Paul's body moved without thinking. The hesitation, the indecision, and all the contradictions in his mind seemed to vanish in an instant. His feet moved on their own, and he stood before Violet. Then, he opened his arms and suddenly pulled her into a hug.
This hug was sudden but not forceful. On the contrary, it carried an apology, an acceptance, and an unexplainable emotion. Violet's body froze at first. Her shoulders tensed as if she were trying to grasp the reality of this moment. Paul bowed his head slightly. His voice was soft, almost a whisper.
"No matter what sentence I use, it won't mean anything." He continued without loosening his grip. "But still, I'm sorry for leaving you alone."
These words mingled with the sound of the wind. A light breeze rustled the leaves in the park, and the final rays of the sun cast long shadows on the ground. Paul stayed like this for a few more seconds. Then, he slowly pulled back. When he moved away from Violet's shoulders, he turned his eyes to her.
The thing I need to say is obvious...
The thought was heavy. Inevitable. A sad expression settled on his face.
"Even if the memories in my mind are gone..." His words fell slowly. He raised his hand and placed it over his own heart, his fingers pressing against his chest. "My feelings haven't disappeared."
With this sentence, his eyes softened. Then he placed his hands on Violet's shoulders. The touch was gentle and careful. A slight smile appeared on his face.
"If I fall in love with you again..." He paused for a moment. "Let's start over. As if I never left."
These words echoed in the silence of the park. Paul stayed like this for a few more seconds before slowly withdrawing his hands. His expression became more neutral.
"If it's alright with you... how about we be friends first?"
The offer was simple, but there was a complex emotion behind it. Violet said nothing. She just looked at him. Her eyes were full. In that look, there was resentment, hope, surprise, and acceptance all at once. Then, the corners of her lips curled up. A slight smirk formed.
"Asking to be friends after such cool words is exactly the kind of move you would make." Her voice had a hint of mockery, but it was warm and familiar.
Paul smirked involuntarily as well. So, the real Paul and I have similar sides... This thought relaxed him in a strange way. Violet became serious again, locking her eyes onto Paul's.
"I'll accept, but on one condition."
Paul's eyebrows shot up. "A condition?"
Violet's face shadowed for a moment. A slight sadness appeared in her eyes. "If one day you fall in love with someone else instead of me, I have to be the first to know."
This sentence was heavier than expected. Paul's face froze for a moment. Will there even be another girl around me besides you??? The thought was brief but intense. The wind blew a bit harder then, tossing Paul's hair. A smile appeared on his lips.
"Don't you doubt that."
It was more like a guarantee than a promise. They both looked at each other and smiled at the same time. This smile closed the distance between them a little more. After a while, they walked side by side to the bench and sat down. There was a small gap between them, but it was no longer uncomfortable.
Paul turned his head slightly. "Violet."
Saying this name felt strangely natural to him. Violet turned her head instantly upon hearing her name. Her eyes widened; hearing that word from him again was unexpected.
Paul continued. "Did I have a goal? I mean, something I wanted to do in the future."
A brief look of surprise crossed Violet's face. Hearing her name from his mouth... even that small detail had shaken her heart. But she didn't show it. She turned her head back to the front, acting as if nothing had happened, her face calm.
"Hmm... That's a tough question." She tilted her head up slightly, looking at the sky where clouds moved slowly. "You didn't talk much about the future. Even if I tried to bring it up, you would change the subject."
These words were a small clue about the past Paul. Violet looked at Paul again, a slight smirk forming. "But you were a total football fan. You never missed a single match of the team you supported."
Paul's eyebrows shot up. A football fan and a team I supported? This information was new to him but felt familiar. Violet put her hand to her chin, looking thoughtful.
"I don't know much about football teams. I think the jersey colors were black and white."
At this sentence, Paul's expression changed. His eyes widened. No... His breathing quickened slightly. Please don't let it be the team I'm thinking of... Even the possibility bothered him, but he tried to look calm.
"Could the name of that team be... Juventus?"
Violet suddenly snapped her fingers. "Yes, that was it!"
At this answer, Paul's body slumped. His shoulders dropped. He bowed his head, deep sadness on his face. Violet smiled. "It's good that you still remember some things."
But the smile didn't last. She froze, her expression changing as she slowly slumped too. She bowed her head to the ground. "I wish you remembered me, too..."
The sentence was quiet but heavy. Paul thought to himself: Of all the teams... couldn't you find another team besides the club I hate, Paul???? This thought lightened the situation in a strange way, but it didn't erase his guilt.
Violet sighed softly. "Anyway, there's nothing we can do now..." She looked up at Paul. "Why did you ask all of a sudden?"
Paul composed himself, squaring his shoulders and looking at Violet. "What would you say if I told you my goal is to be a football player now?"
The question was direct. Violet answered without thinking. "As long as you are by my side... I don't care what your goal is." Her eyes softened. Her voice was calm but strong. "I mean, I will always support you."
These words resonated within Paul. He paused, saying nothing, just looking. Then a smile appeared on his lips. You reminded me of Grant and Carmen.
The wind blew gently. The sun was slowly setting. And on that bench, despite the missing pieces of the past, the foundations of a new beginning were being laid.