Illegal Romance

Chapter 1

When I wake up, I search for Noze first thing. Noze had told me to sleep on his bed, while he would take the couch. However, he's not on the counch.

Jimena: Noze...?

Now that I'm alone, I'm suddenly attacked by anxiety. Just when I think to go search for him, he appears. He's wearing a suit once more.

Noze: Oh, you're awake. You can still sleep if you'd like.

Jimena: Are you already going to work?

Noze: Yeah, goverment workers go in early.

Noze smiles bitterly, then fishes a set of keys out of his pocket.

Noze: Did a night of sleep bring anything back?

Jimena: No... 

Noze: Really...? This is going to be more difficult than I thought.

Jimena: What...?

Noze: No, it's fine that you haven't remembered anything yet. Your clothes are dry.

Jimena: Okay...

Noze: And...

He pulls out his wallet and takes out a hundred dollar bill.

Noze: It's not much, but if you need anything, use this.

Jimena: Thank you...

Noze: Alright, I'm heading out.

Jimena: See you later.

He smiles cheerfully, opens the door, and takes his leave. I feel anxious by myself, but that smile is enough to break through it. 

Jimena: ...What do I do now?

I sit in the apartment doing nothing, yet my memory won't return. I'm not sure what will be effective, but I feel like all I can do is try. 

Jimena: I should try going to that place.

I change into my dried clothes and decide to go out. 

I've come to the place that I remembered first. The rain has let up and it's bright out, but I remember waking up in the phone box yesterday. 

Jimena: I wonder if I left anything behind...

The phone box is nondescript. Walls to the floor, nothing is abnormal. 

Jimena: There's nothing... Hug?

The phone book is slightly out of place. There's something red on it. 

Jimena: I wonder what this is...?

I pick up the phone book and open it. I open up the crumpled pages and my hands stops on a certain page.

Jimena: T-This is...

The page is stained with red. I don't know why I'm so confident, but I know this is blood and not paint. 

Jimena: I wonder if this has to do with my memory loss...?

I honestly feel awful about it, but I tear out the page just in case and pocket it. 

Before returning to the apartment, I go to a nearby supermarket. 

Jimena: (I wonder what I should buy for dinner...?

Noze never really eats at home and his fridge is full of nothing but beer and water. I look around at the ingredients, trying to come up with a meal. I don't even know if I can cook all that well. 

Jimena: This is tough... I have to cook something for Noze though...) (I think he'd like something like stir-fried vegetables...)

Someone who works irregular like he does needs to get his vegetables in. Trusting in my intuition, I fill my basket with vegetables.