LIMITLESS TROUBLE

A Night of Surprises

Chapter 17: A Night of Surprises

The cool evening breeze swept through the quiet streets as Jason and Sophie approached his home. Jason could already see the lights glowing warmly through the windows, and as they stepped through the front door, he knew what was coming. His mother stood waiting, her arms crossed, her face a mix of concern and frustration.

"Jason, where have you been?" she asked, her voice low but laced with the kind of scolding only a mother can deliver. "I’ve been calling you for hours. You didn’t tell me you’d be this late!"

Jason raised his hands in defense. "Mom, calm down. Someone’s here with me."

His mother’s eyes widened in surprise, and she immediately looked past Jason to see Sophie standing quietly behind him, her presence immediately softening the mood.

"Oh!" his mother said, her voice changing completely. "And who’s this lovely girl?"

Jason felt a little awkward as Sophie stepped forward, smiling politely. "This is Sophie. She’s, uh... a friend from school."

His mother’s demeanor shifted instantly. She gave Sophie a welcoming smile, quickly moving aside to let her in. "Oh, well, come in, come in! Don’t just stand there."

Sophie smiled and nodded, stepping inside the modest but cozy home. Jason’s mother looked around, then glanced at the clock, her worry about Jason's lateness suddenly pushed to the back of her mind.

"Have you eaten dinner yet?" she asked, looking between the two of them. Sophie opened her mouth to reply, but Jason, sensing where this was going, cut in.

"No, we haven’t," Jason said quickly, knowing full well that his mom would insist on feeding them if they said yes or no.

His mother nodded, her face lighting up. "Well, that’s settled then. Sit down, both of you. I’ll get us something to eat."

Jason and Sophie exchanged a glance before settling down on the floor, the traditional seating arrangement in their small home. They sat side by side, Sophie looking around, taking in the warmth and simplicity of Jason’s house. The sounds of pots clattering and the smell of home-cooked food filled the room.

A few minutes later, Jason’s mom returned with plates in hand, serving each of them. “Here you go. Eat up, both of you.”

As they began to eat, the atmosphere lightened. The conversation flowed easily, Jason’s mother asking Sophie questions about school, her family, and her interests. Sophie, to Jason’s surprise, seemed completely at ease, answering each question with genuine warmth and politeness. In fact, she seemed almost enchanted by the simplicity and love that radiated from Jason’s family.

"I like your home," Sophie said, looking around and then at Jason’s mother. "It’s... cozy. And the food is really good."

Jason’s mom beamed. “Thank you, dear. It’s not much, but we make do.”

As they finished dinner, Jason’s mother turned to him, her face growing serious. “Jason, I have to remind you—tomorrow is my night shift, so you need to come home on time, okay?”

Jason frowned, confused. “Night shift? When did you start that?”

“It’s once a week,” she explained, her tone matter-of-fact. “I started last week. I came home to tell you, but you were asleep, so I had to leave without waking you.”

Jason suddenly realized. That night. The night he had been stuck in the alien time loop and hadn’t come home—his mom hadn’t noticed because she had been working the night shift. That was why his family never realized he wasn’t in the house.

The realization hit him hard, and he stayed quiet for a moment, processing it. His mother’s work schedule had allowed him to slip unnoticed into his chaotic, secret life.

“You’ve been working extra shifts,” Jason muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"

His mother gave him a tired but affectionate smile. “I tried, but it’s hard to catch you these days.”

Jason felt a pang of guilt but didn’t say anything more. He nodded, understanding now how much his mother had been doing for the family.

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Later that night, after dinner, Jason and Sophie made their way up to the terrace. The air was cool and calm, the stars twinkling brightly above them. The simple peace of the night seemed to contrast the whirlwind of emotions they had gone through during the day.

They lay on their backs, looking up at the sky, and for the first time in a long while, Jason felt a sense of normalcy. The chaos of the time loop, the alien invasion, the security job—all of it felt distant under the serene sky.

Sophie was quiet beside him for a long moment before she spoke. “Your mom’s really sweet. I like her.”

Jason smiled softly. “Yeah, she’s the best.”

They lay there for a while, talking about small things—school, their future plans, and dreams. Jason realized how much he had missed having conversations like this, something so simple and human, something he had rarely experienced since the strange events that had changed his life.

The stars above seemed endless, and the night stretched on as they shared stories and laughter. At some point, they both grew quiet, the silence between them no longer awkward but comforting.

Sophie turned to look at Jason, her face illuminated by the faint moonlight. “You’re really different, you know that?”

Jason blinked. “Different how?”

“Just... different from anyone I’ve ever known,” she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. “You’re strong, but you don’t show it. You’re quiet, but you care about the people around you. I don’t know, I just feel like... you’ve been through things that most people haven’t.”

Jason didn’t know how to respond to that, so he stayed silent, letting her words settle in the air.

“I’m glad we’re friends,” Sophie added quietly.

Jason turned his head to look at her, a small, genuine smile on his face. “Me too.”

As the night deepened, they continued to talk, their voices becoming softer as the world around them grew quieter. Eventually, they both fell into a comfortable silence, gazing up at the stars, their thoughts drifting under the vast, open sky.

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End of Chapter 17