Chapter 2 "Second Life"

A week passed by.

Until now, I couldn’t believe that I came back to the year 2022, eight years ago from the present.

After I died from the accident, I opened my eyes and found that my 37-year-old body became 29-year-old again. No wrinkles and healthier bones. I regained my youth in just a flash.

At first, I thought that it was all a dream. But no dream would last until a week. Besides, the place, the sounds, and the scenery around me, they all look too real for a dream. All in all, it took me long days to believe this improbable scenario.

Not only I came back to the old apartment, which my son and I used to live in, but...

“Mom.”

I looked at my son. He has black hair, round eyes, a cute little face with chubby rosy cheeks and red lips. Looking at him, it was as if his body shrunk and turned baby again. No. This is not my 14-year-old son. He is my 6-year-old baby Eugene.

Same place.

Same people around.

Different ages.

It was only me who can remember what happened in the present time.

‘I know I should be happy that I was given another life. But, how is this happening to me? Why on Earth would it be possible to travel to the past?’

  

I looked back at my son and had another thought.

‘What if I was sent back to the past because I wished for another chance?’

I promised that if I live again, I will make sure that Eugene won’t regret being born in this world. If that is true, then I had to do what I failed to do in the past.

‘And that is to find his father.’

“Mom,” Eugene called me for the second time. He tilted his head while peering at me, as if wondering why I was wordless despite his call. “Are you alright? You look pale.”

Taking a breath, I cupped my cheeks. I guess, I don’t look good these past few days and my son probably noticed that I changed. Is it because I was having a hard time facing with his younger version?

The present Eugene is cold and quiet. He usually does not talk and just locks himself inside his room. Perhaps, I forgot how he used to be sweet when he was young, just like right now.

“I am fine, baby,” I said to him.

Eugene’s eyes twinkled as he smiled at me. “That’s great. I thought you were feeling sick, mom.”

Seeing the beam, the sob rose in my throat. I barely suppressed the tears of joy from coming out and covered my mouth.

‘This is my baby. My sweet angel. I promised that I will give you the best life this time!’

And to do that, I had to plan on how I’ll find Eric.

“Mom, do you remember your promise before?” Eugene said while fidgeting his hands around his old robot toy.

‘Promise? I just promised that I will give him the best life. But I guess that is not what Eugene was talking about.’

“What promise?” I asked.

He shyly bowed his head and bit his red lips.

‘So cute!’

“If teacher gave me a plus A for writing my name perfectly on my paper, you would give me a prize,” he said.

The beam on my lips gradually faded.

I remembered it now.

Years ago, Eugene told me the same thing. Then, I said that the prize is that we will move out of the house and go back to my mom’s province. Eugene has no friends in this village. At least, I thought he will be happier if we go back where he was born.

‘That day is today.’

However, unlike before, I have no plan of moving out anymore. We will stay in this village while I go and look for his father.

“You are right!” I said to Eugene as I clapped my hands. “I have a prize for you.”

“My teacher gave me an A plus. Does it mean I can get the prize today?” he shyly asked.

“Of course! What do you want to have? I will give it to you.”

With blush on his cheeks, Eugene murmured, “Candy. I want candy, mom.”

Candy?

That’s all?

‘Ahhh. I need to remember that I am dealing with my six-year-old son and not the 14-years-old.’

“My classmate said that his mom gave him candy as a prize. So, I wonder if that’s okay with you?”

My mouth opened and closed.

I almost asked him what’s the problem in giving him candy. Then, I recalled that when Eugene was young, I used to be strict when it comes to his health. I told him to always eat healthy foods because I was paranoid.

I didn’t realize that I stole his rights to enjoy being a kid, and that’s why Eugene matured earlier than the other kids.

It’s painful that I had to see the result before seeing my mistakes.

“Sure. Let’s go out and buy candy.”

In my words, Eugene’s eyes sparked. He was always happy whenever I gave him gifts, but this time, he looked happier.

I brought Eugene out and bought candies and chocolate for him. He was chuckling and smiling while opening the wrapper, and that made me elated as well. While walking back to our apartment, I thought of a plan; a mission to find his missing father, Eric Desmond.

Back before, I already tried searching his name on social media accounts. However, I found nothing and gave up.

‘Eric isn’t someone who loves using social media even when we are young.’

So, how can I find him?

I never had the will to find the man who suddenly disappeared the next morning after we accidentally slept together. Thus, it is my first time considering all choices to take to search for Eric.

“Should I contact the lost and found department? Or a radio segment?”

Whispering my ideas, I noticed my son glancing up on me while holding my hand. Then all of a sudden, a familiar deep voice called me from behind.

“Jane.”

  

Eugene and I turned around to see who called me. And when I saw his face, the candies I bought for my son slipped down from my cold hand.

“It is you, right? Jane,” Eric, my son’s father, said.