CHAPTER TWO

Opehila's POV

Chip* Chip*

I could hear the sound of a bird chirping coming from nowhere. Unsure of what to do, I instinctively followed the melodic call, my curiosity driving me forward. Step after step, I walked, allowing the sound to guide me, oblivious to my destination. It led me to a warm, inviting light that beckoned me with an irresistible pull. Without hesitation, I continued walking, drawn towards the shimmering glow, unaware of what awaited me.

Awakening from the dream, I found myself bathed in the gentle embrace of sunlight pouring in through my bedroom window. Rising from my bed, I moved towards the full-length mirror, captivating reflections dancing before my eyes. Staring back at me was a younger version of myself, a child filled with innocence and wonder. Chubby cheeks, rounded turquoise eyes and a cascade of wavy blonde hair adorned this youthful image that gazed curiously at the world. As I maintained my gaze in the mirror, caught in a nostalgic moment, my bedroom door creaked open, revealing the loving face of my aunt. Her warm smile illuminated the room, instantly comforting me.

My Aunt Cassandra was truly a kind and cheerful soul. Sadly, I never had the chance to know my parents as they had long since passed away. How did I discover this unfortunate truth? Well, it's quite simple, really. In my seventh life, I happened to overhear my brothers conversing in my eldest brother's office and at that moment, everything became clear. ''Good Morning, sweetheart.'' Aunt Cassandra greeted me with her ever-warming smile, to which I returned a smile of my own. ''Good morning''.

After exchanging pleasantries, I proceeded to prepare for the day ahead and made my way downstairs to indulge in a delicious breakfast. As I descended the staircase , the scent of freshly made pancakes and the tantalizing aroma of honey syrup filled the air. I followed my nose to the kitchen, where I found my Aunt Cassandra busily arranging two plates of pancakes on the table.Taking a seat in one of the chairs, I eagerly began to enjoy the meal that my dear aunt had prepared for me. Each bite was a delightful blend of fluffy pancakes and the sweetness of Aunt Cassandra's love. In that serene moment, I couldn't help but feel immense gratitude for her presence in my life, providing warmth and comfort like a loving guardian. As I savored the breakfast, my thoughts lingered on the family I had never known, wondering about their presence in my seventh life.

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After finishing our breakfast, my aunt and I made the decision to head out to town and explore the city. With my school starting next week, we also planned to do some shopping for school supplies and groceries. While my aunt took care of washing the dishes, she suggested that I change out of my pajamas. Taking her advice, I went to my closet and selected a letter print t-shirt and a gray skirt with red and black lines on the sides. Once I had put on the outfit, I picked a pair of shoes with laces and sat on the floor to tie them.

As I was trying my shoe laces, I heard the sound of my door opening, indicating that my aunt had come to check on me. ''Sweetheart, are you ready?''. She asked as I got up from the floor and turned to face her. ''Yep''. I answered. Her smile widened when she saw what I was wearing and she came over and gave me a tight hug. "Kya\~, my baby is really cute!". She exclaimed. After cuddling for about ten minutes, my aunt finally let go of me. We left my room and made our way downstairs to the living room, where I noticed our bag sitting on the couch. My aunt grabbed it and handed me my bag. She then grabbed her keys and we headed to the garage. I got out first as my aunt checked to make sure all the doors and windows were closed and locked. Once she finished, we both got into the car, and the engine started as we drove away from our house.

Finally, when we arrived in town, my aunt parked our car in a public parking lot. She turned off the engine, got out of the car and came to my side to open the door for me and unbuckle my booster car seat. I stepped out of the car as I heard the door close. ''Well, let's go now''. She said, holding my hand as we walked along the bustling streets of the city, surrounded by tall buildings and busy pedestrians. The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow on everything around us. As we made our way through the streets, I looked around in awe, taking in the sights and sounds of the vibrant city. We first made our way to the grocery store to pick up some essentials for the week. The store was filled with rows and rows of fresh produce, colorful aisles, packaged goods, and the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the air. My aunt guided me through the store, checking off items from our list. We filled our shopping cart with fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and all the necessary ingredients for our meals.

After finishing our grocery shopping, we decided to explore the shops in the town center. The streets were lined with various boutiques, clothing stores, and gift shops. My aunt and I browsed through racks of clothes, trying on different outfits and giggling as we modeled them for each other. We also found a quaint bookstore and spent some time leisurely flipping through the pages of different books, discussing our favorite genres and authors. Throughout our outing, my aunt made sure to stop for occasional treats. We enjoyed ice cream cones from a local gelato shop, indulging in the sweet and creamy flavors while strolling along the streets. We also grabbed a quick bite to eat at a charming cafe, savoring delicious sandwiches and sipping on refreshing beverages.

As the day went on, my aunt and I grew weary from our adventures in town. We decided to find a peaceful spot in the park to rest and reflect on our day. We sat on a bench surrounded by colorful flowers and trees , enjoying the tranquility of the surroundings. My aunt praised me for being such a good companion throughout the day, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence in my life.

With the sun starting to set, we realized it was time to head back home. We began walking back towards the car park, but before reaching our destination, a shop suddenly caught my attention, causing my aunt to also stop and see what had caught my eye. ''Do you want to go in?''. My aunt asked and I simply nodded in response. With that, my aunt grabbed the door handle and twisted it, allowing us to enter the shop. Once inside, I looked around and discovered that it was an antique shop, where people had let go of their old belongings, along with the memories attached to them. As my aunt and I explored the place, a lady in her early thirties appeared out of nowhere, causing me to flinch at her sudden presence and big smile. ''Customers welcome, what would you like to see in this shop of mine?''. The lady asked, to which my aunt replied. ''For now, we'll just look around.'' The lady nodded in understanding, and so we continued to search the shop.

Some of the items were brand new and untouched, while others held a sense of history and nostalgia. I ventured further into the shop, drawn to the collection of books on display. The genres were interesting and diverse, so I randomly chose a book to read. To my surprise, it was a very old book, and as I flipped through the pages, I noticed that some of them were empty. Intrigued, I closed the book and brought it with me to the counter. ''Excuse me.'' I said, gaining the lady's attention. She looked down at me, as I was quite short, in order to make eye contact. ''Do you need something, dear?''. She asked kindly. ''I think this book got mixed up with the others.'' I explained, handing her the book. She took it and exclaimed it for herself, then replied. ''Actually, dear this book wasn't mixed up with the others''. Confused by her response, I mentioned that there were no written words in it. She chuckled and said. ''That's because the book chose the right person to read it.'' Her statement perplexed me, would there really be a book like that? Perhaps only in fiction. ''Tell you what... since you're so cute, I'll give it to you for free''. She offered, handing me the book. Accepting her kind gesture, I replied. ''Alright''. And we concluded our conversation. I waited for my aunt to finish her shopping, and when she returned to the counter carrying two small boxes , she informed the lady that she would like to purchase them. The lady glanced at me and the book I was holding, gasping at her oversight. ''Oh my, I forgot to charge you for that''. My aunt said, to which the lady replied. ''It's not a problem at all, I gave it to her for free''.

My aunt insisted. ''Oh please don't, let me pay for it''. The lady reassured her. ''It's fine, really''. My aunt asked one final time. ''Are you sure?''. The lady nodded. ''Alright then, I guess we're leaving now''. The lady bid us farewell, and as we walked towards the exit, I overheard her saying. ''Yezalel was right, you do have a pure heart''.

Upon arriving home, we brought the items we had purchased into the kitchen and began organizing them. Afterward, we enjoyed our dinner, and my aunt kindly offered to wash the dishes, instructing me to take a bath. I quickly showered, finished getting ready for bed, and as I was drying my hair, I noticed the book I had received for free. I picked it up and placed it on my desk, pondering the lady's words about the 'book choosing the right person to read it'. ''I wonder if you have chosen me to uncover the words if you have chosen me to uncover the words written within you''. I mumbled to myself.

Curiosity piqued, I opened the first page of the book and reached for my pencil to begin writing. However, as I prepared to put words on paper, something startled me, causing me to drop my pen. How could this be?

''Hello.... Ophelia''.

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