Do you have any regrets in your life? Regrets that make your nights uncomfortable. Possibilities that you never had. Opportunities that you missed. People that you lost. A life that you never had.
I think everyone has something like that. Maybe they keep it hidden in their hearts and never show anyone. But the regrets they have eat them every time they are given time to think. That is why most of them live active lives to help them forget.
Up until.
"Hey can you hear me!!!!" People start shouting. Please, my head hurts keep it down.
"Professor Briieer!!!"
Did I fall, am I gonna die? I still have a lot of work to do but I can't.
I still haven't visited my parents. I can't die. I haven't enjoyed and done what I want.
"Don't sleep. Don't you ever try to sleep!!"
I should have done that. But I guessed I am too late
I don't feel any pain anymore. I'm so tired. I wanna sleep.
"The ambulances where the hell are they!"
"argh—------"
_____________
A day before the accident
Sighed.
"Writing this speech is really hard. Why the hell did they force me to attend an event on such short notice!!" I said. It has been bothering me how the academy treats me like a robot working here, reporting there, and deadlines set just the other day. I also have to handle students every day. Sometimes, there are jobs that don't belong in my job description that I have to do overnight without overtime pay.
"Fuck this school, fuck that principal, fuck that boss!" Feeling frustrated with the unfair treatment, I gave the imaginary higher-ups a middle finger each.
"Also, why do I have to give a speech to this guy about regrets and recovery? I don't have a master's in psychology!" Feeling frustrated and tired, I crumpled the paper that I had been writing on for a while. I looked behind me and saw a lot more scattered at the back.
Sighed!! Calming myself.
"This is the last one, Brier. Calm yourself. After this, you'll be flying around the world. So for now, write and bite that pen down!!" Psyching myself up, I took another pen and wrote.
I've been preparing to leave this school for a while now, planning to take the longest vacation I've ever had. I've been working as a teacher for as long as I can remember. My life has been a never-ending work-and-sleep cycle. I have been single for a long time now not because I am ugly or anything. It's just that the time I should have used for flirting and stuff was taken by my boss.
Sighed.
"How I envy those people who cuddle with someone at this time." Tears kept flowing from my eyes as I wrote the speech and gritted my teeth until the end.
A few hours later, I finally managed to finish the speech that I had been working on.
You might be thinking, why work that hard for a single speech? Just use AI, and you'll be finished in a second!
Well, the answer is simple. I am a teacher. The words that flow from my mouth can change a person for better or worse. That is why it is always important to prepare what you will say, hoping that people won't misunderstand your words and take the wrong path.
Words are powerful. You can't just throw them around like garbage. You might hurt someone. You might influence someone to make bad decisions. So you have to be careful every time. Trust me I've experienced this many times. I've been blamed for it many times. That is why I learned my lesson.
---
4 PM
I am preparing my clothes. I have this certain obsession with appearance. I learned this from my mother back when I was a kid. She always reminded me to look my best. She often said this line thousands of times during my childhood:
"People are judged by how they look. Always do your best to maintain your appearance."
Her words are worth learning from. I've benefited from them many times. I've been accepted into many jobs just because of my looks. Several talented people were rejected for those positions.
What you wear describes what type of person you are.
"If you can't even take care of your own appearance, how can they expect you to handle bigger things?" I whispered to myself as I fitted my clothes. What I will wear today is simple. Nothing exaggerated like some models. However, the brand and price of it could sustain you for a whole month.
"Not bad!" I exclaimed as I looked in the mirror and posed. Satisfied with how I looked, I prepared to go downstairs.
"Sir! It's time to go!" said the person below. This guy is my driver, who also acts as a butler in my house. I call him Sebastian because of that. I feel like it is the most suitable name for him. I already forgot his real name since I've been calling him that from the start.
---
As we drove to the venue, Sebas didn't say a single word. This is why I like this guy. He can live without opening his mouth. He never wastes energy asking useless things.
Then suddenly, my phone rang. It was my mother. I quickly answered the call. I usually ignore it, but I don't know why today I felt like answering.
"Hello? Brier? How are you?" I heard my mother's voice. I never noticed it until now her voice has changed.
She has gotten old.
"I am okay, Mom. How about you and Father? Are you doing well? Have you received the money I sent last month?" I replied. I didn't really know what to say. It has been a long time since I last visited. The only connection I remember is sending them money every month so they can get by in the province.
I have never been a good son. But if there is something I am proud of, it is that I never let my parents go hungry. I always send more than enough.
"Yes, we did. Your father keeps asking when you will visit the province. We miss you so much, Brier."
I looked at the time and thought about any schedule that might be affected if I went. Then I remembered today is my last day of work.
"Tomorrow, I'll be home. I miss you too, Mom. I'll be going now. I love you. See you soon," I said. I heard my mother's excited shout as she called my father. I ended the call as we were close to the venue.
I was about to leave when I remembered something.
"Sebas, tomorrow we're going to my province. Make some preparations so we can leave early."
For some reason, I am excited to go back home.
"Okay, sir. Have fun," he said without any expression, then drove away.
Seeing him act so cold toward me made me smile.
"I really admire that guy's guts."
As Sebas disappeared from sight, I turned around and looked at the people surrounding the event.
You can see different types of people and emotions. Some are excited, some are nervous, and some are shamelessly flirting around the hall.
"Find a fucking room, you guys!!" I shouted in my mind while glaring at them. Feeling something cold, the couple quickly left the hall and went inside the venue.
Sighed!! How young!
"You bitter old fool never changes. Always scaring kids away! If you're that bitter, then get married!" somebody called out while cursing me.
Sighed!! This should be the fifth sigh today.
Pressure pressed from behind. I recognized her immediately. I'd never liked her… yet somehow, I felt lucky to see her today.