"Do you want to know what it is?" she asked.

Yunlan shivered. Maybe his father was right, he really was irresponsible. What was he doing eating soup with a stranger? A thief?

She smiled, "I have no intention to hurt you, I wouldn't do it even if I could, I like you". She stared at him for a few seconds and then continued, "but I don't like the idea of going to prison. I know I broke your law, but I was hungry and I have no money. I know that's no excuse, but I was hoping we could make a deal"

"What kind of deal?"

"I show you my talent and you let me go free. I promise you it won't hurt you, I'm not that kind of person."

Yunlan knew he shouldn't, he had no doubt about his father's answer if he was here, but he wasn't, and Yunlan was curious.

Due to that familiarity that he felt around her, he believed her word that she wouldn't harm him.
He didn't want to give in so easily though, he wanted to look cool and smart, and tough like his father.
"Can you tell me what is your talent?" he asked her. "What would be my reward for letting you go?"

She smiled again, she could see his interest, and then she said, "I can show you your future."

He didn't know what to say to that and she continued, "Of course not ALL of it, it would take too long, as I understand it you'll see bits of your future, you will see in your mind what your future self is seeing in various stages of your life, you will feel what the future you is feeling at that moment, but it will be like the shadow of a feeling, like a memory you could say."

The future? Yunlan was more and more tempted.
A wise man should decline her offer without second thoughts, but Yunlan was never one to resist temptations.

She saw it in his eyes that he wanted to do it, and only needed a little push.
She slowly raised her arms, hands open wide. "I have no weapons of any kind, you can check if you want."

She slowly unzipped her light jacket and took it off. He saw that she was wearing only a white top; she turned around so he could see her back too.
There was no way she could be hiding a weapon on her person, and Yunlan still had his gun, so he felt fairly secure.
She sat back down and extended her arms towards him.

"I need to hold your hand," she said, and like in a daze he put his right hand into both her own.
She had warm hands.

"You ready?" she asked, and he nodded.
His hand started cooling down. It became cold, and all of a sudden he didn't see the woman anymore. His eyes saw a grey mist that wasn't there, and he felt a sudden ache in his heart.

He saw everything as if he was there. He felt pain, crying next to his sturdy father, watching a grave. He felt warm, wearing a uniform looking at himself in the mirror.
One by one bits of his future life passed through his mind. He was entering a cinema along with a girl. Looking at a crime scene. Talking with other cops. Chasing criminals. Entering the SID office.
He saw his own black cat turning into a young man in front of his eyes.
He saw a man shaking his hand. A figure in black saving his life. He felt a weird emotion, like he was in the hands of an enemy but didn't care.
He was holding his father's - no, it felt like his own gun now- and shooting the same man from before.
That man again, who was he? - handing him a tea cup averting his gaze, then him again placing some food on the table in front of him.

The woman smiled relieved, the Guardian's son, the future Guardian, would have to face many hardships, but right now she saw Yunlan's blissful smile and she was glad of it.

The images went on, and also the emotions linked to them.
A feeling of guilt, looking at the man who now sat on a couch.
Confusion and suspicion, seeing the man from before coming towards him calling his name.
Failure, seeing a man and a woman's energy being drained in front of him.
He saw a man that seemed the same one from before being hit by something trying to protect him, feeling such unbearable pain knowing that it was his fault, that he screamed and the woman let go of his hand.

Even if it ended in tragedy, at least in the middle there was bliss, she thought, sighing deeply. Many people don't even have that.

"What happened?" Yunlan asked confused.
"Don't worry, your brain needs time to process it. You'll understand everything one day. Just know that what you saw cannot be changed, because if it never happened, then how could you see it just now?"

He looked like he was dizzy, and she went on,
"Go home, kid. Put back that weapon that doesn't belong to you, and don't think about what you saw tonight. If the future can't be changed, then why dwell on it? Just enjoy every blissful moment Fate has in store for you. I know there will be."
And with that, she ran out the door, as silently as if she was made of air.

Yunlan felt like he was still dreaming. He blew off the candles, walked out closing the door and headed towards home. He silently reached his own room, changed his clothes and went to sleep.
A dream, a very weird dream, that's how it felt to him, and like often happens with dreams, he woke up trying to catch back some elusive image before losing it.

Real life was calling him, and he didn't think about it anymore.