Frustration etched on Eli's face as he dialed for the third time. This time, the call connected, and a middle-aged man's voice answered, "Hello~" Eli remained silent, and the voice repeated, "Hello~" again and again, until the call disconnected with a beep. Eli stood frozen, his phone still pressed to his ear, before slowly lowering his hand to his side. The desperation in his eyes was unmistakable, his gaze distant as if lost in thought. The disconnect of the call seemed to leave him momentarily suspended, the silence in the room amplifying his tension.
Eli headed straight to the water, downing a glass in one swift motion and put the glass on the table before walking to the window. He stood there, staring blankly at the sky. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, attempting to calm the turmoil brewing inside him. The word disappointed was inadequate to describe the emotions swirling within him. It was a depth of feeling he struggled to put into words, a complex mix of frustration, longing, and something else he couldn't quite define. The silence and stillness of the moment seemed to envelop him, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside.
The three people in the room watched Eli with distinct expressions, his back turned to them as he stood before the window. But they could feel he wasn't alright. Butler David and Uncle William exchanged confused glances, unfamiliar with the cracks in Eli's usual stoic demeanor. They had never seen him so desperate, so lost, and the tremble in his hands as he made the call had been unmistakable. The implication of Grandfather Felix's words wasn't lost on them either.
William's gaze narrowed as he turned to his father, his eyes fixed intently on him. His father expression had now a complex mix of emotions, with a hint of hesitation.
Grandfather Felix's gaze remained fixed on Eli's back, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and uncertainty. He had no idea what was said on the call, but he could sense Eli's emotional turmoil, his grandson's silence and stillness was too loud to not to hear. It wasn't his usual composure or silence. Doubts began to creep in, maybe his assumptions were wrong, maybe it wasn't her. The thought brought a pang of guilt. Perhaps he should have met the family who saved him and confirmed his suspicions before involving Eli.
As he watched his grandson's rigid posture, he felt a surge of regret. He could also feel his son William's piercing gaze on him, but he couldn't focus on that now. His priority was Eli and Eli's emotions. With a hesitant tone, he called out to him, "Eli, it's fine if she wasn't her. I know you'll find her one day." His words hung in the air, laced with a gentle reassurance, as he waited for Eli's response.
Eli opened his eyes, his voice low and weary, the exhaustion evident in his tone. "It's a middle-aged man who answered the call. I still don't know if it's her or not." He sighed, composing himself before turning to face the others. His expression was neutral, but his eyes seemed slightly dimmer than before. "Forget about this for now, I'll look into it after I return. You should rest and recover before I come back, Grandfather. I'm leaving." With a brief goodbye, Eli bid them farewell and departed the hospital, leaving behind a room filled with unspoken emotions and lingering concerns.
After Eli left, William's gaze locked onto his father, demanding answers. "Father, who is 'HER' you were speaking about? Who is she?" But he knew better than to expect a straightforward response from his father. Grandfather Felix's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing as he glared at William. "Why are you being noisy again?" he sneered, effectively shutting down the conversation. The air seemed to chill, and William knew he'd get nothing more from his father at that moment.
However, William's determination was evident this time as he pressed on, disregarding his father's glare. His tone turned stern, laced with a mix of concern and authority. "Father, Eli was my nephew, and he was no less than my son to me. Do you want me to sit silent after seeing him like that? Answer me, Father. Who is she, and Why is Eli searching for her?" The room seemed to vibrate with tension as William stood his ground, refusing to back down his father's disapproval. He needed to know, only then he could help in his ways to his nephew if he could. Butler David watched the exchange with a careful eye, sensing the weight of the moment.
Grandfather Felix didn't respond to his son's question. He was lost in thought, wondering how he could tell his son about that 'who is SHE ?' Eli was searching for. No one in the family knew the truth, but he and his younger brother Victor did. Eli wasn't just his grandson. He was the reincarnation of his uncle Elisha Allen, who had died 60 years ago due to the loss of his beloved and their unborn child on the day he was supposed to marry her. Eli had been bleeding inside for the past 15 years because of her and her memories.
When Eli was born 25 years ago, Grandfather Felix's father, Elijah Allen, was still alive. Upon seeing the newborn child, Elijah was struck by the resemblance to his younger brother, Elisha Allen. Elijah's younger brother Elisha had been born late to their parents, after their mother had suffered repeated abortions following Elijah's birth. When Elijah was 12 years old, his mother gave birth to Elisha and unfortunately passed away right after her delivery. As a result, Elijah and their father took on the responsibility of caring for the young Elisha. Given his close relationship with his brother, Elijah couldn't help but remember every detail of Elisha's features. The newborn's resemblance to his brother was uncanny, and Elijah felt a deep sense of connection. That's why, he decided to name the child Elisha Allen, after his beloved brother.
However, when Eli was 10 years old, an accident at the waterfall triggered a dramatic turn of events. While on vacation with his family during his birthday, Eli slipped and hit his head on a rock, sustaining scratches and bruises. The Allen family found him unconscious and rushed him to the hospital. After he regained consciousness, Eli's memories of his past life as Elisha Allen began to resurface. Lying in bed, Eli's gaze drifted inward, and the past 10 years of his life merged with the memories of his past life. It was then that he understood the truth, he was reincarnated. It was then that he remembered an incident from his past life, when he was 22 years old in his past life, and an old lady had given him a potion as a token of appreciation for saving her life. She had told him that the potion would mix with his blood, allowing him to reincarnate. At the time, Elisha hadn't believed her, but he couldn't refuse her gesture, so he drank it. Now, as he recalled that incident, he truly believed that the potion had indeed played a role in his reincarnation. However, it wasn't the thing he needs to think about now, he needs to think about her. 'IT'S HER!!!!!'
A few hours ago, he met a 5 or 6-year-old little girl. Today was his birthday, and his big joint family had come for a vacation to celebrate. Little Eli woke up early, feeling refreshed, and decided to step out of his room. The sounds of waterfalls and early morning birds filled the air, and he felt good listening to them. With everyone still asleep, he went out of the villa to get a closer look at the waterfalls and enjoy the peaceful sounds.
As little Eli approached the falls, he spotted a little girl sitting on a rock, her back to him. She was about his sister's height, wearing white pyjamas adorned with carrot prints. Her hair was styled in two neat braids that fell to her shoulders, one on each side. A distinctive black crescent mark was visible on the nape of her neck. Eli's footsteps quiet on the damp earth, he walked towards her and sat down beside her on the rock.
As the little girl felt the presence beside her, she turned her head. Simultaneously, Eli turned his head towards her, their eyes met in a gentle gaze. They stared at each other for a moment, the sound of the waterfall creating a soothing background hum. Eli broke the silence, his voice low and curious, "What are you doing here alone? Shouldn't you be sleeping at this hour?" The little girl blinked her eyes, her long lashes fluttering, and responded in her soft, mellow voice, "Shouldn't you do the same?" Her words were barely above a whisper, but they carried a hint of defiance.
Little Eli nodded and replied, "Yeah, but I woke up early and didn't want to sleep again. So, I came here to hear the sounds of the falls from near." His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he asked her again, "Now, your turn. Tell me why are you here alone?" However, the little girl didn't reply, and sadness flashed across her face. Noticing her downcast expression, Little Eli's next question came instinctively "Did you fight with someone and run away from home?"
The little girl didn't respond, instead shook her head silently. Little Eli, sensing her silence, chose not to probe further and fell into a comfortable silence, watching the waterfalls cascade down the rocks. As he gazed out, he occasionally sneaked glances at her, noticing the sullen expression on her face. The sound of the water and chirping birds filled the air, but he couldn't shake off the feeling of seeing her baby face downcast. He turned to her again, his voice softening, inquired her gently "Why don't you tell me why you're sad?"
The little girl looked up at him with tears welling up in her eyes and said, "Mama was sad to leave my sister today. I heard her cry yesterday night. Papa was sad too. So, I'm sad too." Little Eli's expression softened as he understood the reason behind her sadness. "Why is your mama leaving your sister?" he asked gently. The little girl shook her head, her braids swaying slightly. "I don't know. My sister lives with my grandpa, grandma, uncles, aunties, and cousins. Only I live with Mama and Papa." Little Eli nodded thoughtfully and suggested, "Then why are you sad too? You should try to make them happy. That way, they won't be sad." The little girl turned her head towards him again, her eyes curious. "How?" she asked. Little Eli thought for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Hmm... give your mama what she likes... or share your snacks with her... or give her pecks," he said with a smile. "What do your mom do when you're upset? Do the same for your mama, and she'll be happy."
The little girl's eyes lit up as she listened to Little Eli's suggestions, and her face beamed with a bright smile. "Okay, I'll do as you say. Thank you," she said, her voice filled with determination. Her smile was contagious, and Little Eli couldn't help but smile back.
Little later, little Eli felt something wrong with him, he couldn't exactly pinpoint what was wrong with him. So, he decided to go back to his villa before he glanced at little girl beside him and asked her, "Don't your parents worry if you're here? You said they're already sad. If they don't find you, they'll be even sadder." The little girl shook her head nonchalantly and replied, "They were sleeping when I came here." Little Eli sighed and explained, "That's when you came here, but it's already been some time. Look, the sun is rising too. They'll wake up soon, and if they don't find you, they'll be worried and sad." After listening to Little Eli's words, the little girl's eyes widened in surprise. "You're right! Mama said yesterday we're leaving today after breakfast. Then I'll go. Bye!" She bid him farewell, Little Eli nodded at her and after watching her leave, he stood up to head back to his villa. As he turned to go, his foot slipped on the damp rock, and he fell. When he came to his conscious state, he was in a hospital bed, and his past life memories had returned.