In this new session, I wasn't the same person anymore.

I had no interest in making friends, no energy for smiling at strangers, no room for something as fragile as love. After everything that happened, I told myself again and again: just survive this and move on.

I sat alone in classrooms, slipped past the noise in hallways, and convinced myself people were unnecessary. At least in my life. My past had burned me enough. Maybe the saying was true—some people were simply meant to be alone.

And yet... some part of me still carried her.

Two years had passed. We hadn't spoken, not even once. She never came to clear the storm, never chose to believe me when it mattered most. And still, I loved her. Quietly. Painfully. A love sealed away like a scar that refused to fade.

I told myself I'd live with it until I learned how to move on. Though sometimes I wondered—would I ever really move on?

Months slipped by. I buried myself in books, but even that failed me—my grades sagged no matter how much I tried. Desperate, I searched for extra classes. None felt right. Until one day, my benchmate Anne leaned over with her easy smile.

"Try mine," she suggested. "The professor's amazing. And affordable too."

I hesitated, but the address she scribbled was close to home. Convenient. Practical. So I decided to at least give it a try.

The classroom was quiet when I walked in for the demo. My hood was pulled low, jacket zipped tight—armor against curious stares. The receptionist had looked me over once, but I ignored it. I wasn't here to talk.

Seats were empty. I slipped into the first row, away from the middle crowd. Slowly, people filed in, chatter filling the space.

And then—

She walked in.

Sia.

Her presence struck me like a blow, sharp and breathless. She froze in the doorway when her eyes found me. For a second, the world held still.

"Sam?" she whispered, as if afraid it might not be real.

I forced a small, bitter smile. "Glad enough to see you still remember my name."

Her face faltered, guilt clouding her expression. My chest tightened with all the questions I had carried for years, unspoken and unanswered. Why didn't you trust me? Why didn't you believe me? Why did you leave me?

But I said none of it. Instead, I managed, "Nice to meet you again."

She nodded faintly and slipped past me to join a new circle of friends—faces I didn't know. No Riza. No familiar shadows. Just strangers.

I didn't dwell. I had come here for grades, not ghosts.

When the class ended, Anne bounced up to me, cheerful as ever. "So? How was it? Do you plan to continue?"

"The professor's good," I admitted. "Really good. But..." My throat tightened. "Sia's here too."

Anne tilted her head. "And? Is that a bad thing?"

I couldn't answer. My mind was still tangled in her sudden reappearance, the storm she carried back with her. So I only muttered, "I'll think about it."

Anne patted my arm. "Alright. Tell me tomorrow in school. See you, Sam."

I waved weakly and made my way to the parking lot. Night had settled in, the streetlights casting long shadows. I fished out my scooty keys, ready to disappear into the dark.

That's when I saw her.

Sia.

She stepped into my path, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Hi, Sam."

I froze.

"How are you?" she asked softly, like it was the easiest thing in the world.

I stared at her, disbelief burning through me. How could she ask that? After everything?

Finally, I forced a flat answer. "Hi. I'm... fine enough."

She hesitated, then tried again. "So, how come you're here? Are you planning to join?"

I clenched my jaw. "What do you want now, Sia?"

"Nothing," she said quickly, her tone breaking. "I just... these classes are really good. I don't want you to leave them because of me."

Her words stung—not because of their kindness, but because they felt too light, too simple after years of silence.

"As if you care," I muttered, climbing onto my scooty.

And without waiting for her reply, I drove off into the night.

The cold wind cut across my skin, but it couldn't numb the ache she'd left behind all over again.

But as the night swallowed me whole, I couldn't shake the weight of her eyes still clinging to me.

And something in me knew—this wasn't the end.
Sia wasn't done with me yet.

And that's where we leave them—hearts racing, walls breaking, and emotions they can't run from anymore. 💔✨

Thank you so much for reading this chapter! 🌸 If you felt connected to Sam and Sia's moment, don't forget to hit the ❤️, drop a comment 💬, and share your thoughts—I love hearing from you. 💕

See you in the next chapter... where things only get messier, sweeter, and a whole lot more intense. 🔥