The meeting

[Are you sure you are gonna be okay]

"Yes aunt, you know I am not a little kid anymore, right?"

[I know but it still makes me uneasy. Be sure to call me when you get there]

"Yes aunt, you take care too"

[Look at you acting all grown up]

"Well I am a 25 years old man"

[You are still the same little kid to me]

"I really can't win with you"

[I did raise you]

"kay fine you win. now I need to go. I think I will probably arrive there around midnight. So, I will call you back in the morning"

[Okay take care and Alberu don't forget to call me from time to time]

"Okay aunt Tasha, I am hanging up now and don't overwork yourself and make sure to rest okay"

[yes mom]

with a quite giggle, Alberu put down his phone.

"let's get back on road shall we"

Alberu Crossman, 25 years old, a freelance photographer. that day he suddenly decided on a whim that he wanted to visit the country side and stay there for a while. This of course caused a chaos at home. After finally getting his aunt Tasha to agree, he finally set off on his journey in his car.

"Wow its already night. I think if I take that turn, I should see the village" Alberu pressed on the accelerator, turned up the volume of the music, and opened the car windows to let the night breeze hit his face.

'That's my turn' he hummed and as he steered his car, a view of the moonlit ocean greeted him. It was so mesmerizing that he didn't even realize that his eyes had strayed away from road. Alberu wanted to jump out of the car with his camera and capture this moment

'I will probably die if I did that now won't I'

Alberu thought to himself as he drove to the direction of the sea.

"Ahh this feels great" Alberu walked bare foot on the cold sand. He truly felt great.

Just when he took a few steps he came to a halt after noticing someone standing at the edge of sea shore where the water was barely touching the man's foot.

Maybe the man noticed Alberu, he turned towards him. Now Alberu was clearly able to see the man's face. He seemed young.

'Maybe 20?', he looked pale and under the moonlight, it looked like his skin was glowing almost as if he was a ghost. The man's red hair fluttered because of the wind, it truly looked ethereal. Before Alberu even realized it, he had taken his camera out and took a picture of the man standing in front of him.

"Did you just take a picture of me?" the red-haired man asked while he looked at Alberu's camera.

Alberu reflexively took a step back because he was startled by the man's sudden voice.

'So close'

"Yeah, sorry I will delete it. It's just that you looked really pretty"

After a long silence, Alberu's face became red from embarrassment at his own words.

'Why the fuck did I just say that. He is definitely creeped out now. Alberu, at that moment wanted to dig a hole in sand and bury himself there.

"Bwahahahaha"

A loud laughter filled the area, when Alberu looked up, he saw the red-head laughing.

At that time the only thought that came in his mind while looking at the man in front of him was

'so pretty'

He looked really pretty to the point Alberu wanted to capture each and every part of that man.

'What the hell is wrong with me?', Alberu, himself couldn't believe that he could think about someone like that, let alone a man?

'I must be going crazy'

Although Alberu was a freelance photographer, he would never take a job where he had to photograph a person. He only captured scenic beauties or animals. but right now, he wanted to capture the man in front of him in his camera.

"Hmm… are you alright?", the man asked while looking at Alberu who had been lost in his own thoughts for a while now .

"no I… I am alright. But, aren't you cold?" Alberu asked as he noticed that man wearing such thin clothing.

'Wait. Are those hospital gowns?'

It might have been summer but the night was still very chilly .

"No its alright, I like it. This way I can feel this ocean breeze all the way down to my spine. Makes me feel alive", the man said as he looked at the ocean in front of them.

"You should still take care of yourself. You already look like you are nothing but bones" Alberu took off the jacket he was wearing and put it on him .

"You are a very kind person", the man said as he touched the jacket that was put on him.

"Not really"

That was the truth. Alberu himself was surprised with his current action. He normally wouldn't have cared but he couldn't help it while he looked at this red headed mess of a man.

"Thank you", the red-haired man really appreciated it.

"What's your name? And, what are you doing here this late at night?", Alberu asked .

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first before asking someone else's name?"

"Oh, that was rude of me. Sorry about that. I am Alberu Crossman, I came from Seoul."

"Oh a city boy" the red haired guy said while observing Alberu

'City boy?'

"So what are you doing here in such a faraway country side?"

"To clear my mind and while I am at it, click some photos. As you can see I am a freelance photographer."

"Oooh such a rich city people thing to do"

" Rich city people thing?", Alberu tilted his head trying to figure out what the guy meant when he said that.

"Oh I must go now.", the red hair man suddenly shouted as he prepared himself to leave.

"Wait… but your name?", Alberu tried to grab the red hair man's arm but all he could catch was his own jacket the the red hair man took off.

"Just think of it as a Cinderella's magical hour being over."

"Wait. Huh? Cinderella? what are you talking.... about..." by the time Alberu got the jacket that was thrown to him off his face, there was no one in front of him. It was like the man disappeared in thin air.

"What the …" Alberu looked around but there are no trace of him

A sudden chill ran down his spin.

'A ghost?? Yeah no I am thinking too much. I should get going and check into the motel first' Alberu jerked off any scary thought that was coming to his mind.

After a few minutes' drive, Alberu arrived at his motel.

At the counter he saw an old woman who seemed to be in here 60s. She handed him the keys to his room and told him that her husband would take his luggage upstairs. It was a motel run by a husband and his wife, their son was apparently working in the city.

"We are way out in the country and we don't get many visitors so it will be a lot quiet"

"I very much prefer it that way. Thank you.", Alberu thanked the old woman and took the keys from her .

"Oh, I wanted to ask. Do you know a red hair guy around his twenty? Maybe lives here in the sea area?"

"Hmm red hair boy?" the old lady gave it a thought and even asked her husband then she shook her head and apologized.

"No no its alright", Alberu said as he bowed down to show his gratitude for letting him stay and walked towards the stairs.

"Young man are you sure it's a red haired boy? Because in these country sides that hair color stands out quite a lot and we country folks know almost everyone in the neighbourhood."

Alberu flinched a little after hearing it but he did not want to trouble the pair any more than he already had so he just told them that he might have made a mistake and walked away .

"Haaaa… today was exhausting. Damn it I can't stop thinking about it. Could that guy really be a ghos.... no no it can't be", Alberu laid in his bed as he was going through his camera photo.

'Ah there it is'

he looked at the picture he clicked at the ocean, the picture of that boy he saw under the moonlit night.

'Ugh the smell of hospital again' the young man thought to himself as he walked down the hallway where there were only doctors, nurses and patience in sight.

"You went out again, didn't you?", a woman wearing doctors apron asked as she looked at the young boy.

"No, I did not."

"Then why are you averting your eyes now, Cale?"

"I was just taking a walk"

"You know your own condition Cale, you can't do that." the doctor sighed.

"Well, I don't have much time left anyway so better sooner than later"

"Cale! Don't say that."

"But isn't that the truth doctor?"

"Cale just listen to me, don't lose hope we are doing everything we can."

"I know. Sorry, I just need some rest. Thank you, Doctor Rosalyn but I can go in by myself."

"Yes, I will come for a follow up this afternoon make sure you rest and don't give Choi Han too much of a hard time. The poor guy was running around everywhere searching for you."

"I'll try", Cale let out a weak chuckle and parted ways with Dr. Rosalyn.

'Don't lose hope, huh. As if I had any to begin with.' Cale sat down on his bed in the private hospital room looking out the window as he suddenly remembered the guy he met last night.

'I wonder if he will come tonight as well. His eyes reflecting the moonlight looked really pretty.'

Alberu headed out of the motel after having breakfast to walk around the area.

'I actually got pretty decent pictures' Alberu thought as he scrolled through his camera. He was at a small restaurant right now having lunch.

"Here you go young man. Fresh clam soup." an old man served him some soup and side dishes.

"Thank you", Alberu said and took a sip of the soup that was served.

"It's really delicious.", Alberu complimented the old chef who served him.

"Of course. All of them are freshly caught clams after all. If you need anything else call me up. We don't get many visitors here so come by anytime you feel hungry", the old man had a genuine smile on his face.

"Yes, I will do so"

'This is nice' Alberu thought as he looked at the sea.

'I wonder if he will come tonight. I want to see him again'

****

"Crap! its already this late", Alberu looked at the time on his phone.

11:11 pm

'If only I didn't chase after that damn cat' Alberu was running around chasing a cat that looked very peculiar, he wanted to take a picture of it.

"In the end it got away"

'So why am I here again?', Alberu asked himself as he looked at the night sea.

With an 'oh well' he took of his shoes and walked by the sea shore.

"You sure like walking barefoot like that don't you" Alberu heard a voice that he recognized almost immediately.

"Nice to see you again, Cinderella" Alberu turned around to see the man he was waiting to see all day.

"It's my pleasure, my prince. Did you bring a glass shoe with you, your highness?" Cale returned Alberu's humor.

"I don't have a glass shoe but I do have a camera"

"Pfft, you are a weird man Alberu Crossman."

"I have been called so many things but it's the first time anyone has called me weird."

"Really?"

"Yes, so will tonight be the night that the true name of the princess will be revealed?"

"Wow. Are you sure you are a photographer and not a theoretical actor?"

"I think I am sure that I'm a photographer."

"I am Cale. Cale Henituse. Nice to meet you again." Cale introduced himself .

"Nice to meet you I am Alberu Crossman."

'Ahahahaha' Both of them laughed out loud as they walked around talking about various things. It was mostly Alberu doing the talking and Cale was more on a listening side but he looked so much at peace.

"Is the city life good?"

"You've never been to the city?"

"I have, but not in a situation I could leisurely take a look around."

"Really? That's a waste" Alberu really wanted to ask for the reason but for some purpose he couldn't bring himself to ask that.

"Yeah. I do want to see it though. The so called 'city night view' that I heard so much of. There are actually many places I wanna see."

"I will take you."

"What? Why would you?"

"Just felt like it."

"Then… you promise?"

"Yes, I promise"

"Pinky promise?" Cale reached out his pinky finger gesturing Alberu to do the same.

"Haa what are we kids?" Alberu said that as they interlocked their little finger doing a 'pinky swear'

"Now you have to swallow nails, if you don't keep your promise" Cale giggled.

"Yes yes I will and by the way, why are you always here at night?" Alberu asked Cale as they sat down by the sea.

"I like the cold night breeze, the sound of ocean. It makes me forget about everything"

"You look tired, are you okay?" Alberu asked while putting his jacket on Cale again.

"You really are kind hyung"

'Hyung?' Alberu's heart skipped a beat at those words.

"Is it alright to call you that?" Cale asked as he noticed Alberu suddenly become silent.

"Of.. of course.. I .. I am older than you."

'Damn it why am I suddenly getting nervous?'

"That's good."

Alberu turned to look at the source of the weak voice, there he was sitting there with a weak yet gentle smile on his face.

'Ah it's not good. I think I am being pulled in. Please don't smile like that'

Alberu's hand subconsciously touched Cale's pale face.

"Why do you look like that"

"Like what?"

"Like you are about to disappear into the ocean."

"I wish I could. I really do...cough cough"

"Cale? Cale are you alright?"

"I'm I ..."

cale was in a coughing fit because of the cold breeze hitting his weak body and he suddenly found himself loosing consciousness.

"Ugh water. Let me get some water" Alberu ran as fast as he could and brought back some water from his car that he parked nearby because there were no parking space in the motel.

"Here drink some water and let's get you to a hospital."

Gulp gulp

Cale gulped down the water that was given to him when he finally stopped coughing, he looked at the man that was carrying him in his arms with a confused look on his face.

Alberu put Cale down in the car's front seat and activated the navigator to find a way to nearby hospital.

"We will get to the hospital soon. It will be alright."

Cale felt like he was slowly losing his consciousness. With what little strength that was left in his body, he managed to get last word out of his mouth before falling unconscious

"Who… who are you?"

"Who are you?"

Alberu almost pressed the breaks to process what Cale had just asked but getting him the hospital took priority.

Reaching the hospital did not take much time. This was the only hospital in the village. He opened the door and carried the unconscious Cale in his arms. Just when he entered through the hospital door, a young nurse with black hair came running towards him shouting "Cale-nim!"

"He suddenly fell unconscious" Alberu explained everything that happened as they took Cale inside a hospital room in a stretcher.

"Thank you for bringing him here" the nurse bowed

"What's happening? Is he okay?"

"Well... I guess it's alright to tell you. Cale-nim has dementia."

'Dementia?? That would explain him not remembering me'

"But, why is he here then?? If we get him to a hospital in the city maybe… we could..."

""We are already way past that. Cale-nim's body has been like that ever since he was born so anymore medications than this would only make it worse"" the nurse shook his head.

"There should be something we can do"

"We have tried and these days Cale-nim himself refuses treatment."

"You should go rest too. I will let you know when he wakes up if you leave your contact info in the front desk. I am the nurse who is taking care of Cale-nim. My name is Choi Han" the nurse, Choi Han added as he bowed down and headed towards the room Cale was in.

Haaa. Alberu sighed internally as he opened the can of coffee he bought from the hospital vending machine.

"What is this. Why is this happening. Didn't we promise we would go to places you want to visit?"

'This is driving me crazy.'

Just like that, the night ended and the dawn broke.

"Alberu-nim…"

"Alberu-nim"

After hearing his name being called out, Alberu woke up. He had spent the night in hospital waiting for Cale to wake up.

"Cale-nim has woken up. You can go meet him if you like.", Choi Han, Cale's nurse that he met yesterday came to inform him.

"So, how is he now?" Alberu asked while brushing his tired face with his hands.

"He is fine now. He is physically stable but mentally... well just be prepared."

"Yes, thank you for informing me Choi Han. I will go meet him."

"Please take care and thank you for what you did last night. I didn't know Cale-nim had such a wonderful friend."

'Friend huh'

''I will get going now, please call me if you need anything."

''Yes, I will do that. Thank you."

Alberu then walked towards Cale's room that was at the end of the hall way.

Haaah. Alberu took a deep breath.

'Why am I suddenly nervous?'

Alberu noticed his hands trembling as he opened the door.

'Calm down, it's alright.'

"Hey Cale, how are you feeling?"

"I am feeling alright but who might you be?"

"I am… uh… I am your friend. You don't remember me? Didn't we promise to go on a trip together?" Alberu was a nervous wreck inside but he tried to show a calm self as much as he could.

"Really? My friend?"

"Yup", Alberu showed his brightest smile to Cale.

"Liar"

"Hmmm?" the voice was so weak that Alberu had a hard time figuring out what Cale had just said.

"LIAR. ALL OF YOU!"

"Cale calm down" Alberu could feel the anger and frustration in Cale's voice.

"You are all just bunch of liars." Cale sniffled and threw whatever he could grab at Alberu.

"Cale, I am sorry. I may have lied to you about being friends but the promise was true. Please Cale calm down" Alberu tried to block the things Cale threw with his hands while walking towards Cale.

"Don't. Come. Any. Closer. What the hell do you people want from me? Leave me alone. I don't want it. Why can't you just let me die?" Cale shouted as tears started dripping down his cheeks.

In the meantime Alberu had already gotten closer to Cale. He pulled the crying 20 years old who looked so frail in his embrace.

"It's alright I am here and I won't leave you. I swear." Alberu gently patted Cale's head. This was all he could do for him.

"LIARS." Cale's cry became louder and louder.

Alberu tightly embraced him without saying a single word.

By the time Cale stopped crying, he had fallen asleep. Alberu gently laid him on the bed and covered him with a blanket.

"I promise I will be here." Alberu whispered in Cale's ears as he gently stroked Cale's pale cheek and got up to let doctor know that Cale has finally fallen asleep.