Double Twenty

CHAPTER 4 - Return of the Mack (Mark Morrison)

"Friends are companions on a journey, who help us to move forward on the path to a happier life." – Pythagoras

Guided more by instinct than by still foggy memory, Matthieu advances towards the green Twingo, a colorful anomaly in the urban landscape, its hazard lights flashing like friendly distress signals. At the wheel, Benoit, whose serious suit and tie contrast sharply with Matthieu's hurriedly donned hoodie. Sliding into the car with newfound ease, the young passenger gives a mischievous glance to his driver for the day, who furrows his brows in response.

Navigating through the multitude of cars stuck in traffic, the driver manages to turn on his car radio, detachable face, cassette-CD player, the height of sophistication. Three notes and Matthieu is bobbing like in the good old days. "Mo Money Mo Problems" by Notorious B.I.G. blares, whisking Matthieu into a whirlwind of memories. "But this classic, listen to that, killer track! To think it's a setup by Suge Knight and Puff Daddy," he exclaims, making a gang sign with his fingers. Ben, essentially a quiet and thoughtful person, often finds himself walking a tightrope with Matthieu. How to tell him he's completely losing it without him taking it the wrong way?

"You should write, you know," suggests Benoit, an elegant way to give his opinion while preserving his safety. The former forty-something screams again: "I'll Be" by Foxy Brown feat. Jay-Z. "To think now he's a billionaire, with his queen Beyoncé in boss mode while back then he was just a pimp." "What are you talking about?" Matthieu closes his eyes and curses himself inwardly for not being able to keep his mouth shut. "No, nothing, it's a dream I had, really weird by the way. Here we are, cool!" They emerge from the Twingo. Impeccable Benoit steps ahead of Matthieu, who struggles to adjust his backpack on one shoulder, eyes alert, scanning the university landscape. He feels like he's in "21 Jump Street," those old cops posing as students to track down campus dealers or thugs. TV series with Johnny Depp, movie with Jonah Hill. Not bad. His atypical appearance for the place draws some looks; yet, far from being intimidated, he welcomes this attention with a touch of amusement. "Go," he mutters to himself, stepping through the faculty doors, ready to face this day with still unclear contours.

In the stream of students, he moves with regained confidence, determined to embrace this unexpected return in time. Ben is slightly worried, unable to find the right way or moment to address his friend who seems even more disconnected than usual. Perhaps he discovered a new drug or abused the ones he already knows?

Benoit crosses himself internally: "Remember we have the special seminar today? The oral exam?" Matt closes his eyes. How can he keep up the act? He's completely lost. "Uh, yes, but I think I'm going to call in sick, I wasn't well last night. Really weird." "Pains, because of your stomach?" He takes the question like an uppercut, forcing him to contemplate particularly painful future events he has spent years trying to avoid. The infernal countdown has begun, he has less than a year before his illness fully manifests and ends with an operation that leaves lasting scars, at least later in his present future. Unsettled by this remark and the absurdity of the situation, the pre-quadragenarian nearly has tears in his eyes. The day promises to be extremely long, and danger is everywhere, like a minefield of personal fragmentation mines. What worries him most is that his main qualities could turn against him at any moment: too extensive a knowledge for the time, an inappropriate way with words, and an extraordinary boldness he has cultivated over the years, like a trademark. Not to mention an absolute truth. The law school hasn't changed at all. What he hated then doesn't please him any more today. In truth, he never really thought about it. The relationships he forged during his higher education years and which have withstood the test of time are rare. They never talk about it. Case closed. Encumbering. Obliterated. Consigned to oblivion. That's how memories die. Without photos. Without anecdotes or stories repeated at every reunion. "You haven't changed, what's up?" We all know the song. Except in this case, he made an appointment with himself 27 years earlier. The colossal, unaesthetic building houses hundreds of students with diverse goals. Matthieu doesn't even remember if this is his first year or his repeat year. Crucial information, because he's not on bad terms with the same people and has reconciled with others. He thinks fleetingly of Julien who must, in the meantime, probably be living his best life, if the spell worked for him too.

In the distance, he sees his great friend Omer with whom he is still in contact today, but apparently, they are on the outs at this moment. Damn temper. He'll try to reconcile with him if he stays in 97. He doesn't know, maybe it's like Groundhog Day, or the repeated death in Happy Death Day. Every day the same day, repeating endlessly, until rectifying a wrong he can hardly figure out for now. He erases this useless thought to focus on his present. Why is Omer important? He's his friend, and he appreciates his presence, but mostly he can serve as a memory compass to survive this temporal Koh Lanta. They've known each other since high school, have at least gone through thick and thin together. For Matthieu, Omer is now a priority target. Lost in his thoughts, he doesn't hear the unflattering comments of some tight-asses as he passes. The only one dressed like this is him. A bit too avant-garde evidently for future lawyers. Bunch of fascists! The seminar is about to start. He blends into a group of students, apparently his age, well-groomed, who are preparing for the test by recalling how it will proceed. Divided into groups of five, they will face a barrage of random questions, each of them free to answer by speaking up, even interrupting their classmates to assert themselves by the strength of their voice, and like in a verbal joust, it is written that only the most eloquent or knowledgeable will come out alive from this Battle Royale. The debates of the time are still tinged with civility and even respect. Matthieu smiles, he could give up, find an excuse not to participate, as he initially planned, but the taste for combat is now ingrained in him. The hour of revenge has struck, and bringing everyone to their knees particularly excites him. Gone is the affable boy who accommodated the system and pretended not to care to entertain the crowd or out of fear of success. He has a new chance, with excellent assets in hand.