Chapter 2— The name he remembers
1623 Words
Chapter 2 — The Name He Remembers
I didn’t like the way my heart reacted to him.
That was the first thing I realized as I walked out of the classroom, gripping the strap of my bag a little tighter than necessary.
“Kenzo already memorized your name?” Thalia nudged me as we stepped into the crowded hallway. “Wow. That’s… rare.”
I frowned, trying to ignore the echo of his voice in my head.
I don’t forget things that interest me.
“Is that supposed to mean something?” I asked.
She hesitated for a second, glancing around like she was choosing her words carefully. “He just doesn’t usually pay attention to people. Not unless he wants to.”
I rolled my eyes. “Good for him. I’m not interested.”
Thalia gave me a look—one that clearly said you’re lying to yourself—but she didn’t push it.
The hallway buzzed with energy. Laughter, conversations, footsteps—it all blended into one overwhelming noise. Students passed by like they had somewhere important to be, like they belonged here.
Meanwhile, I still felt like I was walking through someone else’s life.
We reached the cafeteria, and the smell of food mixed with chatter wrapped around us.
“Sit here,” Thalia said, pointing to an empty table near the window. “It’s quieter.”
I nodded. “I’ll grab something to eat.”
“I’ll come with—”
“It’s okay,” I said gently, cutting her off. “I can manage.”
She studied me for a second before smiling. “Alright. Don’t get lost again.”
This time, I actually smiled a little. “I won’t.”
—
Standing in line gave me time to breathe.
To think.
To process everything.
New school. New people. New life.
And somehow… him.
I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. Why am I even thinking about him? It’s been one day.
I grabbed a tray, picked the simplest meal I could find, and turned around—
Only to stop short.
Kenzo.
Of course.
He was leaning casually against the counter, like he had been there the whole time. Like he had nowhere else to be.
Like he was waiting.
“You have a habit of appearing out of nowhere,” I said, narrowing my eyes slightly.
“And you have a habit of looking surprised,” he replied without missing a beat.
I tried to walk past him, but he shifted just enough to block my path.
“Excuse me.”
“Relax,” he said, clearly amused. “I just wanted to talk.”
“Then talk without trapping people.”
That earned a low chuckle from him.
“You’re bold.”
“I’m honest.”
There was a brief pause—not awkward, just… charged.
Then he tilted his head slightly, studying me.
“Why Apex?”
The question caught me off guard.
“What?”
“Why did you choose this school?” he repeated. “You don’t seem like the type.”
I stiffened, my fingers tightening slightly around my tray.
“I didn’t choose it,” I said quietly. “Life did.”
For a moment, something in his expression shifted. It was subtle—so quick I almost thought I imagined it.
But it was there.
And then it was gone.
I stepped around him, this time successfully, and started walking back toward the table.
“Avyra.”
I stopped.
Not because I wanted to.
But because the way he said my name felt… different.
Slower. Softer.
I turned just enough to look at him.
“What?”
“You don’t have to look like you’re about to run every time I’m near,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “Then stop giving me reasons to.”
Another pause.
Then, quieter—
“I’m not trying to make things harder for you.”
That… I didn’t expect.
I blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice.
Before I could respond, someone called out—
“Kenzo!”
A group of guys waved him over from across the cafeteria.
He glanced at them, then back at me.
“I’ll see you around,” he said, his tone lighter again.
And just like that, the moment disappeared.
—
When I got back to the table, Thalia was already watching me.
“What took you so long?”
“Nothing,” I said, sitting down. “Just ran into someone.”
Her eyes widened instantly. “Kenzo?”
I gave her a look. “Is he the only person in this school?”
“Basically.”
I sighed, poking at my food.
“He’s annoying.”
“Mhm.”
“And full of himself.”
“Mhm.”
“And weird.”
“Mhm.”
I stopped and looked at her. “Why do you sound like you don’t agree?”
She leaned forward slightly, smiling. “Because you’re still thinking about him.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
She crossed her arms, clearly enjoying this. “Okay. Then if he walked in right now and sat beside you, you wouldn’t react?”
I opened my mouth to argue—
“Move.”
My entire body froze.
Slowly, I looked up.
Kenzo.
Standing right next to our table.
Thalia nearly choked on her drink.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.
Without waiting for permission—well, ignoring mine—he pulled a chair and sat down.
Like he belonged there.
Like he belonged everywhere.
“Lunch,” he said casually. “Mind if I join?”
“Yes,” I said immediately.
“No,” Thalia said at the same time.
I turned to her. “Traitor.”
She grinned. “Opportunity.”
I groaned softly, leaning back in my chair.
Kenzo smirked, clearly entertained.
“You two are interesting,” he said.
“We’re eating,” I replied flatly. “Try it sometime without disturbing people.”
He rested his elbow on the table, his chin on his hand, eyes locked on me.
“You don’t like me.”
“That’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day.”
“And yet,” he leaned slightly closer, voice dropping just a bit, “you keep talking to me.”
I froze for half a second.
Then met his gaze.
“Because you don’t stop talking.”
This time, his laugh was quieter. Almost… genuine.
Thalia looked between us like she was watching a show.
“So, Avyra,” Kenzo continued, “first day. What do you think so far?”
“It’s… a school,” I answered simply.
“That’s it?”
“What do you want me to say?” I shrugged. “That it’s life-changing?”
“Could be,” he said.
“For you, maybe,” I replied. “You already own the place.”
He smirked slightly. “Not own. Just… familiar with it.”
I raised an eyebrow. “That’s not what everyone else says.”
“And you believe everyone else?”
“No,” I said. “I just observe.”
Something flickered in his eyes again.
Interest.
“Good,” he murmured. “I like that.”
I looked away, suddenly aware of how close he was.
Why did everything feel so… intense around him?
—
The rest of lunch passed in a strange mix of silence and small conversations.
Mostly between Thalia and Kenzo.
I stayed quiet.
Or at least, I tried to.
But every now and then, I’d catch him looking at me.
Not casually.
Not accidentally.
Intentionally.
Like he was trying to figure me out.
And I hated how it made me feel… seen.
—
By the time classes ended, I was exhausted.
Not physically.
But mentally.
Emotionally.
Everything felt new. Unfamiliar. Overwhelming.
“Hey,” Thalia said as we walked out of the building. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Just tired.”
“First day effect,” she smiled. “You’ll survive.”
“I hope so.”
We said our goodbyes at the gate, and I started walking home alone.
The city greeted me again—loud cars, bright lights, unfamiliar faces.
So different from the province.
So different from everything I used to know.
I passed by shops, crossed streets, kept my head down.
But my mind—
My mind wouldn’t stay quiet.
It kept replaying moments.
His voice.
His smile.
The way he said my name.
I stopped walking for a second, letting out a frustrated sigh.
“Why am I even thinking about him?”
There was no answer.
Only silence.
I shook my head and continued walking.
When I finally reached my apartment, I dropped my bag on the couch and leaned against the door.
The quiet welcomed me.
Familiar.
Comforting.
Lonely.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
And somehow…
Out of everything that happened today—
One thing stood out the most.
Not the school.
Not the crowd.
Not even the fear.
It was him.
Kenzo.
And I didn’t like what that meant.
Because deep down—
I had a feeling this wasn’t just a coincidence.
He wasn’t just some random guy I met on my first day.
No.
He was something else.
Something complicated.
Something dangerous.
And maybe—
Something I wouldn’t be able to ignore.
I opened my eyes slowly, staring at the empty room.
“This is going to be a problem,” I whispered to myself.
Because whether I liked it or not—
Kenzo was already becoming part of my story.
And something told me…
This was only the beginning.
- Writer
