In This Life (Ivar Lothbrok)

Chapter 5: The Old One

The café is relatively empty at this time of the day, most students probably in their respective lessons. You should be too, but decided to skip in order to meet him. This thing with dreams, past lives, reincarnation, and connected souls seems to have gone too far. You need answers that he might be able to give you, or at least you need to feel you're not the only one losing your mind. As if in an understanding, when you exited the classroom earlier and met gazes, words were unnecessary. You both knew you needed to speak to the other, silently walking to the closest café.

"What do you think about the lecture?" It is the first thing you say to the man you've barely talked to.

Ivar huffs, annoyed, maybe, by your small talk. "Stupid, obviously. I understand that some religions believe in reincarnation, but soulmates?" He laughs humorlessly. "Right?" There's something vulnerable in his tone.

Despite your whole body telling you to agree with him, you decide to be sincere. "I don't know... I mean, there must be some truth to it all if people keep talking about it?"

Your classmate is not amused by your words. "Are you asking me or telling me?"

Why does he have to be so complicated? If he isn't willing to spill his guts to you, then you will have to. "Have you ever felt, maybe, as if you belong somewhere else?"

He plays dumb, "like in another country?" Ivar's smile is mocking when he utters, "you're not from Sweden, right? Is this homesickness talking? Do you miss mommy and daddy?"

Furious, you rise from the seat and take your coffee in hand, why did you think speaking with him would get you anywhere? He's a lost cause, and it's all been in your head. Maybe you should go to the school's shrink.

However, before you can move from the table, Ivar pleads. "Wait, wait!" You merely look his way. "Sit," when you don't do as he asks, he adds, "please?" Only then do you settle back down.

Ivar doesn't speak after that. You take a moment to look at his face carefully. You've never been able to do that before. Having only recently acknowledged his presence, your previous encounters have been brief. Not to mention the party where you kissed him, and it all has been relatively dark. You try not to blush at the memory. Of course, you've caught on to his good looks, but not in detail, and now you can do so.

Today, Ivar's hair is slipped back into a ponytail, with two small braids on either side of his head. His eyes are the bluest you've ever seen, and there's a light stubble decorating his jawline. He's not what you would typically call beautiful or handsome, yet there's definitely something that would catch somebody's eye, and you can be sure it's not his sunny personality. When Ivar discovers you staring, a smirk instantly overtakes his features. Nevertheless, it doesn't discourage you from looking at him. Your analysis goes beyond inspecting his beauty or getting a reaction, you wish to see if he truly is the man of your dreams, not the one where you clearly saw his face, but the ones that you shared with a former lover. Your husband, in another life.

"I've been having dreams." Ivar begins without prompting. "About... someone who is me, or was me, like, in the past." You inhale sharply, your hands shaking slightly at the implication of his words.

"What kind of dreams?"

He chuckles with a lewd smile. "Sex dreams, hot dreams, where this girl is sucking my..."

"For fucks' sake, do you take anything seriously?" You interrupt.

Ivar simply rolls his eyes. "Relax, I mean, I am telling the truth, I do have sex dreams. But, I also have other dreams." This time, he looks away, sheepish. "The girl, she says she's my wife, and I believe it. It's like we're in another world, in another life."