Anterograde Tomorrow (sequel)

The 3rd Puzzle Piece

He knew.

He knew before the memories filed out once again when Autumn ended.

He knew when Sehun stopped coming to visit his lonely dying man's tomb.

He knew when he died the first time.

He knew when somehow the doctors brought him back.

He knew.

And he hated it.

Kyungsoo clutched the sides of his hospital bed in an attempt to ease the pain. He had convinced himself that the harder he squeezed and the whiter his knuckles became, the closer he would be to never feeling pain again. It was an obvious lie but it was one he was willing to tell himself. He was a practiced liar when it came to his own convincing.

As the pain cooled he leaned over his bedside and slid a messy book from a drawer in the nightstand. He had told himself he would finish it before the days ended. He was almost all the way done. He had made sure not to check the ending like he always did. It was Jongin's book. There was no point in checking the ending. He already knew it would be sad.

He had read over each page twice. It was the only way he would be able to remember it despite only four months ago, his memory had been returning. It had decided that with the leave of Sehun, it would leave too. He blamed his sudden amnesia reunion on the fact that he had already died once. Literally died. 

His heart had stopped for 3 seconds before the doctors had brought him back. He hated Sehun for leaving but he hated the doctors more for bringing the amnesia back. Sehun's leave wouldn't matter if Kyungsoo couldn't even remember it in a few days.

Suddenly a knock taped almost silently on the hospital room door. A unfamiliar man walked in. He seemed uncertain that he should be there but he proceeded into Kyungsoo's tomb anyway.

"Hey," he whispered, " you haven't been at work or home at all lately. You could have told me you were here." The man smiled weakly.

"Who are you?" Kyungsoo asked confused by his appearance. He was certain the only people he knew were Sehun and Jongin. Technically he didn't know them anymore but he liked to think he did.

The man looked slightly hurt. The hurt mixed with surprise. "You don't remember me at all? When i came in the doctor said you wouldn't. I didn't believe him."

Kyungsoo nodded, pretending he understood.

"I'm your best friend. Minseok."

Didn't ring a bell.

"We worked at my bar together. You sang there."

Still nothing. Kyungsoo looked back at his book in his best attempt to get rid of the man. None of what Minseok had said mattered anymore and Kyungsoo would rather have kept it that way.

Minseok wasn't having it though. In an instant Minseok had a tight hold on both of Kyungsoo's arms. He was staring into Kyungsoo's eyes with so much concentration, it seemed like he was trying to read Kyungsoo's mind.  "Listen here," The words that came out of Minseok's mouth sent shivers down his spine. No one, as far as he knew, had ever spoken to him with so much desperate anger. "You might not remember me but I don't care. You are not going to give up on yourself," Minseok hissed.

Kyungsoo nodded. Not because he agreed. Minseok's intensity made him nervous beyond belief.

Slowly, Minseok calmed himself and sat back in a chair next to Kyungsoo's bed.  He let out a sigh before speaking. "Since you don't remember anything, you probably have questions" Kyungsoo nodded, still silent.

"First," He began, "Who are you?"

"My name is Minseok. I am your boss and I will continue to be your boss until..." Minseok stopped his sentence, deciding it would be best not to mention the end of Kyungsoo. "Anyway, I...I mean we work at a bar not too far from here. I'm a bartender. You on the other hand are the best singer I have." Minseok's lips parted to form a gummy smile. "you know you can sing right? Please tell me you haven't forgotten that" He teased.

Kyungsoo had forgotten that. He knew he would have to test it later after Minseok left.

"Yes I remember." Kyungsoo lied. By the way Minseok's smile was fading as the pause in their conversation lengthened, he knew he would have to give some kind of good news. Truth or not didn't matter.

Minseok's smile formed again. "What's that?" He pointed at the book Kyungsoo was unknowingly holding tightly.

"It is my favorite book."

"Who wrote it?"

Kyungsoo paused again. "...his name was Jongin."

"Oh!" Minseok clapped his hands together with an excited expression, "I remember him! He came to the bar all the time to see you. You told me about him. You two were really close huh?"

"we were."

"Were?"

"Jongin died..."

Minseok froze, "What? How come it wasn't in the paper? or internet? I never heard. I thought you two went away on a trip or something. That was before I found out you were here..."

"Yeah he died...It was a while ago."

Minseok nodded, pretending to understand. "Well..." He began, not knowing what to say, "I'm sorry for your loss."

"It wasn't a loss for me." Minseok looked up in shock. Kyungsoo wasn't even phased by his own words.

"Are you sure?" Minseok's face went blank, "I remember you freaking out about the flowers at the writer's grave. That was Jongin's grave. Wasn't it?"

Somehow Kyungsoo knew what he was talking about. They were wilted flowers. Not one person in the hospital had cared enough to replace them. Kyungsoo's own heart had taken over and told him what to do. He didn't know that would be the beginning of everything. Well everything he knew.

"Anyway," Minseok got up from the plastic chair and gathered his coat and scarf, I should go now. It was about time my break ended. Get well soon Kyungoo. I'm counting on it."

Just like that, Kyungsoo was alone again.

I didn't mean to publish this xD this chapter was unfinished. I'll just leave it here and continue writing what i was going to write in a new chapter! Oops >~<