Their Parallel Universe ✓

Chapter 09

Selective memory?

"Die! Die! Hey, where do you think you're going? Come back here, coward!"

That's right. Studies show that our brain has the ability to suppress some unpleasant memories from our consciousness. It's like when we run into some upsetting or embarrassing incidents and we want to forget about them, our brain can erase or alter our memories of those incidents. It doesn't necessarily have to be the whole thing; sometimes, only parts of our memory are deleted. Selective memory is when we choose to remember what we only want to remember. Of course, it's not always possible but it does happen.

"Yes! Take that, loser! Now you know who the real boss is!"

The television in the living room is turned off, and then an exasperated sigh is heard. Dark brown eyes fix on the figure that is sprawled on the sofa.

"Hah, you dared attack me from behind? I'll kill you! Come here!"

Another sigh. This time, it's louder.

"Eh, what kind of lousy attack is that? You still have a long way to go before you can beat me, weakling!"

"Shut up, Poll!" Unable to stand it any longer, Tem snaps at her twin brother. "Can't you play your game silently? Or better yet, do it in your room or your studio or wherever you're not bothering anyone."

Poll stops and lowers his phone from his face to peek at his sister at the end of his feet. Tem is sitting on the floor and leaning on the sofa's front arm panel.

"I am not bothering you though. I am minding my own business here," Poll deadpans.

"Yes you were bothering me," Tem insists, "You were screaming at your phone while I was watching TV. Your voice was too loud that I couldn't hear what I was watching anymore."

"Why are you so cranky today?" Neglecting his game, Poll sits up to properly stare at Tem. There is that urge to ask if his sister is on her period because of her moodiness but the male twin quickly decides against it. He was told it's one of the things to never ask a woman even as a joke. Scratch that, Tem told him that it should not be made as a joke, to begin with.

Briefly, he glances at the now turned-off television before he returns his attention to his twin. "Anyway, I was still able to hear what you were watching earlier, and I'd say it was boring. Why were you watching that? The guy was spouting bullshits. There is no way it's that easy to forget the things that you wanna forget."

"Those people are professionals, Poll," Tem answers, furrowing her brows. "And what they were saying has a scientific basis."

Poll makes a wry face. "Oh yeah? I wish it was that simple to throw away those unpleasant memories, then I could have easily pretended that..." He wavers as he bites his lower lip, remembering the incident at Cloud's place.

Then I could have easily pretended that the jerk didn't kiss me.

If one can even call it a kiss. As far as Poll is concerned, that was more like Eujae's declaration of how much he hates him. He saw it in his eyes, felt it in the way he held him. There was nothing there but coldness.

Poll aggressively rubs the back of his head in frustration. He's been trying to distract himself this whole weekend, trying hard to forget what happened but no matter what he does, the memory always manages to crawl back into his mind.

He flops back on the sofa. Staring at the ceiling, he mumbles, "I should have punched him harder. I really hate him."

Tem doesn't say anything but Poll can feel her staring at him. He waits for a minute before he hears his sister sigh.