Peeking into the Future - Chapter 1

Peeking into the Future - Chapter 1

His appearance, which had always been like a calm lake, was at the center of chaos like the sea tossing in a raging tsunami. Rachel, walking by his side with her arms wrapped around him familiarly, was a perfect woman in every way, like a beautiful flower in full bloom. Ethan was only infinitely unfamiliar with the appearance of her that was different from his memories. Despite being with her for a long time, Rachel had always been like a tomboy sister to him, so he was even more unfamiliar with the situation now.

“So today I......”

Because of this, Ethan couldn't get used to Rachel's behavior when she was looking at him, smiling sweetly and lovingly.

‘Is this the future?’

He asked himself calmly, wanting to know what happened, but this place seemed to be six years into the future. Ethan suddenly wanted to grab Rachel's body right away and shout at her to stop lying, but the ominous energy left behind in his heart seemed to whisper to him that this was also true.

'Why am I with Rachel?'

They had seen each other's growth since they were young, and they got along so close that they thought they were like family. Occasionally, there were people around them who raised light suspicions that they were dating, but both Ethan and Rachel strongly denied it, leaving no room for ambiguity in their denial.

“Are you listening to me? What do you think?”

“......anything is fine."

When a voice as clear as jade beads turned towards him, Ethan gave a brief reply and turned his gaze away. Gazing at each other's eyes for a brief moment, he felt like he shouldn’t have looked at her. Did he recognize Rachel as an opposite sex for a moment? Ethan felt his heart flutter as she looked at him innocently and asked in an innocent manner.

“......”

Rachel was a beautiful woman. That was something even Ethan did not deny. But Rachel’s beauty didn't do anything to change their relationship. It was the same with Rachel. Ethan was the man many women envied, but that was it. She occasionally praised his appearance with implied words, but it was hard to find any special emotion in it.

At least that’s what ifs supposed to be like.

He had never felt a strong lust for Rachel. Just once, when he saw her dancing with someone in a fancy ballroom, he had an odd feeling that her beauty seemed to shine. However, Rachel was always a beautiful person, so he didn't think much of it.

But why are my hands so sweaty now? The current Rachel isn't particularly shiny. It's just that she and I are now married.

Married. The more he thought about it, the faster his heart beat. Ethan repeatedly clenched and released his fists in a state of confusion.

“What do you mean it’s nothing. Your face still looks troubled.”

“I’m just a little tired.”

At his surrounding words, Rachel narrowed her eyes and glanced at her well-behaved husband. It was an excuse that would not work for Rachel, who had known him closely for a long time, but she decided to let it slide instead of confronting him.

'There are times when you don’t want to talk about something.'

Rachel hurried her steps, thinking so. She didn't feel any doubts about Ethan.

“Even so, relax your face. You will see Jude now.”

“......Jude?”

The appearance of an unfamiliar name only made Ethan's face more wrinkled. Jude, did she say Jude? It was a name that he couldn't remember no matter how much he shook his head. Did he have any new relationships in the future? Ethan's blue eyes soured up at Rachel’s act of calling a strange name in a friendly manner.

“Jude!”

As Rachel soon welcomed someone and took the lead, Ethan also stared straight ahead and captured the two appearances in his eyes. A woman with a profound appearance who was comfortably holding a baby.

“Mama!”

“My daughter!”

Rachel was handed her baby from the nanny with a delighted smile, and kissed her, rubbing her cheeks against the white, plump cheeks. In response, the child laughed out loud and dug deeper into Rachel's arms.

'A child?'

Ethan saw the scene in front of him, unable to control his pounding heart, to the extent that it could not be compared to before. She had black hair that resembled himself and Rachel's dazzling golden eyes that looked just like her. She was clearly the child born by the two.

“Papa!”

“My Jude, are you happy to see your dad?”

The child greeted Ethan noisily while her small body was in Rachel’s arms. Ethan couldn't respond, so he was just busy avoiding the situation with an awkward smile.

According to Rachel, six years had passed since the day Ethan fell asleep. In a future that he had never thought of, he had unexpectedly married an old friend, and it seemed that they had a child who looked like half-and-half of each other.

It wasn't strange at all considering the time that had passed, but Ethan just didn't know what to do with the commotion was happening very quickly. Ethan, who doesn't usually show his emotions and was known to be blunt, was at a loss. He didn't know how to accept the existence of a child who smiled at him while following Rachel.

“Come on, let’s go to Dad.”

“Uh-huh!”

Rachel quickly handed Jude over to Ethan, apparently because the weight of a grown child was too heavy to be carried around in her dress. The child he was suddenly holding had the faint smell of a young creature which he had never smelled before.

The awkward arms holding her stiffly might have been uncomfortable, but Jude was busy playing with her hands, leaning on her father's wide chest without making a small whimper. In the end, Ethan couldn't even give the child a kind greeting or a friendly kiss. Even though she was a lovely child who resembled himself, he could not fill the gap of time that he had crossed in one morning.

* * * (Read on pink-grapes.blogspot.com)

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