This had been in draft for almost 10 years now

Lee Donghae was a factual person. He used to believe in ghost, and magic, and Santa Claus but those were stories of childhood. As he grew older, he only believed in things that he could see, or things that had been proven by science. However, at 21, Lee Donghae thought he might be going crazy. 

“Hae oppa... he’s your best friend, how can you not remember him?”

Donghae really thought he was crazy.

Donghae had gotten into an accident the day before, the bus he had usually ridden to college had a tyre malfunction and skidded to hit the road barrier. None of the passengers were injured, Donghae included. So why? 

“Did you go to hospital yesterday? After your accident?” Yeri asked him in concern.

No, he didn’t go. Because he was fine. All the passengers were fine. 

“Shall we go to hospital after class today? Maybe you hit your head or something?” Yeri said.

Yeah, that made sense. Because other wise, why would Donghae totally not recognize this guy standing beside him? This guy that everybody in his class had greeted a ‘good morning’ when he entered? This guy that had came up to him and asked him whether he had his breakfast or skipped it? This guy with single-lidded eyes that was currently staring at him with such an unreadable expression on his face?

Yes, Donghae thought, he needed to go to the hospital.

*

Donghae had skipped classes the day of the accident and went home instead. Despite not having any injury, it was kind of traumatizing (he was standing in the bus, dependent on the handrail when the bus skidded, thus the person standing behind him had fallen on him, and he on the person in front like a domino set). He didn’t hit his head though.

The next day as he arrived in class, his friend Yeri had yet to come, Donghae went to his usual seat near the back of the lecture hall and fiddled with his phone. 

“Hey Donghae, I heard about the accident. You okay?” A classmate yelled from the front row.

“I’m alright!” He answered back.

He continued playing with his phone, while his classmates buzzing around with ‘good mornings’.

Donghae ‘felt’ him first, before he saw him. But that didn’t make sense so Donghae took it as a coincidence. Donghae lifted his eye from his phone, and looked at the newcomer that had just entered the classroom. Their eyes locked for a second, before the eye contact broke when fellow classmates greeted the guy.

“Huh...” Donghae thought. It’s rare to have a new student in the middle of semester. Donghae continued to fiddle with his phone.

“Hey.”

Donghae looked up, to see that same guy standing beside his table. He was smiling, but there’s something about that smile that’s a bit disconcerting. Mocking? No. Secretive? Maybe.

“Yeah?” Donghae answered. 

“I heard about the accident. Are you okay?” The guy asked, casually flinging his bag to the seat next to Donghae but he remained standing. 

“Yeah, I’m okay. I’m Donghae, by the way.” Donghae introduced himself. The guy’s smile turned into a small smirk.

“Hae oppa!” That was when Yeri, his friend since freshman year  arrived, “Are you okay??” She asked, her voice had always been loud. 

Donghae rolled his eyes, getting annoyed now.

“This is the 10th time I’ve been ask the same question I should probably record a standard answer and replay it for everyone.” Donghae grumbled. “I’m okay, not a scratch, Yeri ah.”

Yeri then proceeded to chat with the new guy that was still standing by Donghae’s table.

They knew each other?

“I’m sorry I didn’t get your name.” Donghae said to the guy when Yeri finally stopped to take a breath. Yeri whiplashed to him, eyes round in surprise.

The guy didn’t answer, he continued staring at him, expressionless.

“Hae oppa? Are you trying to make a joke?” Yeri asked. Face scrunched just like everytime Donghae made a bad joke.

“What joke? He hasn’t tell me his name yet. But you guys seems to know each other?” Donghae asked back.

“Hae oppa... he’s your best friend, how can you not remember him?”

Donghae felt his heart dropped.

*

The next day, Donghae was still contemplating whether he’s gone crazy as he was pushed in for an MRI. The neurologist had asked him multiple times whether he had hit his head during the accident, and Donghae was sure the answer was no. It was weird how he couldn’t remember only one specific person. Yeri had wanted to accompany Donghae for the check up, but Hyukjae (Lee Hyukjae was the guy’s name) had volunteered instead. 

“Maybe if we spend more time together, Donghae will remember?”

Donghae had thought all this to be an elaborate prank from his friends, but how did they get the lecturers to be involved? Even his old neighbor had asked him yesterday why isn’t Hyukjae walking home with him.

Donghae was sure he’s going nuts.

“There’s nothing wrong with your MRI.” The neurologist said. Donghae let out a relief sigh. “Donghae, are you trying to prank your friends? Did they do something to you?”

Donghae was offended. So offended that Donghae stormed out of consultation room. He didn’t notice Hyukjae following him out. He was b with angry tears and sniffling at the hospital foyer, when Hyukjae sat beside him, and handed him a cup of hot vanilla latte, Donghae’s favorite. He knew. Oh of course he knew. It’s Donghae who had forgotten.

“Thank you.” He sniffled. Sipping on his latte.