MIRACULOUSLY ESCAPING SLACKERLIFE

XXXII (N)

It's a beautiful day at the academy, with nothing to do and nothing to read. Cale found a comfortable spot on the grass and decided to sleep.

Wow, the sunshine is perfect for an afternoon nap.

He relaxed in the peaceful silence and groggily closed his eyes to find a very comfortable position.

"What are you up to, Cale?"

His enjoyable afternoon has vanished.

"Photosynthesizing."

"Ph—what?" Alver asked, shaking his head. He couldn't understand the technical jargons that Cale had been answering for the past few days. He noticed Cale would frequently sleep in their class, but this jerk aced the exams, and the teachers couldn't find fault except for his sleeping habits.

He wished he had that kind of brain at times like this.

"Cale, are you feeling well?"

He is concerned that his sleepiness was caused by the incident.

"No... I'm fine," Cale replied. The redhead scooted up to him and sat on his lap, his head resting on his lap. Alver watched him take his place as if he were a newborn baby waiting to be spoiled.

"Would you like to be spoiled, my baby Cale? Then let this Hyung-nim spoil you!"

Cale simply hummed while allowing the older boy to stroke his head. Alver would always do this for him without saying anything.

"I believe you should stop worrying everyone, Cale."

Cale opened his eyes half-heartedly to stare at him.

"It's just... Everyone almost went insane when we saw you in that state; you don't even recognize us; if it's difficult, tell us okay?"

Cale shifted and splayed across the grass. He turned to Alver and said quietly, "I've gotten over it."

Alver was confused. "I've gotten over it; I might get the chills now and then, but it's not good for me to always wander," Cale said as he sat up.

Cale informs him that he has forgotten about it. Alver did not believe it; people with photographic memories will have to live with it until the day they die. He wasn't sure if Cale was putting on a show, but the way he looked at him, calm and collected, he knew Cale wasn't joking.

"Your Highness."

He flinched, this is the very few of those times that Cale called him with all seriousness. He knew what he was about to say was a bomb he had to swallow whole when he was like this.

"What I have is not photographic memory."

Alver remained deafeningly silent.

"It's Record Ability," Cale said, rising from his seat and looking at the Prince. "It allows me to record everything I see. Photographic Memory is simply a natural genius strong suit."

"It's essentially the same..."

"Fundamentally, yes," Cale replied, "but with my Ability, I can choose what to forget and what to remember."

He can discard those memories that he deems to be painful for him, much like an old book.

"Did you forget about everything painful?"

"Partially..." Cale hums.

"If you have the ability to erase them, you should have erased them completely."

"I won't," Cale replied, "because not all painful memories hurt me... Some made me whole."

Especially the man he would always remember whenever he called Alver Hyung-nim and the boy who always acted mighty despite being a puppy.