NEW LIFE : A SECOND CHANCE

In a convenience store, one store employee was seen arranging some drinks into the cooling cabinet. There was nothing outstanding about that figure.

In fact, one could even say he was rather ... scruffy. His head sported a messy mop of black hair that was too long, its fringe covering almost half of his brown eyes that were behind these thick black-rimmed glasses.

The uniform of the store that he wore was rather big for him and his pants were rather baggy, with the pant legs folded several times. He was tall, so it made the whole sight even more comical.

Still, the other store employees didn't mind that strange boy that liked to keep to himself. He didn't make trouble and he did his job well. He was just a loner and often looked to the ground, even when talking to people.

"Abang, how much is this?" a small voice piped out behind the said store employee.

The guy turned, a gentle smile on his face as he looked at the drink, and answered, "$2.50, dik."

The young girl smiled widely, "Thank you Abang!" and rushed off to the counter, where her mother and brother were waiting.

The store employee stopped what he was doing for a while, watching the little girl and the family at the counter.

"Mama! Mama! It's $2.50! It means I can get it, right? Right?" she was saying excitedly.

The young lady laughed, ruffled her curly hair and said, "Yes, of course. I said you can get anything here as long as it is $5 or below, right? Is that all you wanted?"

The little girl nodded, saying, "This is enough."

Her brother looked at the Milo packet in her hand and at his own haul which was exactly $5. His eyes darted to the chocolate bar displayed at the counter longingly but kept quiet.

"Oh wait," the little girl said, "I want this as well. How much is it?"

Her mother pointed to the price tag and asked, "What does this say? You know your numbers, right?"

The little girl's face scrunched up as she read the price easily. She knew the numbers, but she still like to ask as she could get the information faster. Using her fingers to calculate the price of the chocolate bar and her drink, it was just below $5.

She took it and put it on the counter, looking up excitedly and expectantly at her mother. She smiled, paid and they all walked out towards their car.

Kyle watched them go, his heart still causing pain within him.

Hearing her call him 'Abang', which meant 'Big Brother', clutched at his heart.

It was a common form of address used in Country M towards an older person, even if the said person was a stranger. Similarly, Kyle had called her 'dik', short for 'adik', which basically meant 'younger sibling'.

The moment Lianne had called out to him, her familiar voice hitting his ears, he had to take several seconds to get his act together. It may have seemed like nothing happened, but to him, a lifetime of pushing down an intense desire to rush over and hug her had to be quashed in seconds.

He was still so weak when it came to his kids.

Looking at the scene now, he recalled it.

Lianne had bought that chocolate bar for her brother.

The moment they had entered the car, she had put it on his lap, telling him that she changed her mind. He had taken it happily, after making sure that she was serious and wouldn't regret it.

Kyle had taken this part-time job in order to toughen himself.

The convenience store was close to his kids' school, and they would come in here once in a while to buy treats. Kyle was careful never to come into contact with himself, as he would hide himself amongst the shelves whenever they came in.

He would be watching them from afar.

Today had been unexpected for two reasons.

First, because they were actually here when they shouldn't be. He knew they had entered, so he slowed down his movements in stacking up the shelves. Secondly, Lianne had approached him.

Kyle remembered this particular day but not the fact that Lianne had talked to the store employee. Kylie had brought them here to get some treats as a reward, and she had let Lianne explore on her own. Kylie had had to follow Joseph around.

This was because although Lianne was the younger sibling, she was more mature. She would not leave the store or follow strangers. Furthermore, the convenience store was small, so there was no danger of someone taking Lianne out without her knowing.

Kylie had to guide Joseph on how to keep to the budget set. Kyle remembered how hard it had been to teach Joseph the concept of 'choosing wisely' rather than 'choose whatever you wanted'.

Kyle frowned.

This current life was rather complicated and confusing.

He often spent the days recalling his past memories, trying to catch anything he may have missed. Or if he had met Kylie. Until now, nothing cropped up.

So what was this about Lianne meeting him? Had he always been here but hidden?

When he thought about it, it was possible. It's not like his kids would tell him of every single person they talked to, right? So perhaps he did have contact with his kids and it didn't affect his existence as Kyle?

Did this mean ... he could be friends with them in this life?

The thought excited him.

Once he started thinking it, he couldn't let go of it.

However, the situation was delicate.

He had to be able to get to know his kids, yet be insignificant enough that they wouldn't think of talking to Kylie about it. You only shared things when it is interesting or out of the ordinary, right?

Kyle began humming to himself in happiness.?He needed to plan this properly.