Chapter 11: Echoes of Us
The sun filtered through the sheer white curtains of the villa, casting a warm golden glow across the room. It was late morning when Yu Yin stirred from sleep, her mind hazy but unusually restless. Something in her chest felt tight — not painful, but heavy. She blinked at the ceiling, trying to place the source of the unease.
That was when it hit her — a flash.
A blurry image. A girl laughing beside her, running through the rain. They were both soaked to the skin, but smiling like the world was theirs.
Yu Yin sat up abruptly, her heart thumping in her chest.
"What was that…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible to herself.
She grabbed her journal from the nightstand — the one Yinyin gave her to write down every memory fragment — and scribbled furiously.
Rain. Laughing. Soaked. Warm hands. "Let's never grow up."
Just as she dropped the pen, Yinyin walked into the room holding a tray of breakfast. "You're awake," she said softly, a practiced smile on her face.
Yu Yin stared at her for a second too long.
Yinyin paused, eyes narrowing. "What is it? Another headache?"
Yu Yin shook her head. "No… I think I remembered something. We were running in the rain. You and I."
Yinyin's hands trembled slightly, but she quickly masked it. "We did that a lot," she said gently, setting the tray down. "You never liked umbrellas."
Yu Yin's eyes lit up. "Exactly! You always carried one, but I hated using it."
A breath caught in Yinyin's throat. She crouched beside her friend's bed, her smile no longer forced.
"You're remembering."
Yu Yin nodded slowly. "It's fuzzy. But it felt… real."
Before the emotional moment could deepen, Yinyin switched topics with a bright grin. "Okay, no more soft talk. Eat your breakfast. The second location awaits us today."
"Second?" Yu Yin raised a brow. "We're doing all three memory trips?"
Yinyin winked. "Of course. Operation Brain-Jogging is in full swing."
Yu Yin chuckled, though her hands clutched the sheets a little tighter. There was still that dread — what if the memories never fully returned?
---
Later that afternoon, they drove to an old indoor skating rink hidden in a quiet part of town. It looked rundown from the outside, but as soon as Yu Yin stepped inside, something fluttered in her chest.
She stood in the middle of the rink, gazing at the faded posters, the chipped benches… and she laughed.
"I fell here, didn't I?"
Yinyin spun toward her, stunned. "Yes. You sprained your wrist. You were trying to impress—" She stopped herself quickly. "Well, yeah. You fell."
Yu Yin tilted her head. "Impress who?"
"Ah… nobody. Probably just yourself." Yinyin shrugged casually, but her eyes darted toward the corner bench where Mingze once sat all those years ago.
More images surged through Yu Yin's mind. Popcorn. Music. Laughter echoing against the walls. Yinyin shouting, "Left, not right! You're crashing—" and then impact.
Her breath hitched. "I can hear it, Yinyin. The music. Us laughing. The fall."
Tears stung her eyes.
Yinyin walked over and wrapped her in a hug. "You're doing amazing."
For the first time in days, Yu Yin didn't feel like she was drowning in fog. She was swimming toward something. Someone.
---
Meanwhile, at Lu Chen's office, Mingze stood by the window while Lu Chen poured himself another cup of black coffee.
"So," Lu Chen said, settling into his chair, "What did she say?"
Mingze's eyes stayed on the view. "She remembered running in the rain with Yinyin. And the skating fall."
Lu Chen raised a brow. "That's a good sign."
"There's more," Mingze said quietly, turning to face him. "I caught her crying last night. She said she feels guilty… like she left something important behind and can't remember what it is."
Lu Chen set his cup down, suddenly more alert. "She said that?"
"Yes." Mingze's voice softened. "And Yinyin… she's not okay either. She acts like she's handling it, but you know her. I've never seen her cry in ten years. But last night…"
Lu Chen sighed and leaned back. "She's been holding the fort for too long. First losing her best friend, now trying to help her remember without falling apart herself."
"She's always been like that," Mingze murmured. "All strength on the outside, all softness within."
Lu Chen gave him a look. "And you?"
"I…" Mingze hesitated, then smiled wryly. "I'm the coward who watched from the sidelines all these years."
Lu Chen didn't reply, but something flickered in his gaze.
---
That evening, as they returned from the skating rink, Yu Yin sat on the balcony with her journal. The stars were out — faint, barely visible — but calming.
Yinyin brought out a blanket and tea. "Tomorrow's the third spot," she said softly.
Yu Yin turned to her. "Yinyin… if I never remember everything, will you tell me?"
Yinyin paused, her eyes gentle but unreadable. "I'll tell you everything you need to know. But I hope the rest… you'll feel them instead."
Yu Yin looked down. "Why does that sound sad?"
Yinyin smiled faintly. "Because sometimes, the heart remembers faster than the mind."
Yu Yin didn't know why, but those words stayed with her all night.
That, and the image of a boy at the skating rink cheering her on, face blurred — but warm.