Chapter 22 - A Duck's Forgotten Past

“W-who?” Shac muttered, staring at her face. She looked at him with an expression that felt oddly familiar, yet he couldn’t quite place it.

“Who? What are you talking about? Stop daydreaming in the middle of the road!” the girl said, frowning at me.

Who’s this person? I don’t remember her at all. He thought as both of them stared at each other, confused.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” she continued.

“No.. I was just surprised…” Shac whispered, still clueless about the girl in front of him.

“Surprised about what?” she raised an eyebrow. “Enough of that, we are going to be late if you keep daydreaming.” she said as she continued walking.

Shac nodded and followed her steps, looking at her from behind. Is this Evie? He thought as he followed her steps and wondered who this person was.

He looked around the area, it’s the same familiar place he has been walking for whole of his life. Nothing was different from it, other than there is a person who he has no idea walking together with him.

I wonder if this is her. I don’t really know her, and she doesn’t look like Ivan either, so who’s this?

As Shac was pondering, the girl looked back and said, “Why are you walking so slow?”

“Sorry.” Shac muttered as he catch up with her.

Seems like a scary person, better not make her angry.

As they continued to walk together at the road, the girl seemed to glance at him from time to time. Shac noticed it, but stayed silent the whole time, afraid of messing with her.

“You okay?” the girl asked suddenly.

“What?” he responded, surprised.

“I said, are you okay?”

“I am okay. Why?”

“You’re acting strange.”

Shac looked at her. “Am I?”

“More probably than you think.”

Shac chuckled. “I mean, if I said I don’t know who you are, what would you think?”

She stopped walking and froze. “What kind of question is that?”

He stared at her. “I’m dead serious.”

Her eyes widened, and her facial expression turned serious. “Please tell me first what is happening?”

Shac sighed and told her, “I don’t remember you.”

She took a step back, staring at him. “Y…you don’t remember me? How is that possible?”

He nodded hesitantly.

“Y—” her lips opened slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but she then clenched her fist instead. “That’s not funny, Shac.”

Shac shook his head. “It’s not a joke. I can’t explain it, but I’m not lying.”

“Huh? This is real right?”

“Yes, I’m not joking.”

“You really don’t remember me?” she asked again.

Shac nodded. “I’m dead serious.”

She then started mumbling words in quiet, not saying anything. Shac stared at her in confusion, unsure of what happened to her.

“…” Speechless, she scratched her head and sighed. “Okay let’s say you’ve forgotten me. Is there anything you could tell me other than you’ve forgotten me?”

I guess this is the right time to ask her if she is Evie or not.

“Then let me ask you this… Are you Evie?” Shac asked.

“Huh!?” she exclaimed, “I’m not Evie! Are you messing with me?”

“No.” Shac waved his hands and shook his head. “I’m actually looking for a girl named Evie.”

“What…” She held her head in confusion, and turned back to Shac. “You knew Evie but not me? Don’t tell me you don’t remember Ivan either!?”

She knew about both of them? “Wait. Who are you?”

“Qoka, that doesn’t ring any bells?”

“No…” Shac muttered. “I have no memories of that name.”

“Arghhh…” she scratched her head. “Answer me, did you forgot about Ivan too?”

“No, I know him very well.”

“You knew him but not me and Evie?”

“Y-yeah…” He answered hesitantly.

“Oh my… I’m confused.” she paused, and said, “Okay. We need to do a meeting.”

Shac raised an eyebrow. “A meeting? With who?”

“With Ivan and Evie.”

“You know both of them?”

She looked at Ivan and sighed, “We four are friends, did you really forget that?”

Shac remained silent, and looked away.

“Haaah… Anyways I’ll try calling them.”

She grabbed her phone and dialed Ivan’s number. It didn’t took too long for Ivan to picked up the phone.

‘What’s up? Why are you calling me?’

“I need some help, Shac forgot his memories of us.”

‘Shac forgot us?’ Ivan voice on the other end sounded skeptical.

“I swear I’m not joking! He does sounded like he wasn’t lying.” she insisted.

‘For real?’

“For real.”

‘Are you sure it’s him?’

Shac stiffened, hearing what Ivan said. The way Ivan asked, like he wasn’t sure.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?“ Qoka snapped.

‘O-okay. Then what are we supposed to do?’ Startled, Ivan responded with a hint of shakiness in his voice.

“Grab Evie and we’re going to meet with you two.”

‘Right now?’

“Right now, we can’t waste any more time.”

‘Hahaha. You really get worked up whenever it’s about Shac.’

“I’m not!“ she exclaimed in phone.

Ivan chuckled. ‘If that’s what you say. So, where are you guys now?’

“Still in the middle of the road. We’re going to catch up in 20 minutes.”

‘I see. Got it.’

“Thanks.” Ending the call, she placed the phone back to her pocket. “Okay. Let’s speed up, we’re going to meet with them.”

How easy was that… Didn’t think I would be able to meet them this fast…

“Thanks Qoka.”

“No problem. I will smack you again if I learned you were lying.”

Shac chuckled. “I’m not. Seriously.”

“Sure.” she responded, then continued, “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

“The school.”

“I see.”

They then resumed walking, walking at the same pace, and ready to meet both Ivan and Evie.

The silence continued as both of them walk, not a single noise from either of them, both remained quiet and is focused on walking. But Qoka couldn’t let such thing to happen, and immediately broke silence.

“Ahhh… Why everything is so quiet…” she said, trying to get his reaction.

“Well, we’re both not talking, that’s why.”

“Right. That’s why it’s awkward.”

“Uh…” he scratched his head, couldn’t get out the right words to say. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. It’s nothing new.”

Shac raised an eyebrow. “You mean it’s always like this?”

She stopped and looked at him, “Yeah. But you know, a bit more worse than usual.”

“A bit more worse—” Suddenly his words got cut off when his knees gave up, losing his balance and was forced to kneel on ground. “What…”

“Hey!” Qoka immediately reached for him and brought him back to his toes.

“What happened? Shac!” her eyes widened and shocked as she lifted him up.

“C-calm down. I’m probably just tired.” he said with a shaky voice.

“I’m not dealing with that nonsense. There’s no way that you are just tired.” she said, then pulled his body towards a guard rail. “Stay right here first.”

She grabbed her backpack and opened it, grabbing a bottle full of water. “Here, drink some first. I bet you didn’t brought any water with you.”

“T-thanks…” He grabbed the bottle and drank. “I’m okay, don’t worry.” he then returned the bottle.

“Sure, whatever you say.” she then grabbed the bottle back and put it back inside her backpack. “Let me get your bag first.”

“Wait why?”

“Just do it!”

Surprised on how forceful she was, he immediately gave his backpack to her without any more question.

As Shac gave the backpack, she immediately opened it, and saw that there’s only a single notebook in it. “See? There’s nothing inside here, and you’re telling me you’re okay? I thought you were holding something heavy!”

What is she pressed about? Why is she like this? I’m confused.

“I told you, I’m okay.”

“You’re okay!? No you’re not!” she exclaimed, looking furious.

Shac taken aback and was forced to quiet. “…”

Qoka noticing his worried face, immediately softened her expression. “I’m sorry.”

He shook his head. “No it’s fine. Thanks for worrying.” As both of them stayed for a few seconds, Shac wondered, “Are we close?”

She looked at him, with a hint of sadness, “Yeah. You could say that.”

“Sorry.”

“Stop saying that!”

“It’s just. I probably did something wrong.”

“You didn’t. So stop saying that, just focus on yourself first. We still need to walk to school.”

Shac nodded in response. “Thanks Qoka.”

She turned her head, and for a moment, her face froze. Her eyes widened in shock, as if she heard something unbelievable. Then quickly her expression softened, but it felt like there’s sadness behind it.

“No problem.” She said in a low voice, losing her usual energy.

Did I say something wrong?

Why did she make that face?

As Shac straightened up, he grabbed his backpack and said, “Let’s go.”

“You sure? Don’t forced yourself.” she asked, concerned.

“No it’s fine. I should be fine with just walking.” he muttered, brushing her away.

“Just tell me if something’s wrong.”

Shac nodded in response.

Both Shac and Qoka continued walking where it would take them about 20 minutes to reach the school.