Between loyalty and love

The memory he refuses to let die

Mia barely slept that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again—

Ethan Hart’s message.

You still haven’t remembered.

It didn’t feel like a joke.

It felt like a door she couldn’t find the key for.

And that scared her more than anything.

⸻

The Next Morning

Royal Crest High was louder than usual.

Not louder in sound—

But in energy.

Phones were out everywhere.

Whispers moved faster than footsteps.

Mia stepped into the hallway with Stella beside her, immediately sensing something was wrong.

“What now?” Mia asked quietly.

Stella didn’t answer.

She just pointed.

Mia followed her gaze.

And froze.

A huge crowd had formed near the central bulletin area.

Students were pushing, laughing, recording.

Mia frowned. “What is that?”

Stella exhaled. “I don’t know… but I think you’re not going to like it.”

They pushed through the crowd.

And then Mia saw it.

Her stomach dropped instantly.

A printed photo.

Old.

Slightly faded.

But clear enough.

A younger version of her.

Smiling.

Standing beside a boy.

A boy she didn’t recognize at first—

Until her eyes landed on him.

Ethan Hart.

But younger.

Different.

Softer somehow.

No cold expression.

No distance.

Just… familiarity.

The crowd erupted in whispers.

“Is that Ethan?”

“No way—he looks so different.”

“Who is that girl with him?”

“Wait… that’s Mia Lawson?”

Mia’s breath caught.

Her hands went cold.

“No,” she whispered. “That’s not possible.”

Stella looked just as shocked. “Mia… why are you in a picture with my brother?”

But Mia couldn’t answer.

Because she didn’t remember that moment at all.

Not even a fragment.

And yet—

There she was.

Standing beside him like they belonged in the same world.

⸻

Suddenly—

A voice cut through the noise.

“Interesting.”

The crowd parted instantly.

Ethan Hart walked through it.

Calm.

Controlled.

But his eyes were darker than usual.

He stopped in front of the board.

Looked at the photo.

Then at Mia.

Silence fell.

Even the phones lowered slightly.

Vanessa appeared behind him seconds later, staring at the photo too.

Her expression tightened immediately.

“Oh,” she said softly. “So this is what you’ve been hiding.”

Ethan didn’t respond.

His eyes stayed on Mia.

Mia took a step forward. “I don’t understand. Why is my face in that picture?”

Ethan didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he reached out and slowly pulled the paper off the board.

Tore it down.

Ripped it in half.

The crowd gasped.

Vanessa’s eyes widened. “Ethan!”

But he didn’t stop.

He tore it again.

And again.

Until the photo was gone.

Silence returned.

Sharp. Heavy.

Then Ethan spoke.

Low.

Controlled.

“You shouldn’t have seen that.”

Mia’s voice shook slightly. “So it’s real?”

A pause.

That pause said everything.

Vanessa stepped forward quickly. “Ethan, you left. You moved on. Why is she—”

“Don’t,” he cut her off sharply.

One word.

Enough to silence her completely.

Then he turned slightly toward Mia.

Closer now.

Too close again.

“You really don’t remember?” he asked.

Mia shook her head. “No. I don’t even know when that was taken.”

Something flickered in his expression again.

Not anger.

Not confusion.

Something more frustrating.

Like he expected her to remember.

Like he needed her to.

⸻

Flashback (Ethan’s Memory)

For a split second, Ethan wasn’t in Royal Crest High anymore.

He was back in time.

A younger Mia.

Sitting on a school bench.

Laughing.

Handing him something—he couldn’t remember what exactly—but it made her smile.

“You always forget,” she had said back then.

“You always remember for me.”

He had replied:

“I won’t forget you.”

⸻

Back to Present

Ethan blinked.

The memory disappeared.

But the feeling stayed.

Mia was still watching him.

Waiting.

Confused.

“Tell me,” she said softly. “What did I forget?”

The entire hallway felt like it stopped breathing.

Even Vanessa stayed silent.

Ethan stared at Mia for a long moment.

Then—

“Nothing,” he said finally.

Mia froze. “That’s not true.”

But he stepped back.

Cold again.

Controlled again.

“You’re not ready to remember,” he said.

Mia’s frustration rose. “That’s not your decision!”

His gaze sharpened instantly.

For the first time—

Something broke in his calm.

Just slightly.

“You think I wanted to come back here?” he said quietly.

Silence.

“I didn’t,” he continued. “But I did.”

He glanced at the torn pieces in his hand.

Then dropped them.

“You’re involved in something you don’t even understand yet.”

Mia’s heart pounded. “Then explain it to me.”

Ethan looked at her again.

Longer this time.

Like he was fighting himself.

Then—

“I can’t,” he said.

Vanessa stepped closer again, trying to regain control. “Ethan, come on—”

But he ignored her.

Completely.

His eyes stayed on Mia.

And when he spoke again, his voice was lower.

Different.

Almost… protective.

“Just stay away from me for now,” he said.

Mia blinked. “What?”

But he had already turned away.

Walking off.

Vanessa quickly followed him, shooting Mia one last cold look before disappearing into the crowd.

Stella turned to Mia slowly.

“What the hell was that?” she whispered.

Mia didn’t answer.

Because her chest felt tight.

Her mind was spinning.

And for the first time…

She wasn’t just confused.

She was afraid.

Because something was coming back.

And Ethan Hart—

Was trying to stop it.