𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 → 𝗥. 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗮

01 have you forgotten?

"All I ask is that you not forget."

Those were the last words he said to me. Still, after three years it's been tattooed on my mind, what we did that night in the club room.

The way he interwined his fingers with mine, and pushed me down on to the cold floor. The way he whispered in my ear sweet nothings. It was all still tattooed on my mind. All I wanted was to befriend him but I never found courage to. Despite being the manager that time, I was never able to converse with him as much as I conversed with the other players.

As far as I remember, he was strikingly beautiful.

Or at least I found him to be.

Our first meeting wasn't exactly pleasing. He rolled his eyes at me when the vice principal introduced me as the volleyball team's newest manager. I didn't really take it to heart, but it was getting harder to try and befriend him with the way he treated me. The captain that year told me that it was just him being him, but I refused to believe it.

It wasn't like I gave him a reason to dislike me. If anything, I tried giving him numerous reasons to like me, or at least accept that I was part of their group now. I tried everything, but nothing seemed to work.

Then, I was contented with where we were as acquaintances.

We never spoke directly even a couple months after I was introduced to the team. We'd occassionally give one another eye glances or small nods just to acknowledge the other's presence, but other than that, nothing.

Even before official matches, the captain would ask me to say a few encouraging words that ultimately would boost the boys' confidence but with him, it was the same old eye glance and nod.

It was becoming more of our "thing" now that I think about it.

There were times we'd be left alone in the clubroom but nothing out of the ordinary ever happened. He'd be changing while I was cleaning and after that, we'd exit the campus grounds without even a single word coming out of our mouths. It was frustrating, but I believed it would gradually bring us somewhere.

It didn't. Disappointing, really. I was fine with the occassional eye-glances and nods during our second year, but on the third and last year of high school he never even spared me a look. He spent most of his time with the Miya twins, and after practice, he never stayed as late as he did before. I have to admit I was starting to miss the late nights with him in the clubroom, even if we never spoke.

I was fine with it being that way, really. But it became a hundred times more frustrating. Until the day before graduation.

I didn't know what came over me. Maybe I felt nostalgic that night. Maybe I felt sentimental. But when I found myself alone with him in the clubroom like before, I felt the urge to pour out what I've been feeling the past year.

"I wish I made memories with you," It came out barely a whisper but I knew he heard me. I had so much more to tell him, but how could I? He suddenly grabbed hold of both my wrists and pushed me — my back against the wall as he hovered over me. "How about we make memories now?"

We had sex that night.

I didn't know why I allowed that to happen. It was a mistake. But it was something I'd never regret even after a million years. I still remember how soft his hands were, and the way they caressed my body from my face down to my legs. I remember the way he kissed me so passionately, as if he let go of all the bottled-up feelings he had and transferred it onto the kiss. And oh, he was so gentle. It made me believe he loved me that night.

At the end of it all, he said, "Don't forget this."

Those words still haunt me up to this day. Three years later and I still have his beautiful face stuck in my mind. During the lonely nights in college, that memory would replay over and over again. It made me wonder where he was now and how he was doing.

What if I had a chance to see him again? It always crossed my mind. What would I say to him? Would he even remember?

The noise of the city at night was always comforting to me but right now it only made me anxious. Tonight was one of those nights where I wanted to be held. And standing behind the couple whose hands are intertwined is surely not helping me.

I looked up at the pedestrian traffic light and saw that it was still red. Have I not been standing here for minutes now? I must have been too consumed by my thoughts of him again. It was amazing how much control he had over me despite it being three years now.

The traffic light finally turned green, indicating that it was safe for me to cross. My thoughts were still too occupied that I hadn't noticed how suddenly I ended up on the ground. My head felt like it was going to explode because of the pain.

"Miss, are you alright?!" A guy walked up to me with his hand out for me to take. What happened? "Thank heavens that guy was able to pull you to safety! Drunk drivers are always dangerous at this time of night."

I almost got hit by a car and I didn't even notice? That would be a nice way to die. You wake up, and all of a sudden you're in heaven, or wherever you were supposed to be when you died. I should scold the man for saving me. If anything, I'd rather be in heaven right now.

"Y/n." That voice is familiar. Am I even sure I'm alive right now? Everything seems to be in such a blur. But the guy standing in front of me looked like an angel. "Have you forgotten?"

Have I forgotten.. There was a lot of things in my mind that I should probably be remembering right now so I'm unsure of what this guy meant. My vision was still a bit blurry and rubbing my eyes might or might not worsen it. I tried fluttering it open but the sight in front of me didn't help my suicidal thoughts and anxiety at all.

"R-Rintarou?"

"Y/n."