Hours later, Sunz was playing game on his laptop while Grace Alter was just floating and watching him play… then his door slowly slid open, and standing in the hallway was his dad.
Dad: Ahem!
Sunz: Oh, hi Dad. You *glance at the time on his laptop – 5:02 AM* wake up early, too early.
Dad: And did you stay up all night?
Sunz: Well, I did sleep a lot when I got home, so less than 10 hours.
Dad: Anyway, dressed up. We are meeting Miss Yan.
Sunz: Miss Yan?... The Fortune Teller?
Dad: That's right. Wear one of your slacks and a polo shirt, we'll be going in 15 minutes.
*close the door*
Grace Alter is lying on the floor: Wow, a Fortune Teller. Your family really follows tradition.
Sunz goes to his dresser to look for the clothes his father asked for, while Grace Alter slides around following him like a snake.
"I don't know. My family is weird, but. If having a Fortune Teller means I don't have to study like a goddamn genius, then I'll take it without question."
Grace Alter: Hmmm, Master. Why do you think your family is weird?
Sunz: That's just something I commonly said.
Grace Alter: Oh, well then.
She flies up and gets all up in Sunz's face, he jumped back in surprise because he thought that she was about to headbutt him, but she just lingered there and became transparent when their bodies collided.
"How much do you know about your parents?"
Sunz goes back to look for the clothes: You have all of my memories. I know what you know… found them!
Grace Alter: Stop being cheeky and answer the question.
Sunz starts undressing himself and putting on new clothes: Well, Dad stays at home and takes care of me while Mom works as an accountant. They each have their own motorcycle, but after the incident where my mom got robbed on her way back home and got a few scrapes here and there and a burn mark on her leg. Dad has been her driver since then.
Grace Alter: Wait What?! I don't remember that. When did it happen?
Sunz: When I was 6… I thought you had all my memories?
Grace Alter: I do, but I did not see all of them. I just have the core and basic information about you, Master.
Sunz: I guess that makes sense, since that event wasn't too concerning for them.
Grace Alter: What are you talking about? Your mother was injured by a bunch of thugs.
Sunz: Well, I do remember being mad and wanting to take revenge because they hurt my Mother. But neither of them was even mad about it, they just laughed it off while being quite annoyed about what had just happened. Anyway, different people would have different responses to that situation. I was young, so anger was my only response while my parents… I don't know what happened between them and their family in the past. But if I must guess, this event is just a nuisance compared to their past events.
Grace Alter: I… don't have any comment about this… is it bad? I'm your Servant, I should know how to respond to all types of situations.
Sunz: Well! Your personality is sexual desire, so it won't help much in this context. Also, it's a random event that happened 10 years ago, and we moved on. Plus, Mom enjoys having Dad drive her to work more than doing it herself. Well, I also prefer my Father driving to my Mother.
"Sitting behind her when she drives that motorcycle, I always fear for my life… but that's enough chatting. I have to go now… are you going to follow me around or anything else?
Grace Alter: Uhhh… probably something else. This is your family matter. I am a Servant that serves Master and Lady. I can only interact with events between you two, anything else is circumstantial. Anyway, that's the rule I'm playing with, so… Bye Master!
*phase out of existence*
Sunz: Hmm, she was great company… *checking around his room* ok everything is unplugged.
*get out of his room, then see his mother wearing a red dress and doing her makeup in the living room*
"Hi Mom."
Mom: Hi son.
Sunz:…
Mom:… *putting some cream on her face, then starts massaging it*
Sunz: Are you putting on makeup?
His mother just nods to his question.
Sunz:… (Dad must be getting the motorcycle out of the garage)
…
After a few minutes, she finished.
Mom: Ok, let's get out, your Father is waiting.
Both of them walked out of the door, then while his Mother was locking up the door.
Sunz: Was that your makeup routine, Mom?
Mom: Yeah, why are you asking? You want to have beautiful skin like your mother so you can impress some girls?
Sunz: No… definitely not, since it's such a hassle. Is your routine always that quick? That is why I'm asking.
Mom: Yeah, I just put on some moisturizing cream and sun cream to protect my skin.
*both walking to the garage*
Sunz: That's it? I thought you needed to put on lipstick, do the eyebrow stuff, and… what about the dust pad that you sometimes pomp pomp on your face?
Mom: Pomp pomp?... Are you talking about my compact? I used to use it a lot when you were younger, but now, after years of doing skin care, my skin got more beautiful… and to be honest, I also got lazier too. But I still use compact for important events.
"Your mother has to always look her best when she is outside."
Sunz: Huh…
Dad comes out of the garage with a red motorcycle with helmets hanging on the handle: What are you two talking about?
Mom grabs both of the helmets and gives Sunz one: Oh, your son is just asking about his mother's makeup routines.
Dad: You looking to impress some girls, son?
Sunz: I was just curious, that's all. Also, I don't really know much about you two, and we rarely talk about anything else other than my school life.
Dad: Looks like this trip to see Miss. Yan might become interesting. Our boy suddenly cares about his parents, when all he had done was talk back to us.
Sunz: I mean, life just got stranger, and I also don't know much about both of you besides the fact that you are my parents. You are, right?
Mom: Why are you asking me that? You were really eager to come out of my womb. You came out screaming three weeks early.
Dad gets on the motorcycle and starts the engine: Get on, then continue your conversation on the way.
All three of them are wearing helmets. Sunz climbs on the motorcycle, then sits down with both legs hugging each side of the motorcycle, and his arms hug his father tight. Then his mother gets on with both legs on one side, one crosses over the other, and one of her hands hugging her husband's hip while the other holds on to Sunz.
Sunz is sandwiched between the two of them: It's been a while since we all traveled like this.
Mom: You are not being suffocated, right son?
Sunz: I'm ok, also if I'm not being squeezed between you two, you might fall off the motorcycle, Mom?
Dad: Ok, hang tight, time to go.
…
Cruising down the dark street, being lit up by the headlights of the motorcycle along with the flickering streetlights. The wind brushes against his arms, then his body, whenever they turn a corner. The light banters between his parents while he sat there listening… treating him like he is invisible… all of this… is too normal for him, just like his daily life, but the normality is too much that it makes him fall asleep, burying his face in his father's back…
That moment lasted for only 10 minutes before he was shaken awake by his mother.
Mom: Wake up. Wake up…
Sunz: Uh… yeah? We? Here?
Mom gets off the motorcycle and makes sure Sunz gets down safely: Here we go… good boy! You can go back to sleep once we are home.
Sunz: I'm good, Mom. I'm not that sleepy. *look at the building in front of him* wait, are we going straight to your Fortune Teller house? I thought we were going to their shop.
Mom: Well, her shop is her house. Simple as that.
In front of them is a house as big as their house, but with a large garage to the side and a huge garden with colorful flowers in front of the house. While Sunz was standing there observing the place, his mother pulled out her phone and called someone.
…
…
…
Mom: Strange, she should have answered.
Sunz: Mom, it's like 5:30 right now, everyone is probably still sleeping.
Mom: Maybe, but I already gave her a heads-up.
Sunz: I guess we'll just wait.
…
Then suddenly Sunz heard the sound of footsteps around him, his body tensed up trying to locate the exact location. While he was in alert mode, his parents didn't notice anything, both of them were on their phones. Then, the streetlight above them suddenly went dark, and the footsteps were getting closer.
Mom: Honey, can you shine the flashlight on your phone at our son? I don't want him to start panicking over his fear of the dark.
Dad: Ok, my Serpent.
Sunz (Serpent? Is that what Dad calls Mom other than Honey… I guess that makes sense since she was born in the year of the snake.) lost in his thought, and ignored everything currently happening around him for a few seconds after the strange event between his parents. Immediately jumped backward, bumping into his mother after the light shone on him and revealing a grandma in a very old-fashioned outfit standing where he was.
His mother held onto his shoulders to calm him down and to present him to the grandma: Hi Miss Yan. Funny seeing you out here at this hour.
Grandma Yan: Funny? You called me in the middle of the night just to inform me that your… what is your name, child?
Sunz frantically looking around: Me? Uhhh?
Grandma Yan: Do you need a reminder, child? Your mother's name is Máfan, your father's name is Túlǐ, and you?
Sunz: Uhh… it's Sunz?
Grandma Yan stares at him with disappointment in her eyes: Máfan, you're sure your son here can make his own decision? He doesn't even believe his name is Sunz.
Mom-Máfan: I'm *giggle* not sure what is wrong with him right now.
Dad-Túlǐ: Sorry about him, Miss Yan. Our boy is quite shy when meeting new people, and he has never interacted with anyone like you before.
Grandma Yan: Just called me old, no need to be fancy with your words. I'm in my 70s or 80s, but who keeps count, anyway let's head inside and continue the conversation there.
Miss Yan led the family toward the garage. As they walked, the garage door automatically opened and revealed a big empty garage fill with nothing but can fit approximately 10 motorcycles or 3 – 4 cars.
Grandma Yan: Túlǐ, leave your bike here, then close the door. I'll take the other two inside first. And remember, leave your shoes outside the door.
Being led into the main house through the side door inside the garage, Sunz has an extremely uncomfortable feeling running all over his body, one that he has never felt before. But once he stepped inside, that feeling was lessening, and the further he went in, his body was piqued with curiosity.
An unknown house that he has never stepped into before suddenly makes him feel like he is at home, despite the extreme differences in the decor, less of a house and more like those shops down in Chinatown.
Grandma Yan: So child, you like my house?
Sunz: Yes, very much so… also, Miss Yan? What were you doing outside at this hour?
Grandma Yan: Call me Grandma or Granny. Can you do that for me, child?
Sunz: Sure…Grandma… is that better?
Grandma Yan: Better. What was I doing? I was simply doing my morning walk.
Sunz: Morning walk? It's still dark outside.
Grandma Yan: Your mother asked for an early session for you, so I might as well get my morning walk out of the way.
Sunz: I am so sorry about this. I thought she would book later in the day. Well, I didn't know she would book immediately, and I didn't know that my mother had a Fortune Teller. I also don't remember meeting you at all, Granny. Even though you gave me a fortune-telling before.
Grandma Yan: Hmm… you are talking about that session, which makes sense since you were only three. You suddenly found out you have a special ability that is not specified enough, then your mother took you here for a more detailed examination and to see how your future will progress with that unknown ability.
"Also, do not blame your mother too much. I was the one who asked for you to come early."
Sunz: Wait what? Why and for what reason? Wait, those two are the same thing, uh, just why?
Grandma Yan: I see that you are still the same, quick with the mouth, not with the brain. But it's nice to see that you are all grown up, my Little Treasure.
Sunz (???): Mom, why is Grandma Yan calling me her treasure? Are you selling me?
Mom-Máfan: Don't be ridiculous, we're not selling you to her. Also, you are worthless to other Chinese families.
Sunz: Well… I can't really argue with that. Let me guess. Did you use to take care of me, Grandma Yan?
Grandma Yan: At least you are smarter than before. You still asking a lot of questions about random topics?
Sunz: Yes… wait a minute, I need to get more information from this. You used to take care of me, and how long?
Grandma Yan: Before you went to school, and quite often since your parents were quite busy.
Sunz: Mom, did you not send me to daycare?
Mom-Máfan: We did, until the food poisoning event, which made you sick for a week, so we pulled out immediately. Then she showed up without a warning and offered to help.
Sunz: How?
Grandma Yan: I'm a Fortune Teller, so I know when my clients are in distress. Also, I have experience as a nanny, and I offered to do it for free too.
Sunz: Oh, for free.
Grandma Yan: Also, you are a kid with an ability that is unknown. Anyone else besides a Psychic or a Fortune Teller would be dead, along with the house and the neighborhood.
Sunz: Ok, that makes a lot of sense, but babysitting a ticking time bomb for free is odd. What did my parents give you? And how did I not remember you at all?
Grandma Yan: One less customer wouldn't change my wealth, and I'm old without any kids and grandkids. So, when an opportunity to feel like a grandma showed up, I just took it.
*turn to face Sunz and ruffle his hair*
"And I must say it is satisfied to see my Little Treasure grow up so much. Now, take a better look at your grandma and tell her if you remember anything."
Sunz takes a good look at her to see if any of his memories trigger.
After a few minutes, Sunz's father caught up with them and questioned what was happening in the middle of this house hallway.
Dad-Túlǐ whispers: Honey, what is he doing?
Mom-Máfan whispers: Miss Yan is trying to have him remember her.
Dad and Mom (Of course he wouldn't remember her, she looks too different.) both holding their laughter.
…
Sunz: Ughhh, sorry Grandma… I can't find anything. I'll try better when I get home.
Grandma Yan just laughed at Sunz: Don't worry too much about it and besides.
*perform many quick hand signs and reveal a picture in between her fingers*
This is what I used to look like when I was babysitting you.
Sunz takes the picture and looks at it, then looks back at Grandma Yan. In the picture is a beautiful woman with long black hair wearing the same exact outfit Grandma Yan is wearing right now, and next to her is a child biting a wooden sword.
(Really? That's her in her 50s or 60s… ok?)
"Ok… no, not remember anything at all. Also, is this really you, Grandma? Your appearance is quite young for someone in their 50s or 60s."
Grandma Yan: Of course that's me. I was still in my prime, then I retired and did fortune-telling for fun. The wrinkly grandma look is really popular among the young generation, some say it makes me more trustworthy, while others say that it sets up the atmosphere.
Sunz: Ok… *look at his mother then turn back*
Mom-Máfan: Why are you looking at me?
Sunz: Grandma, were you as tall as my mother, because there is no way you were as tall as me right now?
Grandma Yan: That's right, my body shrinks as I age. So, do you think I was beautiful back then?
Sunz: It's ok, but I think you look better now. Your old self just has too much makeup and is so white, like a ghost. The wrinkles sometimes do make you look better.
Grandma Yan: Huh… are you sure you are Sunz?
Sunz: Yes… what with the weird question?
Grandma Yan: Aren't you supposed to be the most uncharming boy, according to your teacher? And here you are throwing compliments at an old lady like me.
Sunz: Compliments? I just said my own opinion.
Grandma Yan: Really? Máfan, do you also think it strange for him to say those words?
Mom-Máfan: Well, not really. He has always been honest with his words. I also got the "your present self looked better than your old self." opinion from him before.
Grandma Yan: Well then, it seems he's just into older women, I guess.
Sunz (Wait, what? It's just an opinion.)
Grandma Yan: That's enough catching up with my Little Treasure, you three can wait in here while I'm setting up for the ritual.
Sunz: Wait what is here? The room we are standing in?
Grandma Yan: Yeah, the living room. You have questions?
Sunz: We've been passing through this room a few times already. Does your house have a circular hallway?
Grandma Yan: Yes, good eyes.
Sunz: Interesting interior design, I guess… sorry for the weird question, I'm preventing you from doing your work, sorry.
Grandma Yan: Don't worry, Treasure! It's been a long time since I last heard or saw you, but despite all growing up, you are still the same. Make yourself comfortable, everyone. I'll be back in a bit.
*leave*
…
Sunz: That was so nerve-wracking. Why didn't you both tell me anything about her?
Mom-Máfan: We just think it would be funny to see how you would interact with her after such a long time.
Dad-Túlǐ: And you did very well, despite the nerves and not remembering her at all. Your mind may not remember her, but your heart does. You don't go around and tell people that their younger self looked worse than the older version. Unless you are comfortable with them.
Sunz: Well… I don't know ok. She asked for my opinion, and I said it. Like she said, my mouth is still faster than my brain.