Jane's time machine (2/2)

                                                           Written by Pedro Henrique Silva

- Is this your house? – I asked her while she was testing my reflexes with a little hammer.

- No. It’s John’s. He is my teacher at the university. He bought this house in the 90s, but he has never lived here. It would be his personal lab. That’s why the room and the kitchen are smaller than the lab itself. – Jane said. She was now with a flashlight pointed to my eyes.

- Why are you doing this?

- Standard procedure. Don’t worry.

I kept thinking how stupid my idea was. I really wanted to go back to 2018, to our first date, and change everything. Try to be more outgoing. Try to talk a little more, to make it an excellent date for her. But first I’d have to learn I little more about the machine. I used the it once, but maybe I got lucky.

- What is that? – I asked looking to that Iron Cable with a very weird silver stuff on its tip.

- That’s the time anchor.

- What?

- Let’s suppose that you want to go back to the World War 2 and kill Hitler. – Again, I couldn’t tell if she was joking or not - The door hadn’t been built yet, Right? So, you go through the door holding the anchor. When you finally kill him, you just need to set the date on the console, and you would, in theory, return to your time.

- In theory.

- Yes. I haven’t tested it yet.

- Oh, I see.

So, if I come back I would’ve been doing her a favor, again.

- Well, that’s it. – She said putting her hands on her waist – I think you can go back now to your time.

- Can you please bring me some water?

- Sure, there is a bottle over there – She pointed to the table next to me. She was setting the date to a minute after I first entered on the door.

- I’d love an iced one.

She sighed and left the lab. I had no time to lose. I set the date on the panel- March 25^th of 2018- , took the anchor, and went through the door. I was back in the lab. Well, it wasn’t like it used to be – or like it will be in the future. There were only two computers and a table. Next to them, Jane was looking at me. Very upset.

- How stupid do you think I am? – She asked me.

- What? Why are you here? How did you find me?

- First, of course you would come here. Second, the date was still on the console, you imbecile. I set to one minute before you arrive. Let’s return, please.

- I am sorry.

- No! Why would you go back? I mean, you didn’t think that you would change the fucking time. And, I don’t know, maybe breaking it?

- You were the one who dropped that Hitler example.

- EXACTLY. A FUCKING EXAMPLE. It’s very, very risky.

- Ok, ok, I am sorry. – I was truly sorry. I didn’t think about that.

She was very mad, pressing very angrily the buttons on the anchor. But, for nowhere, she stopped it.

- Wait – She said – What was your plan?

- Excuse me?

- Your plan. After arriving, what would you do?

- I didn’t think about that.

- Oh my god.

- But why is that important?

- Because the first time you went back on time and everything went well, apparently.

- How do you know?

- I wouldn’t have gone to the reunion. I only went because you showed up. And I know that I am going to the reunion because you are here. I went, we slept together, and you are here.

I was not following at all.

- I understood. – I said.

- No, you didn’t. Please, you really don’t know what you would do?

- Well, I thought about going to my house and talking to myself.

- And you have a paradox right there.

- Where? What? …oh, I see. I don’t remember meeting myself.

- Exactly.

- But you didn’t remember meeting me as well.

- Oh, that’s… Wrong. Apparently, I will remember.Your Jane probably remembered it. But, you know what, if we met and had a great time as you mentioned, I don’t hate you on the future as I hate you right now.

That was hard to hear. Did I screw up that bad? Trying to make things right with her in the past? How?

- I just… I just wanted to be with you longer, that’s all.       

- I know, man.

- Oh, no, you don’t. I’ve never really had a long-term relationship. Last night was perfect. I mean, it was the best night of my life. And I think that, in other time, we would’ve been happier. If we had that night earlier, maybe we would’ve…been married by now.

- You really didn’t get, did you?

- No, wait…

- We only slept because I thought, well, I think that we had to do it. And it would be awful to turn a time machine for the first time and cause a paradox. I had to go. You had to have sex. Everything must happen exactly like that. Otherwise you might have a great problem.

- You didn’t look like someone who was faking anything.

- Oh really? Your judgment is so amazing.

- What do you mean?

- Well, 11 years ago. You had a chance already. How in the world you did not realize how bored I was on that date?

- I was too young.

- You were 17. You weren’t smart at all, though. Somethings never change.

I didn’t remember how mean Jane was when she wanted to. On that moment I realize how many times she has lost her patient with me all those months that we studied on the school’s lab. 

- I didn’t have a plan. But now I have no intention on seeing you again. Not in the future, nor the past.

- Well, that’s mutual. Can we please comeback?

And we did comeback. First to her time. When we got there something hit me.

- You hate me, don’t you? – I asked her.

- Yep.

- Will you go to the reunion than?

- I think so. – She said without even looking at me. Just setting the date on the door’s panel.

- Look, I may not be as smart as you deserve. I may be just a dumb regular personal trainer, fitting the stereotype of hot and stupid. But, I like you. And I always have. Even hen you treated me like garbage like…well, now.

- Do you know what you are for me? She said turning herself in my direction.

- No.

- You are the normal life. The night clubs, the girlfriends, the parties, the Netflix’s marathon, the anniversaries, the commitment, the “your place or my place?”, the “lets meet my mom”. You really think I needed you when I used to go to lab back on the day? I wanted to be alone. I don’t want that normal life. It’s just…stupid. I beat you back then, I need to beat you right now.

- But do you need to be alone? Why you don’t want a normal life?

- Because, man, I am definitely not normal. I created a fucking time machine.

- But do you really have to hate me for that?

- Maybe I don’t hate you, I just… - She seemed confused, I realized that was the time to kiss her. I approached her and held her hand. She was about to cry – Give me a chance. Give a chance to you. – As I said that, she changed her expression, looked to me in the eyes and said.

- Do I look confused now? – She asked with an indifference - I am not. I made my decision many years ago. I can’t be with you. I can’t be with anyone. – She went to the panel, set the date and look back to me – You should go now. One minute after you leave. I will not be at home. And we will never see each other again.

I realized how serious she was. She as looking me in my eyes while I vanished through the door. When I finally got on my time, I left the lab, knowing that I felt in love for a very special woman. She was about to change the world. Forever. And I would be on her way. And what did I had to offer? I decided that the best thing would be to leave.

 When I stepped out of her front door, she was running toward my direction, or towards her house which was behind me now.

- I deserve a goodbye. – She said smiling

- A goodbye kiss? – I asked.

- A goodbye handshake.

We shook. Without letting my hand go she said.

- You are and have always been the only normal thing in my entire life.

- Thanks, I guess.

- You, with your adorable dumb way, were the only one who have ever made through my block.

- I think it’s a good think.

- No. It’s not. You are the biggest threat. But I won. – She said it while she entered in her house. – For the last time, Good Bye. – And she closed the door. That was the last time I saw her. And I couldn’t be more in love.

Jane's time machine (1/2)

                                                                                            Written by Pedro Henrique Silva

The class of 2019 was all there, 10 years after we graduated. Since then I’ve been studying and preparing myself to finally become a Personal Trainer.  My dream was to have my own gym. The biggest one on the planet. And that was what I would say to all my former friends and colleagues who would talk to me. But I wasn’t very interesting on impressing anyone of them.  I wanted to see and talk to Jane. To finally have good “date” and maybe start something new. But first, I had to find her. I would do everything right that time.

I always loved her, but she didn’t love me back. Her name was Jane, and we’ve studied together since we were 10. She’s never noticed me.  She didn’t even know my name, probably. When she got 15 or so I started to be obsessed by her beauty, her intelligence, her sense of humor. We loved the same stuff, but never really talked. You might thing you’ve heard this story before, but no, that one is different, believe me.

Everything changed when we were 17. We started to be the only students on school attending to the science lab after class. Actually, she has been alone there forever, on that March 25^th of 2018 I finally got the guts to start going to the lab. She treated me well, besides the fact that I knew nothing about science. She started even to help me to improve and learn more about it. She used to be there the whole afternoon, studying, trying to achieve some experiences. I loved to watch Jane doing all that.

Two months after my first visit to the lab, I asked her out for the first time. She politely declined. It took me only five times until she finally said yes. We were supposed to go to a dinner after “our” afternoon on the lab.

However, that was so bad that even today I regret about that awful date. We remained in silence for like an hour. We exchanged only a few words. Later that night I thought that we could never be together because we didn’t have things to talk about. I realized only that day that even on the lab it was like that. We just didn’t talk that much. We loved superheroes, Sci fi movies and Sports. But still, very little conversation.  Today I know there were plenty of subjects to discuss. The problem was that I was too shy. Remembering me stupidity as very painful. I had to do all different.

It took me like 5 minutes at the party to finally see her. She was in a beautiful not-that-short red dress, and I approached. Luckily, she was alone:

-          Hi – I said

-          Paul? Hiii, how have you been? – She said hugging me

-          Well, pretty good, and you?

-          Better now. What have you been doing these days?

-          , I’m working on a gym. I am a personal trainer.

-          NO WAY. That’s amazing.

-          Yep. And you?

-          I’m concluding… my life’s work. – She said smiling like it was the first time she realized what she was doing.

-          NO WAY. What is it?

-          I can’t say.

-          Really? – I couldn’t tell if she was being serious.

          -     Yep, can we change the subject? I mean, I am very happy, you can’t even imagine, but it’s the first time out of my lab since a looong time. I want to talk about anything but this.

-          Ok, what to you want to talk about? – And just like that, for the first time in our lives, we had A LOT to talk. It was the best conversation I have ever had. It was like there were only us there. I mean, from time to time someone passed by and greeted us. But soon the person realized that we wanted to be alone. And he or she left us be.

After two hours talking she finally said the words I was waiting for.

-          Do you want to go somewhere else? I mean to my place, maybe? It’s like… to blocs from here.  

-           Em… yes, yes, of course – Was I dreaming? Of course, I wanted to go to her house, but that went perfectly. I wasn’t that lucky with girls. I mean, I had a couple of relationships, but today it seemed that I didn’t have to battle at all.

When we got to her place we went straight to her room. We were already kissing in the Uber car, so It was clear that we wanted each other. We made love on her bed. It was just amazing. I finally had sex with Jane. I dreamed about that since I was 16. I was in heaven.

I woke up with her beautiful voice talking on the phone with someone.

-          Yes, I’ve finished… Yes, I am thrilled... No, I didn’t use it. I mean, I am kind of conducting a test right now… Yes, I am going to call them... They will come tomorrow, probably and… John, I am probably going to change the world. - As she mentioned a guy’s name I felt like I was falling. I mean, he can be anyone. But maybe he is someone important to her. Who knows? I moved in bed and showed to her that I awaken. – Oh, John, I might go…ok…bye. Did you sleep well? – She asked me.

          -         Oh yes. Who were you talking to? – I questioned her.

          -         Eh...my teacher – She said after leaving her bed only with her lingerie on.

          -         Really?

          -         Man, are you jealous?

    -          Well…as a matter of fact I am.

        -         I am sorry. I mean, I like you. You are very sweet. I thought that you might beone of those romantic dudes. I mean, we…just had sex. – And just like that, Jane broke my heart. , I knew that people nowadays see sex differently from 10 years ago. But I thought, as jane sounded like someone who had worse social abilities then me, she viewed sex like me. It as not a sport. It was something meaningful. But, if I started to freak out now, I’d lost her for good.

    -          I know, I know. I am so sorry, Jane. , I am hungry. I can pick something to eat.

    -          No, You stay put. I’ll go. – She said putting pants and a t-shirt.

As she left the house I started to wonder how different our relationship would be if we have had such a great date back in 2018. Maybe if I hadn’t been so shy we’d be together. How amazing would that be?  

Her house as very interesting. From outside it surely seemed bigger. It’s very odd someone on her age live alone in a house. Maybe that John guy was her roommate, or maybe more. I started to walk around to see if there were more on her house to see. I found an open door, which led me to a lab. Nothing like the one that we had on our school. This one was very high tech. The thing is, of course our technology has improved a lot on 10 years. But the thing is: Here, it seems even “higher”. The computers are incredible, all the equipment and the gear look very bright. I am talking about Tony Stark’s level of technology. Speaking on him, there’s also a long iron cable with something big on it’s tip. Another piece of tech that I have never seen.

On the center of the lab There was a beautiful metal door with a sign: Time Machine.  It had a panel next to it with:

                                               Insert date: XX/XX/XXXX - Insert time XX:XX

Is it a time machine? That would be crazy. But maybe that was the thing that she was talking about earlier on the phone. Probably that was what she meant with: “I am going to change the world”. Well, I had to see it. I put 12/15/2029 – 12:00 on it. And I opened the door. I was expecting a portal or something, but the only thing I saw on the other side of the door was the lab again. I assumed that it wouldn’t work, but still, I crossed the door. However, Jane was at the lab’s door, looking at me very surprised.

-          PAUL? Paul Anderson?

-          Yes. I am so sorry. I mean, I supposed that it was like a time machine and I put a date and I entered.

-          I am sorry, but when? – She asked.

-          This morning?

-          What? You were here this morning?

-     Yes – I said. She didn’t look mad. Just confused. I didn’t understand her confusion.

-          Oh, I understand now. The reunion. It’s today, isn’t it? I MEAN. It was yesterday for you. – She said smiling.

-          Oh, wait a second. It IS a time machine. It DID work.

                  -          Yes. I am about to turn it on. That was the first test, apparently. Wait, Did I put you through the door? Or you were seeking? Wait, DID I INVITE YOU IN?  - Now she seemed worried.

            -          No, I mean. Yes, yes, yes. Wait, we…slept together. You went to pick the breakfast on, I started to… look around.

        -          WHAT? I mean… I wouldn’t even go to that reunion. But…apparently now I must. Well, that’s is the first test. Or Should I say unintentionally first test. However, that will work.

-          Wait, you haven’t tested it?

                  -          Of course not. I would start the trials with objects first, then with rats. We were years away from the human trials. – She started to laugh very hard.

-          Oh, so you are welcome.

-          Oh, I am sorry. How do you feel?

       -        Well, Sad. I though that we had made love because you wanted, not just for science purposes.

-          No, I mean how do you feel physically?

           -          Oh, I am sorry. Ok. I feel fine. – My hearth as broken, but I felt ok.

                  -          Ok, ok, I am running some exams with you, then you can come back to your time, ok?

-          Sure

-          Are you ok? I mean, Emotionally

-          Of course not. I’ve told you that.

-           Look, If I had gone willingly to the reunion, and if we had a nice time there, we might come to my place anyway. I mean, I’ve always had a crush on you.

-          Really?

-          Well… I am sorry, no. But, we had a good date on…2018, right?

-          Had we? I wouldn’t call that a “good date”.

      -          Sure, you ruined that for being so shy. I mean, I tried the whole night to start conversations with you and you kept on looking to your plate. But, It wasn’t that bad. I’ve had worst.

-          Have you?

        -          Actually, No. I have devoted all my life to this time machine. I didn’t have many dates. But I’ve heard that it could be worse.

-          I’ll accept that.

-          SO, are we good?

                  -          Sure – We were. I understand. I ruined everything a couple of years ago. If I could go back I would do everything differently. Well…