Step by Step

Chapter 4

"Am I with amnesia and didn't know?" - Silence. - "What? WHAT? What it is, you idiot?" - You smiled slightly.

"I thought that was something to remember." "Jesus Christ, man... I'm gonna throw you out of this bus! Yeah, I don't remember but say what it is!! Why wouldn't I remember you?"

"Don't be so violent!" - You slapped his left arm and he laughed out loud. - "I'll say it but stop hitting me!" - He calmed himself down. - "I know you played an assassin before." - You looked at him, trying to remember the things you have done. - "That play in high school about a trial and you were the culprit.... yeah, I was there."

"You what? Why? How?"

"My mother was one of the teachers in your school and she took me there to watch the play for whatever reason she had."

"Oh my god, JR... you..." - You felt so embarrassed that you hid your face in your hands. - "Oh! My! God!" - You started to remember the things you did in that play and you were not so proud of that. - "How did you know... that I was there?"

"Oh yeah, you were the main character but you did everything you could for me to be the main guy in the audience."

"No." - You peeked between your fingers. - "NO, JR! For real? You..." - You pointed to him.

"Yes." - He took a deep breath. - "You almost killed me in so many ways. You gave me a heart attack for picking me in the audience. A shy teenager taking part in the play? In front of the whole school? Thanks a lot." - You couldn't hold back the laugh. Felt a little bit sorry for him about the situation but bringing this back after all those years it was the worst idea for you. You hated that day, not for a special reason, you just hated it. It was too embarrassing. You did pretty well for someone who wanted to be an actress, but you were not that person.

"Sorry." - You whispered.

"And then.... AND THEN you took that tie out of nowhere and made me a hostage. Like?? For real???'

"Stop it, JR!" - You kept laughing but the nostalgia train had already done a lot for you.

"When you grabbed me, I still remember what you said because later I discovered that it was a line from Hannibal Lecter."

"Don't." - You tried to stop him from what he was about to say, knowing things would get worse.

"'I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner.'" - He recited it as if it were a Shakespeare poem. - "Thanks for the old friend, tho. I felt better with that. It's warming, you know?"

"JR..." - You finally were able to look in his eyes. - "Stop it."

"I remember trying to find a better position or you would actually hurt me, it was when I realized I was being part of the play and then you said to me 'Remarkable boy. I do admire your courage. I think I'll eat your heart!'. And yet, another Hannibal quote. YOU were remarkable, baby!"

"Listen." - You laughed. - "I was a teenager, ok? I was so addicted to the Hannibal movies. I wanted to use that, even though it didn't make much sense but I used. It felt awesome. But the rest of it? Bad, unpleasant, awkward. I'm so sorry you were there and witnessed that but stop, please. I'm not proud of that."

"No one would be proud of that, my dear." - Both of you laughed. - "Thanks for introducing me to the Hannibal world tho." - Jonghyun wanted to say more but he felt it wasn't the moment, he already introduced his story so he was happy with that.

"I just... how do you still remember? I deleted everything from my mind. Did I become a trauma for you?"

"Not even close."

"That's better. Does anyone else knows?" - You had to ask him. Had to.

"No. Do you want me to tell them?" - The audacity of his smirk.

"NO!! No, Jr. No."

"Well..."

"Just don't. That's just our story."

"Since you say it in that way then... I'll think about it." - He smiled annoyingly proud of the situation he created.

Shortly after, the bus arrived at your destination and you went to the cafe.