The Concept Game, Volume #2

Based on the prompt above
TW // mentioning of death
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Joshua Hong, a name you haven't heard since high school. It's been a decade since his death but it still feels fresh for you. Even after leaving California and moving to a new country, he stayed on your mind. However it seems like you're the only one who remembers who he was.

"Wasn't this one of Joshua's favorite songs?" You asked your friend but they looked at you in confusion.

"Joshua?"

"Yeah, from high school." They thought for a moment before their face lit up.

"The hot senior when we were freshmen?"

"...No?" You replied, furrowing your eyebrows.

"Oh. Then I don't remember any other Joshua's." You looked at your friend in disbelief.

"Joshua, Joshua Hong. The one who played guitar at talent shows?"

"_____, you know I never went to those."

"Ugh, it seems like I'm the only one who remembers him after his death." You said in frustration.

"Are you sure we went to school with him? You know that school was large." You let out a sigh, knowing that your friend had a point and also because you didn't want to keep going back and forth.

"The school was large yeah...but anyways, what have you been up to lately?" You asked your friend, allowing them the time to tell you everything as it has been some time since you've seen each other.

After another hour of talking, you both decided to call it a day and head home.

"It was so great to see you again!" You said cheerfully.

"We should definitely see each again before I leave!"

"Please, we'll plan over text or a phone call."

"Alright, later! Text me when you get home." Your friend said, giving you a hug goodbye. You gave them a hug back, asking them to do the same.

You watched as they walked away before going in the opposite direction to head home. Since the weather was nice, you walked to the restaurant so now you'll be walking back home. When you reached a crosswalk, you looked around as you waited for the signal. You looked right across the way and look at the faces who are waiting to crossover to your side.

You glanced at each face but one in particular made you look longer. He was something straight of fiction, visuals out of this world. When you made eye contact with him, being able to get a proper look at his face, you couldn't help but look at him with curiosity. You weren't sure what it was but there was certainly something about him.

The stranger gave you a smile which you returned. As the signal finally turned for you to cross, you kept looking at his face. Once you were about to pass by one another, he uttered a soft hello and kept walking. Your head whipped around as you recognized the voice. That man was Joshua Hong.

But that doesn't make any sense? He died years ago so how could this be?

Your legs moved on their own as you turned around to go after the man. You were able to get a bit past the street corner before you tapped him on his shoulder.

"Hi, I'm so sorry to bother you but it's just that you look vaguely familiar and I can't put my finger on it." The stranger looks at your face before his eyes widen in shock.

"_____? _____ is that you? My bio lab partner?" He asked you. Now it was your turn to be shocked.

"Joshua?! It's really you..." You couldn't believe your eyes or your ears.

"Why wouldn't it be me?" You looked at him in bewilderment.

"Uh, I don't know, maybe because I was told you were DEAD!" You exclaimed. Joshua now looks at you with the same bewildered expression.

"Dead? Who said I died?"

"The school did."

"Well I'm very much alive, we just moved." You were left speechless at the news.

"So you mean to tell me that you've been alive this whole time just in a different location?" You asked him and he nodded.

"Yup, I can't believe they said I was dead."

"I'm very glad to know you're alive and well."

"It's really good to see you again. Where were you heading?"

"Oh I was heading home." He furrowed his eyebrows after hearing the word home.

"Home? You live here now?" You nodded your head excitedly.

"Yep!"

"No way!"

"You wanna come over or are you busy?"

"Forget whatever I was doing, I'm ready for a house tour." He said walking back in the direction you were originally heading towards. You ran to catch up with him and then walked home together. During the walk home, you've been telling each other what happened over the years.

Was this a weird way of reuniting with someone? Absolutely, but you were happy to be with a good friend once again.