Mystery of Time

Chapter 15: Good soul gone Bad

That night, Yuri descended into the realization that, despite everything, her
parents had fallen in love. Her sole task now was to pressure them into
marriage. Even though they were still quite young, she couldn't wait to be
born. Maybe then she could return to the present timeline. She had come
back to retrieve Bo, only to find him asleep with his grandmother.
Overcome with guilt for the way she had treated him, Yuri decided to let
him stay the night and would return for him in the morning, after class.
But just as she was about to leave, Bo woke up and rushed to her. “Can we
go home now?” he asked.
Yuri, taken aback by his urgency, knelt down to his level and said, “Don’t
worry, you can come home tomorrow after class ends. You can stay here
tonight.”
Bo, tears streaming down his face, pleaded, “I’m sorry for my mistakes.
Why are you punishing me so cruelly?”
Yuri, trying to lighten the mood, teased, “Oh really? Why?”
Bo explained, “I’m worried about you. Not because... but because I feel
responsible for what happens to you.”
Yuri laughed, “Yes, keep worrying, old man,” and with a dismissive wave,
she began to walk away. But Bo clung to her legs, preventing her from
leaving. Not wanting to be cruel, Yuri decided to take him along in the black
car with Kio.
On the way, she asked Kio, “Can we sit with Amelia in class?”
Kio responded, “No, I don’t want anyone to find out about it.”
Yuri asked, “What are you afraid of?”
Kio replied, “Criticism and ridicule. Do you think it’s fine?” Yuri challenged him, “Are you letting your illogical fears override your true
love? Why don’t you announce it to the class and see how they react?”
Kio was adamant, “Never.”
Yuri sighed, disappointed, and said, “As you wish.” Kio continued to watch
her, his gaze never leaving her. When they arrived home, Bo remarked,
“You’re really good at manipulating people’s minds.”
Yuri replied with a smile, “Well, I am the daughter of a mind reader
detective.”
The next morning, they got into the black car at the usual time, but class
began with everyone entering at different intervals. Everyone took their
seats, and Kio, delayed as usual, finally arrived. As the teacher entered,
Kio requested permission to address the class. With a nod from the kind
teacher, Kio stood up and announced, “Amelia and I have been deeply in
love for a year. Please support our future together!”
The reaction was mixed. Some were surprised and delighted, others
shocked, including Amelia and the teacher. Some felt sadness at the
prospect of Kio and Amelia’s union, while Eden, who had hoped for a
different outcome, was enraged. Yuri, however, was overjoyed and smiled
widely. Eden, overcome with frustration, pounded the table and nearly fell
from his seat. Kio helped him sit properly, saying, “Don’t be too shocked.”
Eden wanted to ask if Kio would abandon him as a friend but remained
silent, waiting for Kio to sit beside him. Kio, however, chose to sit between
Amelia and Yuri. Concerned about Amelia’s reaction to the public
announcement, Kio was apprehensive, but Amelia, though a bit pouty, was
not entirely displeased.
Yuri, always focused on the future, brought up the topic of their marriage to
Amelia and Kio. “You’ve told your friends, but what about your families? I’m
eager to be an aunt.”
Kio corrected her, “They won’t call you aunt, but sister, because you see
me as your father.” He chuckled. Amelia, though initially surprised, accepted the situation with a smile. Kio,
nervous about informing his guardian, Mr. Henry, sought advice from Yuri.
Kio asked Mr. Henry, “How did you fall in love with Mrs. Henry?”
Mr. Henry replied, “Our families arranged our marriage, and look where we
are now.”
Kio thought, ‘This approach isn’t working.’ He pressed on, “Do you believe
in love?”
Mr. Henry’s response was bleak, “No, love is cruel. I don’t believe it exists
for me.”
Frustrated, Kio decided to leave. Yuri intervened, explaining to Mr. Henry,
“Kio is in love with a girl named Amelia.”
Mr. Henry, now concerned, questioned, “Isn’t he too young to marry? He
hasn’t even graduated.”
Yuri countered, “He will graduate soon, and love has no age. What do you
say?”
Mr. Henry, convinced by Yuri’s logic, agreed with a smile, “I find your
arguments compelling. I approve.”
Kio, relieved, hugged Yuri in gratitude. He then went to inform Eden but
received no response. Eden eventually opened the door with a smile,
saying, “Sorry, I was busy.”
Kio, noticing Eden’s odd behavior, asked, “Are you sure you’re not sick?”
Eden reassured him, “I’m fine.”
Kio, still worried, mentioned, “I sense your absence lately.”
Eden dismissed it, saying, “That will pass. Goodnight.” He closed the door.
Yuri shared Kio’s concern, “Indeed, he might be unwell.” The wedding day arrived, and Yuri’s parents were finally tying the knot. Yuri
was both joyful and apprehensive about attending her own parents’
wedding. She wondered if being born might allow her to return to the
present timeline, though she was troubled by the thought of Amelia’s
inevitable death and the unresolved mysteries of Voice and Eden.
Bo, ever the supportive page boy, tugged at her gown. “You’re
daydreaming again. It’s your parents’ wedding! Come with me.”
Yuri chuckled. “I’m not a child. You can be with the bride, Amelia.”
Bo protested, “I’m seventeen, not a child.”
Yuri relented, “Fine, let’s go.” She held Bo’s hand and carried the wedding
ring cushion, while Bo scattered rose petals.
Bo remarked, “You look beautiful in the violet gown.”
Yuri smiled, “You look quite dashing in the suit, too.”
Happiness abounded as Yuri met her paternal grandmother, Kio’s mother,
and Mr. Henry’s wife, Yami. The wedding proceeded smoothly, despite the
absence of some familiar faces, notably Eden. Yuri noted his absence and
planned to address it later.
During the bouquet toss, chaos ensued as unmarried young women vied
for the bouquet. Yuri was unintentionally pulled into the fray, landing
awkwardly beside Bo. The bouquet fell between them, and Bo, refusing to
let it drop, held onto it tightly. Yuri, concerned for Bo’s well-being, also
grasped the bouquet.
The crowd was astonished, especially those who believed in the bouquet’s
fortune-telling. Bo, still a child to Yuri, professed, “Even the creator knows
whom I like?”
Yuri, gently, replied, “But you’re like a child to me.” Bo’s tears flowed. Amelia’s grandmother comforted him, advising Yuri,
“Don’t overreact. Young men say things like this but don’t mean them. They
forget as they grow up.”
Yuri pondered the possibility of meeting Bo in the future and wondered if
they had known each other before. Jokes about their compatibility followed,
but Yuri dismissed them.
As the ceremony concluded and the couple left for their new home, Yuri
realized the house Kio and Amelia moved into was the one she had grown
up in. She was amazed by the surprises this timeline continued to offer.
Everyone had gone their separate ways, leaving Yuri alone with Bo. This
was the perfect opportunity for her to speak with Eden while Bo was
staying behind.
Upon arriving home, Yuri decided to offer Kio's old room to Bo. However,
Bo was insistent on staying close.
"I apologize," Bo said, clutching her leg for support. "I will never utter
something like that again. Please let me stay with you."
Yuri chuckled softly. "It’s not just about what you said. Kio’s room is empty,
and it feels like my heart is too. It’s not far from my room, and this room is
special to me because Kio lived here. That’s why I want you to stay."
"Then it is fine," Bo said. "I will stay if you say."
Yuri settled into the quiet room, her thoughts turning to Eden. She made
her way to his door and knocked. After half an hour with no response, she
was about to leave when the door finally opened.
"What happened?" Eden asked, his voice laced with irritation. "Why are you
knocking on the door?" He paused, noticing her. "Oh, it’s you."
"Well," Yuri replied, "did you expect the groom to knock on your door? By
the way, why didn’t you attend the wedding of your most favorite person?" "Did it concern anyone except you?" Eden said. "I’m sure it didn’t. So why
would I attend?"
"You don’t realize how much Kio, Mr. Henry, and everyone else misses
you," Yuri said. "You’re the one making yourself forgotten."
"That’s not true," Eden countered. "You always try to gain trust from people,
but have you succeeded? No matter how much we try, we can’t change our
fate or destiny."
"You’ve lived in silence for eleven years," Yuri said. "Why can’t you endure
being alone now?"
"Why would I endure the pain if I know there is a painkiller?" Eden asked.
"You call time travel a painkiller?" Yuri questioned. "Do you know how risky
and dangerous it is?"
"Even painkillers have side effects," Eden replied. "My comparison is
sensible. All I have to do is 'know how to apply it.'"
"No matter how hard you try," Yuri said, "unnatural time travel will always
bring danger."
"What if I direct the danger towards someone else?" Eden asked.
"I’m not afraid," Yuri said.
"I’m not so petty as to harm you," Eden said. "I can’t hurt you because it
would alter the present timeline. What if I do something to stabilize the
present timeline?"
"What do you mean?" Yuri asked.
"Such as removing the voice of Voice," Eden said.
"What are you blabbering about?" Yuri asked. "He has been vocally
enabled since birth. And who is this 'Voice'? There is no Voice."
"Think carefully," Eden said. "Do you understand?" Suddenly, the telephone rang.
"Answer the phone," Eden said. "I have a feeling my planning was correct.
See you in the next timeline." He closed the door.
Yuri, panicked, hurried to the phone. "Hello, Yurizperanse speaking from
Mr. Henry’s residence. Who is this?"
The voice on the other end was urgent. "This is the police. Please hurry to
Amelia’s mansion.”