ROTU: Chapter Thirty-Five

Jalena joined Kaelon the following evening at a Mediterranean restaurant. As they waited for their table, Jalena fidgeted nervously with her suppression bracelet, feeling slightly annoyed that she had to wear it.

"Is something wrong?" Kaelon asked.

"No. I was just thinking that I will be glad when I feel like my old self again. A lot is going on with work, so thanks for this—for the evening out."

He grabbed her hand. "You can always be yourself with me."

Jalena froze as an electric jolt shot through her—more painful than pleasant.

Kaelon released her hand. "Sorry…too soon?"

She exhaled. "It wasn't that. I just felt—never mind." She waved her hand in dismissal. "It's okay."

"Would you like to see a drink menu?" their server asked after they were seated.

"Yes," both said in unison.

Jalena smiled as Kaelon laughed. She studied his face and the edge of tattoos exposed beneath his shirt collar of his shirt and rolled-up sleeves as he read the menu. She felt a strong desire to see what they were as well as run a hand through the waves in his hair. She wanted to engage more—to know all his story—but also felt strange that she was attracted to someone who was not a light warrior.

"I feel you watching me," Kaelon said without looking up.

The pull in her stomach returned as Kaelon lifted his eyes to hers.

"Sorry. I like investing in the moment, so I am just interested in your energy—I mean your vibe. I know mine can be intense…so I'm told."

"Hence, the reason for the wine I'm about to order," he said. "But, it's also one of the reasons I am so intrigued. It's like your stare goes all the way through me. It probably sounds weird."

"It doesn't."

"I feel as if there are a million things to talk about, and I'm not sure where to start."

"I'm in no hurry," replied Jalena. "Just tell me all about you, and we will go from there."

"I'd rather know about you."

"Well, right now I can only give you basic information from the time I arrived in Colorado."

"Otherwise, if you tell me you'd have to kill me?"

Jalena chuckled. "Not quite, but it does have the potential to freak you out."

"I would say, try me, but I am assuming this has to do with your secret job, so I'll wait."

Jalena told him the things about herself that she could, discussing her interest in paintings, her time in Japan, and her thoughts regarding life in general.

She sat and listened with intense interest as Kaelon told her details about his childhood, how he had grown up in foster homes, which is where he met Sean, and how they had been friends ever since.

"I became fascinated with science at an early age," Kaelon explained. "Although I get most of my money from designing websites and helping people with their IT or programming needs, I have taken a personal interest in studying quantum theory even though I haven't found many people beyond subject matter experts who talk about it from advanced perspectives. I plan on going back to school to study it further because it is fascinating to me. For example, do you know what I mean when I say—" his brow furrowed as he paused. "Ah," he waved his hand, "never mind. It'd probably bore you."

Jalena watched the frustration linger on Kaelon's face for several moments. He quickly masked it with a smile that did not reach his eyes as he downed the rest of his wine.

She raised an eyebrow. "By quantum theory are you talking about entanglement or the superposition of particles?" she said slowly. She followed with a laugh, wishing she had grabbed her phone in time to take a picture of the look of delighted astonishment that appeared on Kaelon's face.

He leaned back, put a hand on his chest, and sighed. "I think I'm in love."

Jalena laughed harder.

He leaned forward again. "It's just—I'm not very good at small talk as you've witnessed." He shook his head. "I can't believe you said what you just said."

"Belief is a very important key to unveiling the unknown. That's why a subject like quantum physics is important. We believe in theory, which creates a path to truth. Had it not been for the belief or new thought, which drives the quest for expansion, there would be none or it would reduce the rate of expansion—at least possibly for the observer." She shrugged. "Don't you think?"

Kaelon looked dazed as he stared at Jalena in silence.

She smiled. "So, why don't you start by telling me what you know about particle superposition, and I will share my thoughts on how I believe it ties to teleportation."

The two were the last to leave the restaurant.

Feeling content within his presence and intrigued by the combination of knowledge and intuition he expressed through conversation, Jalena easily lost track of time.

Kaelon bought two bottles of water from a convenience store and continued their conversation as they walked through a nearby park. He shivered against the cold breeze and zipped up his coat, glancing in surprise at Jalena's open jacket. "You don't get cold?"

"I'm okay," she replied. Since her power had amplified, she had not felt cold even in the mountains.

"I think I already know the answer to this, but do you believe in aliens?"

Jalena choked on her drink of water.

"Oh, sorry," Kaelon said as stepped toward her. "Are you okay?"

Jalena smiled and nodded. "Yes." She took a deep breath. "What was the question again?"

"Do you believe in ET's—species from other galaxies?"

"Yes," she replied, trying hard to suppress the laughter that threatened to surface.

"Me too. Seems too narrow to think that the human perspective is the highest we could go. Other species probably laugh at us more than not."

"I'm sure they do, but I think humans help them learn some things also."

Kaelon dropped to a bench and gestured for her to sit beside him so they could watch the sunrise.

"You're unlike anybody I've ever met, Jess," he said after a short time. "I'm sure many people say that they don't get why you are single, but I find that those who feel rare in the sea of humanity prefer it because they are waiting for someone or something beyond the norm. I mean, it could be because of work or pursuing some goal, but I think it is more like they have trouble relating to the majority. I get—I don't know—bored with the way things are as if things move too slowly for me. The norm feels off—even mundane. I sense we should already be more advanced, and all of that makes me feel like I don't belong here, or like I should be doing something else. Does that make sense?"

Jalena's interest peaked more as she became absorbed in Kaelon's confession. She suspected he had not shared his personal truth with others. It reminded her of how she felt living as a human throughout her years on Earth. Based on their conversation, she knew he was highly advanced in his awareness—more than most humans—but the fact that he resonated with the speed of evolution beyond the Earth dimension was something that surprised her.

"Jess?"

She cleared her throat. "No, I completely understand. I was just relating to what you're saying. I know exactly how you feel."

She looked at the horizon, suppressing the urge to extend their time together for the whole day. She sighed. "I have to return to work soon. Do you want to come over and have coffee? I mean, since you've been stalking me, you already know where I live."

Kaelon grinned and dropped his head. "Sorry."

"No, you're not." She started walking. "Come on, Kaelon."

Jalena parked her SUV in front of her house half an hour later.

"Welcome back, Jess," Nadia gave her a big wave as she rounded the block for her morning walk with the baby. "About time you showed up. What have you—?" Her eyes widened as she saw Kaelon pull up behind her. "Oh!" A big grin spread across her face.

Jalena knew Nadia was restraining herself from jumping up and down and clapping.

"I'm good, Nadia," she called with a nod as she shut the car door. "I'll try to catch up with you soon."

Still smiling, Nadia gave her a small wave and disappeared into her own house.

"You've got a fan," Jalena told Kaelon as she unlocked her door and led him into the kitchen through the garage.

"One fan is good."

"Actually, two."

Kaelon smiled.

Jalena busied herself at the kitchen counter after turning on some music. "Make yourself comfortable, and I'll get the coffee."

Nat King Cole's, The Very Thought of You floated from Jalena's sound system.

"Good music," he said as he walked around her living room.

"I like the classics." She rounded the corner several minutes later to find Kaelon standing before one of the paintings of Elsaria.

"Coffee is ready."

"Where is this?" Kaelon asked.

"I don't know. Probably from one of those alien planets we talked about earlier."

"It is so detailed. It's like you've been there."

She chuckled. "Maybe in another lifetime."

Kaelon's eyes widened as The Temptations, My Girl started to play. I've got sunshiiiine…

"You believe in coincidence?"

…On a cloudy day…

"There is no such thing."

"I don't think so either." He grabbed her hand gently. "How about dancing? Do you believe in that?"

Jalena gave a surprised laugh as he started humming along with the lyrics. "I don't dance. Not for anyone to see at least."

Kaelon tugged her closer. "Closet dancer, huh? Should have known."

"What's that?" she said. She swallowed, willing herself to calm down as her light energy began to pulse beneath the suppressive effect of the bracelet.

He dropped her hand gently and stepped back when she stiffened. "It relates to my theory that those who hide talent have the most."

"I see," Jalena said. He still seemed much closer than he was. "That's certainly not the case here." She stepped back, suddenly dizzy. As she turned to move past him, she stumbled but threw out an arm to catch herself before she fell. She gasped as his arm reached around to grab her after the fact. She burst out laughing. "I did not do that on purpose." She shook her head. "Sorry, it just seems very cliché."

He grinned. "Oh, I don't know, there are some K-drama moves I like. Let's try again." He quickly stepped forward purposely hooking her leg as he pulled her roughly toward him which caused her successfully to lose balance and fall straight into him.

This made Jalena laugh even harder. "Nice moves," she whispered as her laughter died.

Kaelon laughed nervously. "Yeah, well...was probably a Jedi in another lifetime or something."

Without another thought, Jalena grabbed him and kissed him. She couldn't think. She didn't want to think or let go of him. She only desired to melt into him—to escape from everything but the moment.

Kaelon's eyes widened as she laced her fingers in his hair and pulled him even closer. His arms tightened around her as he returned her kiss.

Jalena clung to him, allowing her heightened desire to consume her resistance. She became lost within the barriers of time where there was no hold on her—no mission—no responsibility—nothing but the present.

A light suddenly flashed between the two.

"What was that?" Kaelon asked as he pulled back abruptly.

"What?" Jalena said as she stepped back and took a deep breath.

He shook his head. "That kiss was so…" he cleared his throat "…I think I just saw stars. Makes sense because it was—wait—your eyes look—" he peered closer at her face.

Jalena gasped as she dropped her gaze and reached for her wrist, realizing that her light energy had surfaced. Her senses sharpened to their original state as she bent quickly to retrieve her bracelet, which had fallen to the floor. She kept her eyes lowered in case a glow had formed in her eyes.

"Just a trick of the light." She said as she turned and hurried toward the bathroom. "Sorry…hang on."

"Jess."

"Hang on a sec, Gyan."

Jalena froze in her tracks as she rounded the corner to the bathroom and closed her eyes, realizing what she had just done. It was as if someone had dowsed her with a bucket of icy water.

"Who's Gyan?"

She exhaled. "Just a friend from the past. I'm so sorry." She hurried into the bathroom, leaving the light off, and quietly shut the door. "Actually, can we do a rain check on the coffee, Kaelon? I suddenly don't feel well. Take some to go if you need to."

"Eh…sure…um, okay."

Jalena was glad that she couldn't see the disappointment on his face that was unmistakable in his voice. "I'll talk to you soon," she called from the hall. "I promise. Sorry, again," she added as she placed her hand on it.

She dropped her forehead against the door and inhaled deeply in an attempt to calm herself down. She still felt dizzy. The effect of what had just transpired when she kissed him surprised her.

Kaelon stared at Jalena's empty living room for several minutes and then quietly let himself out.