Chapter 2

Chapter Two...

I was surprised to see the woman's reaction when she saw me. She slowly fell as if she were terrified when she saw me. "Hey what's wrong? Are you okay? Do you want us to take you to the clinic?" Samuel asked him. "Y-you .. How ..? This is not true .." I help her to get up again but she hurriedly ran away.

"What's the matter? Why does she seem to see a ghost?" Samuel asked me that even I could not answer his question.

Our class was over and we were sent home early because it was just the first day of our class and we didn't have much do to.

I just came home to our house and I'm here in my room now. I can't forget the face of the woman awhile ago. She seemed terrified when she saw me. I am sure to myself that this was the first time I had seen her but it seems like it's not the first time that she saw me.

I don't know but I feel nervous and I also don't know what caused my nervousness is.

I decided to go to bed. I don't want to think about that anymore. Just relax.. I need to sleep early because I will go to school tomorrow. I will not go with Samuel first. I don't want to be late.

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"Good morning señorita. Did you sleep well?" the maid asked. The young lady answered with a smile to their servant. "I will prepare your bath again señorita because your parents are waiting down stairs." the young lady just nodded. While waiting, she went to the window of her room and observed their hacienda with a plant of her favorite flower, the sunflower. She smiled and closed her eyes. She could smell the fresh air hitting her porcelain-like skin.

"Señorita, your bath is ready, come on." maid calls. The young lady went and began to take a bath in the bath prepared by her servant.

After bathing and grooming, the young lady went downstairs to face her father who had been waiting for her.

"My daughter.. I am glad to see you again." greeted the man who was in his fifties. It is tall and mestizo. It can see in his posture that he has a spanish blood.

Her mother greeted her with a tight hug. "For a long time, I missed my dearest daughter..." her mother said who was forty-five years old but it does not affect the beauty of Doña.

"Breakfast is ready, come and eat." the woman said in her sixties.

They happily went to the table when the young lady's heart suddenly pounded causing her to fall. She just hold on to her chest and had difficulty in breathing. Her parents are deeply concerned about what is happening. Her father did not know what to do so he simply ordered the guardia civil to call the doctor.

"My child.."

I woke up from sleep while holding my chest. It was a bad dream. I can't breathe and I feel like I'm running out of air. I closed my eyes again and tell myself to relax. "Relax Verana .. Relax."

Inhale ..

Exhale ..

Inhale ..

Exhale ..

I felt that my breathing was good again. "What kind of dream is that? Why does it feel so real that I'm there?" I asked myself. When I try remember my dream, the face of the people there looks blurry. I can't even remember the full details. I just took a deep breathe and shook my head. I look at the clock on the side of my bed. It's 6:30 am and my class is 8am. I'll just fix my things and get to school earlier.

I got to school early because I didn't eat breakfast at home. I don't know why I often have no appetite. Mommy and daddy are also wondering why. They think that maybe I am sick but I don't feel anything that hurts me. Well, except for one but I don't want to talk about it anymore. I decided to walk around here in the park inside the school. Yes, there is a park here and it is really relaxing. It is rare for students to be seen hanging out here because they are often in the sports building. It is one of the largest buildings here because all kinds of sports can be found in that building. There is billiards, basketball, volleyball, badminton, there is also a swimming pool, and so much more.

I decided to sit under the tree and start to read my book. I love reading. Aside from billiards, drawing, sometimes I also paint, reading is what keeps me busy at times when I have nothing important to do. I can do a lot of things. I also love music. I can play the guitar, ukulele, kalimba, and piano. Music is my escape from reality and it is also my savior during the times when I feel sad.

While I am reading, the woman I helped yesterday suddenly entered my mind. Until now, I still wonder why she reacted like that. I don't even know her. This school is really wide. I do not know if we will meet again so it seems impossible for me to talk to her. I was back in reality when my phone suddenly rang. I just rolled my eyes when I see who is calling.

"Hey why didn't you wait for me? Where are you? I'm on my way" Samuel said from the other line.

"You acted very slowly so I went first. I'm here in the park. I'll wait for you here. Hurry up."

"Okay okay .. I'll just hurry up and drive fast so I can arrive there immediately. You can come home with me later. I'll take you home." he said. I did not answer him and decide to end the call. I don't have any siblings but it seems like I have an older brother because of Samuel who is over protected to me. I just shook my head and turned myself to reading.

"Hi Verana .." I looked up at the woman who spoke. My eyes widened as I recognized who she was. "S-sorry if I ran yesterday without being able to thank you." she said. She was the woman yesterday. The one who suddenly ran away when she saw me.

"How did you know my name?" I asked in astonishment. I do not remember that I introduced myself to her yesterday. We also did not have a conversation because she ran away. "A-ahm .. B-because.. Ah! I just heard from them. It looks like you are well known in this school." She was obviously anxious to talk to me but that doesn't matter anymore. I smiled at her and tapped her shoulder.

"Don't think about what happened yesterday. I just don't really have the habit of just letting Aira and her friends to bully other students here." I said. She smiled and thanked me again. "I'm a transferee and I still don't know anyone here. I'm Thimotea Cortez." she introduced herself to me. She's beautiful. She have a white skin and a very gentle face. Her shoulder-length hair is black and she's wearing an eye glasses that did not hinder to see her beautiful eyes.

"I'm Verana Esperanza. Just call me Ana for short." I introduce myself to her. "Why did you look so scared when you saw me yesterday?" I thought to ask her because I will never forget her reaction yesterday. "A-ahm.. I just thought you were the one I knew because y-you look alike. I-I'm sorry .." she said. I nodded. "It's okay Thimotea." I told her.

"Just call me Thea for short." she said while smiling. I also smiled and nodded. "Nice to meet you Thea."

"I'm Samuel Buenaventura." we both turned to the man who spoke with his hand outstretched in front of Thimotea. "Sam for short." he added. Samuel really came suddenly without warning just like a mushroom.

Thimotea reached out her palm to shake Samuel's hand. "I'm--" she didn't finish what she was going to say because Samuel spoke immediately.

"You are Thimotea Cortez right?. I've heard it awhile ago so you don't have to repeat it." he said with a laugh. Thimotea just laughed because of what Samuel said.

We found out that Thimotea is a transferee here at the Campus de Manila. It also happened that the three of us were in the same class so I was happy because I was light-hearted to her. I don't know why but I feel like I have known her for a long time and she is a good person. Looks like it's time for me to replace Samuel as my bestfriend. There is nothing good about him giving me a headache.

The three of us are sitting side by side. I-Thimotea-Samuel. The one who is sitting next to the window moved to another chair so I just sat there. We were sitting at the back. I asked Thimotea if it was okay with her that she was here in the back because her eyes were blurred. She said that she's okay because she is not comfortable when in front. I just nodded to her because our lesson was about to begin. Miss Ivy came in and started teaching.

"The first thing we will talk about is the well-known families throughout the Philippines in the year 1890." introduction by Miss Ivy. I don't like to read any thing about history but this time, it seems like there is a part of my heart that enjoys this lesson. I don't know why. "The first of the most well-known families is the de la Cruz family. Don Roberto and Doña Soñia are known to have the largest land area in San Lorenzo. They are also the richest because they have a lot of land in different parts of the Philippines. They had an only daughter and her name is Maria Verana de la Cruz. " I was surprised when I heard my name. At the same time, Sam and Thea looked surprised because my name is as same as Don Roberto and Doña Soñia's daughter. How is that possible?

Miss Ivy showed her pictures in the powerpoint she prepared. In the first slide is the picture of Don Roberto de la Cruz. His daughter señorita Maria Verana de la Cruz painted it. I can see in his posture that he was a respectable Don during his time. I feel like he was 50 years old when his picture was painted. Next is the picture of Doña Soñia de la Cruz. She smiled modestly at the photo and I can see the happiness on her face. She is wearing a beautiful baro't saya (The baro't saya or baro at saya is a traditional dress ensemble worn by women in the Philippines.) that add to her beauty. She was holding a fan that covered her chest.

In the third slide, Miss Ivy showed the picture of Don and Doña's daughter. Not only them but also me was shocked when I saw the photo of Maria Verana de la Cruz. Almost all of my classmates are now looking at me with amazement and wonder on their faces.

"You look like Señorita Maria Verana de la Cruz." Miss Ivy said to me, breaking the silence of everyone. "It's funny to think that you two are look alike and your name is Verana same as the name of Don Roberto and Doña Soñia's daughter." she added. I'm speechless because even I was wondering on what is happening. She really looks like me. How did that happen? How did it happen that we are the same from the shape of the face, the eyebrows, the eyes, the nose, the lips .. how? She seems to have risen again but now in my personality.

Is it possible for a person to live again but in a new personality?

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Why does Verana look like that young lady who came from the year 1890? Are they really connected to each other? What do you think?

Happy greetings my dear majestic ones! Don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts or opinions on what you have read :)) Thank you so much for your love and support!

-Jeinsam