Memory Loss

The day of the art exhibit arrived.

"Wow, so many people are coming to the exhibit!" Rubie exclaimed, scanning the crowd.

They found themselves outside the venue, facing a long line.

Tin remarked, "Look at the long line. It will take hours for us to enter."

Meanwhile, Kaye was engrossed in typing on her phone.

"Is there a problem?" Tin inquired.

"Huh?" Kaye responded, hastily stowing her phone in her bag.

"You don't seem excited," Tin observed.

"What are you saying? I really want to see the art displays," Kaye insisted.

"But you've been on your phone since we were in the car. Is there something wrong?" Tin questioned.

"It's nothing. Actually, after this exhibit, I'm planning to leave the city tonight to visit my parents. I promised them I would come today, but it will be in the evening due to the exhibit," Kaye explained.

"Oh, that's why you look so serious," Tin noted.

It had been a month since Kaye last visited her family.

"Then let's hurry so we can leave early!" Rubie suggested enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling.

As they prepared to join the long line, someone approached them.

"Look who's here," a voice said.

Turning around, they saw Timothy. Kaye's expression immediately turned serious as she avoided eye contact.

"Good morning, Mayor!" Rubie greeted him.

"It's nice to see you here, Miss Rubie," Timothy smiled.

"Eh? Rubie, you didn't tell us that you're close with the mayor," Tin said in surprise.

"Hehe, I forgot to mention that the mayor will sponsor me for my upcoming fan meeting event," Rubie confessed.

"Are they your friends?" Timothy asked, glancing at Kaye.

"Yes, they are Miss Tin and Miss Kaye from J.C.L," Rubie introduced.

"Ohh, so you girls are working there," Timothy smiled once again.

"It's an honor to meet you and talk to you in person, mayor!" Tin expressed.

Timothy glanced at Kaye once again.

"Hey, Kaye. Why are you not greeting him?" Tin whispered to her.

Kaye sighed and looked directly into his eyes. "Nice to meet you," she said with a serious face.

"H-Hehehe... Miss Kaye is a shy person," Rubie explained while scratching her head.

Timothy chuckled. "It's nice to meet you girls. By the way, I saw the long line. Are you planning to wait with them?"

"Yes," Rubie answered.

"But it will take hours for you to get inside. Why don't you join me? If the staff see you with me, they will let you in immediately," Timothy offered.

Tin and Rubie's eyes sparkled.

"Wow! Thank you for your kindness!" Rubie said.

"It's no big deal," Timothy smiled, glancing at Kaye.

However, Kaye remained silent.

As they entered the venue, Rubie and Tin immersed themselves in the art, taking pictures and expressing their joy. Kaye, on the other hand, stayed quiet, absorbed in contemplation of a particular painting.

"This painting is so beautiful, isn't it?" Timothy remarked.

"Yeah," she replied without looking at him.

"Too bad that the artist couldn't make it today," he added. "But it's alright because today I also saw someone who is as beautiful as his painting."

Kaye looked at him.

Timothy smiled. "I have the feeling that you don't like me. We haven't met before, but perhaps I did something that made you upset in the past without my knowledge."

Kaye gritted her teeth. He is not Gilmesh, but why is she feeling anger toward this man?

She sighed. "My apologies for my actions. I just have problems controlling my emotions."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Timothy furrowed his brows.

"Actually, I met someone before who really looks like you, and he's a bad person. But don't worry, I won't hate you just because you only look like him. He's dead long ago anyway," she said, staring back at the painting.

"A man who looks like me, you said. But I'm an only child. Maybe a relative of mine?" he pondered, stroking his chin while looking at the ceiling.

"No, I'm sure he's not," Kaye mused.

Timothy grinned. That's it!

Although there's no evidence, seeing her with an angry look on her face while mentioning that man is enough.

Even he was surprised to see himself in the mirror. Timothy resembles him.

Aria....

"Kaye! Let's take a picture together with the mayor!" Rubie suggested.

But they stopped when they felt the place shaking.

"E-Earthquake!"

Panic ensued as people rushed toward the exit.

"Rubie! Tin!" Kaye shouted.

However, Timothy grabbed her hand. "This way!"

"No!" Kaye resisted, pulling away and running to her friends.

"Waahh! I'm scared!" Rubie exclaimed, clinging to Kaye.

"Please calm down. Let's go to the exit," Kaye reassured them.

.

.

They managed to exit the venue successfully.

"Are those meteors?" someone screamed, and the crowd gasped at the unusual sight.

"Meteors? In broad daylight?" the disbelief echoed through the panicked crowd.

"Aahhh!" Another round of screams erupted as the ground shook once again.

When would this earthquake end?

"Stop that truck!" a man shouted.

"Get out of the road!" the truck driver yelled.

Kaye was frozen with shock as the truck barreled in her direction.

"KAYE!!!!"

She closed her eyes, bracing for impact as the truck approached.

"Kaye! Wake up!" she heard Rubie's desperate cry.

The shaking finally ceased. Kaye attempted to open her eyes, but everything was blurry.

"Kaye!!!" Tin's distressed voice joined the chaotic scene.

A crowd gathered around them. Kaye's body was covered in blood.

"Call an ambulance! Hurry up!" Timothy's voice cut through the chaos.

The pain was intense. Am I dying?

"No! Kaye, please don't close your eyes!" Rubie pleaded.

Despite Rubie's plea, Kaye had already lost consciousness.

.

.

....

In the hospital, Tin and Rubie were watching the news on television. The events were unexpected; no one predicted the sudden earthquake and the appearance of meteors in the sky. The phenomenon was not localized—it had affected other countries as well. However, according to the news, when the media, meteorologists, and geologists investigated the supposed impact site of the meteors, there was no sign of meteorites anywhere. The question lingered: Where did they fall? What happened that day remained a mystery for everyone.

"Doctor, how is she?" Timothy inquired when the doctor emerged from Kaye's room.

"She's fine now. Fortunately, she was brought here immediately. If she had arrived later, she might have succumbed to blood loss," the doctor explained.

"When will she wake up?" Tin asked.

"I'm not sure, but let's pray that she will wake up soon. Once she does, she will likely experience pain while moving her body for a while. Her injuries were serious," the doctor revealed.

"I'm just relieved she was saved. I was so scared when I saw her covered in blood. I thought she would die and leave us!" Rubie cried.

Tin hugged her for comfort. Meanwhile, Timothy entered Kaye's room, gazing at her with concern.

"Don't you dare escape from me again. Not in this world. I may have failed to make you my wife in my first life, but this time I will make sure you won't be able to escape from me," he muttered.

....

Days passed, and Kaye slowly opened her eyes in the hospital bed.

"Where am I?" she wondered, her head throbbing. She felt bandages on her head and saw her hand also covered.

"Kaye!!!" Rubie exclaimed.

"Waahhh! Kaye is finally awake!" Tin added.

"What happened?" Kaye asked, feeling disoriented.

"You were hit by a truck. We're glad you're alive," Tin explained.

"I thought you would leave us?! Waahhh, Kaye!" Rubie cried, hugging her and then apologizing when Kaye winced in pain.

"How do you feel now?" Tin asked with concern.

Kaye surveyed her bandaged body. "I don't remember what happened," she confessed.

"Ehhhh?" the two friends exchanged surprised glances.

"We were at the art exhibit when there was a sudden earthquake. When we got out from the venue, we saw meteors! Then a truck came and hit you," Rubie recounted.

Kaye tried to remember but couldn't. "Don't push yourself. It's alright if you don't remember. It's a very unpleasant incident anyway," Tin reassured her.

She nodded, trying to come to terms with the situation.

The door opened, and Rubie called out, "Mayor!"

Timothy entered carrying flowers and fruits.

"You're awake," he said, rushing to her. "How are you? Do you feel pain? Tell me where it hurts," he asked, showing deep concern.

Kaye stared at Timothy, her confusion evident. His familiarity lingered, but she couldn't place where she had seen or met him.

"Please say something," Timothy urged.

"I-I'm sorry, but... Who are you, mister?" Kaye asked, her uncertainty palpable.

The three were surprised.

"K-Kaye... What are you saying? He's Mayor Timothy," Tin clarified.

"Yeah, he was with us during the exhibit. Don't tell us that you don't remember him?" Rubie added.

Kaye shook her head. "I don't really remember him."

Tin and Rubie exchanged confused glances.

"I think we have to call the doctor," Tin decided, stepping out to find the doctor.

Kaye looked at Timothy again.

"I'm sorry..." she apologized.

But Timothy only smiled. "Haha, it's alright. Then I will introduce myself to you again if you really forgot me."

Deep inside, Timothy felt a sense of opportunity. Before, when he approached Kaye, she showed hostility. Now that she didn't remember him, it was a chance to build a new relationship, to make her trust and love him.

.

.

"Hmmm... Some of her memories were lost because of the impact of the blow on her head during the accident," the doctor explained.

"But I can still remember who I am, my family, my friends, my job. The only thing I can't remember was the accident and..." Kaye glanced at Timothy. "and him."

"That means you only lost the memories of the recent events. You're still lucky that it was not severe," the doctor said.

Selective amnesia can result from accidents, especially those involving head injuries. The impact on memory can vary, leading to the selective loss of recent memories while leaving older memories intact.

"Are you really sure that you only forgot the recent memories? What if there's something more that you forgot?" Tin asked.

Kaye thought deeply. She felt a nagging sensation that she had forgotten something or someone, aside from the accident and Timothy. There was a gap in her memory, but whenever she tried to recall it, her head would ache. She really couldn't remember.

But telling this to everyone would only make them worry. She trusted the doctor's assurance that the memory would likely return since it's not severe.

"Yes, I'm fine, don't worry," she answered.

"I already talked to your boss and requested your sick leave. You still have to take a rest for weeks," Timothy said.

"You don't have to do that," Kaye protested.

"But he's right. You're still injured, and you can't come to work in your condition," Tin added.

"I already posted on our website and told the fans what happened. You can continue to draw when you're completely well," Rubie assured her.

Kaye patted Rubie's head. "I'm sorry because of me, your story is on hiatus."

"It's alright. Your health is more important!" Rubie said and hugged her.

Kaye smiled.

After an hour, Tin and Rubie left for home, but Timothy stayed in the hospital.

"You don't have to take care of me," Kaye said, expressing her confusion about why the mayor of J City was so concerned about her. What was their relationship before?

"But I want to. I can't leave you alone here," Timothy said while peeling fruits. "I heard earlier that you asked your friends not to tell your family what happened to you."

"I don't want them to worry," she explained.

"You're a very good daughter. But don't you ever feel sad being alone? I learned that you're living in this city alone," he continued.

"Well, I'm already used to it. Since I was young, my parents supported me and gave me everything I wanted. Now that I'm an adult, I want to be independent," she said.

He smiled. "Seems like you've grown up as a strong woman," handing her the fruits.

"Thank you. By the way, can you tell me how we met?" she asked.

"Well, I was the one who would sponsor Rubie's upcoming fan meeting event. She introduced me to you, and to be honest, the day when I first met you, I already took a liking to you. In fact, we became closer to each other," he explained.

"Really?" Kaye chuckled. "I didn't tell you some silly things, right? Please tell me I didn't."

"Haha, no, you're not. But I want to know those crazy and funny sides of yours," he said.

"Thanks for taking care of me, although I don't remember you. I'm really sorry," she said.

"It's not your fault for forgetting me. No one wanted it," he reassured.

She smiled.