Rushing through my morning routine on autopilot to get ready for school, I was pleasantly surprised by the clear recollection of my memories from the previous day, adding to the growing list of questions shelved in the back of my mind.
For now though, this discovery filled me with a sense of relief, as I'd hardly be expected to recall the names of my classmates or teachers from more than 20 years ago or recognise them at all.
'Maybe I merged with my younger self instead of taking over as I previously thought. That'd explain my emotional outburst earlier'
Shamelessly blaming my younger self for failing to control my emotions, I put on my school uniform and stood in front of the dresser mirror.
"Ugh. Early 2000s school uniforms were a fashion nightmare. I'm going to have to put up with people treating me like a child on top of looking tacky. Atleast I can do something about my hair"
"Nikhil, hurry up! You'll be late for school!" came a reminder in the concerned but bright voice of my mother.
Deciding I needed some space to sort out the numerous thoughts in my head, I bolted out of my room towards the entrance.
"Wait! You forgot to take your bag!", reminded my mom, halting my steps. Sensing her approaching, I turned around to witness a beautiful, caucasian lady approaching me with a concerned expression.
"Are you feeling alright? It's unusual for you forget your backpack"
Looking up at my mother's emerald green eyes, I reassured her with a smile, "I'm feeling fine mom. I was scared because of the nightmare"
Handing me my backpack, she bent down to plant a kiss on my forehead which I reciprocated with a small hug.
"My boy has grown up to be so brave", she whispered with a kind smile, before nudging me towards the door.
"Now off you go. And remember to invite your friends for the party in the evening!"
I exited my house and spotted my bicycle parked next to the door. Unlocking it with my key, I mounted the cycle and pushed off with my feet, speeding towards my school.
***************************
Time travel.
Since the rise of fantasy books and probably even before it, time travel has always been a recurring theme in entertainment.
From the Back to the future movies to the perennial Doctor Who show, time travel has been a popular trope, owing it's popularity, at least in part, to the unattainable wish of many - to be able to fix our mistakes, undo actions that we regret or do things we missed out on due to a lack of courage.
Most people have imagined what could have been with the power of hindsight, have spent countless nights regretting past actions, dreaming of a chance to do better, knowing the futility of their wishes.
"But I've been gifted this impossible chance for some reason. Why? Was the kid I saved the incarnation of God?", I thought out loud while pedalling on my cycle.
Looking up at a rare sunny and clear day, I took a moment to expand all my senses. Feeling the wind blowing on my face and the sweltering Sun on my skin, I could no longer deny that this was reality.
Which led me back to my prior thoughts, "And now that I have been given this opportunity, what should I do in the future?"
I couldn't help but think of football, feeling butterflies rising in my stomach at the excitement of being able to play it professionally again. With all of the realisations and understanding of tactics I gained from analysing countless matches between top tier clubs, I could most definitely fly higher.
I felt a huge grin spreading on my face as I pictured a rosy future before snapping out of it and harshly reprimanding myself, 'I already had quite a good understanding of tactics and space, but what is the use of better software when the hardware can't support it'
"I could preoccupy the best spot for scoring but it wouldn't matter if I cannot withstand the physical pressure from the defense. Not to mention my abysmal pass success rate, which rules out any chances of being a midfielder", I finished in a bitter tone.
I felt an intense urge to prove my pessimistic self wrong. My heart longed for the green field, to run wild but I bottled it up and chucked it into the depths of my mind as I spotted my rapidly nearing school.
*********************
Standing in front of my classroom, I prepared myself for the unique opportunity of getting to survive school again for a second time.
Walking into the classroom, my ears were met with the chaotic high pitched chatter of pre pubescent girls while my eyes observed the turbulent scene of overzealous 10 year old boys fighting and chasing each other.
'Great. Can't wait for the next few years to pass'
"Hey Nick! You're late!"
The accusatory greeting was accompanied by a soft punch on my shoulder, prompting me to point to the large Mickey mouse themed wall clock above the blackboard, "Last I checked, school didn't start until 8, Charlie"
"Wow! When did you learn how to tell the time?", asked Charlie with a shocked expression, but the twitching corners of his lips betrayed his teasing nature.
"I don't know, maybe since you were put in charge of tracking when everyone got here?"
".... Hahaha, good one. Finally, someone to play my jokes off of", perhaps surprised by behaviour which was unlike my previous 10 year old self, Charlie stared at me wide-eyed for a second, before bursting out in laughter.
"I'm glad to be of service", I answered with a small grin, before asking, "Now, can I drop off my bag?"
"'Course!", chirped Charlie before exclaiming, "Oops! Almost forgot! Happy birthday, Nick!"
"Thanks. There's a small party near my home later today, be sure to swing by if you're free" I replied with a smile.
A few boys eavesdropping on our conversation, rushed to us upon hearing that it was my birthday.
"Happy Birthday, Nick!", "Happy Birthday! Can I come too?"... "Happy Birthday!", came a chorus of wishes.
"Thanks, everyone! Everyone is welcome to attend", I replied with a gracious smile believing that most would have prior plans.
Seeing the commotion, the rest of the class slowly made their way towards us, each wishing me a happy birthday, with me thanking them and inviting them to the party later.
'At least let me put down my bag, guys', I lamented, as I fell into a pattern of thanking and inviting my classmates.
"What's all the ruckus about? Stop crowding the entrance and get back to your seats."
I was rescued by our teacher, Mr. Richards, as he walked into the classroom to start off the classes for the day.
"Also, many happy returns of the day, Patel", voiced Mr. Richards.
Arriving at my seat after making sure to be extra grateful to him, I was finally able to put down my bag and rest. I felt a wave of mental exhaustion as Mr. Richards got started on the first subject of the day - English.
'How am I going to survive through this for the next few years?'
//Author's Notes:
Please feel free to comment any suggestions or errors.
Understanding space: A term used to describe the sense of knowing where to position oneself during the match. Players with an excellent sense of space can make the opposition feel like they are all over the field with minimal movement.
Midfielder: The players responsible for the transition of defense to attack or vice versa acting as the lubricant and are often responsible for creativity during the match.
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