The day you forgot my name

Chapter 1 — The Day We Met My name is Avyra Smith. I’m 18 years old, and this is where my story begins. My dad left us when I was eight—for another family. I don’t remember much about that day, only the silence that filled our house after he was gone. It was the kind of silence that stayed… no matter how loud the world outside became. I’m an only child, and my mom now works abroad. She calls when she can, sends money when she must, but it’s not the same as having her here. I used to live with my lolo in the province. Life there was simple—quiet mornings, warm meals, and familiar faces. But when I turned sixteen, he sent me to the city. “I won’t be here forever,” he told me once. “You need to learn how to stand on your own.” And I understood. So here I am. Living alone in a cozy apartment my lolo bought for me. It’s small, but it’s mine. Sometimes it feels comforting… and sometimes, it just feels empty. Today is different, though. Today, I start a new life. I was enrolled in one of the biggest universities in the city—The Apex Academy. A school known for its elite students, high standards, and… people who lived a life completely different from mine. I stood in front of the gates for a moment, gripping the strap of my bag. You can do this, Avyra. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside. The campus was bigger than I expected—clean pathways, tall buildings, students walking confidently like they belonged there. Unlike me. As I walked further in, my gaze landed on someone near the gate. A guy. He was leaning casually against the metal bars, surrounded by his friends. He looked like he didn’t have a single worry in the world. His brown eyes caught the sunlight just right, and his brunette hair fell perfectly, like he didn’t even try. For a second, I forgot where I was. I forgot everything. Until— “Oh!” Someone bumped into me, snapping me back to reality. My books slipped from my hands and fell to the ground. “I’m so sorry!” the girl said quickly, kneeling down to help me. “It’s okay…” I murmured, crouching down as well. She handed me the last book and smiled. “Are you new here?” “Yes… um…” I hesitated before showing her my schedule. “Do you know where this classroom is?” Her eyes lit up. “Oh! That’s my class too.” Relief washed over me. “Really?” “Yeah. I’m Thalia, by the way.” “Avyra.” “Well, Avyra,” she said with a grin, “looks like you’re not completely lost on your first day.” I smiled a little. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad after all. We walked together, talking a bit along the way. She was easy to talk to—friendly, warm… the kind of person you instantly feel comfortable with. When we reached the classroom, I paused for a second before stepping inside. And just like that, the room went quiet. Not completely—but enough for me to notice. Eyes turned toward me. Some curious. Some whispering. I swallowed and walked to an empty seat beside Thalia, trying to ignore the feeling crawling up my spine. “You’ll get used to it,” she whispered softly, noticing my discomfort. I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I believed that. A few minutes passed. Then the door opened again. And in walked him. The same guy from the gate. The atmosphere shifted almost instantly. Conversations lowered, attention shifted—it was like everyone noticed him without even trying. “He’s Kenzo,” Thalia leaned closer and whispered. “His dad is the principal. He basically owns this place… so yeah, don’t mess with him.” I nodded slowly, pretending not to care. But I noticed. Of course I noticed. He scanned the room briefly, his eyes passing over people—until they stopped on me. Just for a second. Then, without a word, he walked straight toward our row. And sat beside me. I stiffened slightly, suddenly very aware of how close he was. “Are you new here, sweetheart?” I flinched. Sweetheart? I turned to him, eyes widening in disbelief. For a second, I almost raised my hand out of pure reflex. What kind of introduction was that? I forced myself to stay calm and just nodded, gripping the edge of my skirt. He leaned back in his chair like he had all the time in the world. “You’re quiet.” “I talk,” I said, glancing at him. “Just not to people I don’t know.” That earned a soft chuckle from him. “Fair enough.” There was a pause. Then— “I’m Kenzo.” “I know.” He raised an eyebrow, amused. “Already heard about me?” “Only that I shouldn’t mess with you.” He smirked. “That’s good advice.” I rolled my eyes slightly, earning another quiet laugh from him. “Relax,” he added. “I don’t bite.” “You already started with ‘sweetheart,’” I muttered. “That’s worse.” This time, he actually laughed. Before he could respond, the teacher entered, cutting the moment short. The class settled down, but I could still feel his presence beside me—like it refused to be ignored. I tried to focus on the lesson. I really did. But somehow… I kept noticing the way he tapped his pen lazily, the way he leaned back like he didn’t care about anything, the way he seemed completely at ease. Unlike me. When the bell finally rang, I let out a quiet breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Survived your first class,” Thalia said, smiling. “Barely,” I replied. As I stood up to leave, I felt a light tug on my sleeve. I turned. Kenzo. “See you around, Avyra,” he said casually, like he’d known me for years. I blinked. “How do you know my name?” He grinned. “I don’t forget things that interest me.” And just like that, he walked away. I stood there for a moment, confused… slightly annoyed… And somehow— Curious. Because for someone I just met… Kenzo already felt like trouble.