Chapter 73 - Returning Memories

"Uh... uwawa-ah..." 

Iesa's jaw trembled as her face blushed in red. It could be said that this is one of the most inappropriate reactions that one can have after what Seres just said.

However, although irritated, Seres didn't complain since she had some understanding of what might've happened. Furthermore, she also found it strange why this is Iesa's reaction.

"S-sorry, I... please continue...!"

Iesa was placed in a dilemma where she felt confused but was also aware that she was extremely rude. If what Seres just revealed just now was true then she was very insensitive, thinking of other things unconcerned. But at the same time, robbing Seres' of her turn to speak also felt wrong so Iesa panicked.

"No, it seemed that you unlocked an important memory. Digest it first. As the situation it is right now, you wouldn't be able to understand my next words."

Feeling ashamed, Iesa lowered her head.

"Well then, I'll be here at this time again tomorrow and the day after - every day unless certain circumstances have changed. Goodbye."

"G-goodbye..."

Iesa nodded before Seres left. She stayed there for a while before she stood with a sigh.

'I should think this for a while once I'm back at the apartment.'

But before she walked out-

"Ah! The bill." she turned to the cafe clerk but was informed instead.

"Umm, the woman earlier already paid for your meal, Miss."

...

Walking back to her apartment, Iesa was a bit skeptical at Seres' identity.

"She is certainly much mature than what she looked. The clerk even called her a woman. What would they call me?"

She slowly shook her head. Her pride as the older one was fading. But that was the point she was skeptical about.

"Is she really the younger one? I still haven't asked her intentions, why she knew me, and why happened in general."

But most certainly of all, the most important thing for her was shoved to the back of her head. Only when she went back to her apartment and dropped herself to the couch as if she was void of energy did that most important thing for her resurfaced to her attention.

"T-teren slept here..."

Iesa was in full disbelief. With that, the memories of the time they spent together came back to her one by one. It was as if a door one after another. The memory she thought was just a one-time thing was coming back to him.

She opened the cabinet and saw snacks that were enough for two people. Before, she didn't mind it and thought that she just ate it alone if she had the appetite but now, she remembered it.

"We.. always ate together."

With hurried steps, she came back to the living room, took the tv remote, and pushed the power button.

"We watched that series and even completed it... and this too!"

Beads of sweat were gliding on her face. Her heart pumped and as if desperate, she opened the door to her room.

"..."

She waited for a while if certain memories will come back to her but soon, she sighed. Whether if that sigh is of relief or disappointment or even both, she will never know.

"I g-guess we're not dating and have not gone to that stage."

When she spoke of the word 'dating', another set of memories unlocked in her head.

She gasped.

"O-oh my god! I'm so bold!"

Iesa dropped to her knees. She could clearly remember her thoughts;

'One more push...'

The story behind it was that she thought Teren was not interested in her. Because if he is, why is he not taking advantage of it!?

'Did I misunderstand the puberty of boys?'

'Am I not pretty enough?'

'Is he swing the other way around then?'

Those were her thoughts. It was easy to feel that the other party is interested in you too, however, the human mind is quite complicated. The fear of rejection will become a great obstacle. The less confident one is, the denser they are to the feelings of that other party.

Although they feel that way, they wouldn't be so impulsive to jump onto action.

However, Iesa was not blind. From time to time, she could see Teren's 'intimate gaze'

'He's interested in me!' was the thought she wanted to hold on to. That is why she decided to become passive-aggressive. Always pulling him in the apartment, showing more skin, and even making frequent physical contact.

'NOOO!!!'

If Iesa screamed her thoughts through her voice, almost all of her neighboring rooms will surely hear her.

A moment later, after finding out that no more memories were coming back to her, Iesa was hugging her legs tight.

"I'm... so bold."

It should be unnecessary to mention that she was so embarrassed that she just wanted to disappear at that moment but what made her somehow depress was -

"So... he rejected me...?"

That was the only conclusion she arrived at. Somehow, it was inevitable.

From what she can remember, there were no other reasons why Teren would erase her memory. Of course, there is a lot of things she does not know but she couldn't be blamed since her mood was sour and negativity was the only thing in her mind.

"S-so... he doesn't like me- sniff."

Tears start coming out of her eyes. She looked miserable, like a woman rejected by her love... although that wasn't an analogy in this case...

"But... it someho-sniff feels wrong."

"He's a psychopath, a murderer, someone who killed both of his parents, and someone evil..."

"Why do I.... something's wrong with me... why don't I care for any of this?"

There was a short pause with a sad smile, she whispered.

"I guess this is what they call love is blind."

She laughed self-deprecatingly. Afterward, she began to calm herself and just accepted it.

"I guess I don't have a chance, huh. This must be the greatest rejection of all time. He has to remove my memories just to reject me, wow."

Iesa emotionlessly whispered

"So I don't have a chance..." she repeated, "We will never date..." her eyes began to lose their color as she stares at the empty space, "He will date another girl instead, huh."

Her voice lost its sadness, instead, it was just coldness.

"He will have another girl."

"They will hold hands on their dates."

"They will hug once in a while."

"Then they will kiss-..."

At that word, Iesa snapped out of her dangerous look.

"Hm? Kiss?"

Another memory returned.