Please, remember [Don't forget Book 2]

Stupid

I can't believe I've spent the whole week playing Shadow of the colossus over and over again. I know I promised to give it back, but Noah never gave me a chance to do so.

Fortunately, the football training starts today. Which means that I'll stop drowning in worrying thoughts about him. Although I wish I could see him again.

I went to the movies with Kevin and Troy. The film was supposed to be creepy, but Troy and I spent the whole time making stupid jokes. Kevin, on the other hand, only tried to ignore us and eat all the popcorns before we asked for some.

I felt like his attitude was harsh, but I don't really know if that's just him or if it's something else. In conclusion, it was a great day. However, the emptiness returned in the moment I stepped in my house.

The school finishes and I leave my stuff in the car my mom got for me after we talked about me coming back to study a career. It was though to convince my parents. Their decision changed when the results came, and they knew I was accepted in this university.

I head to the football field, still looking for a ghost in the crowd -metaphorically, I'm not a ghostbuster... Yet.

Some students are already lining up. I fasten my pace until I join the group. There's only one face I recognize. Nevertheless, the coach -presented as Mr. Sullivan- doesn't give us time to meet each other. We run around the field.

At the beginning I laughed at the ones who only ran when the coach didn't notice. Then, I understood it's necessary. Not even a f*****g professional would resist so many laps. Or maybe it's just that I have never done exercise for too long.

After having been tortured, we are told to line up again. Mr. Sullivan starts asking for our positions and it's then when I notice that I had never thought about being in a football team.

It's my turn and I only repeat what the guy in front of me said, knowing the position just enough to do a decent performance; "Quarterback".

I’m told to go with other two guys. I only know one of them; Felix.

"Hi." I whisper exhaustedly, but there's no response.

Noticing it's about to rain, Mr. Sullivan announces that the first week will be destined only for training and that on Friday we will be tested to see who will join the team for the next tournament.

I start considering other clubs I can sign up to. Chess is always an option. Honestly, I don’t think I can be a good player to be part of the team. Also, there will be a distraction here.

We all head different ways. I drive home and take a relaxing shower before going to the kitchen to eat something. It's in the moment I open the fridge that I remember I forgot to buy food.

Fucking memory.

I close the door and let out a heavy sigh. Then, I go for my keys to the living room.

I look for them on the couch, but they decided to slip and now I can't reach them.

Being lazy enough for not moving the couch, I take an umbrella, a copy of the house's keys from under the carpet and leave.

The rain pours heavily over my thin shield above my head as I walk to the nearest store -which is only a couple of blocks away.

I see a man in the distance having trouble with finding something on the ground. He's just a couple of meters away from where I’m heading.

I get a better picture of him with every step I take, which makes me walk slower, not being sure anymore if I should help.

Suddenly a crack sounds under my left sneaker. I step back, looking at a pair of glasses on the floor, sunken in a small puddle of water. He hears it and looks in my direction.

I pick up the glasses and check they're ok before handing them to him. He takes them and cleans the lenses with his shirt.

"I didn't know you used glasses." I state, trying to look as friendly as possible.

He stops what he's doing and puts on his glasses immediately, recognizing my voice.

His cold, distant eyes meet mine. "Stop following me."

"I haven't been following you, I swear. However, it would be nice if you let me talk with you."

"We are talking."

I laugh slightly. "I haven't even presented myself. I'm Eric." I say, offering my hand for him to take it.

"You already know my name. Why?" He asks, rejecting my handshake by putting his hands in the large pocket of his hoodie.

"We used to be friends some years ago." I answer, not letting the word "friends" hurt as much as it should.

"That sounds cool.”

 I furrow my eyebrows at his response, tightening the grip to my umbrella. "You don't remember me, do you?"

"No, I'm sorry." Noah says with a shy smile.

"I thought you couldn't forget anything."

He looks at his watch nervously. "I-I've been under treatment. Sorry, I have to go.” He apologizes desperately.

I nod as I watch him leave with the rain pouring over his body, feeling guilty for not being able to take him home with dry clothes.

After having bought everything I need, I return to my house and prepare a simple meat to eat.

Then, just as every day since I started university, I log in on Skype and talk with Frank and Craig.

"Have you talked with Noah already?" Haner asks after a while.

I sigh, taking my time to answer. "Yeah, kind of."

"Has he given you an excuse for forgetting you, at least?" He insists with interest.

"He said he's under treatment." I reply with sadness.

Frank chuckle makes me lift my gaze. I don't find how this can be funny. "What are you laughing at?"

"Uh, Eric." Craig says while our other friend burst out laughing loudly.

"What?"

"You said he had Hyperthymesia, didn't you?"

"Yeah..."

My friend giggles before clearing his throat and continuing talking. "There's no cure or 'treatment' for that."

"Why would he say that, then?" I squeal, rubbing my temples with shaky fingers.

"Either he is stupid and tried to lie or he is smart and wanted to see how stupid you are." Craig states without giving too much thought to the situation.

"Well, I'm very stupid. But he must know that already." I say with a smirk.

"I can't believe you actually thought it was true." Frank mocks between laughter.

"Shut up, Frank!"