The Pakhan’s Haunted Heart

Chapter 01

**Alessia**

The sound of my alarm woke me up. I stretched my arms and found the space beside me empty, but faint traces of warmth lingered along with the scent of Kael. My lips curved into a small smile. I laid completely still on my bed as I listened to the city below.

Outside the bedroom, sounds came from the kitchen—the low hum of the coffee maker and the gentle clicking of the plates being placed on the table. I got out of the bed quietly, wrapping Kael’s old shirt around my shoulders like a robe. Barefoot, I padded down the hall.

I paused at the doorway for a moment, leaning against the frame as I watched Kael work. He stood with his back to me, pouring a cup of coffee, still not aware of my presence. His dark hair was a little mussed from sleep.

“Morning,” I said at last, my voice a bit husky because of sleep, but still soft enough not to startle him.

Kael turned immediately, a small, genuine smile lighting his face. “Morning, sleepyhead. Thought you were going to sleep all day,” his reply was a deep, husky morning voice that sent a small shiver down my spine. “Coffee’s ready.”

Sliding onto the stool, I took the warm mug Kael offered, the warmth instantly seeping into my hands. “You should have woken me up,” I said, lifting the cup to my lips and taking a careful sip.

“Mm,” Kael hummed, leaning closer against the counter. “I didn’t have the heart to wake someone who hadn’t been getting enough sleep lately.”

I chuckled softly. “Point taken. Guess I’m lucky to have such a thoughtful boyfriend.” I lifted my mug slightly, letting the steam brush my face, and met his eyes. “Seriously, what would I do without you?”

A low, throaty chuckle vibrated from him. “Come on. Let’s eat,” he said softly, and slid into the chair across from me. “I know you’re quite busy as well preparing for that acquisition exhibit.”

I took a bite of my toast, chewing thoughtfully before giving him a wry look. “Busy is one word for it,” I said as I reached for my coffee. “Try drowning.”

“Come on, you always pull it off in the end,” he replied, his tone mild but reassuring.

“Wow, you really think that highly of me, huh?” I teased, raising a brow.

“And why wouldn’t I? You have never done anything halfway.”

I let out a silent chuckle as I shook my head. “That’s quite a load of expectations, Kael,” I told him.

He tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Because I know you. You’re stubborn more than you like to admit. And stubborn people rarely quit.”

“Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?”

“It is,” Kael replied without missing a beat. “And funny how it is one of the things I like most about you.”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. Heat crept up my neck and spread across my face. I laughed at myself inwardly, a little embarrassed for getting flustered over a compliment, like some high schooler.

Kael took his tablet. I watched him over the rim of my mug. He was scrolling through something on his tablet, brows slightly furrowed. I put my mug down carefully, keeping my fingers pressed against the warmth for a little while longer. It was strange how my life had gone so smoothly and naturally with Kael.

It felt like just yesterday when I woke up with no memories. They said I got into a car accident, and the impact from the crash resulted in my memory loss. I remembered opening my eyes to the view of a white ceiling and the sound of machines.

I was greeted with unfamiliar faces. They spoke gently though I only caught fragments—“You’re safe,” and “Just breathe.”

But none of it made sense.

The nurse asked me simple questions. Do you know your name? Do you know what day it is? Do you know why you are in the hospital?

I tried to reach for answers, but there was nothing. My mind was blank, as if every thought had vanished. “I.. I don’t know,” I breathed, the words shaking as they came out of my mouth.

The next few days went by very slowly. Doctors kept coming back, asking the same questions, as if repeating it would somehow stir memories inside my head.

For days, I was lost. I felt like I had woken up in a life which was not mine and I was supposed to go on with a story that I didn’t even remember starting.

Then he appeared.

I remembered clearly the moment Kael walked in. He hadn’t said anything at first, just stood there in the doorway, as if bracing himself. His dark hair slightly disheveled. His eyes were red around the edges as if he hadn’t slept for several days.

“Hey…” His voice trembled over that one word.

I looked at him closely. I was waiting for some recognition, a familiarity to come to mind. But there was nothing.

He crossed the room in slow steps. When he reached me, he pulled me in a tight embrace. The way his arms tightened around me as if he was afraid that I might disappear if he loosened his grip. “You scared me,” he whispered. I could feel his body trembling. And the next thing I knew, he was crying. “God, you scared me. I thought I had lost you.”

We stayed like that for a moment. His tears dampened my shoulder and I could feel his heartbeat pounding against my chest.

I pulled away from him. “I’m sorry,” I said and was flooded with guilt.

“Do you…?” he hesitated. “Do you remember me?”

I shook my head. “I don’t,” I admitted softly.

There was a flicker of pain in his face for a moment, but he covered it quickly, forcing a smile that didn’t even reach his eyes.

“It’s alright. It doesn’t matter to me if you can’t remember,” he said, voice breaking completely. “I will still be here by your side. I’ll keep telling you that. Even if I have to do it every single day.”

He took my hand and squeezed it. His hand was warm. It was familiar in a way I couldn’t explain.

“I’m Kael, by the way,” he said gently. “And you’re Alessia. Remember your name.”

The way Kael said my name, Alessia, as if it was something precious, made me want to believe it was mine.

Now, that memory almost felt unreal like it was a story that someone had told me once. Waking up with no memories was terrifying. The world felt unfamiliar and every face was a stranger. But Kael, just like what he said that day, never left my side. He helped me rebuild pieces of life I no longer remembered. He became my anchor.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Kael’s voice pulled me back to the present. He was staring at me with a puzzled frown.

“You completely zoned out,” he said. “You went really quiet.”

“I just… remembered something from the past.”

At that, Kael froze. The playful sparkle in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a look of concern. “A memory? Are you starting to remember?”

I shook my head. “No,” I answered, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. “I’m talking about when I first met you.”

“Does it still bother you… not being able to remember?”

I bit my lip. I’d be lying if I said no. Even if I told him that I was content with how my life was now, still parts of me felt like something was missing. Two years had already passed, yet not one piece of my old memories had returned.

“Does it bother you?” I asked, turning his question back on him. “You remember everything… and I only have the last two years.”

Kael’s expression softened, but he didn’t answer right away.

“Don’t you find it unfair? You look at me and see history, but I only see the present when I look at you.”

We were silent for a while, the silence felt heavy but not in a way that was unpleasant.

“Does it ever make you tired?” I asked softly. “Being the only one who remembers everything?”

Kael breathed deeply, as if choosing his words with care. “It’s not tiring,” he said gently. “It’s hard… sometimes. But not because of you.”

He stood and took the seat beside me. “Do I miss the way things were? Of course I do. I miss the memories we shared. But I don’t resent you for not remembering.”

My heart tightened.

Kael reached for my hand. “Do you really believe that I am the only one who remembers our past?” he whispered. “You and I have made new memories together over these past two years. That counts for something, right?”

He squeezed my fingers gently, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “It doesn’t bother me. I’d rather you forget everything than lose you.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but the words tangled in my throat.

“Come on,” he said with a grin, gently pinching my cheeks. “With or without memories, you’re still the same stubborn Alessia that I know. Remember that.”