A/N:

Yay, double update... sort of! Throughout this story, I will be writing bonus chapters alongside the regular once-a-week updates, which will not be part of the main story (with irregular updates at random times of the week). Don't take this chapter too seriously, it's really silly (even more sillier than the usual chapters!) That said, I hope you enjoy! You have been warned!

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Bryden sits in front of his desk with a huff, tired of all his studying. He slams his fist over his desk and groans. “Screw it. I’m taking a nap. I’ll study again when I wake up.”

The genie laughs. “Mr. Stalling, you’ve only been staring at that book for a total of five minutes.”

“Yeah, five minutes wasted from my life! Just look at my beautiful face right now.” Bryden points to his face in exaggeration. “All this stress is getting to me so that I’m aging so much faster!”

The genie rolls his eyes. “I’m afraid that no matter how hard I try, that ego of yours will never go away.”

Before Bryden can come up with the appropriate retort, a buzzing sound comes from behind him. He darts his eyes behind him with a gasp. A blazing blue vortex opens up behind him, as if wanting to swallow his dorm room whole. A man with an uncanny resemblance to Bryden steps out of the vortex, confusion apparent on his face. Bryden gapes at the man. The man’s face is nearly identical to his, only slightly older. The vortex behind him closes, vanishing in an instant.

“Who—Who are you?!” Bryden stutters, pointing at the man. “Wh-What in the world was that thing?”

The man stares at him, furrowing his brows as he darts his eyes around the room. He rubs the back of his neck, chuckling nervously. “Um, yeah, it was probably a bad idea to just step into a random blue portal.”

Bryden stares at him, completely dumbfounded. “Why… Why do you look just like me? Only older.”

“I know right?” the man replies. “You look just like a carbon copy of me. Am I dreaming right now or did I actually time travel into the past?”

“Time travel?” Bryden laughs at that. “That’s not possible. I must have been so exhausted from all that studying that I either must’ve fallen asleep or I’ve started hallucinating.” Then he glances beside him at the genie, who is equally dumbfounded. “Then again, I thought the same thing about Genie.”

The man darts his eyes around the room. “Wow, is this my dorm back when I attended Maystone? Time really does pass—it’s been ten years since I graduated.”

“Wait, are you really me ten years from now?” Bryden gawks at him before whispering to the genie, “Hey, genie. Didn’t you say that time travel was impossible?”

“I do recall that it was not possible for one to wish to time travel to the past or the future,” the genie answers. “But the question of whether or not time travel is actually possible… I cannot answer that. Judging from the striking resemblance this man shares with you, perhaps it truly is possible.”

“Wow.” Bryden gasps in awe. “Am I dreaming right now?”

“I am a genie and do not require sleep, so I cannot dream,” the genie tells him. “This is real.”

Future Bryden steps forward and grins awkwardly at Bryden. “So you’re really me from ten years ago. Nice to see you, little Bryden.”

“Ten years in the future…” Bryden presses a finger to his lips, furrowing his brows. “That means you must be thirty-two?”

“Correct,” Future Bryden nods.

“I’m shocked that you have the ability to do arithmetic, Mr. Stalling,” the genie mocks.

“Cool,” Bryden grins, ignoring the genie’s derision. “Can I ask you something? Are you still as cool in the future as I am right now?”

“Of course,” Future Bryden grins back at him. “No matter how many years pass, we’re still Bryden Stalling, aren’t we?”

“Yes!” Bryden pumps his fists into the air. “Even in my thirties, I’m still so cool and awesome.” He glances at Future Bryden’s hand, and gasps when he sees the same exact amethyst ring as he has on right now. “H-Hey, why do you still have that ring…”

“Huh, oh this?” Future Bryden lifts his hand up with a warm smile. “I’m getting married.”

“Say what now? Why are you getting married with that ring of all other rings? Don’t tell me that even after ten years, the genie still hasn’t granted you any wishes.”

Future Bryden scratches the back of his head. “Well…”

Bryden’s eyes widen. “Wait, the genie still hasn’t granted you any wishes? Not even one?”

“Hey, about that—”

The genie laughs loudly. “Now, what did I say, Mr. Stalling? If you refuse to demonstrate any growth, I will not grant you any wishes, up until death.”

Bryden glares at him. “If I die without any wishes, then you’re going down with me!” He attempts to tackle the genie like the first time he met him, but Future Bryden pulls him away.

“Hey, little Bryden, you don’t need to resort to violence,” he scolds before offering an apologetic smile at the genie. “Sorry, genie. My younger self needs a little more self-restraint.”

The genie nods to him. “Thank you very much.” He turns to the angered Bryden on the ground before him. “I very much prefer this Mr. Stalling of the future. He seems to be a much more refined and mature gentleman than you. If this is your future, then I consider my mission to be accomplished.”

“Pah!” Bryden spits, rolling his eyes at Future Bryden. “I thought you said that you’re still as awesome as I am right now. How did you turn out to be this boring, lifeless, sentimental piece of crap?”

“Mr. Stalling!” the genie reprimands. “Is that any way to speak to your future self?”

“It’s fine,” Future Bryden assures. “I totally get it. It’s been ten years, so there’s no way that I’m exactly the same person as I was back then. Let’s just say that I grew up.”

Bryden huffs. “They do say that love changes a person. But what’s the point of love if it turns someone as cool as me into a sappy and boring person like you? Unless…” His eyes glitter at his future counterpart. “Unless it’s a hot girl. Say, who’s the lucky girl?” He stands up with a mischievous grin. “You did say you’re engaged.”

“Yeah, that’s true.” Sweat drips down the side of Future Bryden’s face. “I probably shouldn’t have said that.”

“Why?” Bryden demands. “Who’s the girl you’re marrying? I love dating girls, but even a player like me understands that one day, I’ve got to settle down for someone. Why won’t you tell me? My parents are convinced that I’m going to die alone. Now I can rest assured since future me is telling me otherwise.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you,” Future Bryden insists. “It’s just that… I’m afraid that you knowing would alter the events of the future. And… I’m afraid you might be surprised.”

“So what? Just tell me. Is it Jessica?” Bryden grins at him. “Did I finally win her over?”

Future Bryden bites his lip. “Well…”

“Come on, speak up! Did I not win her over? Did I at least manage to win over an even hotter girl?”

Future Bryden shuts his mouth, refusing to answer.

“Hey, answer me! I’m speaking to you right now!”

Future Bryden turns his back to him, mumbling to himself, “Come on, magical vortex thingy. Where are you when I need you?” He turns back to his younger self with a shaky smile. “Sorry, but I have to go now. My fiancé is waiting for me on the other side. Don’t want to be gone for too long!”

This only further angers Bryden. “Hey, if you try to leave, then I’m coming with you! I’ll go on over to the future and see which girl is lying in your bed!”

The vortex whips open, and another figure steps out of it—a tall, Asian man with a fringe hairstyle with bangs. His fair skin glows amidst the brightness of the vortex, which vanishes once again. He sweeps his hair behind him, with handsome eyes and a curious but charming smile.

Future Bryden sighs in relief at the sight of this man. “Oh, thank god.”

Bryden blushes, his heart thundering suddenly against his chest. Why… Why does this man look like someone taken out of a K-drama? Or one of those hot K-pop idols?

“Um, wh-who are you?” Bryden stutters, pointing at the man.

Future Bryden grins at him. “This, little Bryden, is Future Genie.”

This hits like a thunderbolt to Bryden’s heart. “Wait, WHAT?!”

Did I just call the genie hot?

Meanwhile, the genie’s eyes widen at his future counterpart. “Pardon me, but how is this pretty boy that bears no resemblance to me be me?”

Future Genie smiles at the two of them. “Hello, younger Bryden and my younger self.”

Bryden’s heart catches in his throat. “W-Wait, s-so n-no more ‘Mr. Stalling’?” He still can’t imagine how this attractive man is the same person as the genie beside him. Now that he thinks about it, their faces really are similar, but why does Future Genie look so much more attractive? And why does the Present Genie just look like an ordinary old man? Is it because of the hair?

The genie glances at Future Genie’s hand, where a thick, diamond-studded ring lies. “Where did you obtain that ring from?”

Bryden snaps out of it, his eyes darting to the ring on Future Genie’s hand. “Wait, are you engaged too? Are all of my friends engaged ten years from now?”

“Well, Rory and Jessica are married,” Future Genie replies simply.

Bryden gapes at him. “Say what now?!” With a heavy heart, he continues, “Rory… betrayed me? He married Jessica while knowing I was into her! What kind of a friend is that?!”

Sweat trickles down Future Bryden’s face. “This is not going very well right now. We should leave soon.”

“Fine, forget about Rory,” Bryden mutters. “Are you actually engaged too, Future Genie? How did you manage to win a modern girl’s heart?”

Future Genie smiles at that, his expression soft, making Bryden’s heart flutter. “My fiancé is beautiful, understanding, and kindhearted, the most amazing person I’ve ever—”

Future Bryden kicks his legs. “Okay, that’s enough.”

Future Genie stares at him in confusion. “What’s wrong? It’s true, isn’t it?”

Future Bryden rolls his eyes. “Just shut up.”

A touch of disappointment hits Bryden in his gut. He sighs at the genie. “You know, if you looked like Future Genie, I would have totally dated you.”

The genie gapes at him. “Mr. Stalling, pardon me?!”

“But alas,” Bryden laments, “I totally missed out, and now he’s marrying someone else.” He goes down to his knees, clasping onto Future Genie’s hands with wide eyes. “Forget about Jessica. Please, marry me, Future Genie! Leave your current pretty-girl fiancée for me! I’ll do anything for you! I’m much prettier than her! Please! I promise to be a good person! Leave her for me!”

Future Bryden covers his lips as he giggles in amusement, the genie turns green and nearly vomits in the corner, and Future Genie stares at Bryden in speechlessness.

“Alright, that’s enough.” A white orb descends upon them, illuminating the entire room.

Bryden gasps. “Wh-What is that thing?”

The genie’s eyes widen. “Th-That’s… the god of sorcery.”

“The god of what now?” Bryden splutters in shock, but both Future Bryden and Future Genie don’t look the least bit surprised, only watching the scene in awe.

The genie lowers his head. “He’s… my master.”

“Correct,” the orb replies. “Nice to see you out and about again, Li Zhen, with a new carrier of the ring. I’m afraid there’s been a malfunction in the different dimensions of different time periods, so many portals have been opening out of the blue. But no worries, for my subordinates and I have fixed the issue. In order to prevent this malfunction from affecting future events, I will be erasing the four of you’s memories.”

“Wha…” Bryden’s jaw drops open. It appears as though he is the only one in the room completely in shock. Not even Future Bryden looks as confused or shocked as he is. “W-Wait! Can I just ask my future self one more thing?” He grins at Future Bryden and Future Genie. “Hey, why don’t the two of you leave your current fiancées and marry each other instead?”

“Mr. Stalling!” the genie scolds, shaking his head. “Stop acting shameless.”

“What do you mean?” Bryden pouts. “Future you clearly looks just like one of those hot K-pop idols. Wouldn’t it be amazing if I could marry him in the future?”

“Alright, that’s enough!” A flash of light blazes through the room, and Future Bryden and Future Genie disappear with a blinding light.

Bryden finds himself in bed, his eyes fluttering open. He rubs his eyes and groans. “Woah, that was such a strange dream.”

“Was it an erotic dream?” the genie rolls his eyes in disgust. “You were giggling and kicking your feet in your sleep.”

“Of course not,” Bryden scoffs. “I’m not a pervert. That said, though the dream was pretty foggy, I do remember dreaming about a hot K-pop idol.” He sighs, hugging himself as he kicks his feet.

“A hot… what? What is that?” The genie blinks, completely dumbfounded.

Bryden sighs, gazing at the genie. “Not going to lie, you look a lot like the K-pop idol in my dream. If I could just cut your hair, you would really look just like him.” He reaches for the genie in his daze.

The genie moves backwards. “Alright, Mr. Stalling, you have officially gone insane. You were correct before. You should take a rest before studying again.”