Me Before You
Chapter 9

Today may be the last day for Joshua to breathe the air of Wellington, as he will soon be going to Auckland with his parents. He hoped the new city would be friendly with him. Although it is undeniable that every time he will miss the city of Wellington and his friends.

Joshua wasn't unhappy to see his four best friends gathered at his house before he left. But if only he had hope, he wanted Monica Frances to come here too to take her off. Joshua will never know if one day he can meet Monica Frances again or not. He hopes after this Monica can live better than ever. Joshua just wanted to see Monica Frances live like any other normal kid.

The reason Joshua cared about Monica was because they were of the same descent. However, they get different treatment.

Yeah, well, people at that school were too naive to admit that Monica had an edge over the others.

"Joshua, after this don't forget me, yeah!" one pat from Andrew, making Joshua break his daydream. "I'm really going to miss you, especially when the four of us play games together." Andrew continued.

"Take care of yourself, Josh!" Joshua got another clap on his shoulder, this time from Jason.

"Whatever happens, just remember us, we'll always be there for you." I don't know why hearing Kevin say that, the atmosphere becomes like a melodrama.

Joshua smiled knots then hugged his best friend one by one, giving farewell greetings.

"You don't have to worry, I'll call you." Joshua just remembered when his friends gave Joshua their home phone number so that the man could contact them and not break up.

"Bosh, by the way, have you heard about Monica and her sister?"

Joshua furrowed his brows after hearing Jason's words. "What are they, then?"

"Accident." chirped Andrew, ahead of Jason. Joshua looks like he's sinking right now.

"Alex died and Monica lost her memory." - Kevin. Joshua immediately looked at Kevin to ask for a deeper explanation. Understanding Joshua's gaze, Kevin again continued, "he said their car was sabotaged so the brakes were blong. Police are still investigating the case."

"I wonder why it's so serious like this" Andrew continued, and they all started talking about Monica and her sister, without seeing Joshua who is currently so devastated to hear what his friend just said.

Joshua did not understand, why the problems faced by Monica Frances were getting worse. The boy also wondered why anyone would do that to Monica and her sister. Inwardly, Joshua regretted his move now, if he could stay here longer and accompany Monica, becoming a friend when the girl was in trouble. It must be hard for Monica right now, let alone her losing her memory.

But, wait... memory loss?

So Monica doesn't remember Joshua? This is really bad.

"He said he also did not want to continue school anymore." again the speech of his friend, making Joshua stop his daydream.

"What!?" exclaim Joshua. This was the first time Joshua had spoken since his silence. He was surprised to hear the last words. "He's not in school anymore?"

"Yes, I heard he's back at his house in the village." said Kevin.

I don't know what nightmare Joshua has had until today he must swallow the harsh reality that he will never be able to meet Monica Frances again, moreover, the girl already had no memory of him anymore. It's impossible for Monica to recognize Joshua Spencer again, let alone to meet.

Perhaps it is time for them to live their own lives, as Monica Frances and Joshua Spencer.

"Don't worry, Josh. He must be fine." Jason said as if understanding Joshua's thoughts.

The boy smiled too. However, in his heart he regretted not being able to do anything for Monica until the little gadsi got calamity. Even Joshua did not have time to visit Monica Frances and say goodbye. If only time could be turned and he knew about this... Joshua will definitely cancel his move and stay with his uncle and aunt here.

But what is happening now is that it is too late.

Joshua can't do anything for Monica, even do something for himself he can't yet. Sometimes life is unfair.

"Joshua, let's go!"

In the midst of Joshua's thoughts about Monica, suddenly the mother called out to him as she came out of the house, carrying several large boxes containing their belongings. Joshua's mother approached Joshua and his friends. "Thank you guys for coming. After this you don't forget Joshua, yes." said Joshua's mother softly, then they all immediately exclaimed in spirit that they would never forget his friend.

At first glance Joshua smiled at his friends who loved him so much, like brothers.

"Dad, so remember when I was a kid, Josh." suddenly Joshua's father appeared in front of them and took the big box out of Joshua's mother's hand. "Let me." he muttered to Joshua's mother. Next Joshua's mother goes to the trunk of the car to fix the order of their belongings.

"First, I also had a playmate. Dad used to be familiar with them, until finally we are both adults and have a life each. After that we rarely communicate." Joshua's father chimps.

"Why is that uncle?" Ask Andrew.

Joshua's father smiled briefly. "Because adults have their own lives that are a priority."

"It must be hard being an adult." murmured Andrew, making everyone laugh.

"Yes, we're saying it now, huh?" then Joshua's father caught up with Joshua's mother who was tidying things up in the car. While Joshua was still dealing with his friends, saying goodbye.

"I'm leaving, yeah!" joshua said as he waved to his friend. Then the boy approached his parents who were already in the car.

"Bye, Joshua! See you." said the three together while waving their hands.

Somehow seeing the three friends standing in front of the house makes Joshua remember the memories when he and his friends played together. Yeah, well, his name is good-bye, and it always ends sadly.

But, what makes him more sad is the fact that Moncia Frances forgets memories, indirectly Monica also forgets Joshua.

It seems Joshua should also forget Monica Frances, as the girl will never remember her past.

"Yes, it's me." Joshua said when he put Angela's phone in his ear. The man is now in the living room, where Angela was chatting with Adrian.

"How are you?" Adrian is not directly to the point, he wants to mince words with his friend first, because it has not met for a long time.

"I'm good. Why don't you call me on my phone number?" Joshua scrunched his eyebrows together. Then there was the sound of breathing at the end.

"You're in the habit that if I had the phone, it wouldn't have been picked up" Adrian said.

Also true. Inner Joshua. The man only remembered that he rarely received calls from Adrian so stressed.

"Ah, I forgot about that. Tell me is there anything important?" said Joshua.

"Maybe it is, maybe not" replied Adrian who made Joshua frown.

"You mean?"

"I've heard from Ferdinand about your request and, yeah, I'll let him. But on one condition." said Adrian slightly hanging the sentence.

"On that fanmeeting, right? I already know Adrian. And I want to do it."

Adrian breathed a sigh of relief, so Adrian did not need to explain at length to Joshua about the fan meeting. "After the holidays, we will prepare" said Adrian. "By the way, Josh, why do you want to do this fan meeting? I told you to hold the event, but you wouldn't. Then now, you easily accept without refuting." continued the man. Adrian was too curious, why Joshua was willing to do this fanmeeting just by offering an extension of the holiday.

Adrian knows that Joshua does not want his personal life to be too accessible to others, so Joshua does not want to show his figure to the fans, even though he knows he has a lot of fans thanks to his work.

But, for this time, maybe Joshua has his own decision. Even so, Adrian was still curious about this friend.

"I have a special reason. I'll tell you when I get home." Joshua said briefly. Not if the story is heard by Monica, because the girl does not know who Joshua really is.

Adrian took a breath. "alright. You can tell me at any time." he said resignedly.

"By the way, how's it going in there?" ask Joshua for a little chat.

"Hm, that's pretty good. I have two pieces of news, good and bad" Adrian said.

Joshua laughed at hearing that. "What the fuck!" his protest.

"Jawab first, which one you choose."

"Hm, I want to hear some good news."

"Ferdinand he's already got a new sidekick."

Joshua was dumbfounded to hear the word 'handle' Adrian said, what does the man mean girlfriend?

"He's on a date?"

There was the sound of a snap of a finger, making Joshua frown.

"He was close to someone" Adrian said.

"Eh? That fast?"

"You didn't even know your friend had a girlfriend" Joshua heard Adrian laughing. Sometimes he likes to gossip about his friends.

After that, Joshua realized, if all this time he did not really know the state of his friend. Although it looks close, but Joshua never knew the latest news about his friend. He was too immersed in his world, in his depression, in the thought of worrying about something. Joshua also realized, he was too late in the problems he made himself.

"Josh?" adrian's voice roused Joshua from his daydream. Oh, thinking about yourself, makes Joshua wander.

"Yes, I'm here" he said.

"Is it okay there?"

"Of course."

"If there's a problem, don't tell me, okay?"

Joshua smiled at a glance, he then shook his head slowly. "If you have a problem too, just tell me. We share stories with each other" he said. For the first time Joshua said this to his friend. There was a bit of relief in Joshua when he said that line to Adrian.

It might seem simple, but it could be, to others it was something precious that no one had ever done for him.

Adrian looks smiling in response to Joshua's words just now. It was unexpected that Joshua was finally able to open up to him.

"Let's be open to each other" Adrian said.

...---...