NOVPUB
Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The memory
He just stood there frozen as Jessica hugged him tightly, as if they were becoming one.
He was so embarrassed and was about to tap her back to make her let go, but then he heard a muffled groan.
He could feel her figure trembling as she hugged him.
"Is she crying?" Jeff was stunned by the thought.
[No host she was laughing] - the system responded.
Jeff hearing this, was speechless, "I wasn’t talking to you system. Also, I thought you were programmed to not be wasteful with energy?" he probed.
[...]
[I know, but it was worth it!] - The system stated showing a picture of muscleman.
Jeff, seeing that the system was acting like a child in front of him, sighed but then refocused on the important part.
Jessica’s jaw rested on his shoulder as she cried and wept, muffled sobs escaping her lips.
Her feet were extended high due to Jeff’s tall figure. He just stood there, typically frozen, not wanting to ruin her moment and wanting to let her release her feelings.
After some time, she finally calmed down and leaned back, her face red and her eyes still a bit teary.
But she used her long sleeve to wipe her tears as her nose was runny. In that moment, Jeff thought she looked like a child who just needed a hug, but he didn’t move.
In his past life and even now, when it came to taking care of someone he didn’t know, or even comforting someone, he didn’t know how to do it.
This was his major flaw. Even when his sister fell ill, he had just ignored her.
But whenever he was the one who was sick, his elder sister would always take care of him.
He really felt like a trash person when he remembered how ungrateful and uncaring he had been.
This was possibly due to his past experiences. When he was a child, he was considered a special child not because of an illness but because of his delayed growth in terms of mindset.
He remembered that when he was in 10th grade, he even played with 6th graders or even 5th graders, like tag or catch.
He didn’t love to hang out with his friends who were in the same peer or group as him.
He was also bad at studies and was always scolded for his intellect and childish behavior, even though he was already 15 years old.
Thanks to an accident, an improvement made him this kind of person. He remembered that it was during COVID-19 at that time.
It was the start of his first year in high school, and there was no such thing as online classes. His teacher didn’t even know he was enrolled because he forgot to submit his first module for two weeks.
Because of this, his grades weren’t recorded, even though he was officially enrolled. He and his older half-brother went to the school to ask why it happened.
The staff said that if he paid around 20,000 pesos, they could process his grades for the first grading period, which would allow him to pass.
But he didn’t pay, not only because the amount was too high, but also because even if he did pass the first semester, his first grading would still be blank, which would cause him to fail anyway.
So he had no choice but to stop. It was his dependence on his sister that led to this unfortunate outcome.
He always believed that his sister must be the one managing things, but he was wrong because even she didn’t know about it.
Due to this life-changing event, he developed major improvements for himself. He learned to be independent.
When school started again, he discovered his talent and realized he was actually smart, though he had forgotten it a long time ago.
He remembered where he first used his talent back in 7th grade, when they were memorizing a Bible verse.
It was over 150 verses, and the first person to memorize them would be given extra points.
At that time, when he was not allowed to play on the computer or watch TV, he decided to memorize the verses.
And he finished all over 150 verses in just two hours.
When he recited them in front of the teacher, he still remembered her dumbfounded look.
But after that occurrence, he never used his talent again until he went back to school in grade 11 to finish his high school years.
But his intelligence was the only thing that improved in the following year, earning him lots of awards and winning many first places in school event-related tournaments.
Remembering the past made him smile, as he could see the improvement he had undergone.
But in his current life, the improvement was a million times better, especially since he had a system.
But the only difference in this life was that he didn’t fail in the same way.
He didn’t fall back by at least one year from the two years of memories he had acquired.
However, other than those two years of memory, he didn’t know his full experience in this life. It seemed that the memory of Jeff in this world was locked, waiting for a key.
"Thank you, sorry about earlier. I was just emotionally unstable for a moment," Jessica uttered with a soft smile.
There seemed to be a sign of relief in her expression. Jeff just shook his head with an awkward smile.
"That’s cool," he said.
"Can I ask why you suddenly became like that? Is there some kind of special memory in your lost account?" Jeff inquired, feeling curious about the sudden breakdown.
Jessica smiled softly as she sat on the bed, motioning for him to come and sit with her, which he did.
In there, he saw a private video that she had posted on her account, and she played it.
In the frame was an old woman lying in a hospital bed. Her skin was pale and fragile, stretched thin over delicate bones.
Wisps of white hair framed her wrinkled face, and her eyes, though dimmed by age, held a deep, unwavering warmth.
Her arm was hooked to a dextrose line, the clear liquid dripping slowly into her veins.
The IV pole stood tall beside her, accompanied by a monitor softly beeping in rhythm with her fading strength.
An oxygen tube was clipped beneath her nose, rising and falling with each shallow breath she took.
Several medical patches and tubes connected her frail body to the quiet machines around her.
"Oh, my little angel is really growing up," the old woman whispered, her voice weak but full of affection.
"Too bad your grandma won’t be there to see you become a fine woman."
Then a little girl, around 9 years old, was seen close to the woman’s bed, crying and hugging the old woman.
Her eyes were filled with sadness, and just from her small figure, Jeff had already concluded that Jessica was that little girl.
"Don’t cry, look, you’re making your own grandma sad," she said, struggling to raise her fragile arm just to wipe the tears from the little girl’s eyes. no𝚟𝚙u𝚋.c𝚘m
"Why don’t we sing our favorite song that we used to sing together? What about it?" she said with a smile as the little girl nodded.
There were others present in the room, but the focus was entirely on the two of them.
With that, the two of them began to sing.
"From my youngest years..."
"’Till this moment here...
"I’ve never seen... "
"Such a lovely queen..."
The whole world seemed to revolve around them, and everyone present at the scene was in tears.
The voice of the elderly woman carried a soft and weathered grace. It was fragile yet warm, like the gentle hum of a lullaby sung countless times.
Though worn by age, it was never forgotten. It trembled slightly, each note a tender echo of a life well lived.
The girl’s voice, in contrast, was clear and bright it’s like morning light breaking through curtains, full of youth and hope. Her tone danced delicately over the melody, it was steady and pure.
Together, their voices blended like silk over parchment it was old and new, past and future.
It was a harmony that didn’t just fill the air, but wrapped around the hearts of everyone present, squeezing gently until the tears came.
The song wasn’t just heard it was felt.
Their duet wasn’t perfect in pitch, but perfect in meaning. One voice fading, the other just beginning.
A bridge between generations, built on love, memory, and a final, beautiful goodbye.
"It’s the freedom of a thousand doves (ooh)..."
"Baby, you should paint my love..." they uttered at the end when the old woman finally felt relieved and passed away, filled with happiness, not sadness.
...
[Author’s Note: This is actually a real-life experience, and this song was her favorite to sing.]
Special thanks to ’Meiwa_Blank👑’ – the GOAT for this month, for the Golden Tickets! Love you, brotha!
Special thanks to ’Devon1234👑’ – the GOAT for this month, for the Gifts! Love you, brotha!
