Before You Forget Me

A Complete Stranger

The smile on Iris's face slowly disappeared.

She stared at Ethan, waiting for him to laugh and tell her that everything was just another one of his childish jokes.

But he didn't.

Instead, he looked at her with calm, unfamiliar eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said gently. "I really don't know you."

Her heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears.

"Ethan... stop joking."

"I wish I were."

His voice remained calm, almost apologetic.

"I've never met you before."

The words shattered every beautiful memory Iris had been holding onto for the past five years.

Students walking across the campus began slowing down, curious about what was happening.

"Isn't that Ethan Vale?"

"Who's the girl talking to him?"

"I've never seen her with him before."

The whispers surrounded Iris like invisible knives.

She forced herself to smile.

"You promised me..."

she whispered.

"You said you'd never forget me."

Ethan frowned slightly.

"I'm afraid you're mistaking me for someone else."

Before Iris could answer, Chloe hurried toward them.

"Iris! There you are!"

Relief washed over Iris's face.

"Chloe, tell him."

Chloe blinked.

"Tell him what?"

"Tell Ethan we grew up together."

A confused expression slowly appeared on Chloe's face.

She looked at Ethan for a few seconds before turning back to Iris.

"I'm sorry..."

"I don't think we've ever met."

Iris felt the color drain from her face.

"What do you mean?"

"I've never seen him before," Chloe answered honestly.

Iris froze.

It didn't make sense.

Everyone around them was greeting Ethan by name.

Teachers shook his hand.

Students smiled at him.

The entire university clearly knew who he was.

Everyone...

except Chloe.

A strange fear crept into Iris's heart.

Was Chloe lying?

Or...

was something terribly wrong?

Just then, Ethan's phone rang.

He gave Iris one last apologetic look before walking away.

"I hope you find the person you're looking for."

Those words hurt more than she expected.

Iris stood there without moving, watching him disappear into the crowd.

The boy who once promised never to forget her...

had become a complete stranger.

At that exact moment, her phone vibrated.

A notification appeared on the screen.

**Unknown Number**

Her trembling fingers slowly opened the message.

**"This is only the beginning."**