Side Story 4 - Trunk Elf (2/3)

"What the hell are you doing!?" An angry Sparkles shouted at Twinkle straight into his ear as well.

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"Ahhhhh!" Twinkle screamed as he was just fully concentrating on his strengthened curse on the sleeping beanpole.

Sparkles touched him and they teleported back into the forest.

Twinkle slapped Sparkles' hand.

"Don't touch me! Why are you here? Didn't you say we're done?! Go back to your new lover or whatever!"

Sparkle's eyes went blurry.  On the verge of tears, she slapped Twinkle.

"That! That's your problem! You don't listen! You just see what you wanted to see, you numskull!"

They sat in exhaustion.  Silence...

"I wouldn't be here... if we're done..."

"Are you really not cheating on me?"

"You're so stupid." Sparkles wept in her hands.

"I'm sorry Sparkles..." He felt guilty at the sight of Sparkles crying.

"That aside, the hell are you thinking of messing with those humans?  If Grandpappy knew of this, you'll be punished!"

"But they are----"  Twinkle explained everything that happened since that morning from the time his tree trunk was destroyed.

"It's just like you to be vengeful.  The other one already apologized and you're just hung up on not being believed in? You should have just revealed yourself then! How foolish!"

"I--- I can't reverse my chant.  Either he breaks through the spell or forgets about him forever."

"You--- you... ahh! Let's monitor them tomorrow.  You better hope no major effect happens to their lives or you will face the tribe's judgment. You are named Twinkle but you're not so bright."

"Yeah... okay..."  Twinkle agreed.  No longer heartbroken but now anxious about his reckless decision.

Morning came.  Shoyo slept tossing and turning but still ended up on Kei's chest.  His breathing and heartbeat lulled Shoyo to sleep peacefully.

Shoyo slowly opened his eyes at the sound of the birds chirping near the window.  About five birds were hopping on the ledge.  He then looked at Kei.  He lightly kissed his lips while cupping his face.

"You're so handsome, Daddy..."

This must have woken up Kei.  He saw an unfamiliar face near him, smiling adorably while holding his face.  Shoyo's thumb gently rubbed his cheek. He felt his heart tremble but this person is a stranger.

"Ahhmm sorry..."  he gently pushed Shoyo away.

"Why what's wrong Kei?"

Kei sat for a while.  His hand raised, asking Shoyo to stop getting close, a barrier that's invisible but impenetrable.

Shoyo was lost.  That kind of small gesture hurts.  Kei has never been indifferent to him since they got together.  So what's this?  Shoyo sat and waited.  Giving Kei a chance to explain.

"I... I don't know you.  Please don't be familiar with me.  I am not comfortable with skinship."

"What? Is this a joke?" Shoyo started to panic. "Kei I don't like this..."  Tears started brimming in his eyes.

"Look... I only remember going here alone.  I don't know you then I woke up with you.  I don't like it either."  Kei said, cold and seemingly irritated.

Shoyo stared at him.

'Kei doesn't seem to be his usual self since yesterday.  And now he doesn't remember me? What did we eat? But he's the only one affected...'

Shoyo felt his heart tremble.  With pain.  This pain is familiar.  Back when he was loving Kei from afar, back when Kei is criticizing everything he does, back when Kei treated him like a pest... It all came rushing back.

"Kei I don't know what happened to you.  But let's figure it out together okay?  Your memory seems lost.  Am I the only one you forgot?"

They talked.  Kei recalled his family, the volleyball team, his love for studying, and his love for dinosaurs... It's just Shoyo that seemed erased from his memory.

The whole day, Shoyo is slowly easing up his re-introduction to Kei.  Shoyo tried to hold his hand because he was too used to doing so but Kei gave him a split-second cold stare that he immediately withdrew his hand and apologized.

On the other hand, Kei is rattling his brain. 

This person beside me just told me he is Shoyo but he seems to act close to me.  Am I being deceived?

The confusion stems from Kei's rational nature.  In a simple view, this was like a setup of a person obsessed with him.  He doesn't like it.

Shoyo asked Kei, "Ne dadd--- I mean Kei if you look at your cellphone, you'll find pictures of me there.  Lemme get it for y--"

"Stop it.  Don't touch my things."  Kei picked up his phone from the table and put it beside him.

"Oh... hmm then I will show you my cellphone gallery.  There are lots of our pictures there."  Shoyo hid his pain.  But it's been a very long time since he felt such rejection from Kei.

Shoyo showed pictures from a safe distance.

"Isn't this just you taking stolen pictures of me?"  Kei asked after a while.

"Eh...?" That's when Shoyo realized that the pictures of Kei in his phone are stolen shots.  Shoyo likes Kei's side profile the most, his serious face, his sleeping face, his judging stare, and his tsundere nature.  The one who likes to pose is him.  And it's all on Kei's phone.

The rest of the day was spent with Shoyo thinking of how to convince Kei that he is not a malicious person.

It is now 2 pm.  Shoyo just finished telling Kei stories about their memories of volleyball.  Kei remembered the teammates, just not him.  Because they were not partners, his memory is more on Yamaguchi, he even remembered members from Nekoma but sadly, not Shoyo.

Kei on the other hand is confused.  He had always thought that he already reached the maturity of age and reason.  But now it's like his reason is being questioned by his emotions.

I can see the hurt in his eyes whenever my rude nature comes out.  No matter how you look at it. I remember everything except him.  But he seemed to be convinced otherwise...  and my heart is slightly moved every time I sense his pain.  I have an innate wish to not hurt him...

"Shoyo... Shoyo right?  Can you leave me alone for a while please?"

"Where are you going? I mean just so I can go to you later."

"I remember going to the forest yesterday."

"You remember? We went there—"

"Alone. I mean, I went there alone. Please let me breathe and think. This is confusing."

Shoyo watched Kei go out of the room. He felt his eyes sting as well as his nasal cavity. A rush of emotion overtook him and in an instant, he was bawling. His nose was all red and stuffy.

What if Kei doesn't remember me forever? What do I do? I can't live without him anymore.

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Last part of this side story is to be published tomorrow!