Jade backs up. "You don't remember your name?"
"No, I don't. What is it?" The boy asks.
She hesitates for a moment, then she reluctantly answers. "Your name is Norman. You're my younger brother. Well, we're not blood related, but we're still siblings..." Jade turns around and starts walking away.
"Why are you so calm?"
"Huh?" Jade turns back to face him. "Oh, I just internally panic. I don't really convey emotions well..."
"Oh, okay."
"I should... make a call. Tell someone you're awake," she says, grinning. If he doesn't even remember his own name, how would he remember if he hated Emma?
She walks out of the room and scrolls through her contacts, which aren't many.
...
"Hello, Jade!" Emma greets through the phone cheerfully. "Why are you calling?"
"Uh..." She starts. "Norman woke up," she tells her, her voice shaking.
"I... I bet I'm the last person he'd like to see right now..."
"No, he forgot everything. Including his own name..." Jade says.
"Oh, can I see him? I don't think he'll know me at all, but still... I'd like to talk to him."
"Of course, you can."
...
I feel like I recognize her... Of course, you don't though, Norman, if that's actually your name... He thinks as he sees the orange-haired girl enter the room.
"You're really awake! I didn't believe Jade at first, though." The girl tells him.
"What's your name?" Norman asks. "I'm, uh, I think you know mine... You knew Jade's, after all."
I know he didn't remember anyone, but... The girl thinks. She feels a tear form. It still hurts...
"I-I didn't mean to make you cry!"
She uses her sleeve to try to wipe the tears from her eyes. "You didn't keep our promise..." She says, barely a whisper. Then she snaps back to reality. "Sorry! I'm Emma," Emma tells him.
"A promise?"
"Yeah... You had a promise not to forget my name..."
"Oh... I did..."
"I'm Emma! Remember that, okay?" Emma's happy sounding voice plays in the back of his head. He repeats it, but in a less enthusiastic, more tired voice.
"I'm Emma. Remember that, okay?" He mutters.
"What? I said that to you when we first met..."
"When did we first meet?"
"A month ago, I think. It's weird, we thought we recognized each other."
"Really? I thought I recognized you when I saw you just now enter the room!"
Emma stares at him, shocked and silent for a while. "I-I'm kind of thirsty. I should... go..." She turns and leaves.
That is the second damn girl who's left me in a hurry today. Are all girls like that? Norman thinks, a pang of loneliness growing.
Emma reenters the room and sits on a chair by the bed. "I'm sorry, I was really thirsty. I don't think I even had breakfast, either." She smiles softly.
She's kind of cute when she smiles. What are you thinking? She probably has a boyfriend already, and should I really be thinking about relationships right now? I'm only thinking about it in a platonic sense, though. Right? I should be thinking of seeing all of my friends, too. He thinks, not realizing he said his thoughts aloud.
"Uh..." Emma blushes.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make it sound-"
"It's fine." She rubs the back of her head.
Neither of them says anything.
"Well, I think I should go now." Emma says, standing up. "When you get out, do you want to meet some of our friends?"
"Sure, that'd be fun!" Norman replies.
"Okay, I'll leave!" Emma smiles and waves goodbye.
As she leaves, Norman smiles. "I think I like someone..." He whispers. "How would I remember what it feels like? I've never been in love, or I forgot what it feels like!"
...
"Jade, what's it like to love someone? I mean, you love Ace, right?" Norman asks his sister.
"Oh, uh, why?" Jade asks.
"I think I like someone..."
"Is it Emma?" Jade teases.
Norman blushes. "Yeah... I think."
Jade is silent, then she mutters something, half smirking and half smiling.
"You've known her for less than a day. Technically. You're going to be let out soon, and when you leave... yeah... you'll leave," Jade says.
"Emma invited me to meet her friends... She said I was also their friends, but of course I forgot."
"...You seem to be taking losing all of your memories pretty well..."
"Well, I don't remember any of the things I experienced or people I knew, so saying goodbye to things was an easy thing."
"Dang, you just gave me wisdom I didn't even know existed... I should go home now. It was a good time talking with you."
730 words (very short of a chapter but i want some things to happen in the next one-)
ns 15.158.61.5da2
