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Ming sat in silence, his mind pierced by unease. The Master had asked him to meditate, claiming that only through meditation would Ming find the answers to all his questions. "Joe is gone..." he repeated in his mind, feeling the emptiness left in his life. Although he knew that meditation wasn’t the solution, he decided to give it a try. If it could help him regain what he had lost, he was willing to do anything.
"Focus," he whispered to himself, closing his eyes. Every breath, every second of silence seemed like a slow descent into darkness. The Master had said that the mind should be free, but Ming couldn’t escape thoughts of Joe. Then, he felt his consciousness begin to separate from his body, as though it was leaving his form. And suddenly... he was transported.
His mind jumped to the past, to the body he had inhabited more than two years ago. He felt younger, full of energy, but something was wrong. He knew he couldn’t remain in this body for too long. "This is just a brief journey," he told himself. He had to be careful. He couldn’t interfere too much with the past. But he was determined to change its course, even if only slightly.
On the first day, after returning to his body, Ming felt an odd sense of determination. He knew there was no time to waste. He sat at his desk and picked up his phone. He typed the first message.
"It was Joe. He played instead of Tong in that movie."
He read it, sent it, and then closed his eyes, feeling his consciousness return to the present. He had the sensation that something had changed, though he still didn’t know how deeply he could influence the course of events. Over the next few days, he repeated the process.
On the second day, after another meditative return to the past, Ming sent the next message.
"Don’t trust Tong."
He knew he couldn’t ignore this person. Tong was a threat. He had to do everything in his power to keep Joe safe, to prevent what was coming from taking him away forever. After a few minutes, he felt his consciousness shift back again.
On the third day, Ming felt more resolute. He reached for his phone, still in the past, and sent another message.
"You love Joe. Just admit it."
He knew this would be difficult. For himself, for Joe, but also for the world they had built around themselves. But he had to do it. He had to admit it to himself in order to regain what he had lost.
On the fourth day, when Ming meditated again, he sent a message that was even more personal.
"Don’t hurt him. He doesn’t deserve to be treated badly."
These words felt like a promise Ming wanted to fulfill. He knew Joe didn’t deserve what had happened to him. Every moment he could fix this was a precious one.
On the fifth day, Ming felt that his efforts were beginning to bear fruit. He sat down once more, his hands trembling as he typed the message.
"Don’t let May get involved with Tong."
He knew this wasn’t just about his personal feelings. It was about the future. Every small change at this moment could save Joe, ensure a future together.
On the sixth day, Ming felt he was nearing the end of this process. He was close to the moment that could truly change everything. He decided to send one last, most important message, hoping its impact would be strong enough.
"Tell your father you’re gay, it will be easier and quicker if he gets angry now."
These words were his final attempt to influence the future. He hoped that from now on, life would be simpler for him and Joe. After sending the message, Ming felt his consciousness return to the present.
Upon returning to his body, Ming opened his eyes, feeling anxious. Before he could gather his thoughts, he saw Joe sitting at the table with the Master, drinking tea. Joe looked completely different from before, as if something in him had changed. He was wearing the same clothes, but something in his eyes made Ming feel that everything had shifted.
When Joe noticed him, his face lit up with a smile.
"Are you done for today?" he asked, and Ming simply nodded.
Joe extended his hand towards him, and Ming, though surprised, took it. He felt his heart beat faster. Joe was no longer a stranger, no longer the same person who had disappeared from his life. Now he was close, right beside him.
"Great. Let’s go home," Joe said with a slight smile.
Ming felt something inside him break. He grabbed Joe's hand, unable to stop smiling. He felt that everything he had wanted was within reach. But this wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning of their journey together.
And though Ming knew not everything was finished yet, now he had hope. In the evening, when they sat together, Ming looked at Joe and felt that what he had done made sense. Maybe he couldn’t change everything, but he had done enough to make their future better.
And though he didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, he was ready to face it – together with Joe.