Mystery of Time

Chapter 16: Jeopardy comes from all sides

Yuri snapped back to her senses. Maybe Eden's words had some truth to
them after all. She hurried to Amelia’s mansion with the help of the driver,
only to find it had been transformed into a crime scene. With police
permission, she entered and discovered Amelia’s grandmother fallen by the
stairs, covered in blood. Yuri’s head began to spin, and it felt like she was
reliving the moment of her mother’s accident. On the verge of collapsing,
she sat down outside the mansion.
The police informed her that she was listed as a favorite contact in the
woman’s diary and requested her to inform the woman's relatives. Yuri
complied, and a funeral was arranged almost immediately after the
wedding. The sight of Amelia was heart-wrenching. The guests not only
paid their respects and shared their grief but also engaged in gossip.
Amelia, enveloped in sorrow, muttered to herself, "Am I cursed? Why does
my happiness bring sorrow? My mother was killed because of me. Just as I
began to understand my grandmother, why did she have to leave?"
Kio tried to comfort her, saying, “Don’t believe in superstitions. They’re not
true. If you can’t, at least try to live with the sweet memories, not the bad
ones.” He embraced her and took her to their new home, supporting her
every step of the way. Kio’s mother then asked Yuri, “Every elderly person
seems to be passing away these days. I’m getting old too. How long will I
be around? Kio is happy now, being a successful detective and soon to be
a father. When will you relieve me of my responsibilities?”
Yuri replied, “I can handle my responsibilities on my own, and you’re one of
them now.” They hugged, as if it might be their last meeting. With Kio’s
mother soon returning to her village, it felt like a goodbye. But Yuri also
knew she had to act quickly to save what was still at risk.
Yuri inquired of the police, “Can you tell me what caused the incident?” The police officer responded, “From our investigation, it appears she had a
stroke, suddenly fainted near the stairs, and her head struck a hard object,
which caused her death. The driver of Mrs. Amelia informed us as soon as
he saw it. We were surprised to find your contact was more relevant than
the lady’s daughter’s contact.”
“Thank you for the information,” Yuri said.
“Have a good day,” the officer replied.
Yuri couldn’t stop thinking about Eden’s words. Why had he mentioned this
incident? She thought, ‘Could it be... Bo is alone with Eden!’ Her breath
caught as she realized Eden’s plans and rushed toward the mansion where
Bo was alone with Eden. Upon arriving, she found that Eden was nowhere
to be found, but Bo lay unconscious on the ground. She understood that
Eden had traveled to the present timeline, but if Eden was absent from his
own timeline, did that mean she was also absent from hers? She traveled
naturally, unlike Eden, who traveled unnaturally. Yuri set aside her thoughts
and took Bo to the hospital. Despite her efforts to control her emotions,
tears streamed down her face. She wondered, ‘He’s just a
seventeen-year-old teenager. Did Eden’s conscience not weigh on him
while harming him?’
Upon arriving at the hospital, she rushed Bo into the emergency room and
notified everyone by phone. Kio and Mr. Henry arrived shortly after.
Kio asked urgently, “Are you okay? How is Bo? What happened? I don’t
have much time; Amelia is alone. I need to attend to her.”
Mr. Henry interjected, “Don’t overwhelm her with questions, Kio. Yuri, don’t
worry. I can handle the situation so that no commotion will arise.”
Yuri, in tears, responded, “Bo is dying, and you’re worried about
commotion? Do you even care about him?”
Both Kio and Mr. Henry bowed their heads in guilt. The doctor arrived, and
Yuri desperately sought information. The doctor said, “Don’t worry, he’s regained consciousness. However, it
seems he was drugged with a powerful substance that caused temporary
unconsciousness and, unfortunately, potential permanent memory loss due
to his age.”
Yuri collapsed into tears again, and Kio held her, trying to comfort her. She
cried in his arms, realizing that Bo was the Voice she had been searching
for. She wondered, ‘Why didn’t Voice reveal the truth? Did he even know
about himself? If only I had known, I could have stopped this. But we must
accept our fate. Perhaps events are meant to be as they are.’ Kio thought,
‘When trouble arises, it spreads its wings everywhere. But when happiness
arrives, it seems to flee quickly.’
Kio asked the doctor, “Can we meet?”
The doctor responded, “Yes, and you might be able to restore his
memories, but it will cause him pain.”
Yuri composed herself and said, “No need to bring back those painful
memories. Doctor, can we just visit him?”
“Of course,” the doctor agreed. “However, this could turn into a police case
because—”
Mr. Henry cut in, “No need for that. Let me handle it.”
As a wealthy and influential man, Mr. Henry was determined not to lose
what he had. He realized that a police case involving Bo could damage his
reputation and decided to cover it up with money, knowing that the victim,
Bo was one his slave at home and thus Mr. Henry executed his plan.
Yuri and Kio entered Bo’s room.
Bo, scribbling on a piece of paper, wrote, “Who are you?”
Yuri, recalling how Voice had written to communicate, said, “We’re just
friends of the doctor. What’s your name?to o wrote again, “I don’t know my name either,” with a look of
disappointment.
Yuri replied gently, “Your name is Voice. I learned it from the doctor
because doctors know many things.”
Kio looked at Yuri with confusion. ‘Why name him Voice among all these
names, and why not use his real name?’ he wondered but chose not to
question her naming choices, accepting her as Bo’s guardian.
Yuri continued, “Now that you know your name, you’ll be going to a place
with many friends. I promise it won’t be as dull as this place.”
Bo wrote, “No need to be playful. I know this is a hospital and I am going to
an orphanage, a place where children without relatives live. Was I always
voiceless?”
Yuri sighed, “Yes, you were voiceless since birth. Now, we’re leaving, child.”
Yuri prepared to leave with Kio, her expression a mix of false cheerfulness
and courtesy. Bo began to stomp the table beside him, trying to
communicate more. Yuri sat back down and asked, “What is it?”
Bo wrote, “I don’t know your names and I won’t ask. All I know is... don’t
call me a child.”
Tears of happiness streamed down Yuri’s cheeks. She realized that while
Bo in the present timeline might not recognize or remember anything, some
aspects of his character remained in Voice. They were the same person
with different memories and lives. Yuri left, pondering her next steps. Even
though she felt sorrow for losing Bo, she knew she had found Voice. Little
did she know that more surprises awaited her in the future timeline. She
thought, ‘In the past timeline, I was too late to save Bo. But Voice is still in
danger in the present timeline. I must save him in time, not only for myself
but also as part of my mission.’
Suddenly, Kio tapped her on the back, conveying his need to return to
Amelia, though he was filled with guilt for not having enough time to comfort Yuri and help her forget her traumas. She asked with a mix of
confusion and curiosity, “How will I live alone?”
Kio replied, “What can I do? Amelia is also in shock.”
Yuri’s anger flared. “Amelia didn’t even care for her grandmother when she
was alive. Her grandmother’s death was a long time ago, and you say
Amelia is still shocked? Is she a child or what?”
Yuri suddenly realized that her harsh words were reflections of her feelings
about her own mother. Her father had heard her outburst. Understanding
the mistake, Yuri quickly apologized, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.
I’m leaving now.” She walked away without another word, but Kio decided
to ensure she wouldn’t be alone. He informed Mr. Henry of the situation
right after Yuri left.
Returning to the mansion, Yuri felt the emptiness that now defined it. She
thought, ‘No wonder Amelia’s mansion feels emptier than ever. Perhaps it’s
even been sold. And Amelia’s driver? He left his job after her
grandmother’s death.’ She instructed Mr. Henry’s driver to go to Kio and
Amelia but allowed him to work for her if he wished. She acknowledged,
“You were my favorite driver among all.”
Next, she entered Eden’s room and discovered the most significant
information about timelines. From the scattered books, notes, and
research, she learned:
1. If anyone knows about the timeline, that person's heart will try to
travel the timeline unnaturally. Except innocent hearts like children,
they wouldn’t think of traveling time but no risk should be taken.
Therefore, the incident of naturally traveling the time should not be
told to anyone.
2. If an unnatural time traveler successfully causes a big incident
relating to the timeline, they can travel that specific timeline they
intended to travel. But it would cause trouble for the natural time
traveler to go back to their own timeline. There was also a number three which Yuri could not know as the page was
torn. But Yuri realized, for the first rules of time travel, Eden’s heart
converted to travel the timeline and so, she should have protected this
information of time traveling. But Bo’s heart was truly innocent as a child.
So, it didn’t convert to travel timelines. And as for the second rule, Eden
made Bo the future Voice by making him voiceless which was related to the
present timeline. Then he successfully traveled the timelines from past to
present. But it can cause trouble for a natural time traveler like her. She
cannot go back to her present timeline. As she is in the past timeline, her
travel may cause the future. Yet, as she is a natural time traveler, she may
find a way out later in going back to her true timeline. Yuri was stressed
indeed to know it, that her work to go back got doubled and she angrily
slammed the book and a piece of paper fell off. The paper was titled, ‘To do
after reaching the present timeline’ The handwriting was of Eden which he
wrote, I will try to make Yuri totally alone and make her feel the pain of
loneliness. I will kill her closest relatives, her best friend, her lover.
Suddenly the name of Aroha popped up in Yuri’s mind while reading the
best friend and the name of Voice appeared after reading the word ‘lover’.
She also read through the piece of paper, ‘I will try to be her closest person
and lastly hurt her to make her feel like a useless paper to herself.’
Yuri felt strange knowing such a different and dark side of Eden. She felt so
angry that she was about to tear everything and she screamed, “Why was I
such a fool to love someone negative minded like you, to trust you instead
of killing you?” Suddenly the doorbell rang. Yuri hurriedly scooped up all the
scattered papers and destroyed them by burning them into the fireplace.
She ensured that nobody could know about the timeline. Or it could convert
their heart to travel it. Yuri opened the door and greeted, “Welcome home,
Mr and Mrs Henry! What a great surprise.”
Yuri sat silently in the room as Mr. Henry entered, his presence a surprising
comfort amidst the chaos.
“Just be yourself and don’t try to forcibly act cheerful,” Mr. Henry said, his
tone gentle. “But it really is a surprise you are coming here,” Yuri replied, her voice
steady.
“Yes, Kio contacted me and informed me to stay with you since you’re
lonely. And it is also a surprise,” Mr. Henry responded.
Yuri felt a pang of guilt. “Now I feel guilty about scolding him with harsh
words.”
Mr. Henry waved it off with a soft smile. “Oh, it was just a moment of
solace. You are siblings after all. Everything will be alright.”
But Yuri’s thoughts betrayed her. How would it be okay if he is not my
brother, but my father?
Suddenly, Yami’s voice broke through. “I think—” she sniffed— “something
is burning. It is also very hot! Wait… Are you burning my house?”
“Didn’t I prevent you from talking like that?” Mr. Henry said sharply. “Okay,
what is the matter, Yuri?”
Yuri hesitated. “No, I mean I was feeling cold so I lit the fireplace.”
“But, I see you are sweating. Do you have a fever?” Mr. Henry asked, his
concern growing.
“No…” Yuri hesitated again. “I will turn off the fireplace after a while. Please
be yourself in your own house.”
“Fine,” Mr. Henry said. “I want to take your room, Yuri. If you don’t mind.
Because the upper room,” he gestured toward Eden’s old room, “I want to
keep for our future child… which we can never have.” He chuckled lightly,
though the laugh didn’t reach his eyes.
Yuri quickly changed the topic. “Okay, that won’t be a problem. Then I will
be taking the middle room.” She turned off the fireplace by pouring water on
it, serving coffee to both Mr. Henry and herself. She tried her best to avoid
entangling with Yami’s negativity and live as peacefully as possible with Mr.
and Mrs. Henry for at least another year. I have to live many more years to be born, turn three, and for my mother to
reach her time of incident, Yuri thought. I may leave timelines, but I must
make everyone forget about me. But it seems as if everyone has forgotten
Eden, not even uttering his name. I have to find the third rule of time travel.
Her research finally paid off when she discovered the third rule: The time
traveler of different timelines will be forgotten in the traveled timeline. Or
the travelers of true timelines who traveled to different timelines will also be
forgotten. But their deeds and traces cannot be wiped away.
With this knowledge, Yuri felt a sense of relief. As time passed, many
things changed. Kio graduated and began a successful career in detective
work. Amelia was about to give birth to a girl, and Yuri felt a mix of
satisfaction and confusion. Why is the baby so beautiful when Yuri is not?
Yuri looks like her father but why does the baby resemble her mother so
much? And mainly, if Yuri was born in 2003, why was the baby born in
2001?
When Kio and Amelia approached to hold their infant, Kio chuckled. “Isn’t it
a coincidence that my daughter was born on my birthday?”
Yuri’s anxiety grew. “Won’t you name her?”
Amelia looked back at Yuri with a hesitant smile. “Should I? Can I not?”
“Seriously?” Kio asked. “Don’t you want to name her as her mother? Don’t
worry, next time I’ll name our baby.”
“How do you know there will be a next time?” Amelia asked.
“I just want things to be okay. Now name her,” Kio insisted.
“Fine,” Amelia said with resolve. “I name her Aroha. Her name is Aroha
Peranse.”
Yuri was taken aback. So the bond I felt between her and I was this? She
was not only my best friend and soulmate but also my sister? And this is why Aroha looks like our mother. But something might occur as she is
going to live with Mr. and Mrs. Henry.
“Can I hold Aroha?” Yuri asked slowly.
“Sure!” Kio said with a laugh. “And you would call her sister as you called
me father before, remember?”
Kio took it as a joke, but Yuri understood the deeper meaning. She held
Aroha with tears of both happiness and sorrow. “Yes, sister it is. I will
always love you, Aroha.”
Yuri knew this would likely be her last chance to be with Aroha. She
decided to cherish every moment until she had to leave. Though Aroha
would forget her as a time traveler, Yuri hoped to make a positive impact on
her life.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry arrived. Despite Yami’s lack of interest, Mr. Henry was
visibly happy to see Aroha. He cherished her as he had always wanted
children around him, not remembering that he had once had his own.
Amelia, with hesitation, said, “I think you should take Aroha.”
Kio, stunned, replied, “What are you saying? Aroha is our first and only
child.”
“I know,” Amelia said. “That’s why I’m saying it. After granny’s death and
my graduation, I need to manage all my family business. You’re a detective
and have your own work. Can we really care for Aroha? I also know Mr.
Henry loves children. I think it’s the best decision for Aroha.”
Kio sighed. “I don’t find your words illogical. So, I agree.”
Yuri’s confusion and anger were evident. “What? Are you abandoning your
only child because of work? I apologize, but I think it’s totally illogical.”
“We aren’t sending her to an orphanage where you belong,” Kio said.
“We’re just giving her to Mr. Henry. I think he can care for her more than we
can.” A stunned silence followed. Tears streamed down Yuri’s face. “Yes, after
all, I belong to an orphanage. What right do I have to meddle with your
family?”
Mr. Henry’s shock was clear. “You never told me about it. I always felt that
Yuri was your blood relative, though I had a strange feeling.”
Kio, realizing his mistake, moved to console Yuri, but she ran away, tears
flowing freely. Her sorrow wasn’t just about Kio’s words but about her
inability to change Aroha’s fate. My parents are the reason for this.
Mr. Henry approached and sat beside her. “Life is like this. It is sometimes
sweet and sometimes bitter. You just have to find sweetness through the
bittersweet moments. I assure you, Aroha will be happy in our hands.”
Yuri stopped crying and asked, “Our?”
“Sure,” Mr. Henry confirmed. “After the incident with Yami, I wouldn’t have
realized it if you hadn’t made me. Now that I know, I can’t trust her. I want
you to take responsibility.”
Yuri wondered, If he doesn’t remember Eden, what was the mistake that
Yami made?
“What? I don’t think Mrs. Henry did anything wrong,” Yuri said.
“She did,” Mr. Henry replied. “She mistreated Kio. He was like my child.”
Yuri was reassured that Mr. Henry had completely forgotten Eden. She
then asked, “What will happen when I’m no longer here for Aroha?”
“Don’t worry,” Mr. Henry said. “I will be there for her care. I won’t make the
same mistake again, as I’ve already lost Kio’s love for it.”
The deal was settled. Yuri smiled at Kio. “I never minded your harsh
words.”
No wonder how many harsh words I delivered in this timeline to my father,
Yuri thought. This is how it feels to hear harsh words. She held Aroha close. She knew she had not only taken Aroha into her
arms but also the responsibility to ensure her a better life.