Chapter 25

"How hard is it to remember me, Mel?"

I gasped as my lips parted. I was shaking my head because I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Gosh! Why didn't I recognize him?

"Z-zore... Keyden... Are you really Keyden?"

"Am I that hard to believe?" he said.

"N-no..."

He took off his white t-shirt. My eyes widened and I immediately closed my eyes.

What is he doing? Why is he undressing?

I jumped in shock when I felt his iron-like hands on both of my pulses.

"Open your eyes..." his voice was hoarse as he whispered.

"I don't want it. You're really naughty! You can't be my Keyden! He's not rude! He's not going to be a fuckboy when he grows up!" I muttered while my eyes were still closed.

"I want you to see something."

"What? Your abs? I already saw that!"

He chuckled.

"Just open your eyes please."

"Put on a t-shirt first!"

"You wouldn't see it if I was wearing a shirt."

"What is that?"

"My proof that I am your Keyden."

I slowly opened my eyes. I almost recoiled when I realized how close Zoren and I were to each other.

"You marked on me, remember?"

I stared at the top of his left breast. Very close to the heart. There is his scar that I did. I ran my fingers there.

I have seen him naked before. But why didn't I notice it? Is it because it's dark?

"Melay, don't say that!"

"I really want to join, Key!"

"You might get burned..."

A small memory immediately entered my mind. It was me and Keyden, playing on fire.

Aunt Matilda ordered Keyden to burn the leaves we had just swept up. I didn't know that it was forbidden to burn plastic in those days. I even played with it because I was amazed and it was like it was turning into glue.

"Melay, that shouldn't be involved!"

"Look, Keyden!"

I brought the stick I was holding close to him where at the other end was the burning plastic. Some parts of it splashed on Keyden and his sleeveless clothes burned.

"I didn't mean it, Zoren."

"I know. But you're still mean, Mel. I can't accept that you didn't recognize me."

I smiled and looked up at him. Our faces were so close to each other and I didn't even mind it.

"You've changed so much. You're not the same old Keyden I used to know. And how can I recognize you? Well, you've changed your name."

"Doesn't your heart remember me?"

I frowned. I bit my lip and then I passed him. I walked away, trying to escape from him.

"You had a crush on me when we were kids, right!" he shouted laughing.

Oh yeah! Why does he seem to remember everything? That's a great memory!

"That was it!" I shouted back without looking at him.

"What?"

I held back a smile. I do not understand. My heart seems to be moving with the motion of the sea. It looks like there are waves.

The sun is going down. It is very beautiful to observe that even the sea is colored orange due to the reflection caused by the sky.

"GOSH!" I screamed in shock when Zoren suddenly hugged me from behind. Good thing he's wearing a t-shirt.

"You didn't have a crush on me then?" he whispered close to my ear. Being so close, his breath tickled me.

"Zoren, what the hell!" I tried to break free from his embrace but he was too strong,

"Admit it to me first, Mel. You didn't have a crush on me then? What about now then? Hmm?"

"Let me go first."

"Oh no! I won't do that."

"Zoren!" I complained, but my voice sounded like I just moaned.

He laughed, "Why are you moaning? We're not even doing anything, you're already moaning. Does my hug have that effect on you?"

"Ugh! Maniac!"

"Moaning again?"

"Ahh!"

"Are you practicing?" he laughed at the joke.

"You're such a jerk!"

He let go of me because he couldn't stop laughing anymore. I slapped him out of annoyance.

"Aww! What was that for?" he asked while holding the head I hit.

"You're annoying! Let's just go home!"

He shook his head and straightened up, sulking while watching the sunset.

"I want to stay here. I miss this place, Mel."

I smiled. I didn't think I was with my best friend.

"Does Aunt Matilda know you're Keyden?"

He turned to me for a moment before looking back in front of him.

"She doesn't know. She didn't know me. So I understand why you didn't know me, Because if she who gave birth to me didn't know me, would you?"

"Are you mad at her?"

I saw a slight frown on his forehead.

"He left me. He gave me to my dad even though I didn't want to. How do you think I'm going to feel, Mel?"

I didn't answer right away. I bit my lip and watched the sunset in silence.

Zoren sighed so I turned to him, I watched him and I couldn't help but smile. When his Papa took him, I immediately thought that he would never come back. That we will never meet again. Because that's what Aunt Matilda believes too. What I do know is that she received a large sum of money from Zoren's Papa in exchange for her silence and so that she could not go after Zoren.

I'm sure when Zoren finds out that his Mama traded him for money, he will be hurt.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"How did you become a fuckboy?" I asked directly. Even I, was surprised. I didn't prepare for him turning around and catching me looking at him.

He laughed again, The sky was replicating on his face,

"I don't know when it started but it seems like it became a habit. When I experienced it once, I didn't want to stop."

"I want to marry you when I grow up, Key! So don't have a girlfriend, okay? Wait for me. Why are you older than me?"

"Blame my mom for giving birth to me earlier."

I don't know why the memories of the two of us keep popping into my brain. Why do I have to remember that? Why do I have to remember that I said that to him?

"If it becomes a habit... Is there any hope you'll stop?"

Zoren stopped and faced me. I could see in his eyes the surprise at what he heard from me.

"Why, Mel? Do you want me to stop?"

"Because I'm selfish, Zoren. I don't share," I said directly while meeting his gaze.

I took a step between us. With both hands, I grabbed both of his cheeks to make him lean towards me. Because I'm small I have to do it.

"When it's mine... I want it mine alone," I whispered before claiming his lips.