"Did you understand?" He didn't know how many times he had asked the same thing. However, every time he receives a nod in response, his heart fills with satisfaction
"Yes, sir." The young boy voiced before he asked, "Should I solve this question?"
Looking at the time, the older one shook his head, "No, do this at home. And also, prepare for your test, okay?"
Receiving a smiling nod from the young boy, the man got up from his seat and walked out of the room.
"Ah, Mister Lex, will you not stay for dinner?"
The man, Lex, shook his head with a smile, "Thank you for the offer, but I am good." It wasn't the first time for the lady to ask him dinner, however, considering it was already dinner time, everyone else must be waiting to have dinner together. Under such circumstances, he would have been a burden on them.
Making his way out of the apartment, he heaved a long weary sigh.
It was already eight on the clock, three days before Christmas.
Thinking about Christmas, he took out his phone.
The only person he recently sent several messages to was his girlfriend...or more like ex.
[Hey, you really won't talk?]
[Let's celebrate Christmas together?]
Every relationship requires time. However, Lex couldn't give the time she asked for because he was packed with work.
When she texted, he couldn't respond. And when he got free she was sleeping or busy with her friends.
Their distance slowly started to widen, and now, she has stopped responding to him.
'At least, you should have understood me...' His girlfriend was also his childhood friend, so his situation was not hidden from her.
'Haah, forget it.'
It has been like this for quite some time...for him to return home late even though the temperature has fallen below zero.
It was thanks to the fact that the kids he teaches all live in the community. That's why he never found the necessity for transportation. However, the current weather was making it difficult to even walk for half a mile.
"Hey, returning home?" He met the owner of the convenience store nearby who was closing his shop.
"Hello." Lex greeted the man before adding, "Yeah, just finished with the work."
The older man frowned, before asking, "Have you looked at yourself lately, son? Your eyes and complexion don't give a good sign. Exactly how many hours are you working these days?"
Lex pondered for a moment before responding, "Eleven hours...?"
The man was stunned, "And you are preparing for the college entrance exam as well, no?"
Lex wryly smiled, "I have no other financial resources and I wouldn't have gotten any other job. This home tuition was thanks to the connections I had."
These days, parents don't allow a teacher to educate their children unless they have a diploma or master's degree. However, thanks to the connection and his reputation, they agreed to hire him.
The shop owner sighed, "Look kid, you are killing yourself under the burden of the loan which your parents left behind. In my opinion, you should file a case against the loan lenders and get yourself some much-needed rest."
Lex sighed...if only it had been that simple. What case can he file when his father took money from an infamous gang for whom he used to work?
But well, not like he could tell that to the kind old man,
"Okay, I will think about it." All said, he gave a slight bow and walked away from the man.
Exhaling audibly he held his bag close to him, trying to garner some warmth from the bag.
His steps were slow since the pedestrian path was covered with snow.
Stopping at the traffic light even though no cars were coming. Well, it's kind of a side effect of being a teacher; he has started following rules and become disciplined.
*Blink*
The traffic light turned green as he finally stepped on the road. The street crossing was broad and his steps were slow; as such, he never had the time to move away when a car came drifting his way.
Lex's eyes widened as he saw the tires screeching against the path, and the driver honking, but to no avail.
His feet were plastered to the surface and eyes widened.
And just like that,
**CRASH**
Lex Willson died at the age of 19.
The end...
....
...
..
"Huh?"
Pushing himself away from wherever he lay, Lex breathed roughly. His mind was in chaos as everything he stared at threatened him and scared him.
He could barely feel his body, as he turned his head left and right.
"Where...what .." he couldn't discern what just happened.
He was hit by a car and found his body flying...however, just as he lost consciousness, he found himself waking up here.
Wait..."Where am I?"
He couldn't ascertain where he was since the place was nothing like a hospital room. His clothes were different, but not a white gown. His body was aching but nothing was broken. His body was drenched not in blood but in sweat.
"Am I dreaming or am I dead?" Lex rubbed the back of his head. Heaving a long sigh, he first calmed down before turning toward his left.
The room...was full of books and things which made it seem ancient.
The potent smell of incense was quite annoying to his nose but he didn't focus on that.
While he was scratching his head, he noticed that his hair was longer and he seemed taller than before.
His eyes then landed on a wash basin in the corner of the room. And on the wall above the basin was a mirror.
Lex took a strong gulp. He would be lying to say that he wasn't expecting something here. Something that starts with 'R'.
He slowly stepped toward the mirror and finally looked at his face.
Chocolate caramel eyes looked back at him in the mirror. Long dark wavy hair cascaded down his forehead as Lex looked at 'himself.'
His mouth was parted agape as he tilted his head, "Why the hell this face seems so damn familiar...?"
------**------
A/N:- Save the book in the library.