Forget Me Not | HAOBIN

— 1 Week Ago —

When Zhanghao woke up, he felt no short of confused as his eyes opened to reveal a hospital room and the many tubes helping keep him alive.

Blinking his eyes fully open, Zhanghao looked to his right to see a middle-aged lady sitting as she gazed at him. At the window, stood a man who stared out at the world outside the hospital.

In seeing that Zhanghao was awake, the lady's eyes widened with joy before she called the man over and they both began to call and fret over Zhanghao. 

His parents. 

"You know I was starting to lose hope, Zhanghao, because the doctors said you should've been awake by now, but we knew you would pull through in the end." Zhanghao's mother said with a smile. 

"How long have I been out?" Zhanghao asked them. 

"Around four hours." Zhanghao's father told him. 

"Hey," His mother said softly, "How's your head? All your memories still there?" She asked. 

At her words, Zhanghao tried to recall anything—anything at all, but nothing showed. No pictures or words of any sort. No people. 

It was so blank.

Zhanghao gave a nervous laugh, "Yeah, all there." 

"Oh, thank the heavens." Zhanghao's mother laughed as she hugged him. "I'm going to go tell the doctors you're awake and go get Hanbin as well." She said. 

"Hanbin?" Zhanghao said, abruptly, wondering who this person was. 

"Yes, Hanbin." His mother affirmed, but at Zhanghao's continued silence she rolled her eyes, "Your boyfriend?" 

Zhanghao tried to hide his shock, his boyfriend? He shrugged internally, past Zhanghao must've done something right. 

"Oh of course, I was just kidding." Zhanghao laughed before his mother left the room, not thinking too much of it. 

When she next came back she was being followed by a tall young man who immediately caught Zhanghao's eye due to his soft and warm-looking features. He couldn't even imagine how past Zhanghao had managed to find someone so handsome.

Zhanghao took to keeping his eyes squinting as to not let them know he was staring. 

In seeing Hanbin, Zhanghao watched as his father got up before walking over to Hanbin as he went to shake hands with Hanbin.

They talked briefly for a moment before Zhanghao saw Hanbin start to make his way over to the bed, next to Zhanghao. 

Zhanghao didn't know why but his heart started to race in anticipation, shutting his eyes fully closed in response. 

Then, Hanbin spoke.

"Zhanghao?" He said, and Zhanghao could hear the worried tone in his voice. 

In hearing his name, Zhanghao pretended to blink his eyes open as if he had only just woken up from sleep. As Zhanghao was met with Hanbin's gaze in front of him he locked eyes, keeping his expression blank so as to not give anything away. 

"Hanbin?" Zhanghao managed to get out as his voice groaned.

Zhanghao watched as Hanbin's eyes seemed to light up with relief, even just at the sound of his name.

"Yeah?" Hanbin then said, moving closer to Zhanghao. There was a short moment before he continued,  "How are you feeling?" Hanbin asked him.

Zhanghao groaned slightly, "Well, obviously not the best—but I'll be okay. The doctors said I won't have to stay here for much longer."

"Oh, that's good." Hanbin replied.

Zhanghao's parents seemed to back away, giving the two space as Zhanghao watched Hanbin take his hand in his before he squeezed it, comfortingly.

Zhanghao didn't even know how long they had been in a relationship yet alone anything about the other in front of him—making him feel lost as the two continued to keep eye contact.

"I can't believe you were so worried for nothing. Your memories? They're all still there?" Hanbin looked to Zhanghao.

Zhanghao's expression was blank and plain as he responded, "Yeah, I think so."

Zhanghao almost felt guilty inside as the boy appeared to be so relieved at Zhanghao's response, when in fact he saw nothing where his memories should've been. 

"Oh, Zhanghao." Zhanghao heard Hanbin say before he reached across the bed, arms wrapping around to hug Zhanghao. "I was so worried you know—walking over here when your mother told me to come see you."

At the sudden embrace, Zhanghao was taken aback but he knew he had to act as if this was their normal. Bringing up a hand to pat Hanbin's back gently, Zhanghao spoke, "W-well, you didn't have to be." He stammered hurriedly as he thought of what he should say next, "Look at me—look at us, I'm fine, we're fine, it's all going to be okay, Hanbin." Zhanghao told him.

Seeming convinced by Zhanghao's response, Hanbin looked up from hugging Zhanghao, "You promise? No more memory loss or avoiding me and being cold?" Hanbin said.

Internally furrowing his brows at Hanbin's statement, Zhanghao wondered and had so many questions about the past between them two but he knew he could not ask them. 

Zhanghao stared, his gaze turning warm as he held eye contact with Hanbin, "I promise."