Comes morning, I woke up and joined pops and mom at breakfast.
"What were you doing at the hospital yesterday?" Dad asked, he had a grin on his face meaning he was on to me.
His question almost had me choke on my coffee.
I hastily placed my cup down before I looked him in the eyes.
"How did you know about that?" I asked.
"A little bird told me…" dad said.
"Bruh, you have too many birds…"
"I'm not your 'bruh'," he said.
"He could have probably been visiting a friend, just let it go," mom said.
"Something like that, a friend."
"Interesting friend you got there, Rembaldi Private institution isn't something that you can get to just because you have a cold, nor can anyone afford getting hospitalized there unless they're loaded…"
"Something like that…" I said.
"You're not doing anything shady, right Lucas?" Dad asked.
"Nope, don't worry about it. like I said, just visiting a friend." I said.
Just as I finished my words, my phone rang, it was Vivian.
"Give me a moment," I said and left the table.
"Did you see that?" mom asked in a hushed tone.
"Yep, Vivian was it?" Dad replied.
I was damn surprised at how they picked up the name from a single glance at my phone… but whatever…
"Hey, how is it going?" I asked as I made sure to keep my distance, my parent's love for gossip isn't a laughing matter.
"Good morning, Lucas…" came the reply, though a bit cold, it was normal for someone like her.
"Dad is asking to see you… again.," she said.
"Oh, I'll be on my way soon," I said.
"There is a car waiting for you outside your home," Vivian said.
I frowned at the fact that my privacy was being invaded.
"I'll come, when I'm done with breakfast with my family," I said.
After a moment's wait, probably out of shock from having been refused she said, "You know that the man waiting for you doesn't have much time."
"None of us has much time anyway, that's exactly the reason I'm trying my best to enjoy the precious little time I have left. You wouldn't understand, not now at least. I'll come when I'm done with breakfast and that's final." I firmly spoke.
I could hear a humph from the other side of the phone, a frustrated reaction to being told to wait, but I'm not about to go running like a puppy every time I'm being called. It took me a lifetime's worth of effort, death, pain and struggle to get back to this table, like hell if I were to even waste a moment of this time for something that can wait.
Even if it's the request of one of the richest men in the world, family comes first. Above all.
I went back to the table and resumed my breakfast.
"There is a car waiting outside…" dad said as he nodded towards the window with his head.
"Just ignore it for now," I said.
"That's a pretty expensive car… probably belongs to someone pretty important," Dad added.
"Not as important as spending time with you guys, so he can wait," I said.
"You're a good lad… you matured," Dad said.
"It happens," I said and we continued talking about all random stuff.
The only reason I had to go to the car after was that my father had to go to work and mum had to start cleaning up the house. So, I regrettably stood and left the house.
The car's back door opened up for me and I walked in.
Soon the car arrived at the hospital and I moved until I was inside John Dilbert's room.
Vanessa was there, with a brand new set of pretty expensive-looking clothes. Her dad was already dressed in a full tuxedo and was buttoning the last one on his vest.
"Hey," I said as I entered.
The man, feeble, old, and wrinkly was no more, instead, there was a healthy-looking middle-aged man in front of me, with more meat on his face than yesterday.
His cheeks were no longer sunken, and his whole stature exuded confidence enough to challenge the world.
"You know…today, I could finally believe you," John said as he adjusted his tie and looked me in the eyes.
"I guess the potion was proof enough," I said.
"No, not by a long shot," He said.
To which I was surprised.
"Then how come you don't believe a miracle potion that restored your body, rebuilt your flesh, and bones, and believe that something else was proof that I was telling the truth?" I asked.
"It's your answer to my daughter over the phone." He said.
"I don't get it," I said.
The man smiled and said, "Do you know how much I am worth?" he asked.
"I dunno, probably a few billion dollars…" I shrugged.
"A few billion dollars is a huge understatement, but yes, something like that. And do you know what's my greatest wish?" he asked.
"Ah…that I know, and I think I'm starting to get what you're going for," I said.
"Oh, please do tell me…"
"You told me once that you'd give everything you ever had, everything you ever owned for a chance to see your daughter once more… but that's because… well you know, I told you yesterday…"
"He told you what?" Vivian asked.
"He told me that you're going to die," he dad said.
"Could you be any blunter? The heck man, now she'll think I'm weird…" I said.
"I'll die? How? What are you guys talking about?" she asked.
"I'll explain later," her dad said.
You better explain… god damn it.
"So I suppose now…" I said, "You'd give all you have for a chance at sitting with your family, parents, once again." I said.
"Yes. And won't hesitate for a second. Today, you proved that you truly did come from the future." Dilbert said with a smile on his face.
"Huh? Future? What kind of lie did you tell my dad, and he looks completely hooked on it? future? Dad, I think you still need to get checked up."
"Please Vivian." Her dad said.
And she quieted down but was still giving me the 'eye'.
Damn this is gonna be annoying to explain, but I'd let him finish.
"Most, if not all of the people I know would come running to my beck and call like you saw yesterday and today, they're grouped up at the door waiting to 'congratulate' me for my recovery and be the teacher's pet. I don't like that, I never did. You on the other hand adamantly refused me, to stay with your family, a young man your age, a teenager, would definitely not have the same reaction as you did. You're older. Not in body, but in mind,"
"I've seen the worst, and come to appreciate the little things I have. Having a chance to see my parents again, sitting with them, and this time, being with them when it happens, and protecting them is the greatest gift I've gotten since I've been sent back. and I won't let anything take that away from me, not even God himself." I said.
"Good. Now that I've decided to trust you, I'll have to share some things with you but I'll need you to share some things with me too." He said.
"I suppose that will require a lot of paperwork," I said.
"Indeed, I have a few contracts already prepared," he said.
I shook my head, "No written contracts," I said.
"Oh, why not?" he asked.
"Law will be a very flimsy thing a few weeks from now on, how can a contract be upheld if it's written based on a world of peace when the world turns upside down?" I said.
"You guys are scaring me…" she said.
"It's okay Vivian… right?" he said.
"Yeah, you guys don't need to worry about anything."
"Then, back to our point, how do we uphold a deal? Shaking on it seems less plausible…" he said.
"I might have to disagree on that one, do you have the contract on you?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Can I have it?" I asked.
He then went to one of the drawers and pulled it, taking out a thick-looking contract from it.
"I picked it up and said, "Misha, begin contract verification and explanation."
Suddenly, the papers in my hand disappeared and I closed my eyes for a second.
I nodded a few times before I spoke, "There are a few terms I'm not very fond of." I said, "Also a few loopholes that are very exploitable you wouldn't mind me adjusting some of it?" I asked.
"But… you haven't read it yet," he said.
"Oh, I already did. I said, try it yourself, Contract!" I spoke and the contract appeared in my hand again.
"How do you do that?" he asked.
"Say this; Massive Intelligent System of Aid and Assistance, Begin Contract Verification and Explanation," I said
The old man did the same and was stunned as information began pouring into his mind.
"You already changed some of the terms… and it's looking more solid right now…" he said. "But what was that?"
"That's what you called a party trick yesterday. Anyway, the TLDR, is basically we work together when or if the world turns apocalyptic if nothing happens I get a fat paycheck for the potion and we part ways, but if we're partners, I'd like a few shares in your company and the right to a couple of buildings…"
"Seems simple enough, your terms don't seem too overbearing. But now what?" he asked.
"Now I'll ask Mishaa to approve the contract, however… there is a risk in using Mishaaa to validate our contracts." I said.
"What might that be?"
"Well, breaking the contract is instant death, I hope you're okay with that," I said smiling.
"Ah… no problem, in fact I think with your knowledge, it's worth it." he said.
"Good, Mishaaa, I approve of the contract. Setting Contract of Equals," I said.
A notification appeared In front of me to finalize my acceptance of the contract.
"What's this contract of Equals?" he asked.
"There are several types of contracts, a contract of equals allows the two to void the contract if the two of them wish it at any point, a Contract of Advantage will only allow only one person to break a contract if they're the advantaged person, however…" I said.
"Oh, that's more like a slave contract."
"Yes, those are very bad, thankfully they cannot be forced on anyone unless someone accepts it with their on will. For example, taking a family member hostage in order to get an Advantage contract will never be possible."
"Who would ever sign such a contract then?" John asked.
"A lot will, you'll see it later down the line, anyway whenever you're ready, also just so you're heart is at ease, you can ask Mishaaa to explain more about contracts," I said.
Though I regretted that a bit later, once John understood that he too could contact Mishaa, he began asking her all sorts of questions, making this contract signing take too much time.
It took about an hour before he finished, thankfully Mishaaa wasn't fully awake otherwise we'd be here all day.
"Contract Signed!" he said.
"Good, now we're in business," I said.
"Yes, however, I have a few things to take care of as I just woke up. I'll call you later so we can finish up with the rest of this," he said.
"Yeah, I need to get to Uni anyway," I said.
"You seem interested in studying even at these times, I'm curious about that," he said.
"Oh, not education I have a few friends I need to recruit for what is to come, don't worry about it."
"You're making me not worry about a lot of things," he said.
"That's how it should be." I said, "Now if you'll excuse me." I said and left the room.