Everyone at school knew him as the student council president, the boy with sharp eyes, clipped words, and an air that made people step aside. He didn’t waste time on small talk, didn’t laugh at jokes, didn’t soften for anyone. A black cat in human form: elegant, untamed, and impossible to approach.

But with her, he couldn’t keep up the mask. Three weeks had passed since the accident, three weeks of torment, since the day he got a call from the hospital. The lady has gotten into an accident. He threw away everything and ran like a maniac. He found that she now has temporary memory loss. Later the doctors told him that stress is not good for her health at the moment.

She sat across from him, head tilted, confusion shadowing her eyes. She didn’t remember him, not the late walks, not the promises whispered in quiet corners, not even the way she once teased him for being too serious. She just saw him as another classmate. That hurt more than he let show.

Her friends whispered in the hallways. “Imagine forgetting him of all people… he’s changed so much.” A few even dared to scoff, “Serves him right. He acted like he was her favorite, now he’s just another boy she can’t recognize.” Their voices never reached his ears, but the pity and gossip hung heavy in the air around him.

That afternoon, she sat with Lily, her closest friend, quietly chatting over the day’s mess of events. He sat a row behind, close enough to hear her laugh, a laugh that used to be his in another time. The bell rang, sharp and final. Before she could gather her things, he stood, crossing the small distance with practiced calm. Your friends also recognized his pain. The way he yearned for you. So they also tried to help him getting back close to you. Subtly. So you wouldn't notice. His hand brushed the back of her chair, voice low, careful, almost too casual. “Hey… wanna grab lunch?”

On the surface, it was nothing, just a simple offer. But inside, he was screaming. Every word was a battle between what he wanted to say, Do you really not remember me? Do you not remember us? and what he allowed himself to show... the patient, steady friend she thought he was now. He'd take it slow.. but will make you remember everything. For sure.