The Love We Never Forgot

The first time Cassandra met Liam, she spilled iced coffee all over his engineering project. It happened on a Monday morning, during the busiest week of the semester. Cassandra hurried across the university courtyard, holding her nursing textbooks in one arm and an iced coffee in the other. She was already ten minutes late for her first class, and her best friend, Emmy, had sent her six messages reminding her that their professor hated tardiness. “I'm going to die,” Cassandra muttered as she rushed past a group of students. “You're not going to die,” Emmy replied over the phone. “You'll just be embarrassed in front of everyone again.” “That's almost the same thing!” Cassandra turned a corner without looking and crashed straight into someone. Her coffee flew through the air. The plastic cup landed upside down on a large cardboard model sitting on a nearby bench. Brown liquid spread across miniature roads, tiny buildings, and a carefully constructed bridge. For three whole seconds, neither of them moved. Then a young man slowly looked down at the ruined project. Cassandra followed his gaze. “Oh, no.” The man closed his eyes as if asking heaven for patience. “Oh, no, no, no,” she repeated, setting down her books. “I'm so sorry!” He opened his eyes and stared at her. He was tall, with messy black hair, dark eyes, and a face that looked unfairly handsome for someone who had just suffered a disaster. His white university shirt was rolled up at the sleeves, revealing strong forearms. A faded backpack rested beside him, and a pair of worn sneakers completed his simple outfit. He looked like the kind of man who had more important things to worry about than his appearance. Unfortunately, his expression suggested that she had just destroyed his entire future. “Do you have any idea how long I worked on this?” he asked. Cassandra swallowed. “I'm guessing... a long time?” “Three weeks.” Her eyes widened. “Three weeks?” “Would you like me to say three months? It might make you feel worse.” She stared at him, horrified. “I said I was sorry!” “And I heard you.” “Then why are you looking at me like that?” “Because my bridge is drowning.” Despite herself, Cassandra almost laughed. Almost. Then she noticed the way he carefully lifted the soaked cardboard structure, trying to save the parts that hadn't been damaged. Her smile disappeared. “Let me help you.” “You've helped enough.” “That was rude.” “You destroyed three weeks of work. I think I'm allowed one rude sentence.” Cassandra folded her arms. “Fine. I hope your bridge collapses.” His head snapped toward her. She immediately regretted it. “Not literally!” she added. “I mean, I hope you can fix it. Obviously.” For the first time, the corners of his mouth twitched. “Are all nursing students this dangerous?” “Only when engineers stand in their way.” “Good to know.” He turned back to the model. Cassandra watched him for a moment. She had never met anyone who could make her feel guilty and annoyed at the same time. She reached into her bag, pulled out a packet of tissues, and began carefully drying the wet sections. “Here,” she said. “You can be angry with me while I help.” He glanced at her hands. After a moment, he handed her a small piece of cardboard. “Careful. Don't bend that.” “Yes, sir.” “And don't touch the wires.” “Yes, sir.” “And—” She looked up. “Do you want to finish the project yourself?” He stopped. Then he laughed. It was a small laugh, but it changed his whole face. Cassandra felt something strange in her chest. She ignored it. She was late for class, her coffee was gone, and this irritating engineering student was making her heart behave strangely. That was enough trouble for one morning. At least, that's what she thought. She didn't know that the boy beside the ruined bridge would eventually become the person she would search for across cities and countries. And she certainly didn't know that loving him would become the bravest thing she had ever done. --- By lunchtime, Cassandra had discovered things about Liam. Aside from being an engineering student, he was a scholarship recipient who worked part-time at a small café near the university. And had absolutely no intention of forgiving her quickly. “You're still upset about the model?” she asked, sitting across from him in the campus cafeteria. Liam looked up from his inexpensive lunch. “I'm eating.” “That doesn't answer my question.” “Then perhaps you should ask a better question.” Cassandra narrowed her eyes. “Do you always talk like that?” “Only when someone interrupts my lunch.” She glanced at his tray. Rice, fried egg, and a small portion of vegetables. “That's all you're eating?” He looked down. “Is there a problem with my lunch?” “No! I just thought—” “That I'd order something more expensive?” Her cheeks warmed. “I wasn't going to say that.” “But you thought it.” Cassandra fell silent. He wasn't wrong. She had grown up in a house where breakfast alone could fill an entire dining table. Her parents rarely discussed prices, and she had never worried about whether she could afford a meal. For the first time, she realized how easily she made assumptions about other people's lives. “I'm sorry,” she said quietly. Liam studied her face before returning to his food. “You apologize a lot.” “Because I make a lot of mistakes.” “At least you're aware.” She kicked his shoe beneath the table. He nearly dropped his fork. “Hey!” “That's for being annoying.” “And the coffee was for destroying my project?” “Exactly.” He shook his head, laughing. Cassandra smiled. There it was again—that strange feeling. She liked his laugh. She liked that he didn't seem impressed by her designer bag or the expensive watch on her wrist. He didn't ask about her family, her car, or where she lived. He treated her like an ordinary girl. Somehow, that made her want to sit with him longer. “Can I ask you something?” she said. “You've already asked about six things.” “Why engineering?” His expression changed slightly. He looked at the students moving around the cafeteria before answering. “Because I like understanding how things work. Buildings, bridges, machines. I like the idea that something I design could make people's lives easier.” “That sounds nice.” “And because I want to build a better life for my family.” Cassandra listened. “My mother works long hours,” he continued. “My younger sister is still in school. The scholarship helps with tuition, but it doesn't pay for everything. So I work.” “You must be tired.” “Sometimes.” “Do you ever get a break?” “When people stop destroying my projects.” She burst out laughing. He smiled, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Liam glanced at her nursing textbooks. “What about you? Why nursing?” Cassandra's smile softened. “Because I want to help people. I know it sounds ordinary, but I want to be someone who can make a difference when people are frightened or hurting.” “That's not ordinary.” She looked at him. He said it so simply that she believed him. “Besides,” he added, “I think you'd make a good nurse.” “You've known me for approximately three hours.” “And you've already caused a medical emergency involving a bridge.” She laughed so loudly that the students at the next table turned around. Liam grinned. And just like that, the ruined bridge became the beginning of a friendship neither of them had planned. --- Over the next few weeks, Cassandra found increasingly ridiculous reasons to see Liam. At first, she told herself it was because she owed him for the project. She brought him coffee. He accepted it only after checking that the lid was secure. She bought him a sandwich. He reminded her that he could buy his own lunch. She offered to help him study. He asked whether she planned to spill anything on his textbooks. Eventually, she stopped pretending. She liked him. She liked him when he sat beneath the old acacia tree, sketching engineering designs between classes. She liked him when he walked her to the nursing building even though it meant taking the longer route to his next lecture. She liked the way he listened when she complained about difficult exams. She liked the way he teased her whenever she became dramatic. Most of all, she liked that he never treated her as though she were fragile just because she came from a wealthy family. One Friday afternoon, Cassandra found him working at the café near the university gate. He wore a black apron over his white shirt and was carrying a tray of drinks. She sat at the counter and waved. “Good evening, handsome!” Liam nearly dropped a glass. His coworker burst out laughing. “Your girlfriend is here!” “She isn't my girlfriend,” Liam said immediately. Cassandra's smile faded for half a second. Then she leaned over the counter. “Not yet.” His coworker laughed even harder. Liam stared at her. “Do you ever feel embarrassed?” “Not when I'm trying to get someone's attention.” “You have it.” The words came out before he could stop them. Cassandra went quiet. Liam went back to work, suddenly very interested in the coffee machine. For the rest of the evening, she sat at a table near the window and studied while he worked. Whenever their eyes met, one of them would look away. When his shift ended, he walked her to the parking area. “Why are you always coming here?” he asked. “To drink coffee.” “You ordered hot chocolate.” “Coffee shops sell other things, Liam.” “You don't even like hot chocolate.” She stopped walking. “How do you know that?” “You made a face the first time you tried it.” “You noticed?” He looked at her. There were many things Liam noticed about Cassandra. He noticed how she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was nervous. How she laughed at her own jokes before finishing them. How she always bought extra food when she knew he had a long shift, but never made him feel embarrassed about accepting it. He noticed that she was kinder than he had first assumed. And he noticed that he had started looking forward to seeing her every day. “Maybe,” he said. Cassandra smiled so brightly that he had to look away. “You like me.” “I didn't say that.” “You noticed my hot chocolate face.” “Unfortunately.” “You like me!” “Cassandra.” “Yes?” “Go home.” She laughed all the way to her car. But before she got inside, she turned around. “Liam?” He looked at her. “Good night.” His expression softened. “Good night, Cass.” It was the first time he had called her Cass. She thought about it all evening. --- Their first real date happened almost by accident. Liam had been preparing for an engineering examination when Cassandra appeared outside the library carrying two sandwiches and a small box of pastries. “You look terrible,” she announced. He looked up from his notes. “Thank you.” “When was the last time you slept?” “Yesterday.” “For how long?” “That's a personal question.” “Liam.” “Three hours.” She gasped. “Three hours?” “Would you like to repeat it louder? The entire university might not have heard.” Cassandra pulled out the chair beside him. “That's it. You're taking a break.” “I have an examination.” “And you won't pass it if you fall asleep on your paper.” “I can manage.” “I'm not asking.” He looked at her, amused. “Are you always this bossy?” “Only with people I care about.” The teasing expression disappeared from his face. Cassandra realized what she had said. She suddenly became very interested in arranging the sandwiches. Liam closed his notebook. “All right,” he said. “One hour.” She grinned. “Two.” “One.” “One and a half.” “Cassandra.” “Fine. One hour, but you have to eat everything.” He shook his head, smiling. They spent the afternoon walking around a small park near the campus. They talked about childhood memories, embarrassing school experiences, and the places they wanted to visit someday. Cassandra admitted that she had always wanted to travel without a driver or a schedule. Liam told her he wanted to design a building with his name on the plans—not because he wanted fame, but because he wanted proof that his hard work had meant something. At sunset, they stopped beside a pond. Cassandra watched the water shimmer beneath the orange sky. “Liam?” “Hmm?” “Can I ask you something embarrassing?” “You usually do.” She turned to face him. “Do you have a girlfriend?” He blinked. “No.” “Have you ever liked someone?” “Yes.” Her stomach tightened. “Oh.” “Why?” “Just asking.” He studied her expression. “Are you jealous?” “No!” “You answered too quickly.” “I'm not jealous. I don't even know who she is.” “There is no she.” Cassandra stared at him. “Then why did you say yes?” “Because I like someone now.” Her heart began pounding. She looked away, suddenly afraid to hear the answer. “Who?” Liam stepped closer. “You really want to know?” She nodded. He smiled, but there was nervousness in his eyes now. “You.” Cassandra stopped breathing for a moment. Then she covered her face with both hands. “Oh, my goodness.” Liam laughed softly. “That's your response?” “I don't know what else to say!” “You could say you like me too.” She lowered her hands. “Maybe I do.” “Maybe?” She smiled. “I like you, Liam.” He looked at her as though those four words had given him something he hadn't realized he needed. Then he reached for her hand. “Can I take you on a proper date tomorrow?” Cassandra squeezed his fingers. “Yes.” “And no coffee near my engineering projects.” “No promises.” He laughed. She laughed with him. When he walked her to her car that evening, he didn't try to kiss her. Instead, he held her hand until she had to leave. Somehow, that made her like him even more. --- Their relationship became the happiest part of Cassandra's college life. They studied together, shared meals, and exchanged messages late at night. Liam taught her how to understand simple engineering drawings, while Cassandra helped him memorize difficult nursing terminology just for fun. Their first kiss happened two weeks after their confession. It was outside the university library, beneath a sky full of stars. Cassandra had been talking nonstop about an examination she thought she had failed. Liam listened patiently until she stopped. “Are you finished?” he asked. “For now.” “Good.” “Why?” “Because I've been wanting to do this for the past ten minutes.” Before she could ask what he meant, he leaned down and kissed her. It was gentle and brief, but Cassandra felt as though every thought had disappeared from her mind. When he pulled away, she stared at him. Then she smiled. “Again.” He laughed. “Are you sure?” She nodded. This time, she kissed him first. For the next few minutes, they forgot about examinations, deadlines, and the differences between their lives. They were simply two college students falling in love. And for Cassandra, that was enough. She didn't need expensive restaurants or luxurious gifts. She was happy sharing street food with Liam, sitting beside him while he studied, and holding his hand as they walked through campus. Liam, who had spent years convincing himself that love was a luxury he couldn't afford, began to believe he might be allowed to have something beautiful, too. He knew their worlds were different. He knew her family might never approve. But when Cassandra rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, “I'm happy with you,” he decided that whatever happened, he would do his best to protect what they had. Neither of them knew how difficult that promise would become. --- The first warning came on a Sunday afternoon. Cassandra invited Liam to a university charity event where nursing and engineering students were volunteering together. He arrived wearing a clean white shirt and the only formal shoes he owned. Cassandra greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “You look handsome.” “You say that every time you see me.” “Because it's true every time.” He smiled and took her hand. They spent the afternoon helping organize donations and assisting visitors. Liam was particularly good at keeping the younger children entertained while Cassandra helped at the medical-information booth. Watching them together, one of Cassandra's classmates, Isabelle, smiled. “You two look so happy.” Cassandra blushed. “We are.” Unfortunately, someone else had noticed them. Cassandra's mother, who had arrived unexpectedly with several wealthy donors, stood near the entrance. Her elegant eyes moved from her daughter to Liam's simple clothes, then to their joined hands. Her expression hardened. Later, she pulled Cassandra aside. “Who is that young man?” Cassandra glanced toward Liam. “His name is Liam. He's studying engineering. He's a scholar.” “A scholar?” “Yes, Mom. He's one of the best students in his department.” Her mother lowered her voice. “And why is he holding your hand?” Cassandra stared at her. “Because he's my boyfriend.” For a moment, her mother said nothing. Then she looked at Liam again. “No.” Cassandra's smile disappeared. “What do you mean, no?” “I mean that this relationship ends here.” “Mom, you don't even know him!” “I know enough.” “No, you don't!” Her mother caught her wrist gently but firmly. “Cassandra, you have a future to think about. Your father and I have worked hard to give you every opportunity. You cannot throw everything away for a boy who has nothing to offer you.” Cassandra felt the words strike harder than any slap. “Liam has a future. He's working hard for it.” “Hard work does not make two people compatible.” “Then let us decide that for ourselves!” Her mother stared at her in disbelief. Cassandra had never spoken to her that way before. Across the courtyard, Liam noticed the tension. He started walking toward them, but Cassandra's mother stepped away first. “We will discuss this at home,” she said coldly. Then she left. Cassandra stood frozen, her eyes burning. When Liam reached her, he gently touched her shoulder. “What happened?” She tried to smile. “Nothing.” “Cass.” She looked at him, and the tears finally escaped. Liam pulled her into his arms. “Hey,” he whispered. “It's okay.” But it wasn't okay. Because Cassandra had just discovered that falling in love was easy compared with fighting for the right to stay in love. And somewhere in the distance, her family's disapproval was only the beginning.