Pitch-black darkness surrounds me. My body was numb and my senses were dull. I was trapped in nothingness. Not being able to identify the circumstances of my surroundings made me lose track of time. But the memories of my past keeps flooding in.
…
I was once a 17-year-old schoolgirl, living in a small boarding house with my twin sister. We lived in a quiet suburban area, a world far removed from the life we had known before.
Before this, we lived in a rural town, sheltered from the noise of the city. Then, everything changed when my father, a hard-working blue-collar man, started receiving compensation money. My father will receive it each month until he passed away.
The reason?
My father lost one of his legs while he was working.
"Exchanging one of my limbs for a lifetime of passive income? Ha! Now I can live my life with ease!"
I knew he didn't really mean it. It was his way of masking the pain, trying to make light of a terrible situation.
"Anyway, now that we have a steady income, you should continue your studies," he told us, his voice steady.
He wanted to use the compensation money to cover our tuition fees, to give us a chance at a better life. My father also gave me and my twin sister, Clementine, an essential lesson in life.
"Be grateful for everything. Stay positive. With this money, you'll never have to drop out of school."
He smiled at us with such warmth, his words ringing with hope.
"Expand your knowledge, use it for good. Be the pioneers of change."
With that money and my father's will, I went to attend high school with my sister. We lived in a boarding house nearby the school. About one kilometer away.
My father's dream became mine as I entered high school with my sister. We moved to a small boarding house just a kilometer away from school.
One year passed, and we worked toward making my father's dream a reality. Together, we started a social activist club. It was a small step, but it felt like a step toward something much bigger.
But then, everything came crashing down. My hopes, my dreams, and my father's vision would never come to life. I was caught in an accident.
…
Father, I am sorry I cannot fulfill your wish.
Clementine. I am sorry. I hope you could persevere our will and make our father's dream into reality. Be the pioneer of change.
Albert, Laura, Sarah, and Manuel. I am sorry for leaving all of you.
In the end, I leave the club in your hands.
I am so sorry for everything.
I am sorry.
I.
Am.
Sorry.
Soon after, I heard earsplitting sound from beside me.
It was the sound of an alarm clock.
I blinked my eyes open and found myself staring up at a familiar ceiling. A ceiling fan slowly turned above me. I felt the softness of my bed beneath me. I sat up, turned off the alarm, and looked around. I was in my room.
"Ugh... my head hurts."
I checked the time. It was 6:30 in the morning.
I paused, trying to piece together what had just happened. And then it hit me.
"Wait. It was all just a dream?"
Had I really been dead? Was it just a nightmare?
Something kept me from voicing the thought aloud.
I looked around and I could not find my sister. Maybe she went up a school ahead of me?
"I should get ready," I muttered, shaking off the confusion.
I showered, put on my school uniform, tied my headband, grabbed my bag, ate some leftover bread, and left for school. Everything felt so normal.
But still… something was off.
It was strange that Clementine had left without me.
Was something wrong? Did something happen?
I had an unshakeable feeling. It was like the calm before the storm.
I arrived at school on time and I walked into my classroom in class 11-1, put my bag on my usual spot, and start reviewing lessons.
One of my friends walked up to me. Before I had the chance to greet her, she spoke to me first.
"Um… Sorry, Clementine. But I think you are in the wrong class. You should be in class 11-2."
"Huh?"
I am Clematise, not Clementine.
I could not voice it. But i tried to speak once again
"I am sorry."
But did you mistake me with Clementine?
Again, I could not speak about it.
"Don't worry Clementine. But you better hurry up; the class will start soon."
She mistook my words, she thought I was apologizing because I was in the wrong class.
But I was not!
"Sorry, but I think I was in the right class."
I was able to speak that sentence.
Is there some specific moment where I could not speak?
She got a confused and sad look on her face. She decided to leave me without saying other words.
Finally, the class started and the teacher came in. Before the lesson began, the teacher brought the attendance and started to call each student.
…
"Bernard"
"Yes." Bernard raised his hand.
I was ready to lift my hand after Bernard's name was called.
"Daniel"
"I am here." Daniel raised his hand.
But instead, the teacher continued the attendance without calling my name. So, I raised my hand.
"Miss, I think you forget to call my name."
"Oh? Clementine? What are you doing here? Aren't you in the wrong class?"
I froze up and could not find a proper way to respond.
Why is everyone mistaking me for Clementine?
"Why? Why I could not voice it? What is wrong with me?!".
I screamed and everyone was staring at me out of confusion.
I froze on my spot.
"I am sorry, miss, but I need to go out first. Please excuse me."
I pulled out my chair, went outside of the classroom, and I ran towards my sister's classroom. She was in 11-3.
I opened the classroom door without even knocking. Everyone was staring at me but I could not care less. I searched for Clementine's but I could not find her.
"Clementine? Are you okay?"
"Again?"
I am Clematise! Not Clementine!
…
"I am sorry miss."
I closed the door, and I went to the bathroom. I quickly looked at a mirror. I saw a girl with black shoulder length hair.
It was my reflection. But that did not confirm about how everyone kept mistaking me as Clementine. I soon realize my eyes were black when I supposed to have brown eyes.
I went into one of the stalls and took off my uniform. I tried to find my birthmark which should be located on my right waist. But I could not find it.
On the other side, I remembered that Clementine also had a birthmark but it was located on her left waist. I turned to my side and I found a birthmark on my left waist.
"How could this be?!"
I was panicking, fixing my clothes quick, and I went outside of the bathroom. I saw a boy with a familiar figure from afar.
It was Albert, my boyfriend. I quickly noticed him because he was the tallest at school and his spiky hair really stood out. He was walking away and did not know I was behind him.
"Albert! Please help me!"
Albert turned back while I ran towards him. Unfortunately, my shoes became slippery after I went to the bathroom and I fell. I lose consciousness.