Czarina
As I started helping my mom out with the plates, my curiosity started to arouse, knowing how my father was seldom like that. And on top of that, I was still trying to understand what on earth was exactly happening here, what with my sudden transformation and how I ended up back here. It surprised me to think that in a span of less than an hour, so many things could be this confusing.
I noticed how my father's gaze started to get uneasy as both me and my mom settled beside him.
And finally! He straightened his posture, signifying that he was atlas ready to speak his mind out.
"Czarina..." He began without meeting my eye, letting me know for sure how serious whatever he was going to say was.
"In less than a week, classes will be starting."
My jaw dropped open, trying to believe my ears. Wait...?!
He handed me an envelope of what seemed to be a letter.
And what I first caught sight of was written in fancy, bold letters: 'Letter of Admission dated August 13, 2021,' this was dated around 10 years ago!
I started skimming through the letter as my father went on with what he was saying.
"As you see, we've received a letter that you've been accepted at Aurelia Heights, and knowing you've already heard about it from Kade and Kevin, I don't think I need to go into details about what and where that is."
He paused, studying my shocked expression. Of course, I knew where and what Aurelia Heights was! I mean, who wouldn't when it was basically the most prestigious school in the entire city? But what left me speechless was why he was telling me this, and not to mention, the year?! It all no longer made sense anymore.
"And judging how bewildered you seem, I'm sure your perhaps wondering how on earth you got an application for Aurelia in the first place?"
It wasn't just that, but I found myself nodding as he continued.
"Well, I had no idea my well-raised son would do something so sneaky as to write a letter of recommendation in your name behind my back. I just got a call from him earlier, and don't worry, I gave him an earful for what he did." He glanced at my mom, who sighed in return, before turning their attention back at me.
"But what's done is done. Honestly, I was planning on still having you homeschooled as you've always been in the previous years."
I swallowed a groan just as he continued.
"But then this suddenly came up—" he gestured towards the letter in my hands. "And now, I'm quite indecisive about my next move, knowing how big of an opportunity you'd lose if we suddenly won't go through this."
I looked up, surprised he was actually giving all this some thought. Usually he and mom would make a move beforehand, not even caring to consult me about what they'd do. But, then again, what more surprises could be as unexpected as knowing I was suddenly a decade back in the past with less than an ounce of knowledge of how, why or what was happening to me?
"So what do you say?" My mom suddenly asked, sounding impatient as she and dad kept exchanging glances. Her enthusiasm at the idea was no longer a surprise to me, knowing how much she looked forward to things that could help uphold the family's reputation.
And of course, I was already fixed on a reply.
"Of course it's a yes!" I insisted. "You know I want this more than anything."
They both exchanged an expressionless glance in agreement. I mean, after all, what choice did they have?
"It's settled then," dad concluded as he reached for a piece of bacon from across the table.
And luckily, it was.
***
As soon as I was done with my chores, the first thing I did was study my diary. I still haven't recovered from the recent happenings and my head was still running on with countless questions as to how and why I got here. And I assumed I'd get answers from my diary, since it was the first thing to make me realize that things weren't as normal as it seemed.
And my instincts didn't fail me.
Reading the last scene I've wrote, it was about me going to sleep after a boring day with nothing extraordinary going on in particular, as always. But just when I presumed that this was written yesterday, I saw that it was dated August 9, 2021, a few days ago!
I couldn't remember any memories of what happened in the days that followed after that, but I did remember the part where I went to sleep.
But thinking about it now, wasn't it quite a funny coincidence that I did the exact thing that would be the supposed continuation of the next scene in what was written in the diary, one I was never able to finish?
Honestly, ever since I started noticing things seemed unusual, I knew it had something to do with my diary. I didn't have any basis or evidence to justify that, but it was just a sudden thought, somewhat like a hunch or prompting I had. It was a pretty useful skill I gained as a junior agent in the years, and it became of big help to me even as a hacker. Though, I still have to find out if it's still working in my current situation right now.
And as I started re-reading through the pages, an idea suddenly occurred to me, one that would be as absurd as one straight out of a novel: what if I was reincarnated as the younger me after I got struck by lightning and probably drowned to my death?
Ironically, at first, I dismissed it as one of my foolish conclusions. But when I had that conversation with my parents earlier, I realized there was a possibility that I could be right.
And I knew I was right the moment I found out what day today was.
But now, I'm still trying to prove whether my second theory was right. And in order to do so, I needed to check my diary. And for some reason, probably a struck of luck, I found what I expected to find.
Reading through a couple of pages, even through random passages, I suddenly remembered these scenes, as if they actually happened. But when I tried to remember other memories aside from what was written in the diary and aside from what I remembered in the past, I couldn't bring myself to recall any.
It's pretty confusing, I know. But I've been thinking, what if what's happening right now is basically a continuation of what's written in the diary? Since, supposedly, around right now, the day of the huge argument I had with my parents should've already taken place. Which would've also meant I'm not even supposed to go to school because of that.
But no. Instead, something big suddenly happened to change that, something that never happened in my past life.
I'm suddenly granted an opportunity to attend school — and not just any school! A prestigious one at that.
And additionally, I only remembered this body's memories once I started reading the diary. Every time I read an entry or sentence from the diary, the memories of this life start flooding through my head — not instantly! But in a subtle manner, like a flashback.
It began happening when I started reading the entries. At first, I thought I was just experiencing déjà vu.
Until after I kept reading, I realized it felt all too familiar to be just that.
Turns out, they were my actual memories. And to break this all down, my new life seems to be a continuation of my previous life, or in other words, where the diary left off.