"You don't remember all of the things we did together..." Donghae tells Hyukjae. "But you will soon. You'll also remember Leeteuk, his family... then you'll remember his grandparents, because before you came alive to me... you'd been with them, years ago. You had a sad experience with them. That will come to you too. You might be scared of it, you might think it's your fault, but it wasn't and no one hates you or thinks you've hurt them..."

Hyukjae's eyes fill with tears. "H-How do you know...?"

"Because we learned the truth. You will remember that too, okay? I want you to keep this in mind for when you get those memories. I love you and want you here, and your Mama Saeron does too. Teukkie and his parents and my brother -- you haven't met him yet -- but they're all your family and we want you and love you." Donghae holds his soft cheeks. "Hyukjae. This is important. Please. Anything before... before now, with me, with these people who care about you... it doesn't matter. Promise me that you'll remind yourself of that."

"W-What do you mean?" Hyukjae says.

"I mean that you're going to start remembering things from your past," Donghae says. "Some I can help you with, because I was there with you. Others, I can't. I don't know how far back in your past they are but there are things... that hurt you. Hyukjae, you're afraid of it. Last time that started happening... you didn't want to lose anything now because of anything from that time. You wanted to be the Hyukjae now... this Hyukjae, not... not Hyukjae from that time... so that you could be with me, so that we could be happy together..."

Donghae gently kisses him. Holds his hands. Remembers their conversations. They were both so scared.

"And I think you were right. Hyukjae... I've met you twice now... so I've realized it. I used to think... because you don't know yourself, maybe finding out everything about you was needed -- for you to fully be you, to know what you want, or what to be... so that you can choose me, choose us, after you are aware of who you are, because I thought... maybe you weren't complete, you weren't the whole Hyukjae yet, just parts... without all your memories..."

Donghae wipes his own tears. Sniffs.

"But I don't think that anymore. You've been the same. You are still... you. The same sweet man... who thinks he did something bad... who hurt or will get hurt... and from what I've seen, there's nothing like that. So I think it's those memories, your past, whatever happened that you end up forgetting... that's what's making you think this way... and when you come close to remembering it again... it's too painful for you, and you forget everything all over again..."

Hyukjae whimpers now. Shakes his head. His hands are tightly gripping his. "I d-don't want to forget you..."

"I know, baby. I don't want you to forget me either. I don't want you to leave, to be stuck as a mannequin, or be scared or hurt -- it's so... so hard n-not to have you in my life, Hyukjae, not to have the person I love and want to love forever... that's why..."

Donghae rubs his eyes. Composes himself.

"That's why I'm telling you this. Meeting you two times, helping you get life and memories and love... I now think... it shouldn't matter, whatever happened in your past. It's too long ago. It just hurts you. Nothing more. I think... you right now, like this... that's more important. I love you, and you love me, in the present. Let's just... remember this, keep this and focus on now, our future, and not the past."

"B-But... if you give me love... I will remember... won't I?"

"Yes... you will struggle and it will hurt when it comes, so I w-want to tell you this now so it can keep you strong. D-don't let it take you from me. Y-You asked me to hold on to you before, when I thought you getting your memories would give us answers. But it gave you pain and then it took you away..."

It's not right. Whatever the hell it is. It's so old.

It can't just hurt Hyukjae. Make him think he's cursed. Cause him to wander around at night. Terrified. Cause him to ask about people who put him somewhere. People who are not coming. People who can't come.

If they were two hundred years ago... they're all dead.

"Baby... I love you. Right now as I know you. I'm sorry, but I don't care about your past and... you shouldn't either. It's all gone. Before me and Teukkie's grandparents... there's nothing else. It doesn't exist anymore. Don't let it hurt you... or make you think you're bad or hated... don't let it trap you as a mannequin. Just focus on me. On now and tomorrow. Think about the past like... a-another person's past. Another Hyukjae. Some old movie. Not Donghae's Hyukjae. Y-You have to stay with us. For people in this time. We want you..."

He's crying now. Hyukjae's wiping his face with his hands. Sleeves. He's sniveling.

"Was the other Hyukjae bad?" Hyukjae says.

The question makes Donghae sadder. But he laughs a little. Pulls Hyukjae close. Hugs him. Places his head on his shoulder.

Maybe he doesn't understand yet. It's too early.

"I don't know..." Donghae murmurs. "But I don't think so..."

"Why?"

"Because you're not bad in any way, sweetheart..."

"Maybe you made me good?"

Donghae chuckles. Quietly. Tearfully. "Maybe. But you were good with Teukkie's grandmother. She loves you."

"Maybe she made me good..."