Smoky sky

A SPECIAL ABILITY?

Charlie took a day to accept her new situation and being a practical person, she decided that she should very quickly accept her second chance and studiously study to make something of herself this time. It has been five years since she had to take these exams after all, she will need to catch-up on lost time.

That day she hugged her much younger looking mum and siblings as she marveled at how quickly time flew. She has been too busy lately to notice that her sibling’s growth spurt and physical markers of their teenage development. But now seeing them small again and her mum’s stressed eyes, Charlie is reminded of how difficult their family situation has been.

The financial difficulties of her family had resulted in her committing in her own resources and prioritizing her family above her own needs and wants. This time around, she must find a way to have both, so that she will not be filled with regret once more and waste her second chance.

The next morning, she decided that the best way to win in this life is to not be distracted when sitting her exams. While she received a decent score in her previous life, she is determined to get better this time.

She always wanted to be a doctor but that needed a lot of dedicated study and effort. Luckily, she had come back a few months before the exams start so that she can effectively cram for her tests. It is a daunting task, but she is willing!

To start, Charlie decided to tackle the subject she found the most difficult to study first. Remembering how much she loathed physics it is best to get over that hurdle first, so she picked up the textbook and flicked through quickly.

When she finished reading the first chapter, she rubbed her eyes and thought it strange. It has been five years since she studied physics but now, she can remember every single word of that chapter.

Determined to test whether she did remember everything, Charlie turned on the computer and began to type out from her memory. Surprising she could write out every single word from the chapter and understood everything she read.

Feeling a sense of disbelief, Charlie couldn’t believe what just happened, so she decided to do another test. She looked at all the complicated mathematics formulas that she had learnt in the advanced math textbook and then proceeded to work through a test paper. Sure enough, she answered everything correctly.

At this point Charlie’s heart pounded rapidly and she is flushed with joy. Not bothering to fight the uncontrollable urge, she jumped up and down doing victory poses. This is how it feels like to be on top of the world! She received a golden finger from her rebirth, she now possesses a photographic memory as well as genius level intelligence.

Her tired mum was pleased seeing her daughter locking herself to study, pride swelled in her heart. With a head down bums up attitude, Charlie read all textbooks and redid all available test papers. Last time round, she was distracted with her family problems, but this time with her golden finger and knowledge of the future, Charlie just calmly blocked out all the drama.

“Charlie, your little friend, Monica is on the phone,” said mum as she knocked on Charlie’s room door.

Charlie rushed out happily, she nearly forgot to call her best friend! They used to see each other every day at school and walked home together. On the weekends they would hang out to study or just chat on the phone.

The day Charlie was reborn, the all-girls school she attended had finished their school graduation, this meant that final year students would have effectively two weeks to study at home before sitting eight weeks of exams.

They have just received their exam schedule yesterday and Mon has been waiting to talk to Charlie about it. Charlie had forgotten about all of this when she woke up and being preoccupied with her golden figure.

“Hello, Mon, I miss you so much!” said Charlie into the phone while wrapping the cord around her pointer finger as is her habit. When mobile phones replaced home phones, this was what Charlie missed the most.

“Oh, you are so funny, I miss you too, even though it only as been two days,” giggled Mon on the other side. Mon’s voice is gentle and feminine, matching with her beauty. She has a friend personality and loves talking. Mon is the life of a party with her ability to talk, this made the Charlie and Mon pair perfectly sync as Charlie prefers to listen and contribute as oppose to being the centre of attention.

“I still miss you so much, this is going to be long and lonely weeks because I can’t see you. We only have four exams in common!” said Charlie teasingly. It is true that she missed Mon a lot, in her future, Mon had moved to another city to study accounting and found a job there afterwards.

After high school ended, they went to different universities and only saw each other on special occasions when Mon returned. Charlie also regretted spending so much time with Louis and neglected her friendships, causing them to drift even further away.

“Alright, I miss you too hehe…I think at the rate we are going, your Louis will be so jealous!” said Mon giggling, she is embarrassed by her friend’s sweet words, but also happy to hear her voice again.

“I’m going to break up with him, so he won’t get jealous,” said Charlie bluntly, making a mental note to call Louis after this.

“Why? Didn’t you guys start dating two months ago? I thought you like him…do tell me more!” asked Mon in quick succession.

“Well, nothing much to say. I need to concentrate on the exams, I don’t need a boyfriend now and I don’t think I like him that much,” said Charlie ruthlessly.

Mon shook her head when she heard Charlie’s words, saying, “I don’t believe this, we keep telling you, but you were so determined to start dating. I hate to say this, but I told you so, hehe”.

“Yes, you were right, I was too stubborn,” said Charlie.

“How are you going to break it to him?” asked Mon curiously, she has never had a boyfriend and her best friend is already going to dump someone.

“After this call, I’ll give him a call and talk to him seriously, I think.”

“No, it’s exam time for him as well, that would be mean,” said Mon, she is too compassionate, but when she thinks that exams in university is so important to someone’s future, breaking up with a person during this period would be just too cruel.

“Oh, that’s right, he has two weeks of exams and then he will go on a break. I’ll break up with him then, unless he calls me earlier, then I will have to tell him,” said Charlie, feeling very little empathy for this man knowing what he will do to her in the future.

“For his sake, I hope he doesn’t call you. I didn’t realise you could be so tough. Charlie, tell me, are you sure nothing happened? It’s so sudden!” asked Mon, truly curious, just two days ago her best friend was smitten but now ruthlessly discarding her pampering university aged boyfriend.

“Would you believe me if I told you that I am from the future and I have returned to the past? In the future, he cheated on me with a man and god only know who else?” asked Charlie in a joking tone.

There was silence on the phone for a few seconds before Mon’s laughter rang out, it is a lovely laugh, very feminine, very soft and light, just like the person she is.

“Okay, he is not a good man, I get it. Charlie, you are hilarious. I believe you have a vivid imagination that would really help with the English test coming up,” said Mon in between giggles.

Charlie smiled, sure, who would believe her, it is such an outrageous reason. She does not feel like being nice to Louis, but to be fair, the current guy is innocent, and he has been pretty good to her.  Maybe she should let him down gently and Mon does have a point, it is blasphemy to distract someone from their exams.

“Anyways, I called you about the exam schedule. We only have four exams together and yours end the latest. I’m thinking we can organize time with the girls after the final exams to celebrate. What do you think?” asked Mon.

“I think that is an excellent idea Mon! You are always the most considerate!” said Charlie with great satisfaction. Mon is always an organiser and thinks thoroughly, sometimes to the point of overthinking. But that is all part of her charm, she is such a gentle and beautiful woman but slightly neurotic at times.

After ending their conversation half an hour later, Charlie really felt like she has returned to her past. It is a wonderful feeling, even though she doesn’t know any winning lottery numbers, she is sure that her special ability is even better!

Charlie decided that Mon is right, she should wait until after Louis’ exams to tell him, but not any longer than that. Charlie is too impatient and also inconsideration of his s****l orientation, he sooner he realise it, probably the better for him.

Waiting for two weeks, after she received confirmation from Louis that his exams are done, Charlie set off to the university campus to see him. She wanted to surprise him with a special lunch and then break it off gently.

Thinking like that, she prepared some kimbap and baked cute cookies with cartoon shapes stamped on. Charlie even brewed a special rice tea that she knew he loved, this should be enough to sweeten the breakup, she thought.