Promise from the heart

Chapter 30

"So it really is you."

Neo smacked him again. 

"What do you mean? You're talking in riddles, so can you just spit it out already?" Charlie asked. He didn't care that he was being rude or that he was talking that way to his principal and his partner. He needed answers and he needed them now. 

Janus grinned. "I like him." he told Neo and gestured toward me. 

"I'm waiting." Charlie added. 

"First we want to know what you meant. You said you saw Janus?" 

"I did." 

"How?"

Charlie debated briefly whether or not it was safe to tell them. But he didn't feel like either of them would ever side with Jordan's father, so he deemed it safe. 

"When you knocked over the pens, our hands met. That was all I needed." he bit his lip and stared at the ceiling as he added, "I saw one of your memories, Neo."

Before he could rein in his reaction, a slight blush came over Neo's cheeks. "What memory?" 

Charlie's eyes narrowed and he turned to Janus instead. "Did you cheat on him? Or did you at least have the decency to break up with him first?" 

At that moment, both of the men knew which memory the boy would've seen. "I... We didn't do anything until I've broken up with Carl. But my emotions, they formed the minutes I laid eyes on Neo. I couldn't help it. I didn't choose it. It was like gravity. When you meet your mate, you'll know." 

"I think I already have." Charlie admitted. 

Neo smiled at him, but it was a pitying smile. It said, "So did Janus, but he was wrong." 

"I don't want anyone else." Charlie said stubbornly. 

"I didn't either." Janus admitted. He carefully brushed aside Neo's hair from his face as he spoke. "It nearly killed me to have to leave Carl and hurt him like that. But now, I know better. Neo is like the air I breathe. I would never have been able to survive for long without him. We were meant to meet." 

Charlie was getting exasperated. "Did you call me out of my classes to brag about your love story? I'm sorry, but if that's the case, I think I'd rather just go back to class." he said and began to get up. 

"Wait!" Neo grabbed his arm. "That's not why we brought you here. We brought you because your path is intertwined with ours. This is the first time we meet, but it won't be the last." 

Charlie sat back down again. "What do you mean?" 

"You have a gift, Charlie. There are seers all over the world, but none of them are as special as you are." 

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Charlie said tiredly. "What are you talking about?"

"When the time is right, come see me. I will tell you everything you need to know." Janus said. 

Charlie groaned. "Did you seriously bring me here just to tell me that now's not the time? Why can't you tell me everything you need to know now?" 

"Because the danger hasn't passed. Everywhere you go, you are being watched. You've angered the wrong person, child." 

Charlie felt a chill down his back and he pulled up his knees closer to his chest.

"W-who are you talking about?" 

"You know very well who." Janus said and stared deep into his eyes. 

"Jordan's father." 

Janus gave the slightest nod.