The Second Me: Jonathan

Chapter 1

Do you guys believe in a "second" you? Jonathan did not too. Until, there was a significant event that happened to him that changed his fate...

"Jon, be quick! You are going to be late for school!" His mother vociferated. The familiar exclamation reverberated throughout the whole of the living room. Johnathan instantaneously dashed down the stairs, with his mouth filled to the top with his breakfast while fussing with his school attire.

"One minute and Twenty-one seconds! What is this? Rubbish! You are so slow!" Jonathan's mum, or rather, Commando Pierce, hollered at the top of her voice while holding a stopwatch on her hand. "S-s-sorry mum- I mean..." Jonathan muttered incoherently.

"Whatever! 20 push-ups, now!" bellowed the house's tyrant.

Through numerous beads of sweat and blood, Jonathan barely pulled through the torture session. He grabbed his bag and scampered away from his house. "Who would have known the most safest place is the most dangerous place? Why did Mum die? Why did Dad marry such a creature? Why is my step-parent such a... Ughhh!!" The ideas started popping out like pimples would do on a adolescent. The thoughts hurt his emotions. He tried to hold hack his salty tears back he couldn't. A trail was left behind as the tears flowed down his fluffy cheeks. He wiped the tears with the back of his hand and pushed himself towards the school. The school journey was near, yet it seemed so far.

This wasn't the first time Commando Pierce treated Johnathan like this. Countless of times, Jonathan would be demanded to do be punished no matter what he did. Satisfying or not. Jonathan flung his bag on the floor and lay on the table. "How wonderful to start a day with 20 push-up plus a half-awakened soul." Jonathan lamented sarcastically. Just then, Jonathan felt a few gentle taps on his table.

There was a familiar figure standing right in front of him. It was Dawn! he fancied Dawn, or so, but wasn't courageous to tell her. Dawn was a lavishing beauty - medium-long black hair with brown hues that was tied up into a ponytail, eyebrows on fleek, cherry-blossomed lips that metamorphoses into a wide, pink lipped smile. She had a sense of fashion, usually wearing a black denim jacket over a pink tee and brown high-heeled boots. She had a pleasant scent that lingered through the air when she walked past Jonathan. Ah, what a long list of her good looks!

This time, Dawn knocked on the table hardly. "Where? What? How?" Jonathan immediately snapped back into reality. Dawn giggled delicately. Dawn's laughter was what Jonathan yearned for - making Dawn laugh made Jonathan satisfied. "I just saw you sprawling on the table. Is everything okay?" Jonathan was eager to tell everything to Dawn, but thought that it was best not to say. "I'm okay, don't worry, Dawn!" Jonathan forced out a fake smile.

As Dawn strolled back to her seat, Jonathan could not decide which was better - striking the lottery of a million bucks, or cracking jokes for Dawn. Within a split second, Dawn approached Jonathan. Jonathan jumped up in shock. "Sorry, that was shocking, huh? I would like to ask you if you would like to come to my birthday party next week at my house. You will come, won't you? Don't disappoint me! I am your good friend!" Jonathan's heart started to beat faster and faster, that he even felt a little breathing difficulty. "Yes, I will!" Jonathan proudly replied. Dawn did a pinky-promise with Jonathan before going back to her seat. The bell rang wildly like rats were being chased by cats and everyone scampered back to their seats to start their lesson. Their history teacher, Mrs Tang, walked in holding a stack of History books. Mrs Tang was from Singapore.

She was as plump as a beach ball, or rather, to not beat about the bush, she was significantly OBESE. She wore a black-tinted spectacles and had that attitude than no one in the class ever liked - Sarcastic, rude and fierce. Sometimes, Jonathan even wonders whether Commando Pierce and Mrs Tang were twins separated at birth. Mrs Tang cleared her throat, and tried talking in a kind vocal range "Take out your History books now. Flip to page 69 and hand in your History homework." Jonathan scavenged his bag for his worksheet he had done yesterday before going to bed. "I swear I had put the worksheet in my bag before going to bed!" Jonathan wondered out loudly.

"WHAT?! YOU DID NOT BRING YOUR HOMEWORK? GO OUT NOW!" Mrs Tang bellowed. Jonathan sighed and dragged his feet out of the classroom. he swore he put the worksheet into his bag! About this matter, he did not think much about it. Nevertheless, when he was at outside, he wondered about the impromptu promise he made to Dawn in class earlier on. And then, Mrs Tang then realised she was too harsh on Jonathan and decided to call him back to the classroom.

"Will someone answer the questions based on the method we have learnt previously to me? How about register number... You!" Mrs Tang said.
Just nice, she pointed at Jonathan.
Everyone turned their heads to face Jonathan who hesitantly stood up. He looked around the classroom and realized even Dawn was looking at him! His legs trembled as his crush was noticing him! Hurray!

"Ahem, Jonathan, we don't have all day," Mrs Tang informed.

Jonathan jolted back from his daze. It was really a habit. Every time he thought about Dawn, he would fall into a daze. It was a bad habit but he couldn't stop it.

"Uh..... Well.... According to page 69, many immigrants immigrated to Singapore because of starvation, poverty, wars and rebellions in the immigrants' homeland. China had many rebellions going on such as the Boxer rebellion where some people who called themselves 'The Boxers' believed they were immune to bullets and had the power to fly. They refused to use guns and used old-styled swords and lances to fight," Jonathan said. He then took his seat.

The teacher nodded and continued the lesson, but of course Jonathan did not waste effort on listening and instead drew an evil fat Mrs Tang on his textbook, derp version.

"Wow you treated that really seriously. Almost like a speech," someone commented.

Jonathan was startled and looked up to see Dawn whispering to him.

"You really rocked it, like how you did two days ago!" Dawn continued.

"Huh? What? Really? Oh. Thanks for the compliment. I try to be perfect at the work I do after all," Jonathan replied.

"Really? That's so cool! If only I could swap bodies with you! No wonder you are so smart!!" Dawn responded.

"What? No you are smarter," Jonathan gave a confident smile. However, his heart was beating furiously.

"How am I smart? You have like you could ace every subject and look at old little me. I'm kinda dumb. Oooh, do you offer tuition? Maybe you can offer me some help in my studies?" Dawn looked at Jonathan with her bright blue eyes.

Jonathan was so so so shocked, that his heart was beating so hard. Adrenaline was rushing into his veins and blood was rushing to his face and he could feel the pulsating sensation in his brain!

After Jonathan was snapped out of infatuation, Jonathan suddenly recalled what Dawn said to him. He rocked it like how he did two days ago. How was it possible? He did not come to school on Tuesday due to a high fever! "What do you mean by Tuesday? I did not come on Tuesday!" Jonathan turned around and wanted to whisper, but Dawn was no where to be seen. Everyone was leaving the class as it was recess time. He shrugged his shoulders and walked out the classroom.

Class went on as usual and everyone was dismissed. Jonathan had to go to the supermarket to buy the daily necessities for himself so that he could cook his dinner - Commander Pierce did not fancy doing dinner for him and wanted him to be independent in all aspects of life - thus he had to cook his dinner himself.