"Mirror"
Will it also reflect the same personality the original person has?
---
My name is Illa, an 18 year old orphan who lives as an outcast of the society.
It was a name that I chose when I woke up in the present time after being reincarnated again. I found myself in a freezing cold alley way when I was about 5 years old and no one knew the identity of this body that I am in, therefore I chose my own name.
Upon learning about this new body of mine, I found out that I was originally a stray kid and was abandoned to die in a place full of cruel people. I was constantly beat up, starved and overworked that I don't even know how did I reached this age.
During these times I was living in this body, there were a lot of hard times however I was able to go through all of it as I miraculously haven't met Solon in this life time.
Maybe this is not the time yet, I thought.
It was fine and bearable and because of my hard work, I was able to feed, dress and get myself a place to stay. I even got myself a scholarship to attend school.
"Ms. Illa? Are you listening?" the professor asked.
"Yes, I will distribute these papers now to the class." I answered and bid my goodbye.
It was a busy day for me. I was in the middle of assisting the professors in my school to earn some points for my scholarship.
To be honest, I felt uneasy and scared when I first came to this place or should I say life time. It was the first time I ever saw such advanced and different world that I don't know how to cope up with it. I was just lucky enough that I have experienced so may things after being reborn multiple times so I was able to live the way people does in this era.
"Please get your own papers in front." I said as I walk back to my seat.
The students didn't give much attention to me as I was just another student in the class -- to be specific, an outcast.
I was an average school girl. Average grade, not so good with sports nor music or art. I was not special to the point that I was glad no one dared to approach me. I also looked ragged and somewhat not neat as I was busy doing things so maybe it adds up to that.
It was nice...
I thought it was better to avoid people so maybe... Just maybe... In this life I would be able to love myself and live peacefully whithout meeting Solon or worst, dying again.
The bell rang and all the students went out to eat their lunch and so did I.
I went to my usual spot -- the garden -- to eat my lunch. There were not much people who stayed in this area as the place was a bit warm but I must say I like this place. It makes me feel that I am alive and still breathing.
It was a nice weather for me...
"That looks good!"
I was surprised when someone pops up from behind.
It was Jacob...
He was one of the most popular student in this school. He was handsome, smart, talented and is good with sports, I must say he also have a nice personality.
He was also shy but at the same time friendly. I will not be surprised if he was friends with all the students in this school.
"Do you want some?" I asked him.
He smiled and sat beside me and took some of my food.
It was not my first time interacting with him as we casually talk from time to time when we meet the professors as he was also a scholar though we are not totally friends, I was comfortable enough to share things like this with him.
Other people sometimes misunderstood this kind of interaction I have with him which subjected to some kind of bad rumor but it didn't last that long. As I said, I was an outcast so they tend to forgot things easily specially if its not that important or worth the news.
"Thank you for the food!" Jacob said as he smiled once more and bid his goodbye.
He left just like that. He isn't the type to talk much but he was always sincere with what he feels and what he wants and I have no problem with that but eating and leaving? Isn't that a crime? Eat and run? That kid!
I went back to our room and there I met Hana. She was the class president and one of my group mate for our class project.
One of my favorite person...
I was glad to be acquainted with her as she was lovely, pretty and smart but kinda strict. She was also famous that most of the boys admired her. A cool person to be exact.
I actually liked her not just because of those things, but also because she was part of my life once. My sister...
Yes... She was Monica, my sister in my previous life. One of the person I once treasured.
Though she had no memory of it, I was still glad to see her this time. There were also some familiar faces in this class that I met from my previous lives so I was very comfortable socializing with them sometimes, although we are not close enough to talk about things, it's fine as I was able to make myself feel at home at least.
"I'm a bit busy today so can we just do this project tomorrow? Would you be okay if we do it in your house?" Hana asked.
I hesitated a bit as my place is something not worth seeing. It is too small and definitely not a good place to do a group project so I refused.
"I'm sorry, I don't think that's a good idea. Maybe we can ask the others about it, would you mind?" I said.
As much as I wanted to invite them over, I could not. Maybe next time when I get a better place. Though it might take a while because of my financial situation, I wanted to hang out with them at least once before the time comes.
"Okay, I understand. Let's just ask the others then. I go look for Jay, he might be in the staff room so I'll ask him when I meet him." she said.
Jay is our vice president and also a famous person. He was rich, handsome and talented but a bit clumsy which makes him a bit of a funny person. He was the kind of person whom you can definitely get comfortable with right away because of his friendly personality.
"Then I'll go and find Jacob and Lia, see you tomorrow!" I said as I bid my goodbye to Hana.
I went out to find our other group mates but I could not find the two of them. I know Jacob was part of the soccer club but he isn't there so maybe he was with Lia? They are childhood friends and they always stick together that sometimes I thought they were in a relationship, crazy hahaha.
"Excuse me, do you know where I can find Jacob?" I asked a random student that I saw in the soccer field. He seems like a senior... And looks somewhat familiar?
"Jacob? Who -- Ah! Jake?" he said.
I was confused for a moment. Is he talking about the same person?
"He was sleeping in the P.E. storage room. Umm, can I also ask you a favor? The school will be closing soon so would you mind waking him up too when you meet him? I'm afraid he might get locked inside if he sleeps there that long." the senior asked.
I nodded and was about to leave but he stopped me.
"If ever a guard asked you why you are still there in the storage room, tell them Ethan asked you to pick up some things then just run away quickly understand?" he said.
So his name was Ethan? Wait I think I heard that name before? He really looks familiar... Anyways, I ran towards the P.E. storage room after I thanked him as I was running out of time.
I need to go to my part time job as well so I was in a hurry.
"Jacob!" I shouted when I reached the storage room.
Actually I did not mean to shout, I was just in the heat of the moment so my voice came out really loud.
I heard a loud bang in the corner and there I saw Jacob wincing in pain. He accidentally hit his head in a metal bar. I wanted to laugh so badly but I stopped myself as it was my fault that I startled his deep sleep.
I walk over to him and asked him if he was okay but it took him a while to recover. I scanned the place and Lia was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Lia?" I asked.
Wow, it was kinda weird mentioning that name as it was once my name before.
"Your voice is so loud! What are you, a megaphone?" Jacob asked while touching the sore part of his head.
I laughed at him but he glared at me.
"You really have the conscience to laugh now? Wow." he said as he stands up.
I calmed myself from laughing. Have some manner self!
"Lia went home, I told her to wake me up but she just left me here, that girl!" he frustratingly said.
"Oh okay? By the way, Hana told me that we'll be doing our project tomorrow and the place is still undecided but will it be okay if we do it in your house? Of course it'll just be a back up plan in case Hana couldn't persuade Jay." I asked.
As I said earlier, Jay was rich and he has the biggest place among us so it would be better to do the project in his place but he was some kind of a messy person so we are still undecided.
"Well it's not me to decide but yeah, do what you want." he said as he walk out of the storage.
I followed him as he seems mad. His face was all red!
"Hey, I'm sorry for shouting. I really didn't mean to! I was just panicking because the school is about to close. I swear!" I said.
He looked back at me. He tried to look into my eyes but he looked away as if he was avoiding my gaze.
He was totally red as a tomato. Cute...
"I -- I'm fine... J-just cover yourself up... Your clothes..." He was stuttering then he threw his coat to me.
I looked at myself and figured out that my uniform was soaking wet with my sweat and my undergarments was visible like what the heck? It was a wrong choice to run in a hot weather.
Though it was understandable that it's like that since I've been using the same uniform ever since I started attending this school so it was kinda thin. But still, this is so embarrassing!
I turned around quickly and tried to cover my self with his coat and ran away.
"Let me borrow this for today! I promise to return this tomorrow fresh and clean!" I shouted from a far as I never look back.
I can tell that I am burning red now. My gosh!
***
It was Saturday morning and we finally decided to do the project at Jacob's house since Jay's place will deginitely be a total mess. As Hana mentioned yesterday, Jay and his friends will be throwing a birthday party there today for one of his friends so he will be a bit late too.
We planned to meet near the Square and when I got there, there was only Hana and Lia waiting.
"Good morning!" I said.
They both look pretty today and most of the people passing by are throwing glances to them. They looked like a celebrity.
"Good morning Illa!" Lia exclaimed.
Lia was Jacob's childhood friend and she has a bubbly personality. She's not that famous as she always keeps her identity hidden so not much of the students know that she was close to Jacob.
People always thought that she has a huge crush with him but it was actually the opposite. Jacob likes her more that a friend. At least that's what we -- people who knew their background -- think.
Hana on the other hand smiled at me.
Waaah my pretty Monica...
"Let's sit somewhere cool, I'm melting hot here!" Lia said as she dragged us to the nearest cafe that she saw.
"So what should we order?" Lia asked.
I looked at the menu but my wallet says be blind and don't look. It was so expensive!
"I'm good, I'll just find us a vacant seat." I said as I went to look for an empty table.
As I was searching, a guy accidentally bumped into me.
"I'm so sorry Miss! Are you okay?" he said with an apologetic look.
He was kinda cute...
"I'm okay! Thanks for the concern." I said.
"No it's not! Stay here, I'll buy you a drink." He was so persistent so he left to buy me some drinks without hearing my answer.
Well I guess it was a lucky day for me. Free drink yey!
I sat in an empty spot near the window and tried to check if our other group mates already arrived and there I saw Jacob running outside. He noticed me by the window so he went inside the cafe.
"We bought some cake so we can share!" Lia said as they sat on the empty spot I found.
"Eat up." Hana said more like an order so I did. It is free anyway so might as well enjoy.
"Here's your drink Miss!" the guy who bumped me cheerfully said as he handed me a mint chocolate drink.
I honestly don't like this flavor but how can I even say that, this drink is free so I don't have the right to complain.
"Thanks." I said plainly.
The two girls looked at the guy weirdly as we all thought he was going to leave after giving the drink but no, he sat beside me.
"That drink was my favorite so I hope you like it too." he said as made a really cute face all of a sudden as he stare deeply into my soul.
Save me... I'm dying because of his cuteness!
It was that time also when Jacob arrived on our table with a questioning look.
"What are you doing? Why are you here William?" He said.
The guy whom we assumed the name was William looked at Jacob.
"Just hanging out heh... I was actually waiting for Benjamin but he's not replying at all then I bumped into these cute girls here." he said trying to be cute. Way more cute that before.
I want to put him in my pocket for real!
Jacob dragged William out of his seat that sat beside me instead. He gave him a death glare all of a sudden.
"Get lost dude! We're busy!" he said while pushing William playfully.
Lia and Hana laughed at the scene as it was their first time seeing Jacob act this cute, actually not with Lia as I'm sure she seen more of it.
"Why!? Let me join you!" William insisted and there they started their bromance.
We were so invested in watching the two but we have a lot of things to do so Hana broke the moment.
"Should we go now?" Hana asked.
Jacob scratched his head.
"We have some kind of a problem... My dad just got home with his friends and I think they will be staying over night so I think we need to do the project somewhere else." he said.
We were all dejected with the news as we all thought we'll be able to finish the project smoothly but now we don't have a place to do it now.
We can't do it in Hana's place as her parents was strict and no boys allowed. As for Lia, her house was too far that it would take us a long time to arrive there with all the traffic.
"You know what, why don't we go to Jay's house? I was actually about to go there with Benjamin but that guy just ditched me." William suggested.
We were hesitating weather to go or not as we don't want to be a party crasher but then, William got a call from Jay.
They talked for a while and he told Jay about our problem then he smiled at the end.
"Jay said it's okay to go there though according to him, the place was still a bit messy which I doubt 'JUST A BIT' messy.
We can all hang out there and we might be able help you with your project and not to mention, we have some smarty ass in our group too." William suggested.
"It's not a very good ide --" Jacob was still talking when Lia cut his words.
"I'd love that!" she exclaimed. Her eyes was sparkling like a diamond due to excitement.
And so... We all ended up in Jay's place.
"Welcome." Jay said as he lead the way to their mansion.
Wow... Their house was so pretty an huge, I might get lost later if I go on my own.
I was in my own world when Hana snapped me back to reality.
"Illa watch your step!" she shouted as I didn't saw the stairs in front of me.
I was about to stumble when an arm catches me from behind. The feeling was so familiar as if this happened from before. Well, who knows maybe in my past life?
I look around to see who it was and there I saw Ethan...
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Now that I see him up close... I realized why he looked so familiar to me...
It was Ash...
How could I even forget. One of the kindest person I've ever met in all the lives that I lived with was reincarnated as this person, Ethan. What a really small world...
I was flustered for a moment but thanks to him, we just laugh it out. I was kind of awkward as Ethan -- no I mean Ash was once my lover so I don't know how to act in front of him so I decided to keep my distance.
We all went to a room, more like an arcade room. It has both study and play room which I think was specially made for Jay.
Amazing!
There were new faces in the room and it seems like they just started the party.
"Umm, they are my friends. Johnny, Riki, Elijah and the birthday boy, Kei. Oh and that guy's Ethan.
Everyone, these are my classmates. Hana, Lia and Illa." he introduced us.
"Hello!" all of them greeted us.
William, Jacob and Ethan who just arrived in the room seems to be close with them already as they did this kind of ritual among boys.
Funny enough, they joined our group project even though they are from another school. They even ditched the party that they prepared as they said this is much interesting than a partying with just the boys and so from there we started our brain storming.
Surpsingly, all of them are good with studying though some of them were contary as their looks doesn't really matched their skills. You can never really know people based on looks so the saying don't judge the book by its cover was legit.
"I think we need a better plot than this." Kei suggested.
We were trying to prepare a proposal play that can capture the audiences interest and it should be original. From the script, characters, settings and props, all of it should be from our own imagination and effort as this will determine if we will pass this semester or not so we need to do our best.
"How about a plot like the play Romeo and Juliet? But let's mix it with some fantasy?" Johnny suggested.
"What kind of fantasy?" Hana asked.
"Reincarnation?" Jacob said.
My mind went blank for a moment...
They kept suggesting things to make it possible for the plot to work but none of their suggestions are matching. Ethan seems to notice that I was being quiet the whole time so he then asked me for my suggestion.
"What do you think Illa?"
I was anxious for a moment as they all laid there eyes on me. I actually don't know what to suggest.
Well, should I just say something based on experience?
"How about a girl who keeps being reincarnated after dying the moment she met her first love?" I said.
I was actually scared to say it as I don't know what reactions they will give knowing that it was my own story that I have myself.
"That was kind of deep but I think it will work." Jay said.
I was both relieved and bothered too since it is like we were writing my whole life story now that I suggested that.
"So what should we do about the settings and the characters?" Lia asked.
"How about --"Jay was trying to suggest something but Jacob cuts him off out of nowhere and said something as if he was talking to himself...
"Era of an old nation's war..." he paused for a while and whispered as he looked at my direction.
"Amiya..."
It was that moment when I feel like I was suffocating... As if I was dying helplessly like I did in my previous lives.
"That was cool! I like that, it has a nice ring to it!" William exclaimed.
I abruptly stand up from my position and ran towards the balcony to get some fresh air.
I was so confused...
Jacob... It was my first time meeting him as all my life I haven't seen nor heard anything about him. I'm not so sure how did he even know those names he mentioned back there and it scares me.
Is he Yuan? Solon? But how come he has a different face? Their names isn't matching and there was zero resemblance, not with the personality either.
Who the heck are you Jacob!?
I was still catching my breath when Hana approached me.
"Are you okay? You suddenly left." She worriedly asked.
While still catching my breath, I nodded and tried my best to answer.
"I was just... Hyperventilating... I need some fresh air." I said as an excuse though I really felt like I was dying back there.
"Take a rest first, well finish the first part. You can join us later." She said as she handed me a glass of water then she left me alone afterwards.
I took a deep breath to calm down and tried to convince myself that this was all a coincidence.
There is no way Jacob would be someone from my past life. I've never seen someone like him from before or even if I did, he doesn't have anything to do with me.
It was just always the people who are connected to Solon or Yuan so how come he knew those names...
And also, there was only one who can remember that name but it was just one time... Back then when I met Solon along with Monica and Ash... That was the only time that name was mentioned and ever since that, no one remembered it as if that name never existed.
My head hurts as if it was being splitted into half...
It took me a while to finally get myself together and it seems like they were almost done with the fist part of the story so I gathered all the courage left in me and went back inside.
I don't want to be a free loader in this group, I though.
I cannot risk my future here with just a 'what if' or a plain coincidence with what Jacob said so I decided to go back.
"Illa! Are you feeling better now?" William asked.
Lia came to me as well and hugged me.
"We were taking a break let's eat!" she cheerfully said as if she was lifting my mood.
And then they handed me a pile of food. It was like a tower of food to be exact.
They all looked at me with their all smiley face while expecting me to eat all of it but I seriously can't.
"Everyone, she can't eat all of these." a guy from behind said as he took the plate from me.
I turned around and saw him...
The guy who started all these miseries that I had before...
The Prince who once tormented me but never appeared even once after I got reincarnated...
Yuan...
The other man I hated the most...