Lost in Time

Chapter 9: Regrets and Resolutions

As Jeff walked back to his room, lost in thought, Charlie caught sight of his brother and immediately sprinted after him. "Jeff!" he called out, closing the distance as Jeff slowed his pace but kept moving. Eventually catching up, Charlie blurted out, "Where's P'Alan? Did you guys talk?"

Jeff sighed, recognizing his persistent brother. "Yes, P'Charlie. We talked," he replied wearily as they entered his room. "So you gave him my passcode and told him where I was? Seriously, Phi? Do you trust him that much already? Haven't you learned from the Foundation not to trust anyone?" Jeff scolded, his concern evident.

"Oh, come on. Give him a chance. Maybe he's the one?" Charlie beamed, settling onto Jeff's bed. "If so, then should I tell you how that alpha you were with is going to be your future husband?" Jeff teased, trying to lighten the mood with a hint of amusement derived from his vision involving Alan and the mysterious future.

"Wait, really?" Charlie's smile widened eagerly, causing Jeff to arch an eyebrow skeptically. "I-I mean, he's hot," Charlie quickly amended, clearing his throat nervously while Jeff chuckled.

"Just give the man a chance, nong," Charlie pleaded with his younger brother, his optimism undiminished. "There's nothing for me, Phi. I saw it in my vision," Jeff asserted, grabbing a fresh shirt to change into.

"So you had a vision...is it about the two of you? What happened? Did something happen? Tell me!" Charlie squinted suspiciously at Jeff, pondering his brother's words. Jeff sighed, he knew Charlie wouldn't let it go. "A while ago, when he was in my room, I was about to call P'Way to help him because he looked really disturbed," Jeff explained, settling into a chair by his study table, facing his brother. He could still smell the alpha's pheromones that lingered, the musky smell of sandalwood, a scent that undeniably brings comfort and warmth to Jeff.

"What happened?" Charlie's mischief-filled smile prompted an eye roll from Jeff. "I'm not entirely sure what happened, but we...kissed," Jeff admitted, causing Charlie's eyes to widen with excitement. "KISSED?! Then what?" Charlie leaned forward eagerly, eager to hear about Jeff's vision.

"But...I don't know how it will end. Before I could see the resolution, everything went dark, as if everything just vanished, a future unknown." Jeff confessed quietly. His feelings oscillated between curiosity about what lay ahead and apprehension about the uncertain future.

"Jeff, you've never had a vision like that before," Charlie approached Jeff calmly this time, concerned etched into his voice. "It's nothing. It might have been a fluke," Jeff replied, turning slightly away from his brother to gaze at the mini-map on his table.

"This isn't like a faulty car part you can dismiss Jeff," Charlie persisted, scanning through Jeff's books. In this world, Jeff also studied mechanical engineering, but his studies were cut short when he had to flee after almost being captured.

"Your visions always come true, no matter what," Charlie asserted, locking eyes with Jeff as he turned to face him. "I overheard your conversation in the training room." Jeff would be shocked if it was not Charlie he was talking to but he had multiple abilities.

"The way he spoke to you? His confession? Didn't you feel anything? Not even an ounce of it?" Charlie's concern deepened as Jeff shook his head in response, burying anything he had ever felt a while ago.

"He knows things we don't. P'Way and I believe he's telling the truth. P'Babe also confirmed seeing the contract, identical to Reed's. It can only mean one thing nong, he's telling the truth, and we succeeded in another universe. If we don't support him, they'll win," Charlie appealed earnestly, trying a different tack. Yet, Jeff hesitated to fully trust this man, his apprehension rooted in the fear of someone knowing him inside out, beyond even his brother.