The morning sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Liam's apartment cast a warm glow over the luxurious space. The hardwood flooring, polished to a high shine, reflected the light, while the dark walls provided a sophisticated backdrop for the elegant mahogany wood furniture.
Outside, the sky was a brilliant blue, with just a few wispy clouds drifting lazily across it. The sun shone down, casting a warm glow over the city and illuminating the towering skyscrapers that rose from the streets below. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees in the park across the street, creating a soft, soothing background noise.
Inside, the apartment was quiet, except for the barely audible sounds of the city filtering in through the windows. The distant hum of traffic, the wail of a siren in the distance, and the muted chatter of pedestrians on the sidewalk below all blended to create a soft, constant background noise.
Shelves lined one wall, stacked high with medical books and journals, a testament to Liam's dedication to his profession. In contrast, a hydroponic garden on the kitchen counter added a touch of greenery to the space, with fresh herbs and lettuce leaves sprouting from the soil. Microgreens grew on the counter. He was sprouting his bean sprouts. Liam had changed, and he was starting to remind her of herself.
The walls were adorned with a mix of framed science fiction movie posters and a stunning painting by Selena, its vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes adding a pop of personality to the room. The apartment was the clash between a younger man and a mature man, as the things in it had changed.
His gaming consoles and controllers had been mysteriously packed up, along with the large library of games, and replaced with a bunch of interesting board games, Chess, and a Go set. Liam's musical tastes had undergone a significant transformation during the 3 years since she had last been in one of his apartments. His collection, neatly organized in the nearby music cabinet, now included an eclectic mix of new blues, jazz, and classical music. It was clear that he had developed a passion for high-quality sound, becoming an audiophile in his own right.
Selena couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity, having read about Liam's interests in her past life. As a famous figure in the Hubs, it was only natural to be curious about his life and passions. What struck her, however, was how Liam's personality was evolving to align with his older self. It was a relief to have someone who shared her level of knowledge and taste.
The music of the 2010s, in Selena's opinion, was somewhat bleak. But he used to listen to it. She remembered vividly, due to her sheer dislike of the music, that he enjoyed it. He used to wear these obnoxiously loud headphones.
She could hear the whiny music in her lab when he would connect it up to the computer speakers in the Lab. Could someone's taste change and evolve that quickly? Was he traumatized and grew up while she was in the hospital? His MP3 player was covered in dust and sitting near the door.
Seeing Liam's Go set, however, was a jarring reminder of his past life announcements on the importance of creativity in entertainment. He had always emphasized that with a little imagination, one could create something truly special using everyday objects.
All you needed to create your own Go set was a piece of cardboard, some stones or beads, and a little bit of imagination. Liam had often said that the beauty of Go lay in its simplicity, and that with just a few basic materials, anyone could create their own set and start playing. It was a philosophy that resonated deeply with Selena, who had grown up in a poor household and lived in poverty in her past life. It also kept the kids busy.
In a world where resources were scarce and entertainment options were limited, Liam had tried to help his brother keep order. There was very little to go around, and people were desperate for distractions from the hardships of their daily lives. Liam's efforts to create entertainment with what little they had were a beacon of hope in a bleak world.
Liam and Selena sat at the kitchen table, sipping their coffee and enjoying a quiet breakfast together. Selena, on her first day back to work after her ordeal, looked a bit pale but determined, her dark hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail.
She was dressed in a crisp, black blouse with a tailored fit, its delicate lace trim peeking out from beneath the hem. Her black pencil skirt hugged her curves in all the right places, its knee-length hem falling just above her black heels. She wore her locket openly now, the treasure that held memories of her dead other mother, Molly. She had engraved Eun Ho's picture on the other side. The SD card had been updated with pictures of her family and friends; it had changed and been upgraded with the times. A slim, silver watch glinted on her wrist, adding a touch of understated elegance to her outfit.
Before them, Liam had laid out a sumptuous breakfast spread, complete with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and toasted croissants. The eggs were cooked to perfection, fluffy and light, and the bacon was crispy and smoky. The croissants, freshly baked, were flaky and buttery, and the aroma wafting from them was heavenly.
Selena's eyes widened as she took in the spread, and she smiled at Liam in appreciation. "Wow, you've really outdone yourself," she said, her voice filled with admiration. "You're a grown-up, Liam. A real, honest-to-goodness adult." It was quite the change. It seemed lived in, but the more recent additions puzzled her.
Liam's eyes widened as he reviewed Selena's post-doctoral research. The work was impeccable, and he was stunned by the depth of her knowledge and the clarity of her writing.
But what really caught his attention was the content of the essay. He had seen this before, but it was supposed to be published 13 years from now. The research, the conclusions, the references - everything was similar to what he had seen in the future, but this paper was much more refined and went further in depth. She had tracked the test animals for a year to ensure there were no problems.
Liam's mind was racing with questions. How was this possible? Has Selena somehow managed to access information from the future? Did she retain her A.A., as well? He knew he had to talk to Selena about this, but he was hesitant. He couldn't mention the future or A.A technology.
"Liam, what's wrong?" Selena asked, noticing the look of concern on his face. The information was correct. She had to ensure that what she did was replicable. You could not just submit anything.
Liam took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. "I just need to ask you something," he said, trying to sound casual. "Can you tell me more about your research? Specifically, where did you get your initial idea for this study?"
Selena looked at him curiously, but Liam could sense a hint of nervousness behind her eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Liam's eyes locked onto Selena's, and he could see the curiosity and confusion swirling in her gaze. He knew he had to tread carefully, or risk revealing too much.
"I must have seen something similar in a paper or presentation," Liam said, trying to sound nonchalant. "It's just really familiar, that's all."
Selena's expression softened, and she nodded. "I can see why you'd think that. I drew inspiration from a seminal 2006 paper I read. It was authored by a team in Japan. It was Takahashi,K and Takanawa,J. It should not be similar"