Chapter 1 - I'm old :
An old man lay on a hospital bed, frail and barely moving. He knew that the time had come after all the adventures he had experienced in his 70 years of life.
At the age of 1, almost 2, he began to talk and run. Yes, you read that right, run, not walk or stumble. His parents knew he was special. At the age of 3, he already understood basic math, could read, and was extremely talkative. However, everyone was annoyed not because he could talk, but because they couldn't understand what he was saying. His teacher loved him not because he was talented, but because of the way he spoke. He was kind and gentle with every word he chose.
By the age of 4, he already comprehended how physics worked, could solve algebra problems, and even drew a portrait of his teacher, leaving her astonished.
Teacher: "THIS IS AMAZING! You're so talented, Clark! How did you learn to draw and understand quantum physics? I don't even know what those are! But thanks to the internet, I know that you've created an equation for quantum... okay, enough of that. You should apply for a scholarship, Clark!"
And Clark replied, "I don't need a scholarship, Miss Amy. I just need to finish my school year so I can focus on studying even more. School makes me feel dumb. Every day I hear questions like 'What is 1 + 1?' and 'What is the animal that starts with E?'"
Miss Amy (Teacher): "Well, everyone needs to learn, but you are different from others. Why not help—"
Clark interrupted Miss Amy, saying, "Maybe you can help me by proving to them that I don't belong here and that I need more advanced knowledge rather than listening to some repetitive alphabet and letter lessons."
Miss Amy was speechless and terrified after all he had said. After all, he was just a 4-year-old with the intellect of a much older person.
Miss Amy tried to help Clark and reported it to the Principal's office. Clark and his parents were summoned to the Principal's office to prove that Clark didn't need to attend grade school.
Clark won and demonstrated that he was smarter than all the grade school students. Even the Principal was outmatched by his intelligence.
So, at the age of 6, he was sent to college with a scholarship covering all of Clark's expenses. He found the past four years of college boring and chose to major in Biological Sciences.
At the age of 10, he graduated and went on to attend college again and again, finishing nine Bachelor of Science degrees offered at his school. Yet, he never forgot to explore his interests in the gym, martial arts, sports, games, singing, dancing, horse riding, car racing, and traveling. He pursued all the things he wanted to explore, but none of them made him feel truly happy or energized.
Between the ages of 30 and 50, he invented many things but never shared them with the world, only seeking to impress himself, but these endeavors didn't fulfill him either. He managed to invent methods for converting seawater into drinkable water, generating electricity from water, and levitating objects, among many others.
At the age of 57, he began to slow down and feel lonely and depressed after his parents passed away.
At 60, he rushed to the hospital after fainting. Unfortunately, he never recovered and spent his last 10 years in the hospital.
Clark: "Life is strange. Life is inevitable. Everyone seems to hold onto it like a treasure, even though many dislike it. I still don't understand how life works. I don't know what life is. I don't know how to make the most of it. I'm sorry, self..."
As Clark slowly closed his eyes, the ECG flatlined.
Clark noticed something was off. He knew he had died, but he heard someone pushing, as if delivering a baby. He felt wet and sticky but couldn't see anything.
He heard voices but couldn't understand the language; it sounded foreign. A hand rested on his head, and suddenly, he felt like he was being pulled out of something. The sounds became clearer, but the language remained unfamiliar. He couldn't open his eyes due to the sticky fluids, but he managed to open them slightly and saw a woman holding him like a baby.
And then he realized - he had been reincarnated and remembered his past life.
End of Chapter 1.