It's all coming back to me now

Chapter 6

Ruby's POV

I woke up from a terrible dream, one where I was pregnant and couldn't find the baby's heartbeat. I felt a surge of panic as I walked out, and I noticed Sanae quietly following me. As soon as we got into the car, she tried to calm me down, but I dismissed her words, unable to process anything other than my racing thoughts.

When we arrived home, I lost control. I started tearing down the baby decorations that adorned the walls, each piece a painful reminder of what I was afraid of losing. I could hear Sanae's voice, trying to reason with me, but I was too overwhelmed to listen.

Everything felt so vivid, so real. I could still feel the phantom weight of my belly and the terrifying silence that accompanied the absence of a heartbeat. My heart raced as I remembered the dread that coursed through me in the dream, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it was somehow a reflection of my deepest fears.

Just then, a loud alarm jolted me from my thoughts, pulling me back into reality. It was as if the universe was reminding me that I was awake, but the echo of that nightmare clung to me like a shadow. I sat on the edge of the bed, my breath coming in quick gasps, trying to process the emotions that swirled within me. How could something so unreal feel so profoundly impactful?

I took a moment to collect myself, running my fingers through my hair as I tried to calm my racing heart. It was just a dream, I told myself. But the remnants of fear still lingered, and I couldn't shake off the anxiety that gnawed at my insides. What if those fears were rooted in something deeper, was this part of my memory?

I stood up and immediately grabbed a drink, looking around for a cigarette. The moment I found one, I quickly lit it up. My feet led me to a familiar room, and if I’m not mistaken, this is Sanae’s art room.

I switched on the light, and before me was an array of different types of art—paintings, charcoal sketches, sculptures, graphite work. Each piece seemed to capture a unique emotion, reflecting how her art evolved with her moods. My gaze was drawn to one particular masterpiece, a striking charcoal painting. I was her subject, completely bare, and yet the portrayal was stunningly beautiful. My hair was long, with bangs framing my face, and the details of my features were so precise, it was like looking into a mirror. Even the birthmarks scattered across my body and the intricate designs of my tattoos were captured flawlessly.

A small smile crept onto my face. She’s truly gifted and talented. It’s no wonder she’s also a brilliant, well-respected architect. I had recently come across her profile on a website, mentioning that she runs her own architectural firm, which has been thriving for nearly five years.

As I gazed at her work, I found myself murmuring, “I still don’t understand how I ended up falling for you. You’re so far from the type of person I thought I’d be drawn to… and that’s what makes it all the more intriguing.”

I placed a hand over my chest as I felt my heart skip a beat—a feeling that was all too familiar. It was the same rhythm, the same gentle yet intense flutter that always surfaced when she came creeping on my mind. I took a slow drag of my cigarette, exhaling softly as I let the memory of her wash over me, feeling a warmth I couldn’t quite put into words. There was something about her, something I couldn’t shake, something that had settled deep within me.

I wandered around the room, admiring the passion and precision embedded in each stroke, each sculpture. Every piece felt like a glimpse into her soul, and with every step, I realized I was drawn deeper into the parts of her that she so skillfully expressed through her art.

Even in her absence, I felt her presence here, alive in each creation. I cannot remember her, I can't even remember meeting her but I couldn’t help but wonder if she had felt the same— despite not remembering who i am on her life.

While I was admiring her all her masterpiece, my phone rang. It was from Ish, her best friend.

*Phone conversation*

"Ish, hello?"

"Hey Ruby?are you free later around 3 o'clock pm?"

"Yes, why?"

"Can you accompany my wife? Im busy later and she will be buying some stuffs for my mom on her birthday"

"Ok, no problem with me. Just text me her location later"

"Ok, no problem. Thank you!!"

"Anytime Ish"

*Phone call ended*

I looked at her works one more time and then went out the room. The next time I will go here, I will make sure that she is already with me.

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Sanae's POV:

Ish invited me out for coffee at a familiar café. She even mentioned how much I love being here, spending time working on my architectural designs or just reading my pocketbook. She joked that whenever I’m bored in my office, I end up hanging out here for most of the day. I even received a loyalty award because of how often I come by.

She had to step out for a moment, saying she’d forgotten something back at her office and would return shortly. I told her I’d wait for her, figuring I'd just relax here and enjoy my time.

"So, you’re here too," a voice said, catching my attention. I looked up to see Ruby standing there. I simply nodded in response. "Are you here alone? Do you mind if I join you? The guy at the counter said this spot was free," she asked politely.

"Sure, no problem. I’ll be leaving as soon as Ish gets back anyway," I replied, opening my pocketbook and beginning to read.

"By the way, what brings you here?" she asked.

"Ish invited me for coffee. Then she got a text and rushed back to her office, saying she’d be back soon."

"Wait, her office? I thought she only worked Monday to Friday," Ruby looked at me with a curious expression. "What day is it today anyway?"

"It’s Sunday," she replied with a smile.

"Oh, great. What is that woman up to?" I asked, a bit annoyed. I could hear her giggle softly. "Relax," she said, "I think they’re trying to set us up or something." She continued, "I was actually here with Aiza earlier, and out of nowhere, she said she had an emergency and needed to leave, asking if I’d be okay staying here alone." Smart, I thought to myself. She figured it out pretty quickly. "I guess we don’t have a choice. Maybe we should just go along with whatever they're planning?" she suggested.

"Yeah, I suppose. Maybe this will actually help us remember each other better," I replied.

The atmosphere grew a bit awkward after that. I went back to reading, while she looked around the café quietly. I stole a glance at her and couldn’t help but notice just how beautiful she truly is. She’d be the perfect subject for a large art piece. A masterpiece.

As I kept staring, I felt my heart race—a sensation so familiar, yet almost forgotten.

"You're gorgeous," I murmured without realizing it, only for her to turn to me, which made me aware I’d said it out loud.

"And you’re very attractive," she replied with a smile. "Is there anything you’d like to drink or eat? I’m about to order, so I can get it for you."

"They probably know my usual order here since I’m always around, but yes, I’ll have a hot Americano and a croissant."

"Aye, aye. Got it," she said with a slight smile and headed toward the counter. I couldn’t help but watch her as she walked away. Her perfect curves, her graceful presence—it’s the kind of beauty that would drive anyone wild. Her facial structure, the small moles on her face, they add a unique appeal. The way she speaks to me so gently and softly.

This feeling of genuine interest to this person is thrilling. I want to get to know her, to ask her everything. What are her interests? Her dislikes? Her ideal type? What are her hobbies, her talents, her favorite music? I want to know it all. I’m certain that, from this moment on, I’ll be able to remember her for atleast a bit.

_______________________________

From a distance, Ish and Aiza watched Ruby and Sanae intently, observing every interaction between the two.

"What do you think? Are they finally talking?" Ish asked her wife, who was holding a pair of binoculars. "Your best friend doesn’t even know how to initiate a conversation."

"Ugh! Sanae is just hopeless sometimes," Ish groaned in frustration. "Wait, wait! They’re talking now. Ruby is saying something, and... look, Sanae’s expression just shifted. She looks kind of annoyed. Now she’s back to her poker face. Hold on, honey, oh my gosh!!! Sanae is stealing glances at Ruby! Yay!!!" Aiza looked over at Ish, excitement lighting up her eyes, and hugged her tightly.

"See, I told you! This is the perfect way to get things started!" Ish said with a victorious grin.

Aiza turned her gaze back to the pair, her expression suddenly shifting to one of concern. "But, wait... it looks like something, or rather someone, might ruin our plan."

"Huh? What do you mean? Let me see," Ish replied, taking the binoculars from Aiza’s hands.

Ish peered through the binoculars, focusing on the scene, and then her jaw dropped in frustration. There was someone else now standing by Ruby and Sanae—Sanae’s ex-girlfriend, Shaina. She was disrupting the scene, stepping right into their setup. Shaina had inserted herself between them, clearly flirtatious, tossing casual touches and suggestive looks toward Sanae. Ish could see Ruby’s expression shift from polite tolerance to frustration, her jaw clenching as her hands tightened. It was obvious that Ruby was only seconds away from grabbing Shaina and giving her a piece of her mind.

"Who on earth is that?" Aiza asked, her tone filled with irritation.

"That would be Sanae’s ex-girlfriend," Ish replied, sighing heavily.

"Oh, that woman! She just couldn’t stay out of it, could she? I swear, if she messes this up, I’m going to go over there and pull her hair myself!" Aiza fumed, throwing her hands in the air in frustration.

Ish let out a groan of agreement. "After everything we went through to get them both here, this woman shows up to ruin it all. Honestly, if I have to go down there and push her out myself, I just might."

Meanwhile, Ish and Aiza could see the mounting tension on Ruby's face. She was just a breath away from snapping. She sat there silently, her gaze on Shaina, who was now openly flirting with Sanae, leaning in close, her hand resting casually on Sanae's shoulder as if she belonged there.

But Sanae, looking increasingly uncomfortable, shifted slightly, her gaze darting nervously between Ruby and Shaina. It was clear that Sanae wasn’t interested in Shaina’s advances, but her hesitation to outright reject her ex was only making things worse.

"Do you think Sanae realizes how annoyed Ruby is right now?" Ish asked, holding her breath.

Aiza shook her head, biting her lip. "I think Sanae is just too nice to her ex to brush her off right now, but I know Ruby won’t stand for this much longer. This proves that even if they forget each other, Ruby is a very possessive wife and Sanae only wants Ruby's presence a"

"And Shaina has the audacity to act like nothing ever happened between them, like she didn't do anything bad to my bestie, tsssssk taking advantage of my best friend's condition huh, we'll see" Ish muttered.

They continued watching, hoping that Ruby might take matters into her own hands and send Shaina packing.