A LOVE BEYOND FORGETTING

The first day of Grade 7 felt like stepping into a completely different world. The classroom was filled with unfamiliar faces, different personalities, and voices that seemed to come from every corner. Some students were already laughing together as if they had known each other for years, while others sat quietly, watching and waiting. Rachel belonged to the second group. She was quiet by nature—the kind of girl who would rather listen than speak. She often wondered who she would become friends with, who would understand her, and whether she would ever feel comfortable in this new environment. A week passed. Little by little, the unfamiliar faces became familiar. Rachel began making friends. She slowly learned who was funny, who was noisy, who was kind, and who loved teasing everyone around them. And then there was one boy. A boy who somehow caught her attention without even trying. His name was Raymond. To his friends, he was simply Mon. Rachel had secretly admired him for days. "His eyes are beautiful... and he seems so kind," she whispered to herself one afternoon, trying to hide the smile forming on her lips. She immediately looked away when she noticed him walking toward her. "Hello. I'm Raymond," he said with a friendly smile. "But you can call me Mon." Rachel smiled back shyly. "Rachel." That was all she managed to say. She sat quietly at one side of the classroom, listening to her classmates talk and laugh. They were loud and energetic, while she was more comfortable staying in the background. Then Mon approached her again. "Hey! Come over here and join us," he called out. "You're always so quiet. Say something! You're going to grow roots over there!" His friends burst into laughter. Rachel froze for a moment. She wasn't sure whether she should laugh or feel offended. "Seriously?" she thought. "I don't even know if I should be annoyed with him. But... that's such a turn-off." She forced a smile. "Okay," she said softly. Although she felt embarrassed, she decided not to let the moment stop her from making friends. For the first time, Rachel tried to step outside her comfort zone. She laughed with them. She talked more. She joined their conversations. She discovered a side of herself she had never really shown before—the brave girl who could fight her shyness and choose to belong. And perhaps, without realizing it, Mon was one of the reasons she became a little braver. Two months passed. Rachel thought her feelings for Mon would eventually disappear. They didn't. If anything, her crush only grew stronger. Then one afternoon, while Rachel was quietly arranging her things, Mon walked toward her. He stopped beside her desk. "Uhm... can I sit here?" Rachel looked up. "Sure." Mon sat beside her. For some reason, the classroom suddenly felt different. The noise around them seemed to fade. Neither of them spoke. Rachel could hear her own heartbeat. Why is he so quiet? She glanced at him. Mon took a deep breath. "Rachel..." "Hmm?" "Can I court you?" Rachel's eyes widened. For a second, she couldn't believe what she had heard. "Wh-what?" "I mean..." Mon looked nervous. "Can I court you?" Rachel's face immediately turned red. She had imagined many things about Mon, but she had never imagined hearing those words from him. Her heart fluttered. But another voice inside her reminded her of something much more important. Her parents. Their rules. Their expectations. No boyfriend. Study first. Rachel swallowed hard. "No... I don't think so." The words came out broken and uncertain. "No?" "I'm sorry." Mon looked at her quietly. Rachel lowered her eyes. She didn't know what frightened her more—the idea of saying yes or the possibility of actually falling in love. She had never had a boyfriend before. She didn't know how relationships worked. She didn't know how to protect her heart. And most of all, she was afraid of disappointing her parents. So she chose the safest answer. No. After that day, Mon continued to approach her. He would sit near her. He would start conversations. Sometimes, he would simply smile at her from across the room. But Rachel began avoiding him. Not because she hated him. It was the opposite. She was avoiding him because she liked him too much. One afternoon, Rachel received a letter. There was no name written on the envelope, but she already knew who had written it. Her hands trembled as she opened it. It was a love letter from Mon. She read every word slowly.  Dear Rachel, I don't know if I have the courage to tell you these things face-to-face, so I decided to write them instead. I know you already told me that you don't want me to court you, and I respect your decision. But I still want you to know how I feel. Since the first time I noticed you in our classroom, there was something different about you. You're quiet, but somehow, your silence makes me want to know you more. I like the way you smile when you're trying not to laugh. I like the way you listen when someone is talking. And I like how you slowly became more comfortable with everyone, even though I know you're naturally shy. I don't expect you to say yes to me. I just want you to know that my feelings are real. If you don't feel the same way, I'll understand. But if someday you change your mind, I hope you'll remember that there was once a boy in your Grade 7 classroom who genuinely liked you. I don't know what will happen in the future. Maybe we'll remain friends. Maybe we'll grow apart. Or maybe, someday, you'll look at me differently. Whatever happens, I'll always be grateful that I met you. Take care, Rachel. —Mon For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to say yes. But reality quickly returned. Rachel took a sheet of paper and began writing her reply. She told Mon that she was grateful for his feelings. She told him that she appreciated everything he had done. But she also told him that she wanted them to remain friends. When Mon read her letter, the happiness in his eyes disappeared. He tried to hide his disappointment. But Rachel saw it. And somehow, seeing him hurt made her heart hurt too. From that day on, Mon still came near her from time to time. Rachel tried to convince herself that everything was fine. They were friends. That was all. At least, that's what she kept telling herself. But feelings were not always obedient. Whenever Rachel saw Mon talking to another girl, something strange tightened inside her chest. Especially when it looked like he was trying to impress her. "Why do I care?" Rachel asked herself. She quickly looked away. "He's just my friend." She took a deep breath. "He's my friend... my classmate... my crush. That's all." Then she smiled bitterly. "Someday, I'll meet the person who's meant for me." She tried to believe it. She really did. But deep inside, a tiny part of her wondered— What if that person had been standing in front of her all along? Rachel didn't know it yet, but her story with Mon was far from over. In fact, it was only beginning.