Again?!

CHAPTER 3: AGAIN?!

We already arrived at the 'America's History Hall' and we are about to begin our tour after a few reminders.

"Hello! Good morning everyone! I am Ms. Heather, you're guide for this day. So before we start, let me say a few reminders. First! Taking photos is not allowed, you can only use a notebook and ballpen if you want to jot down some pieces of information. Second! You cannot eat inside the hall. Last! Enjoy this tour, and I hope you will learn something from me. So are you ready?" She said

"Yes, Ms. Heather!" We answered in a refrain

"Okay! Let's go!" She said and started walking. As we enter the hall, I am so amused because the ambiance replicates the past.

"Everyone! Please take a seat, because I will discuss the photos you are seeing now." Said Ms. Heather, so we sit on the floor and she started talking.

"Do someone here believe in reincarnation?" She started. Everyone seems they believe in reincarnation but they are just shy about raising their hands, so I raised mine, and a moment later, they are raising their hands one by one.

"Oh! So you do all believe in reincarnation!" She said seemingly happy. We just nod at her and she started talking again.

"Well! I also believe in reincarnation because, believe me, or not, I have experienced living in the past." After hearing that, I remember what had happened to me, when I woke up in a different body. Maybe, that was my past life? Argh! Impossible! I shook my head to remove that thought.

"It sounds impossible, right? At first, I don't believe that it is happening to me, but when every morning I am waking up in that same place, I just accepted it, and little do I know, I discovered something that is connected to my present life." She said, everyone in the room is quiet and comprehending what she just said.

"Okay! So, as you can see these are the pictures when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941. The American aircraft were severely damaged, which leads to withdrawal to Java on December 12, 1941." She said. Oh, I knew this one. After that attacked, the Japan armies invaded the Philippines, and the infamous Bataan Death March, occurred which leads to 7,000 to 10,000 death and murdered. I just came back to my senses when my friend informed me that it's time to go.

The tour has ended fast that I didn't notice it's time to go home. Our tourist guide is stating her finishing words until I felt dizzy. I was about to fall, but thankfully I grabbed the shoulder of my friend.

"Hey! Astra, are you okay?" She said. I just nod at her, but the dizziness I am feeling gets stronger. I can't fight the dizziness that I am feeling so I try my best to sit on the stair. Argh! I hate this, I need to go home.

"Hey. Shy, can you guide me until we reach the bus?" I said

"Yes. Come, can you stand?" She said, I just shook my head. I don't want to talk, because I might vomit.

"Okay. I will count to three, On three I will pull you up, okay?" She said, and I just nod again.

"One" I am preparing myself to stand.

"Two"

"Thre----"

Everything went black.

As I open my eyes, I see a familiar room and a familiar face sleeping on the couch beside my bed. Oh no! They are the family of the Athena girl! Oh no! No! No! Don't say that, I am back as the Athena girl?

"Ahhhhhh!" I screamed out of the fear that I am feeling right now, and with that everyone wakes up.

"Oh my god! What's that?" The father of the Athena girl said. Everyone is in chaos and a moment after they looked at me at the same time.

"Oh my god! Finally my Athena, you woke up!" The woman said and hugged me tightly. With that, all of them went near me and hugged me also. I try to push them but they are not moving an inch. God! They are so clingy! I hate them!

"Will you please let go?!" I said with an annoyed voice. Everyone seems shocked by what I acted.

"Athena?" The woman said like she was checking if I am the real Athena.

"I'm not Athe----" I said but got interrupted by the guy, that if I remember correctly he is the fiance of the Athena girl. Oh! He is good at remembering.

"Astraea?" He said. My eyes sparkled with the happiness that I am feeling because he remembers my behavior.

"Yes!" I said, but he shook his head.

"No! I am just kidding, it's not true that you are Astraea girl?" He said and laugh. Unbelievable! I thought that he remember my behavior! Oh god!

"Athena, my daughter. How are you? Why are you acting like that again?" The old woman said, and I remember that she is Athena's mother named Mrs. Edlia Dela Cruz. They call again the doctor and checked me again. As he said before, I am suffering from personality confusion, but little do they know I am Astraea, and I do not know them. After the doctor left, they look so down and sad because they might be expecting to see the real Athena.

"Athena, my daughter. Maybe it's best for you if we leave you alone for a moment, so your mind will be at peace and remember who you are." Mrs. Edlia said and kissed my forehead before heading outside the room. They all left the room, and I am now in peace.

I lay on my bed and think about what is happening to me, and why it is happening to me, until I remember what our tour guide said that she also experienced, living on her past life. Maybe, it is also happening to me, and I need to discover something here, that is connected to my present life. I try to reminisce about what happened earlier when the doctor is asking me some questions.

"So Ms. Astraea, what is the date today?" This is the question that the Doctor, asked me twice today, and once before the last time, I am here. Also, if I remember correctly, Mrs. Edlia said that we are half Pilipinos and half Americans, I don't know if I am in America or the Philippines. Oh god! My head is aching from thinking about what is happening to me.

*Knock knock

I stopped thinking when someone knocks on the door. The door opened and saw that it was the 'Jetrick' guy. He is holding a plastic container that contains, food, and on his other hand is bottled juice.

"Hey!" He said while smiling. I just rolled my eyes at him, and avoid his gazes.

"What?!" I said not looking at him.

"I just bought food for you, you need to eat so your recovery will become faster." He said and handed me the plastic container and the bottled juice.

"I don't want to eat!" I said and pulled my blanket. Why is he so consistent? Athena's parents already gave up, but he? He's still here and taking care of me.

"Okay, I will just leave the food here." He said, and I heard that he left the room. As I heard that the door closed, I checked if he truly left but I was surprised when I saw that he is still sitting beside my bed.

"Oh my god!" I said in astonishment, and with that, he laughs in exaggeration.

"Hahahahahaha! Oh my god! The face you've made is priceless!" He said and continue laughing.

"Oh my god! Will you please stop laughing?!" I said. He tries his best to stop laughing, and he somehow managed.

"Okay, I will stop, but will you please eat?" He said, he truly looks so worried about me. Why is he so consistent? Argh! And why I am getting affected by his actions? God!

"Okay! Fine! I'll eat it!" I said and grabbed the plastic container. As I opened the container I saw a lot of rice and a black viand. Okay? What's this?

"What's this? Why is it black?" I said while poking the black thing.

"Hey! Stop doing that don't play with your foods." He said and grabbed my hand.

"Okay! Okay! Will you please stop touching me?" I said, he let go of my hand and started explaining the food.

"The food you are seeing is what we called 'adobo'. The reason it was black because it was marinated with soy sauce and vinegar." He said. Oh! That's why, it seems delicious, so I try a little and surprisingly, it was so delicious.

"Wow! It's delicious!" I said and continue eating, I didn't notice that I finished the food and burp. Jetrick tries to stop laughing, so he just handed me the bottled juice, I took it and thanked him. A moment of silence has occurred until I remember that I need to ask him something.

"Ahm! Jetrick, thank you for the food. But can I ask you something?" I said.

"No worries. What is it that you want to ask?" He said

"Ahm! What is the date today?" I said, while waiting for his response, I am hoping that my thought is wrong.

"Well, today is October 24, 1941." He said, and with that, my world suddenly broke down, and it confirmed my thought that I am experiencing what our tour guide has experienced. I try to calm myself, but I can't.

"Ahhhhhhh!" I screamed once again, and cry. I am not ready for this, what will I do if I didn't discover what I need to discover? I will live here forever! Oh no! Oh no! And today is October 1941?! A month before the Japanese will attack the Pearl Harbor, and invade the Philippines. Calm down Aea, calm down. I need to be smart with this, so from today onwards, I will be living as Athena and get every information I need, so I will discover what I need to discover here.

"Hey! Are you fine?" Jetrick said and hugged me. I will be the best actress of all time. I hugged him back, and it seems that he got shocked by what I did.

"I'm fine, thank you Jetrick for staying here," I said.

"No worries, I will never leave you mi amor." He said and kissed my forehead. I try my best not to act violently, and I just hugged him tighter.

"Te amo, mi amor," I said and looked at him, he seems so surprised. And a moment after, it seems that he swallowed what I just said, and hugged me once again.

"Oh my god! I thought that you are still the Astraea girl!" He said.

"Wait I will just call Mamang and Papang!" He said and left the room. Bleh! I think I will win the best actress award after this shit! A few minutes later, they are all here and hugged me. Maybe, today is the day that I need to forget that I am Astraea Jordan, and live as Athena Dela Cruz for a while until I get the information I need to end this shit.

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