It's all coming back to me now

Chapter 7

Ruby’s four friends were all ears as Ish and Aiza recounted the events that had transpired earlier. They told the group how Sanae’s ex-girlfriend had suddenly shown up and joined Ruby and Sanae's date, disrupting the moment.

“And we had someone trying to mess up our plans. Who does Shaina think she is? I swear, I’d like to have a serious talk with her,” Carla said, anger evident in her voice. “I am not amused. She’s lucky Ruby managed to keep her cool and hold back her anger.”

“Don’t go talking to her or confront her about it,” Jade chimed in. “Shaina might not even know the full story of what’s going on between the two of them. If she finds out about Sanae’s situation, she’ll only use it to her advantage. Knowing Ish's story about her, she’d do everything she could to try and win Sanae back.”

“We have to be careful. We don’t know who might be lurking, just waiting to ruin things between Sanae and Ruby,” Jen added with a hint of worry in her tone. “Shaina could be one of those people, ready to take advantage the moment she gets the chance.”

“I agree with that,” Aiza said thoughtfully, “maybe we should just leave everything up to Sanae and Ruby. Even though they can’t remember each other, I have this feeling that their muscle memories as a couple are still there, somewhere beneath the surface. It’s like their hearts still know each other.”

The group exchanged glances, pondering Aiza’s words, feeling a flicker of hope.

“Maybe that’s the best approach,” Cherry mused, “but we should still keep an eye on them. Especially in situations like these, where they don’t fully remember each other yet. They’re essentially getting to know each other all over again. There’s always a chance Ruby might see something in Sanae she doesn’t like—or vice versa. We just don’t know. They’re likely still learning each other’s behaviors and quirks. Hopefully, it’ll be a smooth rediscovery, with more good than bad.”

Ish suddenly spoke up, “Akane wants to join in.”

“Why not? The more support, the better,” Jade agreed with a smile. “She’s Sanae’s sister, after all, and she’s seen their love story unfold from day one. Her insights could be a huge help. Plus, I know a few other people close to them who’d want to support them too. We can contact them if needed,” she added with a knowing nod.

The circle of friends nodded in agreement, the idea growing on them. Each of them seemed to feel the same quiet determination, a sense of protectiveness over Sanae and Ruby’s relationship. They understood that, although their roles would mostly be as silent supporters in the background, they could offer a steady safety net if anything went awry.

With a renewed sense of purpose, the friends began discussing how they could offer subtle support without interfering too much. They recognized that their role wasn’t to force Ruby and Sanae back together but to protect them from any distractions or potential harm from outsiders. They could provide the gentle nudge if either of them showed signs of wavering. But more than anything, they wanted to shield them from obstacles—like Shaina—who might interfere with their journey.

After a few more minutes of planning, the group settled on a loose strategy. Akane’s involvement gave them additional insight into Sanae’s side of the story. And with Jade’s contacts, they would be able to gather more people who cared about the couple and who could offer support, should the situation escalate.

Satisfied with their conversation, the friends shared a few final nods and determined glances. The meeting drew to a close, with each of them quietly resolved to be the pillars that Ruby and Sanae might need—whether or not the two realized it.

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Sanae's POV

The conversation between Ruby and me was going smoothly, until a woman suddenly appeared and started acting way too clingy toward me. Her name was Shaina, and according to my sister, she was my ex—someone my sister absolutely despised. Honestly, I could feel the same animosity toward her even if I couldn’t recall all the details.

For a moment, I was completely at a loss. Shaina acted like she still had a claim over me, as if she didn’t care about any boundaries. I noticed Ruby’s expression shifting, a mixture of irritation and frustration growing in her eyes. It was clear she was holding herself back, maybe because things were still awkward between us, given that we’re technically strangers re-learning each other. But part of me was wishing, hoping even, that Ruby would just grab Shaina and drag her out of our space, claiming me as her own.

And then, something unexpected happened. Ruby, who had been silently containing her annoyance, couldn’t hold back any longer. She turned to Shaina and confronted her, her voice firm and filled with unmistakable authority. She warned Shaina to back off, adding that if she didn’t leave me alone, she wouldn’t hesitate to pull her away herself. Hearing Ruby defended me like that, seeing her so fierce—it was thrilling in a way I hadn't anticipated.

I couldn’t help but replay her reaction in my mind. The way she tossed her hair, the confident glance she cast at her nails, the way she raised her eyebrow—she looked absolutely breathtaking, and with each detail, I felt my heart flutter with excitement. She had this unspoken grace, a kind of charm that only seemed to grow stronger when she got feisty. I was left wondering, “Is she really my wife, or are they all just playing a trick on me?” But deep down, I knew the truth. She was my wife, even if my memories didn’t quite connect to the feeling yet.

Because of Shaina’s interference, our date didn’t go as planned, but strangely enough, it made me look forward to the next one even more. Despite everything, I realized that I wanted to make more memories with Ruby. I wanted more moments like today—moments where I could feel the faint, familiar pulse of our connection, where I could sense her presence becoming more real and meaningful in my life once again. I wanna remember her.

As I found myself lost in thoughts of her, a sharp, sudden pain jolted through my head. Vivid scenes began flashing before my eyes, like fragments of a forgotten life forcing their way to the surface.

I saw the two of us in a hospital room together, shadows of worry etched onto our faces. Then, I saw myself sitting alone, eating quietly as she walked by, barely even glancing in my direction. Another scene followed—me lying in bed, holding a picture of her close, clinging to the only comfort I seemed to have left. And then, I saw myself at my lowest, utterly broken, a mess of grief and longing.

The pain intensified, and I instinctively clutched my head, reeling from the wave of memories. "What is this?” I wondered, feeling both confused and terrified. “Are these memories… of me? Of us? Or is my mind just playing tricks on me?”

My hand drifted to my chest as a heavy, suffocating ache settled there, making it hard to breathe. Panic started to rise in my throat. I tried to stand, reaching desperately for the buzzer to call for help, but my legs gave way, and I collapsed to my knees, gasping.

“What’s happening to me?” My vision began to blur, and I struggled to stay conscious. Just as I heard a faint voice calling my name in panic—“Sanae? Sanae? Oh my God!”—a fierce pain throbbed through my chest, almost paralyzing.

"My hea...d is hurti...ng, and my… my chest… I… I can't…"

My words failed me, slipping into nothingness as my vision faded completely. In the last moments, a high-pitched, eerie sound echoed around me, and then, all went black as my consciousness drifted away.