The New me

It was night time when we reached home. After I came out of the hospital, I asked the driver to send me to a nearby mall as my heart seemed heavy. I needed a little distraction, and a crowded area was the perfect place for me. I stayed there for an hour before deciding to return.

The distance back was a little longer due to the traffic. I listened to music while keeping my eyes closed, setting up a barrier to the outside confusion.

My mood that got better after my stroll decreased to a certain level after being informed that my parents were home. If this was a game, then I'm probably meeting the first boss of a dungeon. How I live or die depends on my ability.

"How's my darling?" I suddenly found myself pulled into a hug. The woman who asked me looks sophisticated and pretty.

"G-good." I hugged her in return. If my guess was right, then this person should be the mother. I was a little surprised to see a younger version of 'my own' mom here.

"Really?" She studied my face before continuing, "I'm sorry, I did not accompany you on your appointment."

So, she was talking about that. "It's fine, Mom, I understand. There's nothing wrong with me. My vision and hearing stayed the same."

"That's good. Come, accompany your father and me to dinner." She finally let go of me but still held my hand as she led me all the way to the kitchen.

A man was already sitting down when we entered the dining area.

He was the father. I was certain. He, together with the Mother, really looks like a young version of my own parents. They had different names, though. While my parent's skin was getting all wrinkly, this body's parents had maintained their looks.

"Come and take a seat." The father gestured to sit right next to him.

I went to sit slowly as he watched me. My mother sat opposite me.

"Dad," I called.

"Hn." He let out a sound. He was eating his food, but I can see that he is keeping an ear out for me.

'Nothing. I accidentally called you' was on my mind, but I rejected it and said: "Sorry for not going to work today and the other day."

I was waiting for the "That's okay" or "No big deal", but what I got was,"Tell that to your mother."

So I turned to my mother, my eyes probing.

"Nonsense, you submitted a request for your off when you met up with Lily, and even if you went today, you were only gonna be there for half the time." Mother's point was 'It made no difference.'

I blushed in shame. I even choked on water.

"Pft. Haha!" Came a healthy laughter from both sides.

"That's true." The agreement came from my father.

I sincerely couldn't decide on how to disagree with them. "I'll get better," I finally said.

"Oh~ we're joking, darling. Relax, don't keep it to heart." Mother patted my arm. I smiled at her.

"So, how was your day?. The maids told me you felt sick in the morning." I heard father ask.

He was finally asking, huh. "Yes, I was a little nauseous before. They took good care of me at home, so the feeling went away quickly."

Father nodded and kept quiet. I decided to carry on. "The hospital said that I'm doing okay. My vision did not get worse, so I'm keeping my contact lenses. There's also no need to readjust my glasses. " I narrated the whole story to them, keeping all the unnecessary details out of it. "My hearing is also the same. They checked the hearing aid and reprogrammed it."

"That's great, then." Father looks obviously relieved with my hospital visit. Though Iris Lin's vision won't return to normal, at the very least, it wouldn't continue to decline.

That's a lie. I felt that it was because of me being in this body that things weren't going south. There's a significant possibility that the real Iris Lin, the owner of this body, was going to go blind. Her records said so.

The atmosphere lightened up, and we kept talking. It seemed that this body's parents doted on her. My stomach swelled as I munched on my food.

I headed back to my room after dinner, while 'my' parents were left alone as they needed to talk to each other.

I was going to read some work-related files when my phone lit up. Luke had sent 'me' a message.

"Hey, how did it go? You are okay, right?

You always have that crestfallen face after your hospital appointment.

I'm sorry I am not there to accompany you.

Don't worry; we'll see each other soon.

Let's hang out again when it happens.

Mom said she misses you.

Take care always."

The more I read, the more suspicious I got. Although this guy doesn't send overly sweet messages, but it does contain a good amount of concern. The last line was as though it was him that misses 'me' and not his mother. This Luke is supposedly a friend, a brother. He was two years older than Iris Lin and Lily He.

'Are they perhaps dating secretly? Or are they having a 'some-relationship?'

Perhaps it would only be answered the moment we meet. Half of me was looking forward to it. I was itching for the gossip. Whether it was a 'some' or platonic, it would be good to have it clarified for my own sake.

The other half, however, is uncertain as sometimes the closer you are, the easier it is to see even the slightest discrepancy in a person's actions or words. This relationship was also related to me after all.

Sometimes, I wish that what happened to me is like the novels where a soul transmigrates to another body yet keeps both memories with them. That would save me from any form of blunder, and I can react better to my environment.

In the end, fantasy and reality are two different worlds.