Future Me

My brother and sister don't seem to be so surprised with how the interior looks different from the facade. They sat beside me around the round table. Aaron sat on my other side with Timothy. The Commander said that my family is growing and that we need a different table from them. I still want Ton's and Ulysses' presence at the dining room but they said that they don't want to leave the Commander's side. Even Timothy was just hanging out here because of Aaron but he seems to enjoy the Commander's side more.

"Father," Timothy called Aaron. It made my brother almost spit his water.

"Don't call me that. We talked about this already," Aaron shushed Timothy's mouth with his index finger. "He's not my son. Just making it clear. Sapphire is my girlfriend."

Hal nodded while wiping his mouth.

"My sister has a boyfriend?" Julia's surprised.

"You're not supposed to ask that," Hal said.

"How?" she asked.

"It's because of the Artisan pairing. Sacred they say. Sacred pairing." Aaron started explaining. "Once you were born your other half is also born at the same time. Same birthday and all," he added.

"So you mean there's someone out there for me? Like reserved just for me?" Julia seemed so surprised by the idea.

"Yes, it's like that. They should be the same age as you," Aaron answered. "We get paired randomly. It's just an assumption," Aaron drank his water. "You could try it with other people if you want to."

I added. "Also, when you do telepathy that should tie the bond between you two. You're able to feel what she feels and she'll share the same with you. It's hard to explain but you'll know when it happens."

"Do you?" Hal asked.

Aaron's lips curved upward, "Definitely."

Hal became quiet trying to digest everything that he'd discovered. Nica stood up from her seat wiping her lips with the napkin given to us.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Practice," she said and left.

"So, obviously we're not. She intimidates me. She's not compatible with me," Hal pointed out.

"Assuming that's how it is, yes." Aaron answered.

"So, where are the other two?" Hal asked.

"We don't know yet."

"so...avoid Nero at all costs...the future? Does that kind of talent exists?"

"Ton," I said.

"I heard my name," Ton appeared behind my brother.

"Oh, hi," my brother greeted. He attempted to stand up and bow but I stopped him with telepathy. He reached out for his hand instead. "You're Ton?"

"Nice to meet you and yes," Ton shook my brother's hand and shook it. "May I sit here?" he pointed at the empty seat.

"Sure. Nica just left," I answered.

"What were you talking about?"

"They're asking about your talent," Aaron replied.

"Ah," Ton brushed his little goatee.

"What exactly do you see? I'm curious." Hal asked.

Ton nodded his head, "The future is always changing. Nothing is always certain. But a little guidance from the universe is not bad, right?"

"Well, the future must have changed now, right? I'm here. So that means Nica and I don't need to fight."

Ton nodded. "Change but not entirely. But who knows. Sometimes little decisions make the bigger changes." He looked at me. "You could've continued to run away or stay. What will the future be then?"

What could have been? If I stayed...huh.

"But there is also such a thing as a permanent future."

"What now?" Aaron asked.

"The future that couldn't be changed. The future that no matter what you do to try to avoid will still happen. Like all of us being at this table together. We may have not met today but later on in our lives we will still meet."

"Things that are just meant to happen, huh?" Aaron added.

Ton watched Julia. "Her glass of juice will fall in three." Our eyes averted on Julia who is minding her own business.

"Two," Ton continued. "One."

Julia hit her cup of juice when she was reaching for her soup on the side. The cup fell on the floor.

"Oh no," Julia gasped.

"I see, can you see tomorrow?" I asked.

"Yes. Multiple possibilities of it. It depends if you plan to play the piano tomorrow, train tomorrow, go on a date…"

Aaron cleared his throat. "Ton…"

"I apologize."

"Well, about these new possibilities..." Hal wanted to ask more. He's a naturally curious person.

"I see you fighting along Nica's side now…in a military uniform somewhere in the desert. That's the best I could get."

"Me? Me?" Julia raised her hand enthusiastically.

Somehow, Ton's expression changed when he looked at her.

"Oh, that's…" Ton cleared his throat. Then his eyes averted to me and then back to Julia, "You're going to be stronger." He smiled at Julia.

"That's it?"

"You'll have to face them yourself…" Ton muttered. "The fears…"

Aaron cleared his throat this time, "That's too much for bedtime stories. Shall we head back to our dormitories? You and you need energy for tomorrow's training." He pointed at Julia and Timothy.

"Training, we train?" Julia asked, seemingly disappointed with the idea. She must've been fed off with all the training she'd done back in France.

"Yes, to hone our skills," I said.

"Oh, not the same training back there?" She seems pleased now.

"Speaking of that, your talent is mind control, right?" I asked.

"Yes." She answered proudly. "I could enter someone's mind and control them."

"Wow, danger alert," I said.