Chapter 3: Start of a New life(Edited)

[Rohan POV]

It was the evening of June 1983, and I was now seven years old. It had been a year since I woke up in this new world. I had regained all of my memories from my previous life, but only some from this world maybe because of the car accident. I am not sure. This is why I had some difficulties at first, trying to fit in. However, I had managed to adapt to this new life to some extent.

In the living room, I sat with a magazine open next to a black keyboard connected to the TV. It was a home PC called ZX Spectrum, a cheap computer that Elena had recently brought home. For me, it was slow and had a shitty keyboard, but it was either this or a toy car, so I started using it to pass the time.

It was the year 1983, known for the infamous video game crash, but that mostly affected the western countries. In Europe, affordable computers like the ZX Spectrum were becoming popular, especially for gaming.

The magazines came with codes for games that you could enter into the computer to run and play. I was sitting with one such magazine, trying to run a game on the computer, while young Christopher, or Chris, sat next to me eagerly waiting.

"Is it done yet?" he asked impatiently, to which I replied, "Just making sure one last time."

I pressed the enter key, and a colored screen appeared on the TV. It was an 8-bit version of Space Invaders clone. I moved aside, allowing Chris to take over and play. Lately, I had started programming games on the computer to pass the time, and one day Chris noticed it. Now he would come to me to play new games. I didn't show him my own creations; instead, I copied them from the magazines.

Speaking of Chris, my initial worries about him had been resolved after a few months of living together. He was a very curious kid who loved drawing and reading books. Despite being only three years old, he could play most computer games with ease. After observing him for some time, I could confidently say that he was a genius. He had a bright future ahead of him.

Due to my injuries, I couldn't play with Chris outside, but the computer allowed us to play together. This was a great way for us to bond.

As for my aunt Elena, she didn't have many skills in taking care of the family. Being the younger sister, she was usually the one taken care of, so it was difficult for her to take care of us. She had recently graduated and now had a job in a big company, which kept her very busy. She would often come home late at night and barely had time for sleep, let alone for friends.

Seeing Elena in this role reminded me of my old life. In these few months, I had been doing my best to help her, and taking care of Chris was one way I contributed.

As for me, I couldn't attend regular school due to my injuries, so I received homeschooling instead. I still relied on a support stick to help me walk, and the doctor informed me that I would need it for a few more years. The injuries I suffered during the accident were quite severe, and as a result, I faced ongoing difficulties in moving my arms and legs. Hearing this news saddened me, but I wasn't overly bothered by it. After all, I was living in a modern society where physical strength wasn't crucial for survival. Additionally, the screen's vague promises of gaining powers when I was ready made me question its credibility. It cast doubt in my heart and made me less hopeful about its potential healing effects.

In my previous world, I had excelled in computers, so I decided to become proficient in using the computers of this new world. I found most video games and movies from the 80s to be uninteresting, so I dedicated all my time to learning programming on the retro computer. I believed that by preparing for the future, I could make the most of this second chance at life. I also seized the opportunity to pursue activities I had previously lacked time for, such as learning to play the guitar.

Having read isekai fiction in my previous life, I never anticipated that I would experience such a transmigration myself. With this newfound opportunity, I aspired to become a better version of myself, striving to reach my full potential.

Lost in my thoughts, I was suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door. Startled, I looked up and saw Elena standing there, observing us curiously.

"It's time for dinner," Elena said, her tired eyes revealing her exhaustion as she walked away.

"Okay," I responded quietly, not saying much, and gently pulled Chris away from his intense focus on Space Invaders.

After dinner, Chris was already drifting off to sleep, so Elena took him to bed. Over the past few months, he had started sleeping in my room, with his bed opposite mine. Once they were settled, it was my turn to retire for the night.

But before doing so, I looked at Elena and inquired, "Are things ready? Do you need help?" She nodded mysteriously and replied, "No, everything is handled, now go to sleep. I'll wake you up tomorrow."

The following day held great significance—it was Christopher's birthday. In the morning, I quietly left the room and headed to find Elena. I discovered her in the living room, adorning it with decorations.

"It looks like you did great !," I complimented her, impressed by her ability to handle it all on her own. Balloons and confetti adorned the living room, creating a festive atmosphere.

"Were you up all night doing this?" I asked, curious about her efforts.

"No, why do you ask?" she replied inquiring.

"Its nothing" I dismissed the topic as i did see the lights on when i secretly went to check at night a number of times.

"Well then, are you ready to wake him up?" Elena inquired.

"Yes, let's go," I replied with excitement.

Together, we entered my bedroom, being careful not to disturb Chris, and quietly decorated the room. Once we finished, I approached the still-sleeping Chris. Gently tugging on the blanket, I whispered, "Wake up, it's already morning."

"Just a little more," Chris mumbled, pulling the blanket closer.

After a minute, he finally stirred and discovered the room beautifully decorated. Elena and I stood there wearing birthday hats, holding a cake adorned with lit candles.

"Happy Birthday," we exclaimed in unison, expressing our joy and well wishes.

I had requested a surprise birthday celebration for Chris, and Elena delivered it with great care. This was his first birthday without his parents, so it was important for us to make him feel loved and not miss them too much. We had planned a day filled with fun activities. First, we went to an amusement park, then enjoyed a movie together, had a delicious lunch at a nice restaurant, and now we were in the car heading to our final destination.

"Where are we going now?" Chris asked curiously.

"You'll find out when we get there," I replied, keeping the secret alive.

The car continued its journey, and after about an hour, we arrived. It was a cemetery. The car parked, and the atmosphere was serene and peaceful. I turned to Chris and said, "Don't you want to pay a visit to our parents on your special day?"

We walked silently towards their graves. Elena placed flowers on their resting place, and I joined her in offering a prayer. Then, I turned to Chris and said, "Now, go ahead and say whatever you want to them." I stepped back, giving him his space.

After paying our respects, we returned home. Chris hugged me and expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for today, brother." I gently pushed him and responded, "Oh no, you've got it wrong, brother. It was all Aunt Elena's plan. You should thank her instead." As I said this, Elena, who was heading to her room, turned around quickly, surprised. I simply winked at her.

Chris slowly turned towards Elena and, in a low voice, said, "Thank you for today." He approached her and gave her a warm hug. Elena was taken aback but also genuinely happy.

Later in the bedroom, Chris asked me, "Brother, what gift do you have for me?" I smirked and reached under my bed, revealing a large box. I opened it to unveil a telescope inside. A few months ago, I noticed how Chris would gaze at the night sky before falling asleep. It must have been because of our conversations about space. I felt a sense of compassion and, while out shopping with Elena a few weeks ago, I found this telescope for him. It was a bit big, but it worked perfectly fine.

I set up the telescope near the window and focused it on the moon. Turning to Chris, I said, "Since you enjoy stargazing at night, I got you this telescope." Chris was thrilled to have it and couldn't wait to use it. That night, I showed him the moon and we talked about the wonders of space.

As the night grew late, Chris had already fallen asleep. I lay in my bed, holding the ring my grandmother had given me. It was too large for me to wear, so I had turned it into a necklace. "My life has changed so much in just two years. Although unexpected, I have created a life for myself, Grandma," I whispered to myself, and drifted off to sleep.

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Author's Notes- I am taking it slow; yes it will need at least 3 more chapters to start the adventure. i am trying to keep the story grounded, unlike most Fanfics I don't want a generic MC who is OP and is fighting to get stronger without any goal.