today ╱ jeongchan

005.

"Welcome to Levanter Café! What can I get you?" Jeongin greeted the customer with his usual bright smile. The event from yesterday long forgotten as if it never happened at all. Truth to be told, he felt quite ecstatic, as if nothing could ruin his day that sets off on the right foot. After all, he received another free slice of cake from Seungmin for his breakfast.

The male in front of Jeongin clears his throat, lips pursing in thought and anxiously glancing at the younger behind the counter. Mustering up his courage, he breathed out a troubled sigh before mumbling, "Look, Jeongin. I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean toㅡ"

Jeongin tipped his head to the side, eyebrows furrowing in sheer confusion as he tries to come up with a response but found himself uttering the only words he found fitting in the current situation. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

"Jeongin, it's Chan. I get that you're upset but I have my reasons. Please hear me out first?"

"Sir, I think you got the wrong person. I don't know you at all."

"What?" To say that Chan is bewildered is an understatement. Does Jeongin have to pretend he doesn't know the male just because he stood him up last night? That, to Chan, sounds like downright petty. But then, he can't shake off the unsettling feeling bubbling inside him, telling him that there is something more to it. He took another glance at Jeongin who mirrored the same expression painted on his face: genuinely confused. Either the younger is a good actor or...? Chan can't find any plausible explanation as to why Jeongin is acting the way he is because the things running in his mind sounds so ridiculous.

Luckily, Felix appeared behind the kitchen curtain and saw the commotion. Of course, he already heard what happened from Seungmin when the latter woke him up from his slumber last night. Realizing what's going on, he decided to step in.

"Hey, Chan Hyung! You're here!" Felix greeted with an edge to his voice that Chan didn't fail to miss. The eldest of the three throwing the freckled boy with a slight nod in acknowledgement.

"Lixie Hyung, you know him?" Jeongin scooted closer to Felix, his voice was small and genuinely puzzled.

"Innie, why don't you take the remaining cakes from the kitchen and put them on display? I'll take care of the register until you're done." Felix flashed the younger with a reassuring smile and watched him disappear behind the kitchen curtain before turning to face the male clad in his all-black outfit standing in front of him, "Chan Hyung, it's complicated."

ㅡ

You gotta be kidding me.

Chan found himself seated in one of the booths at the corner of the café, his spot giving him a perfect view of the outside as well as the counter where Jeongin is stationed. His phone tightly clutched between his fingers as he mindlessly scrolls through the fifth article he found from the internet. The cup of iced matcha green tea latte set atop the wooden table now long forgotten and a small pool of water from the condensation forming at the bottom of the cup.

Throwing a glance at the younger behind the counter all the while trying to soak up every bit of information he could find is a mentally taxing work for Bang Chan. He found himself locking his phone and mindlessly throwing it on the table, only to grab it once again after a few seconds. As if reading the last article from the third page of Google was still not enough to demonstrate the truth of what Felix had told him.

Delving into the deepest realm of his thoughts, Chan failed to notice the looming figure next to his table. Only realizing the younger's existence when he heard him clear his throat for the third time since then. Chan, far too gone to care, didn't hide the appalled expression evident on his face at the sight of the same person who claimed to not know him.

"W-what can I d-do for you?" Chan questioned, mentally scolding himself for stuttering and masking his quite flustered state behind the low grumble emitting from his lips.

"I-I heard from F-Felix Hyung... Can I borrow a bit of your time?" Jeongin mumbled, equally a mess as the older.

Chan answered with a slight nod, prompting Jeongin to settle on the seat across him while fiddling with his fingers. Chan did not fail to notice the tinge of pink adorning the younger's cheeks. And just when he thought Jeongin couldn't be more adorable, he was proven wrong when he heard a soft squeak indicating that the mentioned is just as flustered as him.

"I forgive you." Jeongin started, finally breaking the silence that settled between them. "There's no point getting mad over something I can't remember, right?"

"S-still, I'm sorry... but I promise I have an acceptable reason!"

"There's no need to, Chan. I won't remember any of it, anyway."

"It's true?"

"What is?"

"That you haveㅡ"

"Anterograde amnesia? Unfortunately, yeah," Jeongin smiled sheepishly while rubbing his nape, his eyes landing on the cup seated in front of the Chan. The latter's face morphed into that of concern mixed with compassion, to which Jeongin answered with a soft snort and adding, "Don't give me that look. And I know you have questions so feel free to ask me while Lixie Hyung and Seungmin Hyung are being generous."

Chan bit the insides of his cheek, his pair of brown orbs not leaving the younger's face before rubbing his tired eyes. "You really can't remember everything? How do you keep track of what's going on in your life?"

Jeongin emitted a soft hum while nodding his head a bit, "I have a notebook I keep at home, mostly for the basic things like reminding myself to get groceries or for certain things that I need to do. I usually read every morning."

"How about the new people you've met..." Chan trailed off, carefully gnawing at his bottom lip before continuing with a small voice. "Like me?"

"Can't remember them at all. I don't even know if I met a new person before you. Maybe I did but I don't think they're relevant enough for me to actually take a chunk of my time and read about them." Jeongin flashed the male a rather sad smile. "I can remember my friends from before... but I can't form new memories so it's impossible for me to remember new ones."

Chan is someone notable from his field, known by everyone as the genius producer CB97. But even then, he is not someone who chases the spotlight. He prefers staying in the shadow, in the comforts of the four walls of his studio and away from the scrutinizing eyes of the public; creating things he loves to share with the people in hopes that it would bring comfort to them. That's how he wants to appear. Fame and recognition is not something he would willingly ask for people to give him.

But at this exact moment, all beyond the praise and recognition from the public, Chan wants nothing but to be remembered; not by everyone but by Yang Jeongin.

"Jeongin, I know this will sound crazy but can you promise me something?"

"Uh, I am not sure if that's a good idea but I'll give it a shot?"

"Promise me that you'll remember me." Chan holds out his pinky in front of the younger male. Albeit sceptical, Jeongin can't help but wrap his own around the elder's finger, officially sealing the promise he oh so desperately want to keep.

"I'm Bang Chan. 24. A producer from SKZ Entertainment and I want to be your friend, Yang Jeongin. So please, remember me."

And despite having no distinct memory of the older male, Jeongin can't help but find himself at peace. As someone who is distrustful around new people, Jeongin could not find it in him to hold his guard up around the male. It's true, the male is beautiful inside and out. Ethereal, even. And he can't help but briefly wonder how someone as exquisite as Chan exists.

And if he found the elder's little antics far more endearing than he should be, it's for Jeongin to know and for the mentioned to discover.

ㅡ

A.N.: Anterograde Amnesia in its most basic sense is the inability of a person to retain new information. The condition is like in 50 First Dates film.