Adithya's POV
She doesn't remember me.
That truth hits harder than anything else.
How can she not?
How can she stand right in front of me… and look through me like I'm a stranger?
I haven't forgotten.
Not a single moment.
That summer…
Those days were everything.
The laughter. The fights. The dreams she spoke about so freely—about becoming a doctor, about saving lives, about dancing only when no one was watching.
She gave me something I didn't even know I needed.
Peace.
And I was foolish enough to let her go.
But not this time.
Never again.
It's been a week.
A whole week of her avoiding me.
Every attempt I make—blocked, ignored, dismissed.
If she's truly happy…
If she really loves him—
Then I'll walk away.
For good.
But if she's not…
Then no one—no one—is taking her away from me again.
"Bro, that Caleb guy is trying to ruin our reputation again. We should do something," Pierre and Daniel said in unison.
I didn't hesitate.
We headed straight to St. Joseph's.
This ends today.
I gripped the stick tighter as we approached them.
Caleb stood there, smug as ever.
Pathetic.
But before I could reach him—
I saw her.
Walking past us.
Like we didn't exist.
Like I didn't exist.
"Are you stalking me?" Caleb laughed.
The nerve.
If he wasn't… hers—
I would've broken that grin off his face.
"No… the world doesn't revolve around you, Caleb."
I stepped in before I could stop myself.
Because I saw it.
The tears in her eyes.
The pain she was trying so hard to hide.
And still—
She walked away.
Alone.
"Now that my ex-girlfriend—more like a—"
He didn't finish.
He didn't get the chance.
We hit him.
Hard.
Relentless.
But I stopped before it went too far.
Because right now—
Knowing she was no longer his…
Was enough.
She was hurting.
I saw it on her first day.
And it broke something in me.
This time…
I'm not letting her suffer alone.
Shreya's POV
"We meet again."
That smirk.
That confidence.
That annoying presence.
Adithya.
The jerk.
"Ma'am… can I back out?" I asked Stella ma'am quickly, before she could introduce me.
Her expression fell. "Why, dear?"
"They're my classmates."
Understanding flickered in her eyes.
But she shook her head.
"No, Shreya. You can't. The competition is next week. We need you. You know what happened during Nationals last time."
I did.
And I had promised her.
A promise is a promise.
"I'll make sure your classmates won't inform your family. Please?"
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
I introduced myself.
Gave a few choreography ideas.
Kept it professional.
Distant.
Safe.
Until I tried to leave.
And he blocked the door.
"Welcome to the dance academy… my princess."
My breath hitched.
What did he just say?
"I'm not anyone's princess," I stammered.
Big mistake.
His smile only widened.
He stepped closer—
Too close.
Then leaned in and whispered,
"But you're mine."
My heart lost control.
My thoughts scattered.
I stepped back—
And almost fell.
But he caught me.
Of course he did.
He was laughing.
And I—
I hated how aware I was of him.
"I… I need to go," I said, pulling away and running out.
This is bad.
Very bad.
If this continues…
I might actually fall for him.
No.
I won't.
Why does he feel so… familiar?
A voice echoed in my mind.
A memory that never fully belonged to me.
"You had a twin sister… she died in the accident."
The accident that took my childhood memories.
The accident they blamed me for.
Maybe that's why.
Maybe I don't deserve love.
Maybe that's why Caleb cheated.
Maybe… this is all I'm meant for.
Tears slipped down silently.
And yet…
why does my heart still choose to remember…
what my mind has forgotten?