When l opened my eyes, the first l saw were dazzling light, it grew to encompass my field of vision, and l squinted in annoyance.
As my vision adjusted, the first thing l caught on was a young black haired man, he was musculien and very handsome―wait, that was a mouth slip.
" Who is he?" I thought.
On the other side, a young blond lady was setting her gaze at my direction, she had been beautiful, could've been mistaken of an angel. Her gorgeous smile made my heart pound, hold on, who are these people? Why are they so close to me like l'm an attraction? Don't l need my own privacy, it's according to the law of council.
And, the muscular man kept kissing my forehead like l was a baby, he just couldn't stop. The blond woman came really close to me, l could feel her breath, thereafter, she kissed my forehead. The audacity, not like l could complain about that, but kissing a random dude that fell from depression isn't a norm, and they kept the kissing coming.
The two begun staring at each other putting up a wide smile, they started talking to each other calmly, like some trusted adult. The man begun laughing after speaking with the beautiful woman, she replied nodding, Moreover, l couldn't understand a single word uttered by them, they spoke a different language, it wasn't english that l was familiar with, did l get sent to a different country.
The muscular man grabbed me while talking to me, l still didn't understand what he said, l wasn't dumbfounded, it started getting annoying when the woman gazed at my direction and spoke again looking confused. The man then fell silent and lifted me in the air, it was some insane stuff he pulled, l weighed more than 60 kilogrammes, how'd he lift me so easily like an empty bucket? I was starting to get furious, l was getting body shamed by some jerk who thinks muscles means everything, l was an average bum, that didn't mean l'd let this slide. I wanted to yell at him but the only thing that came out of my mouth were:
"eh-eh-eh"
Nothing but garbled whining and moaning.
That sounded really weird, l don't remember my voice sounding so squeaky. Did my throat dry up? But honestly l didn't feel dehydrated.
And, l couldn't move my body even if l wanted to, it was weak, sort of difficult. Commanding my body to fight off this disgusting act and it wouldn't listen. Though, l could move my finger tips, which was all l could do.
The man slowly placed my body on a soft area, it was like a pillow, the blond woman then came really close to my face, she whispered something l still couldn't understand, then leaned away as she waved goodbye.
I was left all alone by the side of the window, the sun light barely reached my face, but l could tell something was wrong for sure, this uneasiness was a sensation l felt before this.
Though, the heat felt a little to good.
Hold up.
Wasn't my head smashed like a tomato? How am l still alive after sustaining such critical conditions? It didn't add up, where exactly am l... The afterlife? If so, then it's not fun.
I wanted to get to the bottom of this, fast, before l lose my mind. Not like my strength can do anything.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※ ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
Lets fast forward a month later.
After living for that long in this house, l came to a traumatic realisation, as l was being carried around, being fed soft food, taking multiple long naps and managing to peek through a mirror. I realised one thing: I was a baby.
It was crazy that my forty year old body had simply vanished out of the blue, l had become fragile as glass, although, for some reason l still had memories of my old life, the same grumpy old mentality was still Intact on this small body. Why was l reincarnated, was something l still didn't have a clue about.
I would spend most of the evenings whining like my toys had been stolen, which was baby like.... Right? On the other hand, it was a way to stay undercover to avoid these people thinking a full grown man is living under their roofs. Even though it was weird on my experience being conscious in a form of a baby, l didn't want to take chances.
Anyway, the two people that'd been around me the entire time, apparently were my parents. Comparing how l looked before with my new parents, they looked much younger at their age to be getting a baby, twenties, to be more specific. The muscular man, my father, was a rather proud and talkative man especially around his wife, not like l went outside to begin with. My mother, a beautiful goddess always took real care of me. Not only that, her cooking skills were on the roof, l didn't even taste her cooking. The smell alone judged her skills.
Getting fed four times a day, was genuinely paradise.
Literally...
This place didn't feel like woodland, the country l originally grew up in, the language was different and their facial features were part of a different breed, nothing English looking.
Anyhow, we lived in a small house, it was entirely made of wood and stone, we didn't have electricity like how l had in my old world, this world kinda ran on oil as the powerhouse. We were probably to poor to afford an installation for electricity, poor was an understatement, everyday, father would bring a banquet so that rid off the poor side. But we also didn't have a television to watch your favourite shows. The furniture and clothing seemed pretty old fashioned, they didn't have eating utensils, It didn't seem like a well developed nation.
I couldn't complain, it was better than living in the pit of hell trying to crawl away which seemed impossible, l had been given a second chance.
I have started a new life, living in the outskirts of whatever country l'm in, it was a chance to renew my old stubborn self, l wanted to make a difference with my life. But it had to be with a family that could barely afford proper clothing, this was going to be a living hell.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※ ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
Half a year had gone by.
It had been a while since l reincarnated into another world, ever since then, I've been focusing more on the language in this new world. It was kinda difficult trying to grasp out every single word and creating a sentence, the language vocabulary was nearly on par with english, which l was familiar with. Although, it slightly consisted of more words, l was a quick learner in my old life, getting through the obstacle would be easy based on my current mentality.
Based on my observations and research I've gathered, there were a lot of things l learnt about my new life.
Firstly, we lived in the outskirts of grassy moss. It was a city located far from here, our town was called Leaf, which was a dispersed settlement not a lot of people would be around these parts of town. The entirety of Leaf was all green, the cold breeze here actually meant the word.
Secondly, nothing really special to talk about since everything else is wreck. The technology of this world was oddly far behind my old world, they didn't have computers, cellphones, or even a wifi. I cannot live without the Internet, it was the friend l made along the way. Also, l couldn't take a day without getting on my computer and typing down some codes which l had learnt in computer studies. What was l saying? It had been twenty years since l last used the Internet.
The living conditions wasn't really bad, the house felt cramped even though there weren't many furniture, most of the shelves were empty in the library, talk about keeping space.
I was at the age to start crawling, most of my crawling time, l would spend it on touring the house while admiring how boring it looks, even often sneak late at night for the cinematic moment.
My parents would often run around the house searching for me, meanwhile, l'd be at a secret spot they'd barely find. That was a tongue slip, for some reason my father would always know where l am. There are times my body randomly gets frightened when my father arrives to get me, weird glitch in the matrix.
Getting distracted while watching over me was a big mistake, it was a golden opportunity for a baby like myself, to have the peaceful moment of their time.
"Arthur's tendency of running around the house has really grown than last time." My father said.
"He's only a baby, it's what they mostly do to entertain themselves." My mother replied.
"You sure Arthur is just a baby? Please look at him right now." He muttered.
I was sitting by the side of the staircase, putting my hand on my chin like a genius figuring out his next equation, l had a serious expression, like really serious. As l turned my attention at my annoying parents, l would often find my mother reaching her face really close to me, couldn't they leave me alone? Now, l see why babies always get annoyed when someone disturbs their alone time.
Thirdly, on my observations, l was limited to doing anything. Couldn't move my bum outside, nor stay close to the fire place during the cold season, l was being treated unfairly, what happened to right of freedom? Doesn't that phrase mean anything at this point? I complain a lot.
As my days would always be ruined by cringe, wannabe parents. One afternoon changed my entire perspective.
...
I was feeling overstimulated, drained from the endless number of kisses and games of pick-a-boo. Though l'd hardly reacted, it was time to hit the royal slumber, my body couldn't keep up with anymore activities. I arrived at the second floor of the house by crawling through the staircase, it wasn't difficult to do since l had adapted to my new transportation.
Nevermind adapted, this small body of mines is killing me, l can't wait till l become old enough to stand with both feet.
Crawling through the passage, as the wooden floor made a creak sound, l'd finally arrived at my destination, my room. I wonder how hard the sleep will hit today, hoping those buffons don't disturb my peace by rushing here while making a lot of noise, like a parade.
I moved one hand closer.
At that instant, the floor snapped, causing my entire body getting caught and falling to my death, it happened really fast, there wasn't a second to react. How old was this house anyway for it to be this weak and snap from a low kilo like me.
...
"Rise!"
A surge of air ascended, before my body could touch the floor, l stopped half way through facing upside down. There was a heavy gust of wind at my presence, especially in the centre, l noticed my body had been floating.
My mother so happened to be nearby and held onto me tightly, l was scared for my life, if that landing perfectly occured, l would have been narrating from the heavens. Anyways, l witnessed a phenomenal occurrence at that instant, something like that is impossible, unless it was a tornado.
But we're at home. How was that possible?
"I was so worried! don't leave my sight again, Arthur. Lets go" She said, sobbing uncontrollably.
Huh?
Grown woman crying because of her unstable home? Crazy. She then instantly let go of me, leaving me floating in the air again, she pointed her finger upwards which lead me to follow her direction. This was some kind of sorcery, more like magic in a fantasy world, she manipulated wind with her bare hands. "You're not hurt aren't you? Luckily my wind gift came in clutch." She said, watching my body for any sort of injuries. Hold my body with care lady, l'm so fragile l might shatter.
Thus world was inhabited with sorcery like abilities, mother just proved it a moment ago, could this worlds balance rely on magic? If that's the case then it's something l want to stick around for, using power is something out of a childs dream.
Seriously―did that actually happen?
※※※※※※※※※※※※※ ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
My mother had placed me in the same room as hers, while father fixed the broken floor, it would be a bumpy sleep knowing what they might do tonight, l couldn't complain, it's only natural. But none should touch me, l don't like direct contact treating me like a teddy bear, they could do all they want but irritate me.
My personality really changed, because of these guys.
Getting a second chance was something to be grateful about, in my old life, l was nothing but a show-of that wanted attention from others. Rejecting those that needed help, and humiliate those innocent around me, l chose to play the villain. No one forced me, if l'd listened to what others around had said then l wouldn't be in such situation, a failure. That's what l am, and nothing more. I don't want to waste the opportunity l was given, l have to fix my old self, and cherish those around me in the near future.
Whatever had happened in the past, remains the past. It was time to start from stage one, no, from zero.
The first thing l knew, was this world is packed with magic, if l could even muster out some few spells then my childish side would be healed. I want to do something great in this life, not a single moment should be wasted on pointless whining and dependency, l need to put my self in the shoes of those that would want my help.
It's not like l'm saying all this because l caught a glimpse of magic, don't think the other way around. I just want to redeem myself by firing something just like mother did, tongue slip again.
"Goodnight, Arthur, my pancake," my mother whispered.
Calling me pancake is absurd, yet l don't mind because it's a beautiful woman saying it.
"Goodnight, little warrior," my father whispered.
It's always the fridge protecting the snacks, get out of my sight you big oaf.
In my old life, l died full of regret.
I want to live my life earnestly, with a happy conclusion.