Reverse

The weather had been getting better for the past few months. It was rather weird for Chris. Instead of the seasons moving towards winter, it became a regression. Winter is moving towards autumn in his current world. The cold breezes were getting fewer. What a refreshing change, he thought. He had been posting threads on investment forums every week. Some were his thoughts against the practices in the industry. Others were about his views on the investment strategies and the FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) movement. This movement had begun to gain traction through online discussion forums and blogs. It is especially popular amongst the Millenials. Chris had written more than 10 articles for the period from March to January 2019. Although he did not know if he had gained followers, he kept doing it because of his interest and belief in his work.

1 February 2019 (Friday)

The Bank of Sicara’s baseball team had a 2-week break at the beginning of February. As they would have no training the following day. The coach decided to arrange a dinner for the team at the newly reopened Crawford Hotel.

Chris went to the hotel’s buffet restaurant right after work. He was one of the earliest there. Previously, before his journey through the time machine, He waited patiently at the table for the lads to turn up. Now, he decided that instead of getting bored, he should check out the hotel. Barely a minute has passed since he sat down at the table, Chris was out of the restaurant.

At the hotel lobby, he was looking all around, at the people, at the new decorations and the new vibe of it. As he took a glance at the surroundings outside the hotel, a taxi caught his eye.

“Is that her?” Chris was unsure and he quickly moved to a corner where he could catch a glimpse of the taxi but without being noticed.

A young woman in her 20s was walking towards the lobby with a middle-aged man. They were holding hands and looked like a couple. Chris ducked swiftly into the elevator area, entered it, and pressed the “Close” button immediately.

“Thank Godness, I’m out of sight. Isn’t that Kayla and David? Hell, he stole my ex! Dirty old scum. So Kayla told me all the shit in December to be with him? This sucks. The thought of them making love in the hotel now...AHHH!”

He felt betrayed and disgusted. Mikhayla or Kayla as Chris calls her, was his ex-girlfriend. They broke up before Christmas in 2018. She told him they were growing apart and not having the same aspirations in life. He was heartbroken back then. The year of reverse traveling had healed his wounds but now, disappointment had set in.

At the dinner, Chris was not really enjoying it. He just wanted to get it done and go home to do something. All he could think of was calling Elly. He wanted to know more about her uncle and tell her that this jerk stole his girl.

He told his teammates that he was unwell and went home early. Right after shower, he gave Elly a call.

“Hi, Elly.”

“Yes, Chris. How’s it going?”

“You know, I saw your uncle, David at a hotel.”

“Yeah, nothing unusual. What’s it about?”

“He was holding hands with my ex! She’s probably half his age.”

“Chris, as you said, EX. Ex equals to the past. You are no longer her boyfriend. She can be with whomever she wants. She can sleep with anyone she wants. It’s her life.”

“Elly, I mean...She’s with your uncle. So much older, my gosh!”

“Chris, it’s her life.”

“Isn’t your uncle married?”

“Yes, he is and still is.”

“You are ok with him cheating with a much younger babe?”

“My family knew about his affairs. His wife knew. Wanted to divorce him but not now.”

“Why not?”

“For the children, I guessed. I am not sure why exactly. He had been doing this for years. That’s no secret.”

“I am pissed that Kayla gave me all the reasons for the breakup. I thought it’s about the two of us. Now, this jerk is the one.”

“Chris, maybe there were already problems in your relationship. My uncle happened to be the charming guy who appeared in her life. All I can say is that he treats his family and me well. He’s not evil. You know, a successful man with a collection of cars, houses, and women. Let it be. You can’t change anything.”

“Hmm...let it be...let it be. Yeah, I can do better. Thanks, Elly. Cya someday in Sicara.”

He placed the Beatles vinyl on his player and belted out the song, “Let It Be”.

“Let it be. Let it be.

Let it be. Let it be.

Yeah, there will be an answer. Let it be.”

The words resonated with him.

After the song ended, Chris looked at the entries in his calendar for the month of January and December. There were only 2 more significant events. One was Christmas and the other was the break-up.

25 December 2018 (Tuesday)

He had an all-boys date at his apartment for a gaming day. He even invited his housemate, Paul. Surprisingly, Paul agreed to join Chris and his mates, Viknesh and Tom.

They came over to the apartment in the afternoon and started gaming.

Viknesh: “Chris, look at us. A bunch of lonely and poor single men gathering in the virtual world. Tragic, isn’t it?”

Paul: “No, nothing’s wrong. You don’t need someone to complete you and all those kinds of bullshit. I can do so much more without hindrance from another person.”

Viknesh: “Look who’s talking...A nerd with no name. Chris, I have an idea.”

Chris looked at him and began to recall what happened that day.

Viknesh took out his phone and made a call.

“Sis, how many of you are there?”

“Alright, come over. What say you? I’ll text you the address.”

By the evening, the apartment had 4 other young women. Viknesh’s sister was in town for the week. She was here with 3 other friends. They were all staying at Viknesh’s house for a week. The 8 of them were eating pizzas, drinking, gaming, and playing some drinking games through the night. All of them were dead drunk at the end of the day.

The next day, Chris was perfectly sober because it was Christmas eve. Again, the days moved in regression.

15 December 2018 (Saturday)

Mikhayla had booked Chris’s favourite restaurant for date night on this day. He remembered this day very clearly. In his previous world, he left the place heartbroken. Sobbing at home that night.

The couple was having the last course of the meal and Mikhayla broached the subject.

“Chris, you are really wonderful. For the past year...”

“Stop Kayla. I know what you are gonna say. Let’s break up. We could still be friends. Keep it that way. We will find someone better. Thanks for the dinner. Bye.”

Chris gave her a genuine smile and walked out of the restaurant.

Mikhayla was shocked. She did not expect this. She had not even finished her story. Chris is a sentimental guy. She would have expected him to be utterly heartbroken but he simply walked away.

“How did he know what I am going to say?”

Befuddled, Mikhayla paid the bill and left. This would always be a mystery to her.

Chris was totally nonchalant about it. Time healed his broken heart. As the song goes in his lead, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be...

Less than a month to go before revelation sets in. Where will this time travel journey take him?