Chapter 2 Johnson, Are You Crazy?

"Maria!" Jackson caught up to Maria. He wanted to grab her arm but stopped midway, realizing he had no right. "Maria, did you move out of your place?" Maria nodded. Since she had decided to leave Johnson, there was no reason to stay in a house filled with memories of them. "Where have you been staying these past few days?" Jackson wasn't going to let Maria dodge the question. "I called your roommates. They said your family has been harassing you at school, so you can't go home, and you definitely can't stay in the dorm. So, where have you been staying?" Maria knew Jackson was concerned, but she didn’t feel the need to explain much. "Thank you for caring about me, but we’re from different worlds." She smiled at Jackson. "We only met because of Johnson. Now that we’re apart, there's no need to trouble you anymore." Her words hit Jackson like a stab in the chest. He instinctively grabbed Maria's hand. "Do you really have to treat me like this?" Maria didn’t understand why he was so upset, but she calmly replied. "I’m sorry for disrupting your lives. I’ll leave Los Angeles as soon as I can." At just sixteen, Johnson had pulled Maria out of the slums. She had learned, lived, and made friends like Jackson, but now, she was giving it all back. Seeing the look on Maria’s face, Jackson felt his chest tighten. "That’s not what I meant…" Just then, Catherine walked over from a distance. Her long hair was tucked inside her coat, making her look distant and aloof. She smiled at Maria and said, "I know your character, and I believe you wouldn’t do anything to hurt Johnson. Did you call the police, Maria?" Maria found it amusing that while Johnson didn’t trust her, Catherine did. She smiled, nodded, and said, "Yes, I did. Thanks for your concern. And by the way, I wish you and Johnson a long and happy life together." Catherine clenched her fists instinctively. "Does that mean Johnson has remembered everything?" Maria shook her head. "No, I’ve given up." Just then, Johnson came running from upstairs with a big smile on his face. "Catherine, darling, you’re finally here!" His smile faded when he saw Maria. He angrily pulled Catherine away from her. After he was drugged, Catherine had angrily told him to take responsibility for Maria, but Johnson insisted he hadn’t touched her. The truth was, he didn’t even remember if he had. Now, he was trying to prevent Maria and Catherine from talking about the past. "Let’s talk inside," Johnson urged. But Catherine pulled away from his embrace. "I’m not going in. I have things to do. Enjoy your day, and happy birthday. I have work tomorrow." Johnson held onto her hand, not letting her leave. "It’s my birthday, and it only comes once a year. Can’t you just stay and make me happy? I promise it’s just our friends here." With him looking at her like that, Catherine hesitated and stood still, thinking for a moment. "Really, no one else? All the outsiders have already left." Maria knew exactly who he meant by "outsiders." She quietly adjusted her coat and said nothing. Catherine explained, "Johnson, Maria told me everything. I’m telling you now, if you get your memory back and still want to be with me, we can get married. But if your memory doesn’t return, I won’t be with you." "Because, Johnson, I don’t want to marry you and then one day have you remember that the person you truly love is Maria. That would break my heart." Johnson had planned to propose to Catherine today, but hearing this, he immediately lashed out at Maria. "What did you tell Catherine, you wretched woman! It must be you! You’re a witch!" He shoved Maria hard, and she fell to the ground. Maria happened to be standing near a bar pool. When she was pushed, her head hit the edge of the pool, causing her to bleed as she lay on the ground. The cold water enveloped Maria’s body, weakening her already frail state. Jackson couldn’t stand it anymore. He rushed over and lifted Maria up. "Johnson, have you lost your mind?" Maria, though helped up, was still bleeding badly from her head. The sight of her injuries made it clear how severe they were. Due to the blood loss, Maria was in a daze, unable to respond properly. Catherine, panicking, tried to help as well. She frowned and scolded Johnson. "Johnson, what are you doing? Maria didn’t do anything wrong!" But Johnson didn’t think he had done anything wrong. "Maria, you disgusting woman, why didn’t I push you hard enough to kill you? Stop acting pitiful in someone else’s arms and get up, now!" "The thing I regret most in my life is taking you out of that gang-ridden hellhole in San Francisco! You’re the lowest of the low! I get it now, you’ll always be trash!" Suddenly, Maria grabbed a metal rod from the pool and struck Johnson with it. The rod cracked Johnson’s head open, and blood gushed out, just like Maria’s. Maria’s right eye was bloodshot from the impact. She coldly looked at Johnson, then dropped the rod. "Johnson, now we’re even." **[Johnson, now we’re even.]** Hearing those words, countless memories flooded Johnson's mind. During gym class, that girl in the floral dress had pinned him to the ground. "Johnson, what are you so smug about? Now we’re even!" The scent of the girl from back then mixed with the scent of the girl in front of him—a bright and fragrant dahlia. "Johnson, are you okay?" Catherine asked, worried. Snapping back to reality, Johnson looked at the blood on his face and hands. He cursed under his breath. "That wretched woman!"