"After losing a memory, thou shall not trust—including yourself"
It may be a selfish thing to hold on to you, but I will never let go of you even if it kills me...
Letting you go is the last thing I would do...
I will become someone else to protect you...
What? Why do I hear the voice of a boy as if he is whispering to me? There is a trace of sadness in his voice.
selfish thing...
never let go...
last thing...
villain...
He continues to whisper. I feel confused while hearing that voice. Astonishment and mixed emotions dominate me. I can't explain how I feel—like I want to laugh, cry. and shout, but I'm too tired to do any of it so I just closed my eyes...
Wait, closed eyes? As I tried to open my eyes, I immediately felt like I was electrocuted. My vision was still a bit blurry probably because of the dream that I had. Yes, it was just a bizarre dream so I should not worry about it.
W-What?! This got me surprised to realize my current situation while sleeping. What is happening to me? Why can't I leave this post?
I moved my body, but something hit my hand. A glass? I looked around and observed my surroundings.
N-No! Why am I even here?
"Whaaaa!" I panicked in no time. How the heck am I inside of this thing?
Here I am inside of a capsule-like thing made of thick transparent glass, or I shall say, I am inside of a glass capsule while sleeping in a standing position. It is big and wide enough to fit a person. And the capsule is floating to where I am now. What shocked me more was what was outside! It seems to me I'm in... space? I can see the bluish-dark surroundings illuminated with brilliant white dots. As I looked to my right, there seemed to be a Milky Way.
No, no, no, no… What is going on? This is impossible!
I feel scared and greatly confused because I am floating in space inside a glass capsule. I slapped myself on whether it was just a dream or not, but I was hurt, indicating that all of this was real. I tremble while hitting and punching the glass. It is too thick, so nothing happened after all the effort I exerted. There's no knob nor a lock to open or close this thing. I took a deep breath to calm down because I knew no one could answer my questions and nothing could be done if I panicked like this. What is happening to me right now is shocking already but what surprised me even more was when I saw other people around me. I am not alone floating in space and was sleeping inside a glass capsule. There are a lot of us forming a big circle. I noticed that some were still sound asleep, and others were awake—scared and confused like me. We are equally puzzled by our condition.
A few minutes have passed and all of us are now awake. Some are shouting, crying, pounding their glass capsules, and some remained standing like me. What's happening to all of us?
I counted how many of us were here. 1 ... 5 ... 9 ... 13 ... 17 ... 20 ... 23 ... plus me, 24.
***
"Congratulations to all junior high completers," our principal continued to speak.
All 4th years in junior high school are gathered here in the school's gymnasium for one of the most memorable events in our lives. The place is neatly decorated accompanied by a ceremony and speech from noteworthy students honed by the school. I can see some of my classmates, schoolmates from different sections, and teachers from various subjects. This might not be an official high school graduation, but the happiness I feel right now is immeasurable. I am sitting wearing my usual school uniform while holding my certificate proving that I graduated junior high school. Listening to what the principal is currently saying is indeed motivational. Finally, I have finished four years of high school life here and there are two more years for senior high. This ceremony represents that I am one step closer to my dream of graduating from college soon.
Because I am fond of my school, before I officially leave, I promise I will make a name for this school—a memory that will last long. I wish to be recognized in the field of arts specifically drawing that I, my family, and my friends will be proud of. That's right! I can draw and I'm currently exploring the world of painting to expand my artistic skills and try other mediums. I am an amateur student artist who hasn't proven anything yet. I am not a professional because aside from doing it as a form of hobby, I am just starting to explore more and hone the talent I have. I usually do this stuff during my free time which brings me joy. As I love drawing, I put it to good use by making something. It's kind of embarrassing but I'm still writing an ongoing story and making it into comics. No one has read it yet. I've no idea why I'm suddenly interested in writing. I never mentioned it to my family or friends, but I hope one day I can share it with them. And the title of the story for the comics I am making is... Oh, what was it again?
"Let's take a picture!" I heard a woman's voice that brought me back to my senses. She looks like she is in her mid-40s. I saw her looking at seemed to be calling me because she was smiling at me.
Who is she? I even pointed at myself to see if she was calling me just to confirm it, and she nodded so I just approached her. I did not realize that the ceremony had just ended. Students with their parents left the gymnasium and went outside to take pictures with their friends and families.
"Say, cheese!" beamed a boy who looked just a little older than me and was holding a phone for a group picture of us three. He's with the woman earlier.
The woman hugged me and had a wide smile looking at the cellphone's camera. I turned to the woman. "Look", said the woman, and peeked at the camera held by the boy.
"Why aren't you smiling? Stop being a killjoy," the boy sulked and scratched his head.
"One more," the woman ordered him to take a picture of just us two. "Smile!" I forced myself to smile out of confusion. She kissed me on my left cheek. "Your brother and I will treat you later."
The boy called me. I just looked at the camera and smiled again without thinking why.
"My turn!" he said and immediately stood next to me and whispered to me before the woman pressed the phone's camera shutter. "I'm proud of you. How fast time flies, huh? It felt like it was yesterday I was studying here and was this school's former athlete. Now, look at you! But you still have two more years to go before college, haha!" he said excitedly.
I did not understand what he was saying, so I frowned and just looked at the camera again. The two continued to talk while I was still wondering what was happening. After the picture, some students were looking at me and seemed to be calling me.
"Come on, let's take a picture of our class at the gazebo!" a certain boy wearing a uniform called out.
To my recollection, he is my classmate. Apart from the fact that he said we would take a picture of our class section, it looks like he is.
"All right. We'll wait for you there," the woman said to me and left with the boy that she mentioned was my brother. If he's my brother, why can't I even remember having one? If he is my brother, then isn't she supposed to be my mother? But the faces of the two weren't even familiar to me.
I followed my classmates who were shouting and talking. I noticed a girl approach me; I knew her.
"We're finally done with this school year," she sighed with a light smile. I smiled at her. We're having a short friendly talk. She is Ella, my classmate. We are not that close at school, and I only consider her a classmate. But what I wonder is, why do I remember her and my boy classmate who invited us to take a class picture, but I can't remember the previous woman and boy, allegedly my brother, who took a picture with me as well as the title of the comics I am making? I still remember our principal's name. Today is our moving-up ceremony. My high school life has been good. I am in grade ten, and I am...
"Can't you hear us? You've been stunned there."
I went back to reality when I noticed that my classmates were looking at me and were already positioned for the class picture while I remained standing at the corner, 2 meters away from them.
"S-Sorry," was all I could say. I immediately took my spot.
Why is it that I don't remember my name?!
A cameraman stood in front holding his camera to take a picture of us.
"We're done with acads but you looked like you still haven't slept, ***. Hahaha!"
"Pst, stop that! ***, make space for us."
"***, that must've been draining you."
Why? Why do I have a word I can't hear? There is a blank in what they are saying. I am stupefied with my thoughts. I could not focus because of what was happening to me. What is going on?!
*click*
They become noisy after the group picture.
"Aye, what's with the mad look?"
"You, okay?"
"Isn't it time for you to treat us to lunch?"
They asked me but I, for myself, do not know. I knew about half of the class, and I noticed that the ones I recognized were my classmates whom I wasn't very close to and barely talked to.
"Hey! You okay? Got your stomach hurt? Anyway, I'm excited to celebrate this day!" I was approached by a pretty girl who has curly, short hair. Maybe she is my classmate. I do not remember her.
"Where are we after? Mall or food trip?" a girl with brown eyes, a ponytail, and eyeglasses asked us. I also don't know her.
"Let's do arcade first!" a boy approached the three of us with braces, messy hair, and an undone button on his polo. It seems that he's a cheerful one from the vibes that he gives. I don't know him either.
"Duh? Do you really think we're doing that? By the way, I know a newly opened restaurant near here!" the girl with bangs giggled.
I wouldn't know anything if I didn't ask them. "Uhm," I gulped. I know I will sound strange to them if I ask them this but this situation has left me with no choice.
"Who are you, guys?" I questioned the three of them.
They paused chatting for a moment and looked confusedly at me. "Stop pulling your pranks on us, hahaha!" The girl with curly hair laughed at what I asked.
"Wait, this is her first time pranking on us. Let's hear her out!" the boy exclaimed.
I did not say anything because I had nothing to say. I'm not trying to make a joke on anyone. I intended it to be serious, but they interpreted it as a joke.
"***, is there something wrong?" the girl with a ponytail seems to get me. She's the only one who didn't laugh.
I can't ask their names directly as I might seem to be rude. I am spoiling their mood. It looks like I have formed a group of friends here and unfortunately, I don't know them. They looked so excited about what was going on—which is contrary to the excitement that I feel right now. A worse kind of excitement turned to anxiety. They just kept talking and I was shaking with confusion that I did not recognize some people who seemed to be close and dear to me. Did I just have a short-term memory loss? Or amnesia? Did I encounter an accident and have brain damage? It seems that I have a selective memory of specific people and events only. This is bad. I checked myself to see if I had a wound or injury. I touched my head, shoulders, arms, stomach, back, thighs, knees, and feet. Everything feels normal. I do not have body pain that could damage my brain. Does this mean that I have an internal injury instead? I should get myself checked by a doctor. But how am I going to do that? Where should I start? I sighed at the thought of it. I bit my lower lip. I am frustrated. In the meantime, I should stay away from them, especially from these three and from the middle-aged woman and the boy she's with, whom she called my brother. It's bad, and I might hurt their feelings when they find out I don't know who they are in my life. I need some time alone to think about what is happening. Wandering around the campus and neighborhood might help me remember something.
I walked away from the three as they happily chatted but got confused. I simply ignored them when they called me and left them puzzled because of my actions until I bumped into someone. There's still quite a crowd, not all parents and students have already gone home. I should be careful where I am heading.
"Sorry," Then I bent my head down as my way of saying a sincere apology. I raised my head to look at the one I bumped into.
He smiled at me but immediately changed his expression. His brown eyes widened, looking over my head as if seeing a ghost. He surprised me when he suddenly pulled me, and we ran away.
"Is there a problem? Who are you?" I questioned him as we continued running and we stopped at the school garden which was quite secluded, surrounded by plants and trees, because people were busy flocking around the school's gymnasium where the ceremony was held.
I gasped as he looked at me seriously. He frowned at me. I was about to speak and ask him who he was and why he did that to me when he suddenly hugged me. I wondered about his actions. I struggled because I did not know what this boy was thinking.
"No, stop!"
He let go and held both my shoulders. He looked into my eyes. "I'm sorry, but I have to do this. This is the only way, and I won't hesitate to do that one thing to save you." He forced a smile, but sadness could be seen in his eyes and tone of speech.
"What is it?" I asked irritably. What is this guy talking about? I don't have time for this prank. Because of his bizarre actions, he completely pisses me off. I'm already having a bad day since meeting people who are strangers to me, but they treat me like someone close to them.
He grabbed my right hand and pulled a necklace out of his pocket. He showed the necklace to me, and his hands rested on mine. "Don't worry, I will protect you," he assured earnestly, staring at me.
"Protect me from what? Am I in some sort of danger?"
He closed his eyes and left me speechless.
"What's happening? I don't understand!" among the strangers whom I met today, this guy is the strangest of them all.
"Ahhh!" I shrieked. The necklace he was holding suddenly lit up after he threw it on the ground. It got smashed. Its warm light hurt the eyes. I closed my eyes and covered them with my hands. Slowly, I am feeling weak like there is electricity flowing through my whole body. My senses are numbing. Why is it that this boy who pulled me and forced me to run here did all of this? I don't even know myself, so who is he to me? Who are those people in my life?!
I completely lost consciousness, and the surroundings darkened.