The next morning, you woke up by the shuffling noises of moving rolling wheels of suitcases and plastic bags. You opened your eyes and found a brown-haired girl moving her suitcase and a plastic of what looked like snacks to you. She turned around and found you staring at her but you were still processing what you were seeing. You were still half-asleep.

"Oops, sorry for the noises. I just got here this morning. I tried to move as quiet as I could. Sorry for waking you up," she said and smiled apologetically. You couldn't help but notice how cute she was. Her eyes were big and round and she had full cheeks yet well-defined face.

"Cute," you muttered without thinking.

"Oh... uh... thanks! You're cute, too!" she exclaimed. "I'm Giselle by the way. I'm from Japan. What about you?"

"I'm (Name) from (Your Town)," you answered groggily. You lied back down on the soft mattress and sleep embraced you once again. You didn't know that you just fell asleep mid-conversation.

"(Name)? Hello?" Giselle called you but when she heard you snoring, she simply laughed. "Someone fell asleep as soon as they wake up. Well, good for me, at least I can move these stuff now."

She continued moving in her things as quiet as possible while you were snoring.

You woke for the second time, but it was because of the ringing sound of your alarm clock. It was an annoying sound of a pig snorting. You turned it off and put it back on the bedside table. You were awake now that's why you were able to fully process your surroundings.

Gone was the familiar walls of your room and sound of birds chirping. Here, the walls were solid white and there were barely any space left for furniture. It felt eerily quiet and stagnant and it felt as if everything was stiff and sharp.

That's when you remembered that you left your hometown yesterday and this dorm will be your home for the next four years.

Your eyes caught a movement on the other side of the room where an identical bed was located. Yesterday, it had plain white sheets and pillowcases but now it had baby pink. Someone moved under the blanket and a head peeked from underneath. You saw a pair of big eyes and brown hair. She completely removed the duvet over her and waved at you.

"Good morning," Giselle said cheerfully. Panic consumed you but it left as soon as it arrived when you remembered that BoA told you about having a roommate. Since she had a spare key to the dorm room you surely locked last night, that was the only explanation.

"Good morning. I didn't see you enter. When did you get here?"

She looked at you, obviously buffled. "Don't you remember?"

"Remember what?"

"You already saw me two hours ago. I was moving my stuff in when I accidentally wake you up but you fell asleep again."

You couldn't believe what she just told you but in the end, you both laughed it off. She introduced herself once again and so did you.

It didn't take long enough for you and Giselle to get along with each other. It was surprisingly fast but the two of you were already acting like you had known each other your whole life. Talking to her made you feel at ease. You used the entire morning sharing information about each other and when your stomach growled, you both took that as a signal to grab lunch.

"I'm so sorry that was embarrassing!" you sighed in embarrassment as you bury your face on your pillow. Giselle was just laughing at your reaction.

"It's fine! Don't worry about it. It was actually my fault for holding you up. Let's eat some good food, I know a place where we can eat and it's my treat!"

"You don't have--"

"I insist, (Name). Please?" She pouted her lips and gave you the cutest puppy eyes to which you couldn't resist.

"Fine! Fine! I'll get ready first. Just give me fifteen minutes."

On the other side of the city, Jaemin was sprawled on his bed inside his expensive home somewhere in a luxurious neighborhood where only rich people could afford to live.

He had the whole house to himself and he was loving the peace and quiet of being alone, listening to the sound of birds chirping and the wind rustling the leaves of the tree as if he was one with nature, away from the bustling noise and busy streets of the city.

But even if his surroundings were peaceful, his mind wasn't. Inside his head, he was battling a storm that hadn't calmed down for nine years.

To be perfectly clear, he couldn't sleep the whole night. His mind was awake even though his body was tired. He wasn't sure if it was because he drank his sixth cup of coffee or if his life was just too messy to have a peaceful moment.

Either way, his brain was pounding and he wanted to rip it off.

"Fuck this life..." he muttered under his breath, his deep voice echoing within the spacious room.

No matter how much he tried to make the most of his new lifestyle, he still missed the humble life of his mother's hometown. No toxic family members, no reputations to be maintained, no standards to be met, just a serene life away from all the chaos he was facing now.

On the back of his mind, he remembered a little girl's laugh, someone he used to play with when he was little. But like you, he had already forgotten about your existence as if it only happened in his dream. However, it was still there in his memory, waiting to be triggered, to be dug and exposed to the surface.

He ignored the pain in his head and walked to the spacious kitchen complete with all the necessary appliances and tools. Jaemin was a good cook, so he had no problem taking care of himself. Though that wasn't his most favorite part of the kitchen.

It was the expensive espresso machine he bought last year, a rack full of his favorite mugs, and a collection of different kinds of his favorite coffee beans.

Even the aroma of coffee was enough to make him forget the shit that's happening in his life, but the effects were twice as ecstatic if you consumed it.

It's like a drug he couldn't live without, a fuel to keep him going and without it, his life was as good as gone.

While he nursed himself with his first cup of coffee, you just finished getting ready while Giselle was waiting for you. You wore a lavender crop top underneath a beige cardigan and a dark pair of jeans. You were never used to wearing these kind of clothes because this was different from what you usually wear back in the province, but since you're here already, you might as well try to fit in.

"Giselle," you called her attention.

"Yes, (Name)?"

"Can I ask you for a favor?" you asked, hesitant. You didn't want her to think that you're using her when you just met today.

"Sure! What is it?"

"Can you give me a tour around the city after we eat lunch? I just got here yesterday and I wanted to familiarize the place as soon as possible."

Giselle beamed at you. "That's not a problem! Then we can go shopping afterwards! The malls here are the best!"

This time, it was you who beamed and nodded. You and Giselle were compatible and it's still unbelievable for you that you instantly clicked. Your personalities complement each other like peanut butter and jam.

You left the dorm and went to the first stop which was the small restaurant Giselle was referring to. It was a small restaurant which served different kinds of Japanese dishes. You were in awe by the amount of choices to choose from so you asked Giselle for help.

"So, (Name), why did you choose NeoU?" Giselle asked you while you're eating.

You swallowed your food first before answering. "Oh, well you see, NeoU is a very prestigious university and I think every student who graduated from there had the leverage on the job they were applying to. Plus, I know that NeoU will give me the knowledge I needed to survive the real world," you answered.

"Damn, you could join pageants with that answer."

"I'm not tall and pretty enough for that. What about you? Why did you choose NeoU?"

"First of all, (Name), you're pretty as hell! Second, I was too lazy to apply to other universities so I just settled here. Handling requirements was a pain in the ass so I didn't bother. NeoU is good enough."

You were in awe by Giselle's carefree personality. You wish you were like that sometimes because you easily get stressed over the tiniest inconvenience.

After eating, you and Giselle decided to raid the mall and go for shopping, mostly her since you got everything you needed and you didn't want to splurge your pocket money impulsively. But when you got into the cosmetic store, your hands were itching to buy any makeup you see.

"What shade do you think will suit me?" Giselle asked as she scanned the rack of water tints. It was so hard to choose because all the colors were so pretty but in the end, you chose the grapefruit for her.

"I think this will look nice on you," you said.

"Yay! Thank you so much, (Name)! You're quite an expert on this, huh? I think, this color will suit you!" she said and handed you the water tint. (Just think of the shade that suits your skin best.)

After you bought the water tint, you went on with your journey.

The mall was huge and you'd get lost with one wrong turn so you tried to catch up to Giselle. You left the mall feeling tired but excited. She brought you to the downtown and taught you the shortcuts and the alleyways to avoid. You took in everything she was telling you but everything was still overwhelming. You thought to yourself that you're going to go back to the places you went together to familiarize it again.

"Gosh! I'm so tired, let's go to Starbuxks first," Giselle suggested.

"Agreed, I couldn't feel my feet anymore."

The two of you dragged your weary feet to a cozy shop that served drinks and pastries. You chose an available seat beside the glass window so you could see the events outside.

"So, how was the tour? I'm sorry if I'm practically dragging you anywhere and I get distracted easily. There's so much to see in this city and I haven't seen everything myself."

You shook your head to comfort her. "You're a great tour guide, Giselle. It's just that I easily get overwhelmed by the amount of places and things I see. This was so different from the place I grew up on so I think I will need a lot of time adjusting. Good thing, you're my roommate. You can teach me a lot of things."

"I would be honored. Just tell me when you're planning to explore the city again so I can come with you."

After a little chat, both of you decided to order something but you were surprised when Giselle let out a shriek. The other customers looked at your direction and you bowed your head in embarrassment.

"What is it?" you asked Giselle.

"I think I left my perfume at the last shop we went in!" she exclaimed. It was the expensive Jo Malone perfume she bought which costs a fortune. "You can order without me, I'll be right back!" Giselle didn't wait for you to answer as she sprinted out of Starbuxks and went back to the mall. Since you're already starving, you decided to order something while waiting for her.

It was the same female barista that was waiting on the counter. You squinted your eyes to see the menu above and you were twisting your hands, anxious because this was your first time in Starbuxks.

"What can I get for you, miss?" the female barista asked.

Oh shit, you thought. You were never one for social interactions and now you had to order in a completely strange place. Just pretend you know what you're doing.

"I'll get a venti size iced Americano," you answered because that was the first thing you saw. You didn't know what iced Americano was but it sounds fancy.

"Anything else?"

"A cheesecake."

"What name should I write in your cup?"

"(Name)."

"Alright, miss. I'll call you when your order is ready."

You nodded at her and went back to your seat. At that moment, Na Jaemin entered Starbuxks in his grey sweatpants and maroon sweater. He was in his fourth cup of coffee today and he was running out of energy faster than usual. He needed his personal drug to continue his day.

"A venti size of iced Americano with four shots of espresso, please," he told the female barista.

It's the gorgeous customer again, the barista thought.

"Right away, sir," she answered. She didn't ask for his name again because she remembered. Who could forget someone as appealing as Na Jaemin?

Jaemin sat on an empty seat and listened to his playlist while you were entertaining yourself by looking outside. Both of you were oblivious of each others' presence.

"(Name)!" the female barista called. You left your seat and went towards the counter to fetch your order. You were too preoccupied in your own thoughts that you didn't hear the female barista called Jaemin's name. You saw two venti size of iced Americano on the counter, the plate of cheesecake missing. Without missing a beat, you picked up the cup on your right and decided to take a sip while waiting for your cheesecake.

The moment your lips touched the straw and tasted the iced Americano, you choked on the bitter taste which immediately spread inside your mouth down to your throat. You would've spat it out but you remembered you were in a public place.

Is this what iced Americano normally tastes like? you thought.

"You're drinking my coffee," a deep voice spoke behind you. You turned around and saw a tall and lean man with silver hair and piercing gaze. You had never seen someone so gorgeous in real life, you felt like you were staring at a sculpture.

"This is mine," you answered. He stole the cup from your hand before you could even react and turned it around, showing the name written on it.

Jaemin

Jaemin... that name rang a bell. You remembered your best friend who shared the same name. The sweet and funny boy of your childhood. You were about to apologize to Jaemin when you had a clear look of his eyes. You knew who those pair of eyes belong to. You knew it too well. It was quite strange at first because the eyes you were looking at were void and lifeless compared to Nana's eyes that were always full of life.

He was different now, but you knew it's him. It's still him, despite all the changes.

"Nana!" you exclaimed. "I can't believe I'll see you here after nine years!"

He looked at you, visibly confused but your smile didn't falter. A flash of recognition spread across his face when he saw your smile. He knew it so well. That's what he used to see when he was still a child living peacefully with his family.

(Name)... He whispered to himself. He immediately noticed the visible changes in your physical appearance. He scanned you up and down, taking note of every changes for the past nine years. You're so beautiful now, he thought to himself as he gaze at you.

Memories came crashing down because of your smile, bringing him both happiness and despair. Your memories with him seemed like a treasure buried in his mind and now it wad dug up and opened for him to see. He was happy to see you and happy that you remembered him. However, he was also in despair because you were a living reminder of his jovial past, something he knew he would never have again

Looking at you pained him and brought him joy. He was conflicted. He was embarrassed of himself for letting you see him in that state.

"Who are you calling Nana?" he asked, menacingly. You were taken aback by the venom in his voice but you thought it was probably because he couldn't remember you. Nine years was a long time after all.

"Nana, it's me, (Name)! I'm your childhood friend, remember? We used to play all the time! I used to bring you sugar cubes to cheer you up and we engraved each others' names at the cherry blossom tree in our backyard!"

He was surprised that you remembered a lot about him. That made him feel warm but he pushed it away.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember having a childhood best friend. My name is Na Jaemin, not Nana. Don't go around giving strange people nicknames and most importantly, don't drink their coffee that you didn't pay for," he hissed at you.

"Are you sure you're not Nana?" you asked, skeptical. You knew it was him, there was no doubt about it. But him denying that fact was something you couldn't understand.

"I am not your childhood friend, missy," he said, face hard and jaw set as if preventing himself from telling you the truth.

"Oh... sorry about that. Sorry for your coffee as well."

"That's okay," he simply said.

"Do you mind if I ask why does your coffee taste like acid?"

He scoffed at your statement. "You tasted my coffee without my permission and now you're telling me it tastes like acid?" he asked, refusing to believe that you just dissed his favorite drink.

"I'm not insulting your taste but if we let someone try it out I'm sure they will say the same thing."

"Iced Americano normally has four shots of espresso but I prefer to have four extra shots, having eight espresso shots in total. I don't like it mixed with water or anything, just ice," he explained as if that will impress you but you twisted your face in disgust. No wonder his coffee tasted like poison.

"Your taste is so weird, Nana."

His head snapped at you. "Don't call me Nana ever again. I told you that I am not your childhood friend. Go look for him somewhere else but I am telling you, I am not him."

You were perplexed by his sudden hostility. One minute he was talking casually to you, the next he was ready to bite your head off.

"You can't fool me, Na Jaemin. I know it's you. I don't know why you're denying it but you can't make me believe your lies. I will never forget someone that made my childhood complete."

Your words struck him and pierced deep to his heart. He was surprised to know that he had that effect on you. That rendered him speechless so he chose the only option he was best at, leaving.

"Suit yourself, miss. Just don't run after me, telling me I'm your friend because I'm not. I'm leaving, you can have my coffee."

He turned around and walked away, your gaze following his form until he disappeared.

"Who wants to drink your coffee anyway," you snickered. You hadn't seen each other for nine years and he was acting as if he didn't know you at all. He never even told you why he left in the first place but you forgave him for that. Now that you reconciled, he was acting as if you never existed.

People change and they might forget about you even though you remembered everything about them. You might get stuck in the past while they continue to move forward. That fact saddened you.

"(Name)! I'm sorry it took me so long to get back!" Giselle ran towards you and you saw her carrying a white paper bag containing her perfume.

"It's okay! It's not that long anyway," you answered.

The whole time, you were only preoccupied by the thought of Na Jaemin, oblivious of the fact that he was also conflicted because of you.

He sat on an empty stool inside a famous bar where only rich people could afford. He was frustrated because he couldn't drink his fourth cup of coffee, and he saw you after nine years.

He left his father's country so he could start anew and forget the fact that he belonged to a complicated family. He thought he could finally live in peace once he moved to a place where nobody knew him or his past. That dream was shattered when he saw you, a vital part of his past, a trigger to his memory, the long lost key that unlocked both joyful and painful memories.

He was trying his best to leave his past behind, but nothing would go his way as long as you knew who he was.