads, but it's not deserted either.

 

The area is quite thriving, with many shops seeking refuge from the hustle and bustle. Jinn’s mother is one of them. The location Jan chose for her clothing store is specifically designed for upscale clothing, featuring less trendy items than designer brands. Eighty per cent of the shops close at 8 PM, including Jinn’s mother, who usually closes earlier than most. Because it's her own clothing store, she opens and closes at her own discretion.

 

It's very rare for Jan to keep her shop open until after 8 PM. Out of habit, when driving past without having to drive herself, Jinn had time to look inside. The shop wasn't deep inside; it was actually quite close to the entrance, making it easy to spot.

 

"Is there anything you need to do?" Jerome made a U-turn as the other person instructed, even though he didn't find it strange at all.

 

"Probably not. The staff have probably gone home by now. Look, almost all the other shops are closed, only my mother is left. Why hasn't she gone home?" Jinn stopped by because he was genuinely worried. Jan is a single woman, and beautiful at that. Even though she's almost fifty, her beauty hasn't diminished at all. Jinn was just worried about his mother, whether it was driving at night or encountering ill-intentioned people.

 

"I think I can park here. There's nobody around," the driver chose to park in front, instead of circling to the side like usual.

 

"Okay, okay, I always park here," Jinn said, opening the door and getting out as soon as the car came to a stop. He waited for his boyfriend for a moment before walking towards the shop.

 

"Aunt Jan might just be packing up something," Jerome instinctively put his arm around Jinn’s shoulder. Jinn didn't mind and continued walking forward steadily, but the moment they stopped in front of the shop, Jinn’s sharp eyes immediately flashed with anger. Jerome also froze before slowly glancing at his lover.

 

The shop was still brightly lit, amidst a multitude of clothes and mannequins. Someone sat on a chair behind the cash register—someone Jinn never expected to see here. Even with a mask covering more than half his face, he recognised him instantly. And the person standing with his back to him was his own mother. No matter how much he wanted to forget, he couldn't.

 

The sound of repeatedly banging on the glass startled the man and woman holding hands inside, causing them to turn and look immediately. Their eyes widened in shock as they met the gaze of their "son," whose eyes were bloodshot and whose face clearly showed rage.

 

"Open the door now," Jinn gritted his teeth until they ached, moving his lips slowly so the person inside would hear him. Jan turned to look at the young man, who froze the moment she saw her son. Her body seemed to turn to stone in an instant.

 

"Jinn, listen to Mom's explanation first," Jan could do nothing but open the door for her son and her best friend's son to come into the shop. She spoke softly to her son, hoping to calm him down.

 

“What are you doing here? I thought this was over a long time ago,” Jinn didn't even glance at his mother. His eyes, filled with anger and displeasure, stared directly at the man who was removing the mask from his face—a face that was his role model.

 

The man who gave half of his blood to his father when he was born into this world, the man who is his biological father. And it was this same man who said he wasn't his "father" that day.