Thousands Memories
Summary:
Len is a person whose life only filled with sorrow, pain, and loneliness. All of it because he has a curse. Every time his body touches with other, the person he touched will forget all of his memories about Len. Many of Len's family and friend have already forgotten him. The only left avoided him because they were afraid of the curse. Len started not to have relationship with others because he didn't want to feel the pain of losing others anymore. Until one day, another person appears in his life, will that person be the one to help Len ?
Story:
<PROLOGUE> Third Person's POV
On a day like none other, a girl was walking through the city alone. She had something in her mind that bugged her, so the girl tried to get some fresh air by walking through the city. After she had been walking for a while, the girl saw a boy that she knew. The girl would have never expected that she could meet himwhen she was just walking randomly trying to straighten her mind.
Twas, with full of joy the girl called him. But the boy didn't react to her voice. The boy just stood there looking at his hand. "What is he doing?" the girl wondered. Then the girl tried to call him again, but still no reaction. The girl gave up trying to call him, and the girl approached the boy instead. She ran across the street and called him.
The boy finally noticed her, his face looked surprised for a bit, after that he smiled.
But then suddenly.
A car came in the direction of the girl.
It was so fast that it could not stop in time so then it would not hit the girl. Seeing this, the boy ran to the girl, hoping that he would make it in time to save her.
*Ciiittttttt*
That place was quiet for a while.
...
...
...
He saved the girl. But the boy didn't look happy. In fact the boy looked sad.
Why?
The boy looked at his hand that currently holding the girl's hand. He had a sad face like he wanted to cry.
After a while the girl calmed down and then she spoke.
"Thanks for helping me..." said the girl while smiling.
Then the girl continued.
"May I know your name?"
...
...
Hearing that, the boy couldn't help but to cry, he hid his face under his jacket's hood. Then he wiped his tears off his face, and then smiled at the girl.
"My name is..."
...
...
I knew that this would happen someday...
<PART 1> The Boy's POV
My name is Len.
I am someone whose life is only filled with loneliness, because I have a curse.
If my skin touched with someone else, the person that I touched will lose all of the memory that he has about me.
The first appearance of my curse is when I was 7 years old.
It was my birthday celebration that day, I celebrate it with my parents, my little sister, and my grandmother. My grandmother congratulated me and then she hugged me.
Suddenly, she pushed me away and then she asked my mother
"Who is this child?"
...
All of my family is surprised. My grandmother has forgot about me.
My parents tried to make my grandmother remember about me, but it did not work.
After that I touched my little sister. She had the same reaction as my grandmother after I touched her.
"Who are you?"
Then I realized, that whenever my skin touched with someone else, they will lose all of the memory that they have about me.
My parents looked everywhere, to search the cure about my curse.
But they didn't find anything.
My parents told me to wear gloves and jacket, and they said to never let go of it.
I still go to school,
Everything was fine until someday my classmate played a prank at me.
They forcefully took away my glove.
I tried to get my glove back, but I accidentally touched them.
And they forgot about me, just like that all of the memories of me are gone.
After knowing my curse, the rest of my friend became afraid of me, and they started to avoid me.
My chest's hurt. The pain of losing someone because they forget about you is too much.
Why does it have to happen...? Why me?
After that I just stop making contacts with people. I don't want to be hurt by experiencing the feelings of lost ever again.
If I don't have someone in the first place, then I can't lose anyone.
<PART 2> The Girl's POV
My name is Tear, well I am just a normal girl.
"Hey Tear, let’s go to the mall!"
"I’m sorry guys, I have something that I want to do
later, so next time okay?"
"It can't be helped then, next time it is. Bye Tear!"
...
I have a hobby, I won't say that I'm good at it but I really like it.
I love to draw.
Whether it's human, animal, plant, or something that doesn't even move, I like to draw it.
Yeah, basically I like to draw everything.
Recently, I will always go to this park every day to draw everything that I see.
I will always bring back about 2 to 3 drawings when I am done.
But recently, I only focus to one drawing.
It's a drawing of a boy that I always see in the park.
When I arrive at the park, there will always be him there.
At first, I didn't really care about it but then one day I became curious on him.
Why?
Because every time I saw him, he always looked sad.
And he did nothing but staring at the skyuntil he was done and the he went home.
It makes me wondering.
By the time I have realized it, I already started to draw him.
<PART 3> The Boy's POV
It's just another day of me staring at the sky.
It's not like I loved the sky, but staring at it just make me feel comfortable and relax.
...
I've been spending my time here to soothe myself,
As usual nothing happens.
Is what I want to say, but recently, that girl.
She always stared at me whenever she saw me.
I have seen her drawing things here in this park every day.
But it is only recently that she really only stared at me for the most of time.
So, I'm her next model huh?
...
It has already been 3 days since then and she still staring at me, am I really that hard to be drawn?
Not that I care about it, but you know, the feeling of someone staring at you all the time, I'm trying to relax myself here.
I hope she finish it soon.
…
Huh? I didn't feel her stare anymore? Maybe she already finishes her drawing?
Wait, that's not it.
She is talking with her friends.
But... those 2 guys, it doesn't look like her friends.
The girl seems troubled by those guys.
…
"Heyy are you alone? Let's have a drink together" Said one of those two men.
…
So those guys are trying to hit on her.
...
It's not like me to make the first contact, but I’m not that heartless to just leave people in trouble alone.
I will help her.
<PART 4> The Girl's POV
"Heyy are you alone? Let's have a drink together" said one of the men.
"I'm sorry, I'm busy right now"
These guys are so annoying, they are disturbing me while I'm drawing.
"Don't be like that, let's have some fun with us" said the other man.
And then he grabbed my arm.
I was surprised, I wanted to hit him with my drawing books but suddenly I heard someone shouted,
"Ah I'm sorry that I'm late"
...
It's him.
The boy that always stares at the sky whenever I saw him.
He came to save me.
"Let's go"
He pulled my arm, and then we ran.
...
After we ran for a while he finally let go of my hand.
"We ran quite far" said the boy.
"Thank you for helping me".
"No problem, you are okay on your own now right?"
"Ye-yes I think so."
"Good, then take care."
After saying that, he ran.
"Wait! I didn't even know your name yet!"
...
It's too late, he’s already gone.
Wait he dropped something! He ran so fast that he didn't even realized that he dropped his belonging.
Huh? What's this? Gloves? Now that I think about it, he always wore gloves. Maybe it's his spare?
It has a name written on it.
Len... so his name is Len...
I will return it to him tomorrow.
...
…
…
"Here, you dropped this yesterday"
"My gloves! I have been looking for it since yesterday. Thank you, these gloves mean so much to me."
He looked so happy.
"Wow, it's the first time I have seen you smile"
"What?"
"Nothing"
...
After that I ask for his name, well I already knew it but I still ask anyway, and then I told him my names too.
"So... Why are you always staring at the sky?"
I asked him that because I'm curious.
"Staring at the sky, makes me feel relax"
"Is that so..."
<PART 5> The Boy's POV
"Can I ask one more question?" the girl asked me.
"Sure" I replied
"Why do you always wear gloves?"
"..." I stayed quiet for a while.
"I-Im sorry, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to..."
"It's okay, I will tell you"
Then I told her about my curse, and everything that I have been through, about my grandmother, and about my friends that afraid of me. I don’t even know why I told her about my secret, maybe a part of me want her to know this so that she can comfort me, and another part is to make her afraid of me so that she will not be involve with me anymore.
"This glove, my grandmother gave it to me at my birthday party before she forgot about me"
"I'm sorry"
"It's okay, but are you not afraid about my curse?"
"Huh? Why do I have too?"
I felt surprised a little.
"We-well, if my skin touches with yours then you will lose all of the memory that you had about me(?)" I tried to explain it to her with a stuttering voice.
"Then its fine if my skin doesn't touch with yours, right?"
Now I'm really surprised. No one has ever showed this reaction before.
Even my parents occasionally avoid me because they are afraid of my curse.
"Hey, why are you smiling all of the sudden?"
Before I have realized, I've already got a big smile in my face.
"Hahahaha"
"Wha?! Now you are laughing?!"
I laughed so loud. It's been so long since I laughed as hard as this.
Maybe if it's her...
"Hey Tear, will you become my friend?"
Tear had a confused face for a moment.
"What are you talking about? You saved me, so we are already friends, right?"
If it's her, maybe she can fill the emptiness in my heart.
"Hahaha yes you are right"
"So... when can we meet again?"
"Hmm you can find me in this park every day, we can meet here."
"Can I have your number?"
"I don't use a cell phone"
Well because I didn't have anyone to talk to before.
"Is that so... then let's meet again here tomorrow okay? Actually, I have been making you my model for my drawing for a while hehe, I want to finish it"
"I knew about it"
"About what?"
"About you making me your model"
"How did you know?!"
"Anyone would have noticed, if you stare that hard"
"I'm so embarrassed" *blush*
"*chuckle*"
You should see her blushing face. It's funny.
"Okay then, let's meet up tomorrow"
"Sure"
...
<PART 6> The Girl's POV
I would have never imagined that the boy I secretly draw is now my friend.
After I returned his gloves the other day, he told me about his secrets.
Maybe because of that curse, he always looks sad whenever I saw him in the park.
At first, I thought that he was a mean guy because he looked so gloomy all the time.
But the truth is, He is kind and funny too.
Ever since that day, we always talk together at that park, we talk about ourselves, our hobbies, and sometimes our problems too.
He always watched me when I'm drawing something.
And when I don't have anything to be drawn, I will sit beside him, and accompany him watching the sky, and talk about our dreams.
...
...
...
"What have you been scribbling on your drawing book?"
"Huh? This? I started to take some notes"
"About what?"
"Hehe I'm trying to write everything that I did everyday"
"Is that so, good luck with that"
<PART 7> The Boy's POV
Time passed so quickly when I spend it with Tear, it's already been 3 months after we became friends, and we always have some time to hang out together in the park.
...
...
My feelings for her have developed in these past months.
Every day, I always look forward to the time that I will meet her.
I know what this is.
Without I even realized it.
…
I have already fallen in love with her.
But, I am too afraid to tell her about my feelings. It will never work for us, because of my curse.
…
I will hold back my feelings, I think it's the best choice.
...
"Heyy do you hear me?" Tear's voice called me back to my sense.
"Ah yes, what is it?"
"You are not listening, didn't you? I said I have some urgent matter so I have to go back."
"Is that so? Then see you tomorrow"
Tear left.
…
Huh? She forgot to bring back her drawing book.
I will hold it for now; tomorrow I will give it to her.
…
<PART 8> The Girl’s POV
Tomorrow's afternoon.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Where is my drawing book? Did I leave it in the park?"
Why do I only realize it now?
"Maybe, Len's holding my book right now. I hope he is not looking at it right now"
"There are still some times left till our meeting time, hah... I need to get some fresh air first. I think I will take a walk for a while."
<PART 9> The Boy's POV
Tomorrow afternoon.
I left to the park earlier today, there are still some times left before our usual meet time.
I opened Tear's drawing book to see what's inside, out of curiosity.
Half of the book is filled with her drawings. There are humans, animals, plants, and even strange things here. She really loves to draw.
Ah, this drawing. It's me.
Hmm well, not bad. But do I really look like this?
I flipped the next page.
What I saw on that page was,
--- Len's and Tear's activities together ---
From now on, I will record everything that I knew about Len and everything that I had done with Len, so even if I forgot about him, with this book, I could remember everything about him again.
Day xx month xx year xx
Today, we talked about our hobbies. Len said that he doesn't have any hobby. I think he should find one soon. It's good to have something that you like.
Day xx month xx year xx
Today at the park, I drew everything that I saw today. Len is watching me. I felt embarrassed for a bit. After I finished, Len complimented my drawings. I felt really happy.
...
There are still many more.
I could not help but surprised about everything that I saw.
Everything's that we did together; she recorded it all inside her book.
I flipped the last page.
...
...
I think... it's about time to tell him my feelings.
All the time at we have spent together are so meaningful to me.
Our first meeting is maybe just a coincidence.
At first, I only watched him from afar
But now,
As the days passed
The time that we have spent together make me know him better.
I want to help him...
I want to be there when he needs someone...
I want to be with him...
...
...
...
I love him.
...
...
And next to that notes, I saw a drawing of me and Tear's holding hand. Underneath it, there are some writings.
"My other dream"
...
...
I feel like I want to cry.
I looked at my right hand and I removed my right glove.
Maybe... this hand can finally feel the warmth of other people now?
...
Suddenly I heard someone shouting my name.
I searched for the source of voice.
And in the other side of my eyes, I saw Tear.
...
I feel surprised for a while, after that I smiled because I’m happy to see her,
I will tell her about my feelings.
But then, I saw a car that drove so fast in the direction of Tear.
I ran to her as hard as I could.
"Please, make it in time..."
I reached out my right hand.
She is so close to me, I can save her!
...
...
!!!!!!!!!
<LAST PART> The Boy's POV
At that very moment.
Just before my hand touched with Tear's.
Only at that moment I have realized.
No! Why?!
My right hand is not wearing any glove right now.
If it touches Tear's hand, she will lose all of the memory that she had about me.
I don't want her to forget me.
But... if I don't reach my hand right now...
I don't want to feel the pain of losing someone again.
I can't bear it anymore.
Is that what I really want? To never let Tear, forget about me?
At that time.
I remembered about the note that I saw at Tear's book.
...
I want to help him...
I want to be there when he needs someone...
I want to be with him...
...
...
...
I love him.
...
And even if I forget about him...
...
I will surely... fall in love with him again...
...
I grabbed her hand tightly.
I won't run away anymore.
I pulled her hand as hard as I could.
Even if she would forget about me.
We succeeded in avoiding the car.
Even if she would lose all of the memory that she had about me.
"Thanks for helping me..."
And although I have to go through the pain of losing someone again.
"May I know your name...?"
I wiped the tears in my face.
"My name is Len..., remember it okay? :)"
I will make you fall in love with me again for a thousand times.
Fin.
Alvin Angjaya