Me Before You
Chapter 4

Joshua Spencer doesn't know what's really going on, which he knows, Monica just collapsed. The man thought Monica had fainted from exhaustion and sunbathed too much. Mr and Mrs Frances who saw the incident immediately panicked and brought Monica home. Joshua actually harbored a bit of panic, just not too obvious. She first supported Monica's body before her parents saw her.

Mr. Frances quickly contacted the doctor to find out the condition of his daughter. Just as the doctor arrives, Mr and Mrs Frances tell Joshua to come out under the pretext of talking about a personal matter concerning Monica. Joshua who felt he had no relationship with the family just complied. After all, he was not a person who liked to get into other people's affairs.

It's just that, when something concerns Monica, she somehow feels compelled to know. Honestly, he was worried. Did Monica have a disease, wait, before the girl said she had lost her memory. Did Monica faint because she got her memories back? I don't know why Joshua feels this is bad. If Monica gets her memory, it's just like something bad happened to Monica. At least that's what the guy read on the internet.

The sound of Monica's bedroom door opening, made Joshua Spencer break his mind. He just realized that he was daydreaming since then. Joshua sees the doctor and Monica's parents out of the girl's room. Monica's father immediately escorted the doctor out of their house. Monica's mother is still at the door with Joshua.

"Mrs Frances, how's Monica doing?" joshua asked so worriedly.

"He's fine. Monica's just exhausted. You can go back to your activities." said Mrs Frances casually.

"What－"

"Monica just needs a break." back Mrs Fances said with a face that could not be interpreted. There is worry, fear, and panic at the same time.

"I'll see him tonight. Then, excuse me." after saying that, Joshua immediately left Monica's house and returned to the inn.

In the heart of Mistress Frances felt misgivings towards her daughter. The doctor just said Monica fainted from exhaustion. But, there was no denying that Madame Frances was so worried in case Monica's memory returned. And that was the worst impact Michelle Frances ever had. It was just as reminiscent of old memories regarding the single accident that his son had experienced long ago. In addition, Monica is not necessarily mentally prepared to get her memory back. He must have been harboring a great trauma.

After Joshua left, Michelle Frances went back into Monica's room. To accompany Monica who is currently resting.

...-οΟο-...

Not long ago there was a rumor that Monica Frances reported all the events she experienced to the teachers at the school. It was not a mere rumor, the truth was like that. Monica Frances kept on ranting at the words Joshua had said a few days ago. After all, who could stand being treated unnaturally by one school?

The incident made all children in the school called to the counseling teacher, even some children were punished for being convicted of bullying Monica Frances. The punishments given were quite diverse, some were cleaning schools, making additional tasks, calling parents, until the heaviest suspension and issued.

Monica could now breathe a sigh of relief as all the fears she faced were almost over. Some of the children apologized to Monica, but there are also those who are still harassing and threatening her. Monica did not care about the threat, as long as she still had people who cared about her, Monica would not be afraid of any threats. Now Monica really feels alive and all this is thanks to Joshua Spencer who made her aware of the importance of being a brave person.

Speaking of Joshua, Monica intends to return the book she borrowed from the boy. It's just that, since Monica did not see the appearance of Joshua. Is Joshau sick and not going to school?

"Excuse me, is Joshua Spencer here?" monica asks the boy who dropped out of the class, which Monica believes to be Joshua Spencer's class.

The boy frowned, "Joshua? Joshua may be working on his move now. So he's not in."

Monica widened her eyes. What did he just hear? Moving out? Move what? Moving house or...

"Moved?" reset Monica.

"I heard he was about to change schools because his parents were switching errands." the boy was silent for a moment, noticing Monica who was daydreaming, like thinking of something after hearing Joshua Spencer's move. "By the way, you're Monica Frances right?"

"Eh? I-iya." replied Monica rather nervously. No one's ever mentioned his name, except Joshua Spencer. "By the way, can you tell me where Joshua lives? There's something important I need to tell him."

The boy also told Joshua Spencer where he lived, only a little far away, so Monica could not go directly to Joshua's place at that time. If waiting for his brother is impossible, Alex is busy because the swimming tournament is coming soon.

"Is there any chance that Joshua might be here?" monica asked again, she was eager to meet Joshua.

"of course. At least around ten. He said he'd take his stuff in the locker."

"Alright, thank you." then Monica Frances immediately went to the place that the boy had told her about.

The boy continued to watch Monica with one of the people standing next to the boy.

"You just talked to Monica Frances?"

The boy was surprised to hear a voice that suddenly came and immediately fell in his ears. Reflex he's holding the chest.

"Hey, Kevin! Can't you say hello to me before you speak?" the boy protested to his friend.

While Kevin's boy was laughing. "Sorry, Jason." then he patted his friend's shoulder. "So you talked to Monica Frances."

"Yes, he said he wanted to see Joshua."

"Joshua?"

The boy named Jason nodded. "I think Joshua saved his life." Jason walked out on Kevin.

Speaking of Monica, now the girl walked with her cheerful steps trying to get to the locker of the students who were in the lobby. Confidently, he continued to step on without caring about the people who were now staring at him.

And without Monica realizing it, something bad was threatening her.

...-οΟο-...

What makes it so hard to leave school is Monica Frances. Well, since their introduction, I don't know why Joshua wanted to be that girl's best friend. Maybe because they are both of Asian descent. Not only that, he was actually worried that something bad would happen to the girl after what she did. Yeah, Joshua wasn't the only one who didn't know, the whole school knew that Monica Frances, who was quiet and timid, suddenly reported the incident to a counselling teacher. All the students who had dealt with him were called and punished.

Joshua was aware of his introduction at that time, making Monica aware and dare to report everything. It's just, Joshua didn't know that Monica had that kind of courage. He thought, Monica will fight other students who oppress him. If it's like this, of course bad things will happen to Monica. Joshua was really worried about that.

What if, well, the person Joshua had been thinking about since then was not far from him. The girl was focusing towards the lobby while tapping on the end of her shoes. His hands were hugging a book. In Joshua's heart Joshua asked, what did the girl do alone in front of the locker closet?

Slowly, Joshua began to approach Monica. The girl was not even aware that Joshua was currently walking towards her. Looks like the girl is daydreaming.

"Monica?"

Feeling called, the girl turned to find out who called her name.

"Joshua!" exclaimed Monica after finding the person she was looking for, it turned out to have appeared before her. "I heard you're about to move on." clearly the tone of his voice sounded sad.

"Yes. I'm with my parents who moved to work."

"It's a pity, when we just met" said Monica disappointed. Naturally, Monica had never had any friends. When he found a friend, he left her. "To be honest I'm still afraid of facing them alone."

Joshua smiled slightly in response to Monica. Obviously this Monica needs someone to lean on. He was still relying on others to help him get up. But, in fact, Joshua could not accompany Monica for a long time. She also has a life and the girl needs to learn to deal with her own problems. He can't just sit on someone else's hands.

"I've heard everything. I think you're brave enough to do that."

"But I..."

"You don't need someone to resurrect you, you just have to believe in yourself that you can solve your problems."

Monica lowered her head. He again showed his weak side, whereas before he had had the courage to fight his friends. The girl remembered the purpose of her meeting Joshua. He wants to return Joshua's book that the man loaned a few days ago. This may also be a sign of separation.

"I-I want to give this back." Monica handed the book to Joshua. The man did not immediately pick up the book, he noticed the book for a moment then switched to Monica who was still bowing her head.

"You can take the book" said Joshua who made Monica look up immediately. "Take the book, count it as a parting gift."

For some reason, saying goodbye, made Monica's heart claustrophobic. His eyes were a bit teary, a little more his tears would fall if only he could not hold back. It felt like Monica was telling Joshua 'don't go' but what he who can't do anything, can only let go of the person who made him get up and walk.

Monica can only resign when Joshua passes after the top of her head is slowly randomized by Joshua.

He can't do anything.

...-οΟο-...

Slowly, Monica Frances was able to open her eyes. He was still in the crew and was not aware of what was around him. It was like a time machine rolling through his head, which made him see some of the events he had experienced. To his astonishment, he saw a boy named Joshua in his dream. Whether it was a memory or what, because at this time his head was so painful if he still forced himself to remember the engine rotation of that time.

Come to think of it, it feels like Joshua Spencer is no stranger to Monica. It felt like Monica had known Joshua long before she met the man. Is this just Monica's feeling? But that's exactly what happened. Although Monica doesn't want to remember anything, her head has been adorned by a big question mark about 'who is Joshua Spencer?' Monica wondered if the man had anything to do with his past life.

The only thing Monica saw from her dream was a book⸺that's what book, obviously Monica had to figure out where the book was.

Suddenly, the sound of knocking on the door woke Monica from her bow. His eyes turned towards the door, looking at who was coming. It turned out that the conscious person Monica thought was now at the end of the door, the man carrying something in his hand, like a book.

"Are you better?" he leaned closer to Monica. While Monica painstakingly wanted to turn her position into sitting, but her head was completely dizzy. "Not to be forced." said Joshua blocking Monica's intentions, the man seemed to know what the girl was going to do. He didn't want anything to happen to Monica,

"I didn't feel good at interrupting your break at first, but I wanted to see you and tell you straight away."

Monica just blinked her eyes, she was so limp as to just talk. The pain in his head was still felt. This makes Monica feel bad for Joshua.

"I'm sorry for exhausting you. If I knew you were sick, I probably wouldn't have asked you to go for a walk with me. I'm really sorry."

Actually, the reason Joshua said it was not purely true. Monica did not fall unconscious from exhaustion. He fell unconscious because his head managed to recall a fragment of his lost past memory. Monica wanted to say that, but her mouth could no longer say. He was too weak to simply reply to Joshua. The girl chose silence and listened to Joshua again.

"I'm not good to your mom and dad either, I think I've done something wrong to make their beloved son sick. Although I'm a tourist, you can refuse my invitation, I won't sue you." Joshua turned to the books he had brought. He placed the book on a table near Monica's bed.

"Hm. I brought some reading books for you, I hope while resting you can read the book. I'm sure that during your break it will be boring." Joshua smiled and stroked the top of Monica's head, who had been silent since then while looking at Joshua talking. The man stepped his foot towards the door. Joshua intended to let Monica rest, even though his heart did not want to leave Monica.

Before Joshua closed his door, he could faintly hear a mutter of 'thank you', which he believed belonged to Monica Frances. He smiled a little, it was unexpected that such a simple thing was able to make him smile like he was today.

Only Monica Frances can make Joshua Spencer worry and smile at the same time. Just the girl.

...---...