Chapter 1
1755 Words
Levi
I never planned to fall for her again.
Not after everything that happened.
Not after the years that passed.
But life has a strange way of bringing back the one person you spent years trying to forget.
And the worst part?
She looked at me like I was a complete stranger.
"Dine in or take out, sir?"
"Take out for the last order... and the other one is dine-in."
"Alright sir, noted."
I stepped aside after ordering and scanned the restaurant. The fast-food place near my house was unusually crowded for a weekday afternoon.
I was waiting for my nephew, Ion-my sister Lisa's only son. She and her husband had just left the country for work, so for now, the kid was my responsibility.
Luckily, the restaurant was only a short walk from his school.
I grabbed a seat near the entrance so he could easily spot me when he arrived.
Might as well eat first while waiting.
I had barely taken a few bites when a familiar voice suddenly called my name.
"Levi?"
I looked up.
For a second, I froze. Then I laughed.
"Eric! Dude! How are you?"
We stood up and shook hands like we hadn't seen each other in forever.
"Me? I'm good," Eric said with a grin. "The real question is-you. Where the hell have you been? You disappeared for years."
"Yeah... something like that."
He studied my face for a moment.
"But you're okay now, right?"
"Yeah," I answered, forcing a small smile.
"Good. So who are you here with?"
He glanced around the place.
"No one," I said. "I'm waiting for my nephew. My sister and her husband went abroad, so I'm the one picking him up from school."
"Oh. Responsible uncle now, huh?"
I chuckled. "Something like that."
"How about you?" I asked. "Who's with you?"
"My wife. She's over there ordering."
He pointed toward the counter.
A woman stood in line, scrolling through her phone while waiting for her order.
Eric sat across from me while waiting for her.
"Man," he said, shaking his head with a laugh. "Feels like just yesterday we were out hunting girls every weekend."
I smirked.
"Yeah. And now look at you."
"Now I'm a family man," he said proudly.
"So... do you have a job yet?" he asked.
"I just got back last month," I replied. "Still figuring things out. I'll probably do some side jobs first."
"You?" he scoffed. "Please. You'll get hired anywhere."
"Hon, let's go."
We both turned toward the woman approaching us.
"Levi," Eric said, standing up. "This is my wife, Danica."
"Hi," I greeted her politely.
"Oh!" she said. "You're Eric's college best friend, right? I've seen you in his old photos."
"Yeah... that's me."
"Well, Levi," Eric said, patting my shoulder, "we've got to go. The kids are waiting at home."
Then he grinned.
"But you should come by sometime. We'll have drinks-and you can show my wife those magic tricks you used to do." I laughed.
"Sure. I'll try." After they left, I continued eating alone.
Eric had always been my closest friend in college.
My partner in crime.
We'd done a lot of stupid things together back then.
Funny how life changes people.
I finished my meal and checked the entrance.
Still no sign of Ion.
"What's taking that kid so long..." I muttered.
I stood up and walked toward the wash area near the restroom to wash my hands.
That's when someone passed by.
And for some reason-
I looked up.
She wasn't very tall.
Long hair.
Fair skin.
Effortlessly stylish.
But something about her felt... familiar.
My heart suddenly skipped.
"M-"
The word died in my throat.
She had already entered the women's restroom.
I stood there for a moment.
No way... Right?
I moved near the counter and waited.
Maybe I was wrong.
Maybe it was just someone who looked like her.
But then - She walked out.
And the moment I saw her face...
Everything from eleven years ago came rushing back.
"Maya."
She stopped.
Slowly, she lowered her sunglasses and looked at me.
"Yes?"
I stepped closer.
"It's me... Levi."
For a moment, she stared at me.
Then her brows furrowed slightly.
"Levi?" she repeated.
And then she asked the one thing I never expected to hear.
"What do you need?"
Her voice was cold.
Sharp.
Exactly the way it had been the first day I met her.
"Uh... I just wanted to say hi," I said awkwardly. "It's been a long time."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Sorry... do I know you?"
The words hit me harder than I expected.
"Your... college friend?" I said uncertainly.
She stared at me for a few seconds.
As if searching her memory.
Then she sighed softly.
"Okay... Hi. Nice meeting you."
Nice meeting you.
Like we'd never met before.
"I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry," she continued. "I have to go."
She turned around.
"Wait," I said quickly.
I followed her outside and held the door open.
"How have you been?" I asked. "Did you see Eric earlier? He was just here."
She stopped walking.
Then looked straight at me.
"Were we close?"
The question left me speechless.
Were we close?
After everything that happened between us?
"Y-yes," I managed to say.
Instead of answering, she reached into her pouch and pulled out a small card.
She handed it to me.
"My number," she said. "If you have something important to say, just message me."
Then she gave a brief apologetic smile.
"I'm really in a hurry."
And just like that-She walked away.
A Red Wigo was parked nearby. She got inside and drove off.
I stood there holding the card.
Still stunned.
"Tito Levi!"
Ion suddenly ran toward me, breathless.
I didn't even notice he had arrived.
Because my mind was still stuck on the same question.
How could Maya possibly forget me?
When she was the one girl...
I could never forget.
FLASHBACK
11 Years Ago
Classes had already started a week ago, but the school lobby was still crowded with students enrolling.
Late enrollees.
Our university had always been like that.
Eric and I were leaning against the railing near the lobby, both of us enjoying our free period.
Or more accurately...
Eric was enjoying it.
"Last year of college, bro," he said while scanning the hallway like a hunter looking for prey. "We should aim for the best girls this year."
I barely looked up from the book I was pretending to read.
"Here we go again," I muttered.
Eric had always been like this.
Girls were his favorite hobby.
And somehow, I always got dragged into it.
"Come on, Levi," he said. "Don't tell me you're getting soft now."
I smirked but didn't answer.
Truth was... I was getting tired of it.
The chasing.
The flirting.
The meaningless dates.
Maybe I just wanted something real for once.
"Oi!" Eric suddenly elbowed me.
"There! Look at that one!"
I followed his gaze.
A girl had just entered the lobby.
She stopped near the security guard, asking something while holding a piece of paper-probably her schedule.
At first glance, she looked simple.
But then she turned slightly-
And that's when I noticed her.
Long hair.
Fair skin.
Confident posture.
She wasn't trying to get attention.
But somehow, everyone noticed her anyway.
Eric whistled.
"Damn. She's mine."
Before I could even react, he had already walked toward her.
I just shook my head and looked at my watch.
Five minutes before my next class.
I stood up and slung my bag over my shoulder.
But when I glanced toward the entrance again- My steps suddenly stopped.
It wasn't the same girl Eric approached.
It was another one.
She had just walked inside.
And for some reason...
I couldn't look away.
She wasn't tall.
But there was something about the way she carried herself.
Stylish.
Confident.
Unbothered by everyone around her.
She asked the guard something briefly, then started walking toward the stairs.
I realized something a second later.
I was staring.
What the hell was wrong with me?
Before I could stop myself, I started walking too.
Just talk to her, I told myself.
Simple.
Introduce yourself.
Ask for her name.
Maybe her number.
It wasn't something I hadn't done before.
But somehow...
This time felt different.
She was already halfway up the stairs when I followed.
But when I reached the second floor-She was gone.
"Damn."
I looked around the hallway.
Left.
Right.
Nothing.
"Oi, Levi!"
Eric's voice echoed from downstairs.
"Why did you leave me back there?"
"H-huh?" I scratched the back of my head. "Aren't you going to class?"
"Oh right," he said. "I almost forgot."
"I'm heading to my room," I said.
"See you later."
We didn't have the same next subject anyway.
I checked my registration form while walking.
Room 304. Third floor.
When I pushed the classroom door open, I immediately scanned the room.
Students were already filling the seats.
And then-I saw her.
The same girl from earlier.
She was sitting at the back of the classroom.
Alone.
No one beside her.
I couldn't help but smile.
No way.
Looks like luck was finally on my side.
I walked straight toward her and sat down in the empty seat beside her.
She didn't seem to notice until I spoke.
"Hi."
She turned her head slightly.
Her expression was calm.
Almost unreadable.
"Are you new here?" I asked.
"Yup," she replied shortly.
Her voice was soft but firm.
"I figured," I said with a small grin. "I've never seen you around before."
She didn't respond.
Instead, she looked back at the front of the classroom.
Tough crowd.
"Can I know your name?" I tried again.
She glanced at me briefly.
"Maya."
That was it. Just one word.
"Maya," I repeated.
"Nice name."
She didn't react.
"By the way," I said, extending my hand, "I'm Levi."
"Nice to meet you."
She looked at my hand.
Then at my face.
And then-She ignored it completely.
Turning back to the front like I didn't exist.
I slowly pulled my hand back.
Wow.
That was embarrassing.
Right on cue, the professor entered the room.
Class started, and I didn't bother her again.
But I couldn't help glancing at her from time to time.
She was focused on her notebook.
Quiet.
Serious.
Unapproachable.
Most guys would probably give up after that.
But somehow...
That only made me more interested.
I leaned back in my chair and smiled to myself.
Alright.
Challenge accepted.
- Writer
