Page 11 of Time Loops & Meet Cutes
However, it occurs to me that there’s one way I can “prove” I’m repeating the day: I just need to show someone that I can predict the future.
I think back to the news I’ve read. There’s the TTC delay that I had the misfortune of experiencing. Also, a Canada goose flies into a power line in Scarborough later today, knocking out power for 7,500 people.
In the end, I don’t call or text anyone.
The next day, I eat moules-frites for lunch again, just because I can, though I stick to a single glass of wine rather than a whole bottle, hoping to avoid a headache. I don’t bother getting another haircut, but I do go to the bubble tea shop, and this time, I order something different. The Iron Goddess milk tea—apparently, it’s roasted oolong—with pearls.
It has nothing to do with the cute guy who came in and ordered the same thing the other day (err, the other June 20). Just figure I might as well try everything on the menu if I’m going to come here regularly.
It’s not like I care about cute guys, after all. I mean, they can be nice to look at, but that’s all they are for me. I’ve had my heart broken once, which was enough, thank you very much. The problem with love is that it’s painfully unpredictable. Emphasis on “painfully.”
I don’t deal well with strong emotions.
After placing his order, the smiling Asian man looks over at me. “Have we met before?”
It’s curious that I seem familiar to him, when nobody else has any recollection of my repeats of June 20. The first time it happened, I wanted to hug him, but now I just feel disconcerted.
I need to get out of this alternate reality. Now.
As I watch him walk out the door, bubble tea in hand, I wonder if a kiss would do it. After all, that sort of thing works in fairy tales. I could be like Sleeping Beauty or Snow White.
Hmm. Perhaps I should start Operation: Get Kissed.
JulyCam
As I’m waiting for my bubble tea, I do Wordle.
It’s “attic,” and I get it in five, which is longer than it usually takes me. I got it in two yesterday, but that was lucky.
“Here you go.” The woman slides my lychee tea across the counter, and I thank her.
This place isn’t quite as good as the one near my parents’ house. I last went there a couple of weeks ago, after having lunch with my family. This one is more convenient, though, located between my apartment and the brewery.
Since it’s a nice day, I amble outside and sit on the patio. It’s cooler than it’s been for the past week. Our air conditioner has been working overtime, and I’m not looking forward to seeing the bill. Today, finally, there’s a break in the heat and humidity, and I lean back in my chair and enjoy it. I hope the weather is like this for Darrell’s wedding next month. I’d prefer not to be sweating buckets while I’m wearing a tux.
Once I’ve finished my drink, I head back to work, stopping to talk to Justin before going to my office. It’s a bit of a mess—I need to clean it up—but I know where to find everything I need. I really would prefer to stay outside on a day like today, but alas, that’s not an option.
Maybe when I get home tonight, I’ll sit on the balcony with a can of our Corktown Hefeweizen.
6Noelle
June 20, Version 12
The idea that a kiss could get me out of this sounds too off-the-wall, but after another day of getting nowhere with endless Google searches—and even a trip to the library—I decide I shouldn’t put it off any longer. It sounds ridiculous, but no more so than my current reality. I have to trysomething. Besides, he thinks I look vaguely familiar. Though he doesn’t seem to be in a time loop like me, it could be a sign that he’s the key to getting out of this. I hope.
I debate what to wear for my trip to get bubble tea. My wardrobe isn’t meant for attracting anyone’s attention. I have casual clothes that I wear in my apartment, and simple work pants and blouses that I wear to the office. That’s pretty much it. I could, of course, go out and buy something, but I can’t order anything because it will never get here.
I feel completely out of my depth. I’ve only had one boyfriend. Dave and I met in our first year of university, though we didn’t get to know each other well until our final year. Then one night, we were studying late together…
I wince. Not that the start of our relationship is a badmemory, but when I think of Dave, I always recall how it ended, five years later.
“But why?” I asked him. “We were planning to move in together, and now you’re breaking up with me? I feel like I have whiplash.”
Once, Dave might have laughed if I made such a comment, but he didn’t. He just said, “I’m not in love with you anymore.”
“Butwhy?” I repeated. I wanted him to point to something in particular; I wanted to know exactly what the problem was so I could fix it. I wished it could be like a difficult question on an exam. If I’d studied hard and prepared for it, I could solve it.
Except people’s feelings don’t work that way, and my long-term relationship had gone up in smoke, even though, as far as I knew, nothing had started the fire.
