Chapter Text
I died.
Okay, that was a bit of an understatement.
I always knew that I would die one day, maybe even earlier than my parents. All because of this damned cancer in me, tearing my body apart, leaving me with pain that increases day by day.
I wanted to say that life is unfair, you know? I got a bright future ahead of me, always on top of my class for 9 years, got gold medals from some olympics, not to be bragging or anything. But then suddenly, I got diagnosed with cancer.
My parents were devastated, my neighbors were lamenting about the loss of my bright future, my “friends” couldn’t care less, but most of all, I was lost. I know this sounded like that cheesy line from a movie, but you never believed it until it was your life. I didn’t know what to feel, my emotions are all over the place, all of the negativity running around inside my head. So I directed it to something more useful, like watching sitcoms.
Yes, I’m a guy and I really love watching sitcoms, especially the drama-comedic ones. My first crush was Alex Dunphy, okay? Pathetic? Well, leave me alone. I was grieving about the future I might not have.
But, after some time wallowing by watching sitcoms, I realized I might have future if there is a cure for me. So I studied, studied, and studied, for high school life I didn’t have because I was at hospital all the time and hoping I could miraculously be cured.
That miracle didn’t happened, obviously. But, I got another kind of miracle. Another chance in life.
Reincarnation.
And this memories of my old life didn’t come to me till I turned nine, which is today, just a minute past midnight. Which is convenient, because I don’t want to spend time as a baby with a brain of an eighteen years old. THAT would be a nightmare. But also inconvenient as it woke me up with a startle, forcing me to relieve all of my old memories.
I grieved for parents that I lost, but nine years of memories in this new life manage to somehow dampen my sadness and grief. Two lives, two memories manage to mixed together that results in me now. Nathaniel “Nate” Clark, a nine years old with a somewhat faded yet clear memories of eighteen years of my past life.
In this new life, I’m blessed with a caring and loving power couple as my parents, and two pairs of grandparents who love to spoil me, as I’m the firstborn in my extended family. My father, Alan Clark, is a famous chef and owner of fancy restaurants, while my mother, Natalia Clark, is a well-known doctor for a hospital. Let’s just say that I live far more comfortably than my last life. Both pairs of my grandparents are alive, healthy, and wealthy, which is amazing because I didn’t have any at my last life.
But the real pleasant surprise was a younger brother. I always wanted a sibling–or two, or three, or more–in my past life, but my parents are too busy trying to keep me alive to think about another child. Hey, maybe when I’m gone, they finally got me a sibling!
Yes, I know that’s kind of a dark humor. Don’t judge me, It’s my coping mechanism.
My younger brother, Nicolas Clark is five years old and we are close as we have lots in common. Well, except for the fact that he’s much more sporty than me. Yes, even in this life, I’m still kind of a nerd, a pretty good-looking one if you ask me.
I get out of bed and stand in front of the mirror in my room to examine my new body. I ran my hand through my messy raven hair that I inherited from my mother as I look in the mirror. Before I passed away in my past life, pretty sure green is the most wanted eye color and I inherited it from my father. I’m really the perfect balance of both my parents, I can see both of their features in my face. Damn, guess I gotta thank my parents for giving me this amazing genes.
“Thank you Dad”
“You’re welcome, Kid. What's the point of having a chef as a father if he doesn't cook for his kids, right?” Dad says to me as he chuckles and put some plates at the dining table for our breakfast today.
“Darling, do you know where my notebook is? I’ve been searching for all morning and I couldn’t find it,” Mom says, frustrated as she stormed over to the dining room and gave Dad a quick kiss.
“Did you check your bag? I think you put it in there last night.”
“Oh my God, I always forgot to check the bag, damn it! Thanks, Al, love you!” Mom exclaimed before rushing to the living room to check her bag.
Yes, my mother can be a bit forgetful and clumsy sometimes. But I wouldn’t change it for the world, she’s the best.
“Morning Dad, Nate. Why is Mom rushing out? She lost something again?” Nic questioned as he plopped down on the chair next to me.
“Well, you know your mother,” answered Dad as he grinned dopily. Yeah, this guy is head over heels for Mom, he even named his restaurants “Natalie’s” after her. I love it, this kind of healthy and loving relationship they have with each other, and I want to have this kind of relationship with my partner in the future.
“Yeah, yeah, she really got to keep track of the things she put somewhere, like a small notebook or something,” Nic muttered before he dug into his breakfast.
“She would also lose that notebook and you know it, Nic,” I said as I share a grin with Dad.
“Good job, laughing at your poor mother, huh? Ha ha ha,” Mom said sarcastically as she sit next to Dad. “Morning boys, we have a great day ahead of us, so stay positive and do your best. Alan, can you please drop the children off at school, I got a morning shift today.”
“Sure, Babe. Boys, you’re with me today! Want to cook lunch together after school?” Dad asked the both of us.
“Sure,” I responded the same time as Nic exclaimed, “Of course!”
“Great, I’ll see you guys tonight then. Oh, Nate, I just remembered your teacher said there will be a career day tomorrow. Don’t worry, both me and your dad will be there to show off how amazing your parents are!” Mom said as she winked at me.
I beamed at them. “That’s great! I’ll be looking forward for both of you tomorrow!”
“Nate, have you think about what you wanna be when you grow up?” Dad asked.
I was thinking about the same question last night. I don’t want to feel regret like I feel in my last life, and after thinking about this a lot, I decided to be–
“A successful businessman!”
“Wow, that’s great, Sweetie! Can you tell us why do you want to be a businessman?” Mom asked, giving me her full attention.
“Well, not just a businessman, but a successful one! Like Grandpa and Grandad! I want to make and do many things, but I want to make a largeeee profit from it!”
Yes, after thinking about it, I decided that I want to make lots of money while doing things that I like. For example, if I’m in the mood to make a food and beverage, I’ll make a business out of it! If I’m in the mood to make a medicine, I’ll make a business out of it, distributing it to people who need it. I initially wanted to be a doctor, I got the brains to do it, I got some of the knowledge about that from my past life, I even got the connection to do it. But, I don’t think I could do it, or even want to do it anymore.
“That’s amazing, Kid! I believe you can do that, do your best, study hard, not just in academics, but in many things. You have to have a lot of experience, they’re the best teacher,” advised Dad.
“I will, Dad, Mom. Thank you for supporting me!” I said as I smiled widely at my family.
“When you reach that, don’t forget to give me a generous pocket money!” Nic quipped, making us all laugh.
“Okay, I have to go now. Thanks for the breakfast, Darling. See you tonight, Boys. Have a great day, bye!” Mom said as she stand from her chair and give a forehead kiss to all three of us before reaching for her bag and go to the hospital.
“Well, better get going too. Finish your drink and put all of the dirty dishes in the sink, Kiddos, I’ll get my bag and car keys,” Dad said as we hurriedly finish our milk and do what he ordered us.
And as I closed the door and went to the car, I can feel my new life going to the right direction.
To Be Continued
03/07’24 : 23.45