"When we are children, we wish to be adults. Now as adults, we wish to be children again."
The first time I saw this online, I laughed and made fun of the person who posted it, blaming him for not being better.
But now that I'm almost an adult, I can finally understand why he would say such a thing.
In the past, I had school and thought to myself that life outside was better and that school was just a waste of life.
Now that I'm almost done with school, all I want is for God to give me one more day.
The more I work and the more I experience life without school, the more I realize that maybe the school years might be the best years of our lives. Everyone might have different experiences, but some scenes and some feelings can only be experienced inside school.
As an adult, you may be able to go wherever you want and do everything you wanted. But some things are separated by time, and no amount of money and status can bring them back.
Taking the cigarette from his mouth, Roland sighed out the smoke. Standing beside the railings on the building where he was working, he looked at students going home and some going in.
It was already afternoon and they were on break.
His friends called him to eat, but he just said, "Wait up, I'll chill here for a while."
"Ah okay, we'll go downstairs for lunch. See ya there."
"Yeah."
Roland looked at the lively and passionate expressions of students passing by. Before, he was also like that. So carefree with actually little to worry about - at most worried about bad grades and doing stupid things.
He couldn't help but remember his fear of getting caught by some teacher or having bad grades. Now that he was grown up, he realized there was no reason to be afraid so much like that.
Before, he was always yearning for the cool life of having a job. Now all he can say is that if a billion dollars could give you a second chance to live again, then even if he died trying and did some shameless things, he would do it without hesitation.
Suddenly he heard a cracking sound from above as something fell. He could have dodged this, but the students below would get hit, so he could only push his body forward and take the blow. His force managed to push the heavy thing that fell out of the way of the students, but his body was also dragged down below.
Boom!
Splash! The sound of splattering blood.
"Ahhh!!"
A girl screamed.
"He's dead!!"
"Someone died!!"
Suddenly the place was in chaos as people got away from the body.
"Bro, look!"
"Wait, isn't that Roland?!"
"Roland!!!"
Some people ran away and some got closer.
"Hey, I think that guy saved you!" A group of girls who were almost hit looked back with lingering fear. One of them stared at the scene, realizing that if it weren't for the guy taking the hit, one of them would have died.
"I-I... Thank you!" the girl who was almost hit stammered, unsure how to react.
"Do you know him?"
"I don't know."
"Let's ask our parents to give his family money and arrange for his grave."
They swore to thank their savior, while some guys quickly took out their phones for a chance to go viral.
"Hehe, with this, I'll surely gain massive likes and followers!" A guy with blond hair quickly opened his live stream. "Hey! Hey guys, today I just came across an accident in person! Look, it's like this..."
After a while, the police and ambulance arrived, taking the body.
Since the accident was close to school, the afternoon classes were suspended.
"Nice! With this we can go to the computer shop."
"Thanks for dying, hehe."
A group of boys with an image that made you realize with one glance that they were the boys at the back and bottom of the class laughed, discussing the accident without remorse or feeling.
"Eww!"
"Someone died yet you guys are here celebrating."
A group of girls looked at them with disdain and disgust.
"Really a bunch of computer addicts!"
A beautiful girl said.
"Yeah, let's ignore them and go shopping."
Her friends dragged her away.
"Hmph! Go pick me girl!"
"Really think you're beautiful?!!"
The boys fought back and went their own way after a while.
Everyone had different reactions to the accident. Some were glad and some were worried.
Inside Roland's home, his friends were standing outside while his parents were crying inside.
"Sigh... A white-haired person sends a black-haired person away..."
His friends could only wipe their tears listening to Roland's parents crying out and telling how good their son was.
Outside, some neighbors were whispering.
"Someone died?"
"Yeah, it's Roland. I heard he tried to be brave and took the blow for a stranger, according to the police. It was really stupid."
"Sheesh, don't say that. He was a heroic lad. We shouldn't disrespect him."
"My bad, my bad."
....
A vague voice echoed in the darkness. Roland was confused, unsure where he was, but it felt like he was swimming in sticky water within a small, confined space.
"Where am I? Am I still alive?"
He was surprised and tried to recall what had happened, when a powerful wave of sleepiness washed over him. He couldn't fight it and quickly drifted off.
Meanwhile, outside, in a room filled with lush plants, a woman sat on a sofa, gently caressing her swollen belly. Beside her, a tall man with a firm, defined face leaned down and pressed his ear to her stomach, a smile spreading across his features.
"What do you want to eat, my love? Just tell me, and I'll get it for you."
"I want to eat..."
"I see. Wait for me; I'll go to the market to get it."
The woman smiled, watching her husband's back as he went out the window and got into a car. "Baby, grow healthy, okay?" she whispered, again stroking her belly with a gentle expression.
"I heard the child was moving?" An older voice chimed in as an elderly lady with a kind smile sat across from her.
"Yes, Mother, I think I'll be giving birth soon."
"Haha, that's good. Your doctor cousin is here to help you." A middle-aged woman opened the door and stepped inside.
"You're also giving birth, Seraphine?"
"Same as my husband's little sister," the newcomer said. Seraphine was surprised, then delighted, at the thought that her child would have a playmate from birth.
"Really?"
"Yes, she's arriving here tomorrow, saying she wants to give birth here. Is that okay?"
"Yes! That's even better, so I'll have someone to chat with."
"I'm glad," the other woman replied.
Meanwhile, inside her womb, Roland kicked slightly.