FORGET-ME-NOT | kth

Chapter 35 - Memories

As we stepped off the plane and into the airport, the familiar surroundings triggered a wave of memories from two years ago. I paused for a moment, I could almost hear the echo of my own sobs mingling with the chatter of travellers and the distant announcements over the intercom.

I remembered the hurried steps, the ache in my chest, and how my heart felt heavy as I moved through the crowd, feeling utterly alone despite being surrounded by people.

The thought made me uncomfortable, a knot forming in my stomach. I sighed, trying to shake off the haunting memories, and pulled out my phone to regain focus. My fingers moved quickly across the screen, scrolling through various hotel options.

As we neared the exit, I finished making my bookings and prepared to part ways with Hoseok and Sam, who were engrossed in a deep discussion beside me.

"Guys, I've booked an uber and I'm pretty tired, so I'll catch up with you tomorrow," I said. They both looked at me, their furrowed brows knitting together even more.

"What do you mean? Aren't you coming with us?" Hoseok asked.

"No, I've booked a hotel. Just give me a call tomorrow and I'll meet you guys wherever you're headed," I replied, and Sam took a step closer.

"We could have shared the place. The apartment is perfectly set up for us," she said, and I shook my head with a smile.

"It's fine. I don't want to interrupt you guys. I'll send you the address, so you have it in case of an emergency," I explained, and Hoseok clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"There's no interruption. You really didn't need to book a hotel," he said, his tone gently insistent and I pressed my lips together, readying my response to politely decline the offer.

Sensing my discomfort, Sam placed her hands gently on my shoulders. "It's okay, I understand. I'll call you tomorrow. We'll likely be meeting with the event management team," she said, offering a reassuring smile. "Just coming here is more than enough, Maya. We'll see you tomorrow." Relieved, I nodded and gave her a warm hug.

Later, lying in bed and battling jet lag, I decided to text Namjoon and ask about Henry. He responded almost instantly with a photo of my cat soundly sleeping, his head resting on his arms. I couldn't help but smile at the peaceful image and replied with a set of smiling emojis, relieved to see him looking so content.

We chatted for a while until Namjoon had to leave, and we wrapped up our conversation. I lazily flopped back onto the bed, letting the exhaustion wash over me.

Still restless, I got up and walked to the window. The view outside was so different from what I was used to see here. There was no rain or clouds.

Golden leaves on the trees bathed the area in a warm, golden hue. It was an entirely new perspective on this place due to the change in season.

For some reason, I felt a sense of relaxation wash over me. Coming here wasn't as daunting as I'd initially thought. The uneasiness I felt was gradually melting away, and with each passing minute, a growing confidence to stay and do my best to help my friends with their wedding began to replace it.

The fresh perspective of this place felt like a clean slate, as if the past had been entirely wiped away. Gazing out the window, I saw nothing that connected me to what I had came across before. I hoped this sense of renewal would last throughout my stay.

The next morning, I woke up like a zombie, disoriented and with no clear memory of where I was. It took me a moment to realize I wasn't in my apartment. I even frantically searched for Henry before fully opening my eyes, worried that he might have jumped out of the window.