In the bustling cafeteria, Amelia's mind wandered back to Adrian. There was something about him that felt hauntingly familiar, and she could not shake the feeling that she had seen him before.
Suddenly, Jennie's voice pierced the air. "Amelia, what?! Why are you zoning out?" Jennie exclaimed.
Amelia's gaze snapped back to her friend. "I have been calling you since... what is wrong?" Jennie asked, concern creeping into her tone.
Amelia hesitated, her thoughts still tangled in Adrian's enigmatic presence. "Umm... nothing," she replied softly.
Jennie's expression softened. "You are free to tell me, I am your friend," she said reassuringly.
Amelia offered a gentle smile. "I am just thinking about something. Don't worry, I will tell you when the time is right," she promised.
Jennie's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but she nodded. "Promise?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Promise," Amelia echoed, her voice firm.
Just then, a romantic proposal unfolded in the cafeteria. A guy got down on one knee and asked a girl to be his girlfriend. Amelia watched, her head spinning as memories stirred. She had seen this scene before, but where? The familiarity nagged at her, refusing to be shaken.
The next day, the teacher announced a project that would require students to work in pairs. Adrian, sitting at the back, seemed disinterested until the teacher called his name.
"You will be working with Amelia," the teacher declared.
A murmur spread through the class, with girls whispering wishes that they were the ones paired with Adrian. Amelia turned around to look at him, and their eyes met for a brief moment. Adrian's grip on his pen tightened, and he stiffened, his expression unreadable.
After class, Amelia approached him, curiosity getting the better of her. "Have we met before?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Adrian avoided her eyes, his response curt. "No."
The lie hung in the air, and Amelia felt a pang of confusion. Despite her growing sense of familiarity, Adrian's cold demeanor only added to her uncertainty.
"So, where should we meet up?" Amelia asked, trying to focus on the project.
"For what?" Adrian replied, his tone detached.
"The project, of course," Amelia said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Anywhere," Adrian muttered, before specifying, "The library."
With that, he nodded and quickly left.
At the library, Amelia and Adrian sat across from each other, an awkward silence hanging in the air. Amelia tapped her pen on the table, breaking the stillness.
"You are not much of a talker, are you?" she observed, her eyes fixed on Adrian's stoic face.
He shrugged, his expression unyielding. "Talking is not necessary for studying."
Amelia frowned, her brow furrowed in concern. "Well, this project needs teamwork. You cannot just sit there like a statue."
As they reached for a book simultaneously, their fingers touched, and Adrian quickly pulled his hand back, looking flustered.
Their assignment required field research, which meant venturing outside the school premises. On the day of their research, Amelia was late, and Adrian waited, annoyance etched on his face. When she finally arrived, out of breath and apologetic, he barely acknowledged her greeting.
"Sorry, I overslept," Amelia said, her smile sheepish.
As they walked, Amelia attempted to make small talk, but Adrian's responses were curt. Yet, the more she talked, the harder it became for him to maintain his distance.
Just as Amelia almost tripped, Adrian instinctively caught her, their faces inches apart. Her heart racing, he quickly let go, his voice gruff. "Be careful."
The weather suddenly took a turn for the worse, and heavy rain forced them to take cover. Amelia shivered, and without a word, Adrian removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
"Thanks," Amelia said, her eyes locking onto his for a moment. For an instant, she looked at him differently, as if trying to recall a memory.
As they waited for the rain to pass, Amelia began humming a song. Adrian's blood ran cold; it was one of her favorite songs, one she used to play back in Los Angeles. His eyes drifted to hers, a mix of longing and pain reflected in his gaze.
"Will she ever remember me?" he murmured to himself.