AUGUST 14, 2022
Zayn was lost in the timeline. He somehow knew it was 2022, the air was different and the calender in his classroom showed so. He was the only one who went to his college today, all his brothers and sisters were at home.
He was perplexed, but he maintained his composure for the whole day unlike Cassandra. Still, he was shaken up by the time lapse and him travelling to the past because of the computer. He was most worried about Cassandra.
He wanted to go back home, confirm that he sees Cassandra again. The Cassandra from his timeline that is.
Although, when he first appeared at the corridor, suddenly spawning out of nowhere and none took the observation, he ran into the washroom and hid in one of the cubicles.
He was swinging his body back and forth, thinking how he got into this new skin of his. This was supposed to be Zayn. He somehow looked exactly like his old self. Was he really Nick’s son if this happened?
How could he resemble his dead adopted brother this well?
Except for the skin tone and a few freckles on previous Zayn’s face, Professor Zayn was way too fair because of his mother’s genes and had no freckles. Also, the body structure was a bit bulky, same aged for Professor Zayn.
Suddenly, he shrieks when a letter was slipped through under the cubicle. It was written in bright red. He didn’t even want to touch it. His skin turned pale and yellow, fight draining his blood.
“Calm down, please. I am a messenger of God. I am here to guide you and Cassandra to change your fates.” Says the so called ‘messenger’.
If it wasn’t for the text on the letter changing itself, Zayn would have easily thought it was a well devised fuckery of some of the naughty boys around.
He opens the letter on the command.
“Oh…” grief engulfs him. The tragic deaths of the Johnsons scared him and a will of fire burned in him.
“I’ll save them. No matter what. If this affects my timeline…” he was thinking way too hard. However, his thoughts were answered once he looked down on the letter again.
“Do not worry, helper. Your timeline shall remain unaffected. Your relatives shall be alive, with the least changes in your timeline.” Says the letter.
Oh, how good it felt to know that his relatives won’t die and they all shall live. But… aren’t they all reincarnated?
Does that mean…
“You are way ahead of your time. You must really like reading and learning about concepts of rebirth.” The letter read as Zayn gives himself a proud smile to himself.
He found this mission entertaining.
The old playful Professor Zayn was back.
….
The college ends at three in the evening as Zayn rushes towards the house he remembers. Johnson estate, was it?
He was wrong.
It was not his brothers’ mansion but of his father’s. In literal meaning, his Grandfather’s.
Zayn of the future was having a hard time believing what he was seeing.
It was the legendary man in his lawn, watering his own plants while wearing a half tuxedo.
He scoffs at himself, his hand covering his mouth that hung ajar.
That was… his grandfather alive and in flesh.
“Young Master Zayn, do you wish to-”
“Yes! Yes…” he held tears in his eyes, hardly visible from a distance. The security opens the gates with the electronic press as he enters. Zayn wipes his tears away, blowing his snot into his collar.
“Grandpa!”
Shoot. Big mistake.
Framton Johnson takes the biggest offense in hearing his beloved son calling him an old geezer.
He sets his hose pipe on the ground and attaches his hands on his hips.
“Who’s a grandpa, you insolent-” Framton was an old man now. He was around 45 and his legs were weak. His blood related Grandchild flew in the air and tackled the old man as he yelps in pain.
“Boy you’re plotting something against me!” Sr. Johnson yells. Zayn was just way too happy to be there. To hug his grandpa he’s never seen except for a few lost pictures and reminiscing news articles.
“Sorry, sorry… I love you d-dad.” It felt weird for Zayn to call his grandfather as his dad. His dad was Nick, not Framton.
“I love you too, ugh my back. I have a meeting to attend.” Zayn gasps.
“B-but…” he couldn’t say his feelings out. Framton jumps his eyebrow up, sighing.
“You want to spend time with your grandpa, eh?” He guesses it so right.
Should Zayn accept it or deny it?
“Alright. Let me call my assistant.” Framton smoothly caresses his hair. He loved his children so much…
The Zayn of future couldn’t help but become teary eyed through the loving gesture. His real father from future never showed him love. Only once that was, when he was dying.
Framton was turned away as he talked to his assistant with a husky voice. Zayn quietly sobbed his heart out in his palm. One sob slips out as his eyes widened.
“I’ll call you back, Spaniel.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll cancel your meeting.” Hearing that, Framton quickly stuffs his phone into his pocket.
“Zayn, what is bothering you my boy?” Framton was tightly embraced again. Zayn says,
“I- I missed you, dad. I missed you so much…” he keeps saying.
“My silly boy.” Framton kisses his son’s hair. There was nothing more devastating than knowing his son misses him. He misses him so much he comes home running while crying, wailing and sobbing like this.
“Alright! Let’s go home to your brothers, okay? It’s been a while since we all had a family night together.” Admits Framton.
Zayn realises he now had no clue what and where his house is. It appears as though all the brothers with their sister live in one big mansion for themselves. However, Zayn asks his grandpa a personal request.
“But… dad, I want to spend some time with you first. We will go to them later.”
“Alright, son. We shall leave tomorrow. Do bunk your classes once or twice.” Framton says, keeping in mind how studious two of his kids were: The other one being Nick.
Zayn happily followd Framton as they spend the best quality time Zayn ever had in his lifetime.
He falls asleep on his grandfather’s chest while mumbling…. “I love you, grandpa… I love you…”