"I-I'm sorry!"
The boy was awestruck. From being slapped in the face by the girl of his dreams. Quite literally. Kouri had managed to put some distance between them as she sat with her back against the wall, hand on her mouth, clearly in shock.
She babbled and uttered some semblance of reasoning as he took a deep breath and sat down on the floor. He rubbed the sting on his face and tasted some blood in his mouth. He'd be impressed by the strike, if it weren't for the shock he felt. Kouri took some slow breaths, face red, her hand pounding.
Neither of them said a word for several minutes. Any buzzing sounds that she thought she'd heard as he'd kissed her were dulled by the silence. She pressed her lips together, desperately trying to forget what had just transpired. But with his sitting there, rubbing his face, she knew then.
"...not a dream."
"Nope," he answered, not really needing to.
"Oh my God." She sat straight, glancing for anything throw or defend herself with. "Who the hell are you?!"
Her demanding question was met with another shocked look, this time sadness lingering in. Kouri watched as he mulled over whatever thoughts or answers were in his head. Finally, he sighed, seemingly drained and defeated.
"My name is Jaco. But you knew me as Fransisco, in another life."
"I...what?"
"And you don't remember that."
It was was more of a statement for himself than for Kouri. She felt a little more relaxed, but her shoulders still tensed against the wall behind her. She felt her grip loosen on her sheets as he looked up at her with a sad grin.
"You were in my dreams," she finally stated.
Instead of seeming shocked, he nodded. "Yeah. And you've been in mine, Kouri."
"But...how? And why?"
Another laugh. This one was smaller. Dejected and somehow hallow.
"We were lovers long ago. In another life."
Jaco stood slowly, this time his gaze just looking intently at a small spot on the floor. As he shrugged, Kouri felt an urge to reach for him, which she promptly stifled. Instead, she let go of her breath and forced herself to move back to the edge of the bed. She felt like she needed to say something. But what?
"Did you...remember me?"
He nodded, "I do. But this time, you don't seem to remember me."
"Did I remember you before?"
Another nod. His jaw twitched as he looked now at her small collection of books on the wall as if searching for something. Kouri watched carefully, moving to stand next to him, as if drawn to him. She reached up to move his hair away from his eyes and she gasped softly as he took her hand in his.
Jaco faced Kouri, placing her hand on the spot she had just smack moments ago.
A breath. Then another.
"Yes." He finally looked up at her. "But you didn't want to anymore."