《Reaching For the Stars》Chapter 3
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For a long time, I bashed my head and continuously wondered about the meaning of my life until at last I finally realized that even if I got answers, it wouldn't change much. I still had to live in this world.
I sighed and looked around my new surroundings.
It was a well-decorated room with a very comfortable bed that I was currently on, a desk right next to it, and a nightstand.
The right wall was not a wall, but a window opening to a balcony adorned with beautiful sets of plants.
Looking outside the window, I was surprised at the greenery all around and sleek urban buildings.
So not only was this world better in terms of technology, but it also did its part in sustaining nature.
I have never felt so good breathing air. It was cleanly entering and exiting my nostrils. I might as well get addicted to this, the fresh oxygen entering my lungs is so damn good.
Throwing my legs out of the bed, I attempted to stand up just to be completely thrown off by the distance in perspective I had. Since when were my legs so damn long?
I stood up and tripped trying to walk. Is it really that hard to adjust to walking? My center of balance felt so different and the muscles I had to use were different in proportion.
I walked to the mirror.
Is this me?
What?
Since when was I such a good looking devil? The hell? It's literally me with the same face structure, eyes, nose, and facial expressions but the dude I am staring at is unbelievable.
Wait. I have the same parents and even have the same sister? How is that possible? It should be completely unreasonable for the two exact same sperm cells to win over the rest of the billion even in a different environment.
How are my parents even alive? There should be different diseases, natural disasters, and variables that my parents and ancestor's lives should've been impossible to be the same. It's starting to horrify me that this also means the exact same people met and fell in love and did the deed at the exact same time as the past world.
Did not even a single one of them just randomly decide to pull out? How is it that I'm even existing in this world?
How did I even get to this topic? Oh right, I was talking about how I completely upgraded even with the same genes.
Touching my face, and going back into the memories I realized why. Dang, it's so annoying that I have to switch and search between both memories instead of just recalling at once.
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Anyway, it is normal for people to take meticulous care of their skin. I still can't seem to understand why the minimum– just washing your face, in the past world to avoid pimples was considered girly.
Also, this guy literally starved himself after being dumped. In the past world, I also went through the same thing but I only starved myself for a month before regaining my appetite due to the strain on the physique doing sports caused. This guy though, since he doesn't really do any exercise, he lost his appetite.
My face looks less round and the cheekbones are more pronounced. My jawline still looks sharp and I have no bumps on my nose that I received in the past world from being snogged by basketballs being launched at my face. My eyes are still the same but with the pronunciation of the cheekbones, though they look slightly 'seductive.' (HOHOHO IF YOU CATCH MY DRIFT.)
I had unnecessarily long and poofy hair with bangs that reached my nose. I'm going to need to cut this. My smile feels a little weird though. It seems the me from this world never really learned how to smile correctly and so the muscles are unused to it. Well, if I train them I'm going to look even better.
[Author Note: if you haven't noticed, I am giving a small guide on what makes good looks. Being attractive isn't all about your looks but how you project yourself to others. If you don't care about this, just skip. ]
The facial expressions in this guy were too monotone. It seems cool to have no emotions but in the real world, you'll not be very charming if you don't show any emotion at all. No wonder even though this guy was so heavenly, he was so lonely. You can be good looking but if you are unapproachable, you'll appear to be a jerk to everyone else and no sooner they'll be looking down on you.
Staring at myself, I also realized the muscles in my back and buttocks are straining. Did this guy also not have correct posture? Are you kidding?
I still had good looks as an athlete but it seems as a toyboy I would've looked otherworldly. Well, it's understandable. As an athlete I had no time to care about my looks. Even less after being dumped.
Also what the hell is with my height? I played basketball but in this world, I didn't, and feel like I'm two inches taller. What bullshit? Where was this height when I needed to dunk it over plebs?
Still, though, I feel a sense of pompousness being the exact same height I aspired to be but didn't get to.
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Anyways, having looks like these are only going to be convenient in certain situations and completely annoying in the rest. It's opened up other opportunities but it'll also bring occasional unnecessary drama.
Should I just wear completely unstylish clothing and cover my face with the hair?
That sounds good.
I ruffled my hair and laughed at how ridiculous I looked. I used to look like a generic Asian (albeit a good looking one, need I remind you again?) with the short spiky hair you see on literally any other. Now I look like a ridiculous kpop idol.
[Author Note: This does not represent how I feel about idols. In fact, I like this kind of hair. However, it's regular in Asian households to frown upon long hair and not having a clean short cut and so the main character reciprocates this mindset. Thank you.]
I also looked so skinny. I had stick arms and legs with absolutely no muscle. Man what a waste of height.
Being done looking at myself, I notice how parched my mouth is and remember I had just woken up and needed to oblige to nature's calls.
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After having panicked for five minutes on how I would exit the room, I realized the room already had a bathroom just next to the mirror.
Okay, so, how the hell am I going to get out of this room?
Wait, why am I complicating myself? I'm familiar with this house and it's literally my life just in another world that I already have a complete memory of.
Walking out of my room I see my parents talking casually and my sister eating her breakfast on the dining table.
As I prepare to wave to them, I remember the me of this world was an anti-social bastard that dared not even see his parents much less talk to them. I also radiated a completely different vibe and appeal than the guy the parents are used to. God damn, I was so caught up with doing everything normally, that I did such a great job of it.
As I'm cursing myself in my mind and preparing to run back to the room, I catch them staring at me in complete shellshock.
Shoot.
"CHARLIE!" My father yelled at me. Yes, here we can see who is the more emotional of the two.
My mother had yet not reacted and my father shifted his feet to run to me before stopping himself. He coughed, looking to hide his obvious fluster and shakily said:
"Ahem, yes. Charlie. How have you been?"
Oh, man was this guy so ruthless that it's a 'How have you been?' and not a 'How are you?' from people who live in the same building as him? Jesus, this guy is horrible.
Cough. Let's pretend it's not myself I'm insulting right now.
"Ah, hey dad. I've been good, how are you?" I cracked a stiff smile which I intended for it to be genuine but failed miserably at. God damn, this guy made everything difficult.
My father was almost letting his mouth fall from the shock.
I felt horrible. I didn't even talk to him for months and now he's surprised I'm even conversing with him. Wait, damn it! It wasn't me, it was the other guy! Argh, why am I even shifting the blame if it remains as a fact that I am the same person?!
I smiled even harder to try to seem more genuine and hint at him to respond.
"Ah, that's great, yes yes. I've been good... How are you?" My father replied without even knowing he asked me how I am once again. I damn near face-palmed.
"Ah, I'm good, thank you."
"Oh, that's good to hear… I'm also doing good."
"Yup, I know."
I want to bash my head on the wall. It's easy to talk to people but if they're acting surprised at everything you're doing you can't really do anything now can you?
My mom was still standing at the same place and my two years younger, fourteen-year-old sister just stared at me in amazement.
How cruel! I didn't even talk to my family at all. How can I dare show my face? Argh god damnit, my two memories and selves are merging.
Wait, I should be happy about that. Damnit! Keep a straight face.
I checked the clock and it said 7:00 AM Friday and remembered I still have to go to school.
Shoot. I was hoping it'd be a vacation period to avoid meeting my classmates. It's going to be such a damn hassle.
I can't just pretend to suddenly be socially inept and be looking down everywhere and sitting in an uncomfortable slouched position.
"So uh, what's for breakfast?" I presented an uncomfortable smile.
Not a moment later, my mom ran to me and hugged me while shedding silent tears.
Well, I can't tell who's the more emotional of the two now.
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