-Year 2024 -

"Corazon!" Alexander shouted as he broke off from his sleep, his body drenched in sweat. As his heart raced, he sat up in bed, grasping for air, desperately trying to compose himself. With trembling hands, he reached over to the bedside table and fumbled for a glass of water, desperately trying to quench the thirst that had consumed him. The cool liquid slid down his throat, providing a fleeting sense of solace. He dreamed about that woman once again.

Rising from the bed, Alexander walked over to the window, his gaze drawn to the vibrant city below. The sun's golden rays were beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a warm glow upon the towering buildings. A bittersweet smile spread across Alexander's lips. He was grateful for this second chance at life, an opportunity to escape the shadows of his past. However, the sacrifice had been profound – leaving behind everything he had known and cherished.

With a heavy sigh, Alexander turned away from the window and made his way towards his desk. He picked up a book, hoping to lose himself in its pages and find some semblance of peace. But his mind was restless, wandering back to the memories of Corazon. He wondered what fate had befallen her, if she was safe and content.

Closing the book, Alexander knew he couldn't ignore the restlessness that gnawed at him. He needed to step outside, to breathe in the fresh air and clear his head. Slipping on his shoes, he left the confines of his apartment, eager to explore the unfamiliar streets.

His aimless wanderings led him through bustling avenues and quiet alleyways. He didn't know where he was heading, but the rhythmic sound of his footsteps provided a sense of comfort amidst the chaos. Hours passed as he traversed the city, his thoughts swirling like a tempest.

Eventually, his journey brought him to a tranquil park. Exhausted and emotionally drained, Alexander found an empty bench and collapsed onto it. As he looked around, he noticed children frolicking on the swings and couples strolling hand in hand. A pang of longing washed over him as he realized this was what he had always craved - a simple life surrounded by love and companionship.

With a sense of serenity washing over him, Alexander closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The weight of his past seemed to lift, and a glimmer of hope sparked within him. He knew that he could never fully erase the memories of his previous existence, but he was determined to forge a new future, a future where happiness was within his grasp.

Opening his eyes, Alexander stood up and began to walk again, this time with a newfound sense of purpose. He knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but he was ready to embrace the unknown. With each step, he felt himself leaving the shadows of his past behind, confident in the knowledge that he was finally on the path to a life filled with love, laughter, and peace.

Just as he was heading back to the building where his apartment was, his attention was caught by a woman with an all-too-familiar face from the other side of the road. She was dressed in a navy blue scrub suit, a pair of white rubber shoes and she was busy tying her hair up into a bun. He couldn't believe his eyes as he felt his heart pound wildly against his ribcage that the woman that he had been searching for in this life is right there on the other side of the road.

Without any other considerations, he carelessly crossed the road. A few more steps and he would be able to hold her in his grasp but then a truck hit him all of a sudden, earning him a lot of gasps and screams from the people around him.

"Hey! Can you hear me?!" His vision was spinning but he could still see Corazon kneeling over him with a concerned look on her face. Her voice sounded too far despite her being next to him.

Celine's heart pounded in her chest as she knelt beside the injured man. His face, though contorted in pain, held a strange familiarity that sent shivers down her spine. His eyes, glazed with shock, locked with hers, and a jolt of recognition coursed through her but she couldn't put a name to the face of the man she was tending to right now. All she knows is that he's injured and that she feels familiar to him.

Alexander tried to reach out to her. "Corazon?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Is it truly you?"

Tears welled up in Celine's eyes for some reason as she reached out to touch his face. The years melted away, and she saw in him the same love, the same longing that had haunted her for so long.

"I thought I'd lost you forever," he choked out, a faint smile touching his lips. "Fate has a strange way of bringing us back together, doesn't it?" Confusion rippled through Celine's face but it was set aside as soon the first responders from the St. Vincent Hospital, the hospital that she was working in as a registered nurse, stepped into the scene and asked her for the details that might be helpful for the man.

—

"Celine, do you happen to know the patient in Room 209?" Dr. Chen asked Celine as soon as he put his stethoscope in the pocket of his white coat. Alexander has now been confined at St. Vincent Hospital for five days now and even though weak, his physical condition had already stabilized but his physician seems to think otherwise due to his antics regarding Celine as Corazon.

"Not really... though he appeared as if he knew me five days ago at the crash scene." Celine replied.

"Well, that's interesting." He responded as he shrugged his shoulders. "That man named Alexander claims that he knows you and keeps on calling you 'Corazon'." He chuckled, "For a second, I thought you had another identity interstate and this was one of those crazy ex-boyfriends who track their exes."

"Dr. Chen, you know that I have no time for relationships." She replied in an exasperated manner as she continued writing in one of her patients' progress notes.

"Yeah, I know. I was one of those men you rejected." He laughed. "Oh well, please check his vital signs and neuro status every 15 minutes. I still don't think he could be discharged because of his neuro status. If he doesn't improve after seven days, we'll have to refer him to a psych."

Celine hesitated outside Room 209, her heart heavy with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Dr. Chen's words echoed in her mind, "He keeps calling you 'Corazon'." The name, so foreign yet strangely familiar, tugged at her memory, stirring a sense of longing she couldn't explain.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. Alexander lay on the bed, his eyes closed, his face pale and drawn. Celine approached him cautiously, her footsteps barely making a sound.

As she reached his bedside, Alexander's eyes fluttered open. A flicker of recognition lit up his face, and a weak smile touched his lips. "Corazon," he whispered, his voice raspy. "You've come back."

Celine's heart skipped a beat. The way he said her name, with such tenderness and longing, sent shivers down her spine. "My name is Celine," she corrected gently, her voice barely above a whisper.

A look of confusion clouded Alexander's eyes. "But... you're Corazon," he insisted, his voice filled with a desperate plea. "I know it. I remember. That face... I can never forget it even if my previous lives had passed." Celine's mind reeled. She couldn't deny the strange connection she felt to this man, the inexplicable pull that drew her to him.

"I don't understand," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I don't know who Corazon is."

Alexander reached out his hand, his fingers brushing against hers. "I'll help you remember," he promised, his voice filled with a conviction that belied his weakened state. "We have a love that transcends time, a love that can never be broken."

Celine's breath caught in her throat. His words, though enigmatic, resonated deep within her soul. As she gazed into his eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling that their destinies were intertwined, that their paths had crossed before, in a time and place long forgotten.

A tear slid down her cheek but she immediately came back into her senses and wiped it away. "I think I came in at the wrong time," she whispered, as she closed Alexander's chart. "I'll come back in an hour."

—

"So let me get this straight. That man in Room 209, was the same man you attended to at the crash scene and then he calls you Corazon because you look like the woman from his past life?" Peter, her African-American friend, clarified while eating his crab and cucumber salad during their lunch break. "Girl, I dunno 'bout you but das sum reincarnation shit right there."

"I'm just as confused and creeped out as you are, Peter. But on the other hand, I feel bad for the man. Imagine seeing the face of the person you love and you thought it's them, then you find out that it's not. How cruel must that sound?" Celine took a spoonful of her Chicken Adobo.

Peter laughed, "Maybe this is God's way of telling you to finally be in a relationship!"

"Oh shut up, Pete! You know we're not allowed to date our patients!"

"Uh-uh! I never said that you should date that patient of yours." He chortled. "But to be fair, he's good-looking. I might take my chance on him." Celine punched him playfully on his left arm. "Ow! This is why boys are scared of you! You punch like The Hulk!"

"Seriously though, Celine," Peter continued, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Have you ever thought about what it would be like if he was actually your soulmate from a past life?"

Celine rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh, please. Spare me the reincarnation rom-com clichés. I'm a nurse, not a character in a cheesy novel."

"But wouldn't it be exciting?" Peter pressed, leaning in conspiratorially. "Forbidden love that transcends time? It's like something straight out of a Nicholas Sparks movie!"

"More like a Lifetime movie," Celine retorted dryly. "Complete with dramatic music and overly emotional dialogue."

Peter chuckled. "Okay, okay, I get it. You're not a believer. But just imagine for a second – what if he's the one? What if you're destined to be together?"

Celine sighed, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Peter, I've barely known the man for a week. And he thinks I'm someone named Corazon. I'm pretty sure that's not a recipe for a healthy relationship."

"Maybe Corazon is your spirit name," Peter suggested, a playful grin on his face. "Or maybe it's a sign that you should finally embrace your Filipino heritage and start wearing those beautiful ternos."

"I'll stick to my scrubs, thank you very much," Celine laughed. "And as for Alexander, well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. But for now, I'm more concerned about his recovery than any past-life love affairs."

Peter raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I won't push you any further. But just remember, I'm always here to offer my expert relationship advice, whether you want it or not."

Celine shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "Thanks, Pete. I'll be sure to keep that in mind."

The two friends continued their lunch, their laughter filling the air. While Celine remained skeptical about the whole reincarnation theory, a small part of her couldn't help but wonder about the strange connection she felt to Alexander. Perhaps there was more to their encounter than met the eye. Or perhaps it was just a case of mistaken identity and a vivid imagination. Only time would tell.