Me Before You
Chapter 3

This morning Joshua Spencer was finally able to walk around Gibbston Valley accompanied by Monica Frances. Yesterday night Joshua told Monica that he wanted to keep his promise that he had forgotten before. Counting to pay for the mistake he had made to Monica.

They are currently on a bridge that connects the residence of Monica Frances with a shady pine forest. Under the bridge there is a small shallow river and clear water. The ripples of the river water filled Joshua and Monica's hearing, as if filling the silence they were experiencing. Previously they had a little chat, but after arriving at the bridge, suddenly their voices disappeared replaced by a cool scenery around.

Joshua Spencer was amazed at what he saw. Comorebi among the pine trees, the sound of birds squeaking, the aroma of refreshing air, and the ripples of water that add to the harmonization of beauty. In fact, by taking a short walk while enjoying the scenery, making the mind of Joshua Spencer began to wander away thinking of something he could make after seeing the masterpiece of the Almighty.

Joshua Spencer is not a person who is good at getting words out in person. But he can keep what he sees and feels in his heart as well as his mind. At least after this Joshua Spencer's mind can open up.

Joshua did not realize that Monica was looking at him with a small smile. Monica could not hide her smile when she saw Joshua Sprencer's expression. The man's eyes widened, his mouth slightly gaping, and his focus was filled with the surrounding scenery.

"Is there nothing like this in the city?" chirp Monica with a slur.

"Eh?" Joshua turned to his left and looked at Monica, then the man smiled broadly. "Just know, I've only seen this beautiful scene for the first time, especially in the morning."

"That's why you don't stay in your room too much. By the way, did you have insomnia last night again?"

"No. I hope not again."

Monica Francers breathed a sigh of relief. In his heart he said 'luckily he is fine'.

In the next instant, Joshua continued his sentence which he had deliberately delayed, "all thanks to you, Monica." after which Joshua showed a smile that made Monica's cheeks red and her heart beat suddenly. Honestly, Monica still can't accept Joshua Spencer's treatment lately. The little things that the man does can make Monica's heart beat. Even Monica herself did not know what she was feeling. All he knows is, Joshua Spencer is a guest at his family inn.

"You're too much." said Monica nervously. Monica had never been this big in front of men before

Joshua Spencer couldn't hide his smile seeing Monica blushing. What an interesting girl. Inner Joshua.

Monica also chose to continue her steps, leaving Joshua who was still paying attention to Monica's movements on the spot. Looking at the girl's face, as if it was no stranger to Joshua. It seems Joshua has seen it, but where?

With those thoughts still in mind, Joshua again circulated his gaze in another direction. Watching the sunlight slowly rising from the eastern horizon. Also the birds are starting to get crowded with their squeaks. It felt really comfortable, his mind was slowly starting to calm down a bit. Joshua lived in Gibbston Valley for a long time and did not want to go home.

Right at that moment, Monica Frances turned her back and looked at the dreamy Joshua. The man is seen staring in the other direction while putting his hand in the bag of pants. What's wrong with that guy?

"Joshua?" call Monica quietly, but be heard by Joshua. Making the man break his mind and stare back at Monica.

"Yes?"

"What's wrong?"

Joshua Spencer smiled, then he said, "it's okay."

Afterwards, the man caught up with Monica Frances who was already at the end of the bridge. "Come, we're going!"

...-οΟο-...

"We've arrived!" exclaimed Monica when she managed to get to where she meant to Joshua. Last time after touring around the pine forest, he told Joshua that there was something very magical－for Monica－ in here. The curious Joshua asks Monica to show him.

"Pinery tree?" joshua asked, he did not expect that the tree in front of him that was meant by Monica. "Just a tree?" then the man turned to his left side, looking at Monica with a frown.

While the girl replied with a nod of spirit. Don't forget his big smile, like the morning sun.

"Maybe people thought this was just an ordinary tree. But, this tree has a lot of memories in it." Monica began to look at the end of the tree whose crevices were filled with sunlight. "Then, my brother and I used to go here. We write hope and put it on the sidelines of the bark of the tree. Since he didn't exist, I've never been allowed to go here again. It's the first time I've been here for so long." Remembering something, the girl slowly lowered her head and walked up to the tree.

"Ah, right. Still there." he said after seeing a dull paper tucked between the peeling bark of the tree. Then he turned to face Joshua. "We do it like this." Monica smiled.

Joshua Spencer saw the girl's every move from now on. It turns out that Monica Frances has a lot of things that Joshua doesn't know yet. Joshua thought, that girl seems to keep something that she can't share with others. Joshua also believes that during in Monica always keep the burden of the problem alone, visible from the way silent and not show much desire. His desire is always to be quiet and make Monica a weak-looking person.

But, Joshua believes, slowly if he continues to be beside Monica, Monica will definitely say what she tells Joshua. Joshua only wanted to help Monica so that the girl would not bear the burden alone. Joshua knows very well that Monica is not okay at the moment.

"Do you have any hope?" chirp Joshua suddenly. As if knowing what was currently on Monica's mind.

Monica nodded immediately, "yes. I have hope and I want to make it. I want my memory back, because being the one who doesn't know anything makes me feel stupid myself."

...-οΟο-...

At first Joshua was a little surprised to hear Monica's request, that he wanted his memory back. If concluded, it means Monica lost her memory. Before Joshua asked, Monica first told him about her and the accident a few years ago that killed her older brother. And from then on, his memories began to disappear, except for the memory of his childhood with his older brother. Even that story he knew from Miss Frances, because until now Monica did not know who she was.

Joshua started to get curious about Monica. What caused Monica to forget the memories before the accident. Even Monica herself doesn't know where she went to school. Which the girl knows, that her parents sent a private tutor for home schooling Monica after an accident. If you remember, the story of Monica is the same as the story of her friend in SD. Unfortunately, Joshua's past memory is not good, so he does not remember anything about his childhood.

Joshua thought, it might be better to ask Mrs Frances. But she doubted that Miss Frances would give the truth about what happened to her son. Monica is the favorite of her family. Whatever concerns Monica, it will definitely be protected by both her parents. So it's hard for Joshua to investigate Monica Frances' life before the accident. Moreover, Joshua is not a person who should take care of the affairs of others. But the problem is Monica Frances. I don't know why Joshua wanted to help the girl out of her trouble.

After the pine forest, Monica invites Joshua to return to the garden. Monica wanted to teach Joshua how to harvest grapes. He thought harvesting grapes was fun. Although the hot summer sun was so stinging, it did not dampen Monica's desire to pick grapes in the garden.

"Joshua's? What are you thinking?" monica's voice makes Joshua's daydream. The girl slowly approached Joshua to make sure the man was okay. "Is something bothering you?"

Joshua smiled faintly, "no. There's absolutely nothing."

"Thank you." Joshua replied briefly. He did not even know what to talk about after seeing Monica smile like this.

Monica Frances continues her wine picking activities. The girl did not care about the sweat droplets that went down her temples. The only reason Monica always spends time in the garden is the grapes. I don't know why the girl liked him so much. It can be said that since the first vineyard is a playground from childhood until now. This vineyard holds many stories that even Monica herself cannot remember. For Monica this vineyard is the only friend she has, a place for her to throw away all the feelings that exist within her.

Joshua Spencer has not been able to focus on wine picking. He watched Monica Frances for the umpteenth time. That smile really fascinated Joshua until he lost focus. Moreover, seeing the face of Monica who is now showered by sweat. Joshua wonder did the girl not feel tired after going around earlier?

A few seconds later, Joshua's hand lifted and placed it on the girl's side. Joshua thought the girl was too exposed to daylight. Isn't that good for health? Especially for Monica skin that is as white as snow. In addition, Joshua also wanted to protect the girl so as not to feel glare when picking wine.

Sensing that something was on her temple, Monica turned her head and found a hand perched on the left side of her temple. For a moment Monica Frances' heart was pounding so fast. Monica's breath also choked for a while. And Monica thinks she's gonna have a heart attack soon.

"J-Joshua?"

"sorry. But it looks like you're overheating, so yeah. After all, I don't know how to pick wine. Then I can watch you pick the right wine" said the man without lowering his hand from the girl's head. It could be seen that the two cheeks of the girl were blushing, enduring the embarrassment.

Monica immediately threw away her face, turning her gaze away from Joshua. However, suddenly his head throbbed violently. Made Monica hold her aching head until she dropped the items she held to pick the wine. His mind began to fill with some strange images, which made him even more unable to endure the pain of his head. In her faint memory, she saw a boy approaching her on the playground. The boy gave Monica something. The memory is still faint, but Monica felt warmth when she met the boy.

Because of this, Monica did not even realize that since her head pulsed, Joshua Spencer kept calling her name. His vision even became blurred. He could not guess where Joshua was, because his eyes were filled with the shadow of the man. Not only that, Monica also felt her body was numb. All he knew was that everything was dark. And he doesn't know what's going on.

...-οΟο-...

The spring of April is a time period that everyone is waiting for. The wind blew so gently and spread a sweet aroma. It's a pity to pass this time without doing any activity. Monica Frances, may be the only one who is not excited this spring. All he did was shut up and watch his friends play from a distance, while he sat alone on the swing. The little girl still gets unfair treatment from her friends. Therefore, he could not freely play in school.

Monica's eyes unceasingly looked at her free-running friends while laughing with other friends. Inwardly, Monica felt envious of her friends. Why is he the only one unhappy here? What's wrong with being different?

The only person who understood him the most was Alex, his older brother. Alex never bothered about his differences with Monica. Alex did not even hesitate to reprimand people who mocked Monica when heard by her. Unfortunately, for now, Monica did not dare to complain to her brother. Afraid that his friends will become. Given there was a canned letter that the other day he received. If he told Alex what he was going through, then Alex wouldn't have survived. Of course Monica was scared. He didn't want anything bad to happen to his dear brother. Because Alex will also participate in the championship swimming race. He did not want to disturb the concentration of his brother with such a childish complaint.

Perhaps at this time, Monica's mind was breezing far into space until she saw a boy coming toward her. Monica must be fantasizing right now.

"Hi!" greet the one who made Monica turn her head and find the boy she imagined, now next to her, sitting on the swing. This must be just my delusion. Think Monica.

"Not playing with the others?"

Monica did not reply, she immediately turned her face away. Fear of being told crazy, for talking to yourself.

While the boy was smiling, without Monica knowing. "I'm Joshua Spencer. My class is next to yours. And I already know what your problem is." Monica turned her head back, looking at the boy named Joshua.

"Joshua?"

The boy named Joshua nodded. "To be honest, looking around, we're similar. If you're aware, I also have white skin and narrow eyes like you."

Monica began to notice Joshua's face. It turns out that the man had black irises, white skin, narrow eyes and a typical Asian nose.

"You－"

"My father and mother are of South Korean descent." he said with a smile.

Monica was silent. His silence was a sign that he did not know to retaliate. Although Joshua is different as well, but he has clarity about his family genealogy. And Monica? He doesn't know where he comes from and who his parents are. The uncertainty of his status caused Monica to always be a gossip of her friends. Plus he has a different physique than most kids. Honestly, Monica could not afford to live this stressful life, but she did not want to burden her parents and older brother. All this time he had been a burden on the Frances family, grateful that the Frances family was willing to raise him as a child.

"If I may suggest, you should not be too silent. When they do something to you, you have to be brave to fight it. Don't make it your weakness. If that keeps on they'll keep on bothering you." hearing Joshua's words, made Monica a little aware, that all this time she had done nothing, when she felt intimidated. All he did was wait for protection from others, without trying to solve his own problems.

And, Joshua Spencer's words are true. But...

"Then what should I do? If I fight them, they will hurt me even more. Moreover, I have no friends who can defend me."

The man smiled, "are you going to wait for someone else to save you when you're going to get killed? There's only two options, die a loser or die a hero."

Monica doesn't really understand what Joshua means, knowing she's the type of person who is slow in thinking and responding to others. Even today Monica does not know what she thinks after hearing Joshua's words.

"Read this novel, you'll understand. Lots of valuable lessons in it." Monica herself was unaware that the boy next to her was carrying a book. Maybe this is too much of a dreamy effect. Even so, Monica still received the book from the hands of Joshua who stretched out to her. He took it slowly.

The Power of Change. A good title novel. Will the story be as good as the title?

"When I－"

"Bring it up first, when you understand the point, come to me and tell me what you got out of the story."

Believe me, right then and there, Monica's cheeks instantly blushed red. He could not believe that anyone still cared about him. Monica felt herself valuable. Joshua Spencer did not come to protect him, but taught him how to get out of suffering.

And at that very moment, Monica began to promise to remember everything about Joshua Spencer, even though her memory was lost though.

...---...