"What time is it? Uh it's so hot"
"Huh? Why does my voice sound like a child's? Wait, why is my hand so small? Hold on, don't tell me?"
I hurriedly run towards the mirror and gasped with a big mouth exhaling the words, "I've become a child!"
I looked around and was feeling the emotions of nostalgia in my old bedroom.
"This is a whole new level of nostalgic feelings. Oh my God am I dreaming?"
I stopped looking around and gathered my composure. I slapped my face many times while saying "Wake up" repeatedly. Then after all that checking I finally accepted the fact that I am really back in the time when I was a child.
I again went to the mirror and caressed my face. "My babyface, oh how I missed you. Goodbye acne-covered puberty!" I yelled while my hands are raised pointing upwards. Then I realized that I was too small to even reach anything.
My voice was too high-pitched and also a little bit quiet. I even wondered why was I alone. Are my family here? Where are they? I looked at the calendar and it was the year 2005. So, I knew I was five years old. Also, I was born in 2000 on December 28.
I went outside my room and looked for them and to my not surprised expression... they were just working and my brother was playing the old gaming console we used to play together. Now that I'm back here I can play it again. I was excited but I remembered that "if I were a child how should I react?" I don't want them to know that I could speak fluently even though I was still five years old.
I'll just have to walk like an imbecile baby for now. What should I say? "Goo goo ga ga? Boo Boo Ba Ba?" Ugh, never mind the talking I'll just not talk like that, I think I'm being too ignorant here. I'm a five-year-old, of course, kids this age knows how to talk a little.
I went closer to my brother and asked if I could play with him. But before I could talk, my mother saw me and grabbed me, then walked towards my brother and asked him to play with me.
Oh, thank you mother for having to do it for me. I will make sure you won't have to work so hard when I turn 22, this is the reason why I want to go back in time.
I was then settled down next to my brother and played the game together. Then I remembered something. Wait, why do we have a gaming console at this early age, aren't we supposed to play with kids' toys like puzzle cubes, action figures, or something?
I tried to remember if this was what really happened before, but then I finally realized that this was the case. When I was young some of my relatives gave us toys to play and one bought this gaming console for us to play with, but my parents were hesitant to receive it, but that relative, I can't remember who it was, told them that it's okay, they need a little bit more fun that blocks and toys right?
If I were to say something. I for one will not allow them. Why you might ask. If we didn't play games this early we wouldn't have been wearing eyeglasses so early on.
So I decided to ask my mother to carry me up again and me saying with a goo goo ga ga expression. "Mama me hungwy" While pointing at my open wide mouth.
Then my mother laughed and told me, "Why are you talking like that, you're not a baby anymore"
Then my mind went blank and felt ashamed that I really don't remember how to act my age. I was too old, for me to remember those days. I should've asked, to have all my memories since I was a child. My weak memory, why have you forsaken me?
This went on until I finally reached the point I can remember a scenario in which I wanted to change. The day that I'm going to enroll in grade school. In my past life, I became a repeater and that changed my life for the worse. If I didn't repeat kindergarten, then I would be classmates with my brother and able to have good classmates instead of my previous one. I wasn't really looking forward it meeting my old classmates. but I was excited to be in the same class with all of the upperclassmen from my childhood. But what I anticipate the most is in high school. Where I first met my crush. And now I have the chance to be his classmate. But first I need to make sure that I don't repeat kinder.
I turned six and I finally got the hang of acting like a kid. Good thing my parents weren't that attentive. I sometimes forgot that I was a kid and end up mumbling some words about my plans. Good thing, at those times I was alone... I hope.
And I don't need to worry about my brother, because he's too indulged in playing games. I tried to tell him to stop playing but he fights back at me, thinking that I want it for myself. You idiot, I'm trying to save your eyes stupid.
Even if try and try, I am still a child and I'm younger than him after all. But at least we don't fight that much. I remember when we were in middle school, our parents bought him a new gaming console, a portable one. And I got envious that I hid it and he scratched my face when he realized I was keeping it behind his back. Now that I am here, I will not let that happen, I want to retain this soft baby face of mine until I die.
The time has come. I am finally in front of that damn school. In front of the principal's office. I will make sure she will make enroll as a first grader than make me repeat kinder. She only did that because I was too young, even though I had a classmate who is younger than me too. It's only because she was smart and I was dumb, Blah blah blah.
I endured my two years as a kindergartener. Now is the time when I show her how smart I am now. My mother went inside her office and then told her to enroll both of her sons in the same grade. the principal then began to say the words, "Your youngest son is too young he needs to repeat his year in kinder" Then my mother replied, "But he already finished all of kindergarten, is there a way you can think past this?" Then the principal proceed to inform her, "I'm sorry Mrs.-" Then I interrupted her by knocking at her door. "Come in," The principal said.
"Sorry for the intrusion," I said, then looked both towards them giving me a surprised look.
"Mother I'm sorry to overhear you outside but why are you taking so long, is there a problem?"
The principal couldn't hide the fact that she was astounded at how I was talking to my mother with a composed attitude. My mother then proceeded to tell me, "Dear, please wait outside we were about to finish". Then I replied, "It's okay mother take your time, then if you excuse me".
Then my mother turned around to face the principal. As she look at her face she saw that she was taken aback by her words. Then she realized that she change her mind.
My mother then walked out of the office and hugged me saying "You're going to be in the same class as your brother"
"Really?" I asked. And my mother replied with a satisfied smile on her face, then said, "Really"
My brother then asked us what is happening, and why we were excited. Then my mother held his hand and then told us that she is buying us ice cream.
You might think, "Why is my mother acting that way, it seems like she knows what I'm up to".
To tell you the truth, I don't know it either. For me, I speculate that she just thinks that I am a mature child. She thought that I was so smart and so responsible at such an early age. That she gave in to the idea that her youngest son is a prodigy.
To put it quite frankly, I was never complaining about my food, I never asked them to wash my butt after taking a dump, I never played video games, and just asked for coloring books or something read. I was too keen on thinking that they aren't very attentive. But I forgot to consider the thought that I am a child and wasn't aware that every move I made was different from a normal young kid. Maybe they changed and became more attentive toward me. And I might think, that they will spoil me more than my brother now. Because in my past life, they always spoil my older brother more than me. Even though I was already a good kid. So, what was the difference? I already planned out how things would go. So, why are things different? Is this the consequence?
...
Before I traveled through time and became my younger self. I was thinking about how I wanted to change my life for the better. I aimed to be a performer or entertainer. Who makes movies or sings in concerts? But it all died because I didn't get to study at my preferred school. My parents were too overprotective of me because when I was eight years old, I got lost when we went to church. And they were so nervous that that became a trauma for them. But the reason how they found me seems too good to be true.
They said I was watching a group of kids playing in the park. And one of the kids saw my father looking for someone and they showed them my location. Both of my parents were relieved but when I asked them about what happened at that time. They can't fully remember what really happened the only thing they remember is that they found thanks to those kids I was watching playing.
But I still ask myself to this day. Why did no one abduct me? Why was I watching kids play? I remember I was hungry and my brother went out to eat too with our aunt before. That's the reason why I went out by myself. I can't remember anything. I don't remember watching children playing. All I can remember is I saw a man in white clothes. Then asked me if I was okay. I wasn't also in a park I was walking in a bright area where all I can see is white. It wasn't blinding and it didn't hurt my eye. But all that I said only came back to my memory when I met that mysterious man again.
In the year 2022, I was lying in bed. Contemplating my life choices. I am unemployed. Still living in my parent's house. I have no chance of finding jobs that suit me. My parents have a family business but I can't manage it. They were not in a hurry for me to find a job. That is why I'm grateful to them but it left me empty and guilty. My brother already has a job. And my crush is already out there in the world doing who knows what.
I was crying so hard wishing I could go back in time and change the things that should happen, and shouldn't.
I don't want to repeat kindergarten.
I don't want to be the lowest rank in class.
I want to be in the same class as my brother.
I want to study at my preferred college of music and filming.
I want to fulfill my parents by giving them what I owe to them, making them stop working just to feed me.
I want to have a relationship with my crush, instead of not telling him how I feel.
I want to change the world when I am still young.
I don't want to waste any more time.
I want to be the real me. And never got to pretend how I really am. No more pretending to be weak. No more pretending that I am useless, talentless, worthless, hopeless, and loveless.
Lord God, I want to go back in time to when I was still a child before I enrolled in grade school so that I will prevent the principal from making me repeat kinder, and also do the things I never get the chance to do. Please let me keep all of my memories so that I know what I must do. I will take in all of the consequences if I have to.
I remember after thinking about those things, I fell asleep and had a vision where I'm in a white room, it was bright but not blinding. I met a familiar figure. Someone wearing all white. His face is hard to describe. It's like he has no face. Then that person spoke saying, "We meet again Yohan Godrick"
"How do you know my name?" I asked.
"I was the one who took care of you when you were young, of course, I know your name" the white figure replied.
"Who are you and I don't seem to recall meeting you before?" I asked with a weary tone.
"When you were young, you were lost right?" the figure proceed to approach me.
"Wait what do you mean?" I replied while I was trembling in confusion.
"Don't be afraid, relax, I'm not going to hurt you. Instead, I will grant your wish" the figure said those words with a very calm voice.
My heart was beating fast, not knowing the circumstance. I am talking to a stranger and saying that my wish can be granted. So I replied with a question to understand the situation, "What do you want from me?"
"I do not want anything from you, I just want to see you happy" the figure began to appear vividly in front of me, showing me a slight view of its face.
Its face is like smooth marble tracing around with an image of a male person. Its voice is soft but deep like a man's voice. I was astonished at how very beautiful it was even though it has no eyes nor mouth, no ears, and nose. Then I bravely asked it another question.
"What is your name, answer my question before, Who are you?"
"I am your hope, Yohan" the way it said those words made me almost burst into tears. Wanting to believe this is all true and that this mysterious person is not fooling me.
Then he began to explain to me what happened when I was a child. After that, I accepted everything and decided to trust its words. But still, have my doubts. He then proceeds in telling me these:
"You will go back in time and change some parts of your life you wish to change. However, if you let them know that you came from the future, if that person took it seriously, you will face the consequences. You will face events that you are familiar with but you will also face scenarios you never thought would've happened. Do not think that the things that happen before will happen again if you repeat everything according to them. You will take into consideration how others perceive you, and how they interact with you. Never let destiny change the path for you. If you do, you will just end up repeating what happened, and might even turn out to be worse than it should've been. Always keep it to yourself. The action you'll take will depend on the situation. Preventing things will need calculations and presumptions. If you don't want to lose such events do so accordingly with the right mind and the right precautions. I will be there alongside you. So do not worry."
I tried to take all that information in my brain so I won't forget. Then, it said something in the end that left me shocked.
"I am not God. However, you are now a s*****a***** b****. Be careful not to meet the-..." the words slowly faded away.
I spaced out and began to feel nauseous. When I woke up, I have come to the realization that I went back in time as a kid.
...
The year 2007.
I am now inside the first-grade classroom. I'm with my brother and all of his classmates are still the same people. I am excited to start this day.
The teacher went inside and I was shocked, that the teacher who was once my favorite was the adviser of this class, Ms. Carol. Still happy about it, she then told everyone to seat down. I happily obliged obediently with a happy smile on my face, until...
"Sorry, Teacher. My son is late, we had a bit of a traffic problem, is it alright for him to sit" a familiar woman appeared at the door.
"Of course, Ma'am. Your son sits right next to Mr. Godrick in the front row," said Ms. Carol.
As the woman asked her son to not be shy and grabbed his arm. Then as soon as I was about to hit the boy's face, I came to the realization... that that person was...
Dylan!?
...
How is this possible? Why is he here? I don't remember him studying here. I was supposed to meet him in high school. Why? What? How? Is this another consequence?