Part 22 — That Is Why

"10 dollars."

"Absolutely not."

"50?"

"No."

"100."

"Tempting, but still no."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Hmm...wait, yes there is! You could tell us why you're being paranoid for no reason...unless there is a reason, and you want to tell us why," Xin said. Both she and Azyra had Zap's arms pinned to the wall, while Momoko stood ready incase anything happened.

"Honestly..." Zap looked down. "If I could bring those two people that talked to me and have them tell you what they told me, I wouldn't have an issue..."

"You can't remember what they said?"

"Uh..." Zap was searching through his mind when a large force struck, causing him to get a clear flashback:

"You remember me saying that not all went as planned. Do not look this over. Just becase all is well doesn't mean you're happy, does it now?"

"He's saying that one of the things that didn't go as planned may be the most important thing to you," the younger Zap said. "He's warning you to take all measures to make sure that that doesn't happen. Keep close to you what you love most. Don't let the past repeat itself!"

When Zap looked up at Xin, he was given a look of question. "Don't let the past repeat itself?"

Zap imagined a nuke exploding in his mind. "Did I, um, recite all of that aloud?"

"You sure as hell did. In two different voices, too, not counting your own voice in this little section."

"Well...I guess my wish did come true. They told you, not me."

"Alright," Xin said, clearing her throat. "We are friends."

"Yeah, did you just figure that out?"

"If you're going to keep close to you what you love most, you are not going to keep me close to you. Understand?"

"Fuck that, I'll use the rice cooker as a backpack."

"Yeah, do that instead." With all her questions answered, she let go of Zap's arm and walked out of the room.

Azyra looked at him. "Well then. That was quite the interesting young voice there."

"Be quiet and exit my room please, ma'am," he said, in a sarcastically polite voice.

"As you wish, sir," she replied in the same tone, exiting the room with Momoko.