Chapter 27

When had it happened? Yes. It was on one summer break. I could still remember how I...

Living in the countryside was much more peaceful than I had expected.

The sultry weather goes well with the fresh, pollution-free breeze of the afternoon. I would remember and dream about all of it. Yeah, all of it until I would be brought into this horrible nightmare that I don't seem to recall.

As I indulged more in the nightmare, trying to catch a glimpse of the parting figure in front of me with a bitter smile on his face, I found out that I was hit by a running vehicle before I could see his face.

"The same dream, again..."

From the ajar door to my room entered my Mom. She got upstairs to rouse me, for we were going on our vacation house with Dad. We do visit our house annually and stay there one week prior to the start of classes.

"Mary, get up already and pack your clothes. Your Dad's waiting outside inside the car."

After that, my Mom left my room. I lazily yawned before leaving my bed, went to my bathroom cleaned myself a little bit, and started packing my clothes afterward.

I, a lazy lady in her 20's, didn't take that long to prepare all the things I would need. I lifted my luggage, putting it in the back of the car, and then I opened the door to the backseat and sat lazily.

Through our hours of traveling towards the countryside, all I did was sleep while I listened to music. These days, I could easily become tired.

I'm suffering from temporary amnesia. I lost my last year's memory. I don't know why but I feel like that one year is the saddest yet happiest day of my life. Mom and Dad told me that I happened to be in an accident when I was going home to prepare to leave the countryside since the classes were starting.

Everyone was glad that I woke up not too long after I got in an accident. I could still see Mom's and Dad's faces in relief when I finally woke up.

"Honey, Mary, we are here. Wake up now, sleepyhead."

Dad was almost done unloading the luggage we had at the back of the car when they woke me up. I'm back at this house. I won't forget its unique style that attracted most of the people who go around our area. It was erected near waterfalls, so whenever you are going to sleep, you can hear the water thumping on the surface, causing ripples.

"Ah, Mom, Dad, I will just wander around the waterfalls. I won't stray far."

Even if they don't let me go, I will still go. I'm that kind of lady, after all. Well, they can take my word.

The twenty-foot-tall waterfalls made me feel nostalgic as I witnessed its white water gushing from the upper area of the landscape.

I began towards the rocky, damped steps of the river, mindful of my every step. Mom and Dad would scold me for good if I ever hurt myself, so I carefully shambled off the river and looked for the place where I used to hang out whenever I was feeling alone.

"What a hassle, climbing that steep path that is."

After a few minutes of struggling my way up the beautiful landscape, I finally got to see this one-of-a-kind beauty of nature again. From up where I was standing, I could see the vast serene golden fields of rice.

The mountain that was hiding from the clouds sprouted a sea of trees.

The village, oh, how tiny humans were. They were like ants, going in and out of their houses.

I was so caught up in the mesmerizing scenery that I did not notice that someone was there until 'he' spoke up.

"An intruder." That was all that he said. It was enough for me, though, to get startled and almost fall down on the ground. Good thing I kind of regained my balance.

"How long have you been there?" I said, distancing myself from him.

He was sitting on a wooden bench. I could remember the chair, though vague. It was me who came up with the idea. I was with... To whom again?

"From the beginning," he answered shortly.

He was smiling but, for some reason, why does he look kinda sad to me? I didn't want to pry in his life, so I kept my thoughts to myself.

I prodded him to move away a little bit and, he scooted for me to sit down on the bench and relaxed my now aching ankles.

As I sat down, a thought came into my mind. Maybe I knew him since the spot was near our house, or not?

I took the courage, mustering every last bit of it, and asked him: "Uh, do you perhaps know me?"

I saw his brows raised, so I became sure that he knew me.

"Do I know you? Hmm... I will ask you your question instead, do you know me?"

What kind of answer is that? I was a little annoyed. But still, I answered him.

"No, I, you see, I have temporary amnesia. I lost a year's worth of my memories. What I lost was last year's memories, so I was wondering if we ever knew each other."

"Unfortunately, not," he said, smiling.

I couldn't figure out if he was lying or not. What is there to lie about? I thought. So, I just assumed that he was telling the truth.

"I see," I replied shortly. "What's your name?"

I asked, hoping that I would remember something if I ever heard his name.

"It's Neil, Neil Gatsby."

After hearing his name, I felt an excruciating pain inside my head. I clutched my head as I agonized over it. Then, a flash of memory I don't remember came into my mind. It was so brief I couldn't make anything out of it except for calling the name 'Neil.'

"Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah. Just a mild headache. It happens from time to time."

The cool breeze relieved me of the pain. Every time the fresh wind touched my skin, I would feel like I was on cloud nine. It really feels nostalgic.

Silence fell upon us. He wouldn't talk unless necessary. And I did not want to bother myself breaking the ice between us, so I just stayed silent until It was time for me to go.

"Leaving already?"

"Yeah. You won't talk to me, that's why."

I threw a joke but, he seemed to take it seriously, so I immediately took it

back.

"I'm just kidding. Mom and Dad might be waiting for me. It was nice meeting you, though it was so awkward."

I have a habit of saying the things that I have in mind.

"So, are you going to leave without even telling me your name?"

I totally forgot!