As Felix stepped into the living room, the television was already on.
Bright colors flashed across the screen. Fast-paced animation. Familiar background music.
A famous anime was playing.
Curled comfortably on the sofa was Alex Vedman.
Fourteen years old. Black hair falling messily over his forehead. Brown eyes glued to the screen. He wore a loose hoodie and lay sprawled across the sofa as if it belonged only to him—which, in his mind, it probably did.
Felix paused without realizing it.
In his first life, scenes like this had faded quietly. Alex had grown up. Then grown distant. Then moved away.
Now, here he was again.
Alive. Loud. Carefree.
Alex noticed him from the corner of his eye and immediately sat up.
"Bro! You're back early," he said, grinning. "School over already?"
Felix nodded slightly. "Yeah."
Alex scooted over, making space. "Come sit. This episode's insane."
Felix smiled faintly but shook his head. "Maybe later."
Alex shrugged, already turning his attention back to the screen. "Suit yourself."
Felix moved past the living room toward the staircase. As he climbed, the sound of utensils clinking and soft humming drifted from the kitchen.
His mother was cooking.
Radha Vedman.
She stood near the stove, stirring something carefully, her movements practiced and unhurried. The kitchen smelled warm—spices, oil, something familiar that tightened Felix's chest.
In his first life, he had eaten too many meals alone.
Too many dinners where this smell existed only in memory.
Felix didn't say anything as he passed the kitchen. Radha glanced up briefly, smiling.
"Go freshen up," she said gently. "Dinner will be ready soon."
Felix nodded. "Okay, Mom."
The word felt strange.
Comforting.
He continued upstairs.
His room was exactly where it always had been—on the first floor, second door from the stairs.
He pushed it open.
The room was simple.
A single bed pushed against the wall. A study table cluttered with books and notebooks. A few shelves holding trophies, old school files, and random items collected over the years.
Nothing fancy.
Nothing excessive.
And yet, the sight of it hit Felix harder than he expected.
In his first life, this room had slowly disappeared. Replaced by a cramped space away from here. Replaced by necessity.
Felix stood still for a moment, letting the familiarity sink in.
I forgot how big this room was, he thought.
Or maybe he had forgotten how small it once felt.
He placed his bag down, ran a hand through his hair, and went to the bathroom. Cold water splashed against his face, washing away the sweat and dust of the day.
He changed into informal clothes—a simple T-shirt and pants.
When he looked at himself in the mirror, he barely recognized the person staring back.
Seventeen.
Unburdened.
Still standing at the beginning.
Felix exhaled slowly and stepped out of the room.
"Felix!" his mother called from downstairs. "Dinner's ready."
He walked down.
The dining table was already set. Plates arranged neatly. Steam rising gently from the dishes.
Everyone was there.
Alex had abandoned the anime and was already seated, poking at the food impatiently. Radha moved between the kitchen and the table, placing the last dish down.
At the head of the table sat Krishna Vedman.
Felix's father.
He looked up as Felix entered, offering a small, warm smile.
"Come," Krishna said. "Sit before Alex finishes everything."
Alex protested immediately. "I don't eat that fast!"
Felix sat down, the chair scraping softly against the floor.
In his first life, meals like this had become rare. Conversations short. Silences long.
Now, laughter filled the space effortlessly.
Radha sat down last, wiping her hands on a cloth. "Eat while it's hot," she said.
They did.
Food disappeared slowly as conversation flowed naturally. Small things. Ordinary things. School gossip. Neighborhood chatter.
Then Alex leaned forward, eyes shining with curiosity.
"So," he said, looking directly at Felix, "I heard there were trials today."
Felix paused mid-bite.
Radha glanced up. Krishna raised an eyebrow slightly.
Alex grinned. "You didn't think I wouldn't hear about it, did you?"
Felix smiled. "Yeah. There were trials."
"And?" Alex pressed. "How did it go?"
Felix hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Then, "I made it."
Alex's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
Krishna set his spoon down. "Interschool?"
Felix nodded. "Yes."
For a moment, the table went quiet.
Then Radha smiled—soft, proud, unforced.
"That's wonderful," she said. "I knew you would do well."
Krishna nodded approvingly. "Good job. But don't let it affect your studies."
Felix smiled slightly. "I won't."
Alex leaned back, crossing his arms dramatically. "So my brother's going to be famous now."
Felix chuckled. "Don't get ahead of yourself."
But inside, something shifted.
In his first life, he had never shared wins like this.
He had stopped believing they mattered.
Dinner ended peacefully. Plates were cleared. Radha stood up to wash dishes, and Alex immediately excused himself, claiming homework but clearly heading back to the TV.
Felix remained seated for a moment longer.
Krishna looked at him thoughtfully. "You seem different today."
Felix stiffened slightly. "Different?"
Krishna nodded. "Calmer. More… present."
Felix didn't know how to respond.
After a pause, he said quietly, "I'm just… trying to do better."
Krishna smiled gently. "That's enough."
Felix stood and helped clear the table, then headed back upstairs.
The house gradually quieted.
In his room, Felix lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling fan as it rotated lazily above him.
The day replayed itself in fragments.
The court.
The win.
The dinner table.
His family.
In his first life, he had chased success, thinking it would fill the emptiness.
Now he understood.
I was never empty, he thought.
I was just looking in the wrong direction.
Felix turned onto his side.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges. New choices. New consequences.
But tonight—
Tonight, he was home.
His eyes slowly closed.
'I hope this is not a dream.'
And for the first time in a long time, Felix drifted into sleep without regret following him into the dark.
A.N.- I know some words are repeating, but this is just start and english is not my first language. Pls support my novel.