The next day, I tried to find Lilia.
I looked for her between classes. Outside the room. Near the stairs. By the gate where people usually lingered before heading home.
She wasn't there.
I told myself she might be sick. Or busy. Or just avoiding the place after everything that happened.
But the next day, I did see her in class.
She sat in her usual seat. Same posture. Same quiet focus.
But this time, she didn't look at me.
Not once.
No greeting. No hesitation. No small glance when something on the screen didn't work. It was like the space beside her had turned into something closed off—sealed, unreachable.
I tried to convince myself it didn't mean anything.
That maybe she was tired. Or distracted. Or simply done.
Still, the silence followed me through the entire session.
When class ended, people packed up quickly. Chairs scraped the floor. Conversations sparked and faded.
Lilia stood up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out without looking back.
That's when I knew.
If I didn't say something now, I never would.
I followed her after class, my steps hesitant, my chest tight like it always got when I had to speak first.
"Hey, Lilia."
She stopped.
Slowly, she turned to face me. Her expression was guarded—distant in a way that felt deliberate.
"There's something I need to talk to you about," I said.
"What is it?" she asked. Her voice was clipped. Controlled.
"It's about Nara. He—"
"Stop."
The word cut through me instantly.
"I wanted to forget everything," she said. "I tried to move on. Even after what you did. And now you're bringing it up again?"
"Please," I said quickly. "Just listen to me. You deserve to know the truth."
She hesitated. Her shoulders stiffened, but she didn't walk away.
"That day," I said, forcing the words out, "when I went back to the room to grab something I forgot—I saw him. He was still there. With his friends. And he was showing them things. Things that weren't meant for anyone else."
Her breath faltered.
"Stop, Eshan," she said, turning her face away. "I've had enough."
"You have to believe me," I said. "You have to know what he's really like—"
"Nara warned me about this," she interrupted. Her voice shook despite herself. "He said you might try to lie again. I didn't think you'd go this far."
The words hit harder than I expected.
"What… are you talking about?" I asked quietly.
"He forgave you," she said. "Even after what you did. And now you're trying to ruin him?"
"He forgave me?"
The idea felt wrong in every possible way.
"Yes," she said firmly.
Something inside me snapped.
"He can go to hell," I said.
She flinched.
"Don't talk to me again," she said, her voice cold and final.
Then she turned and walked away.
I didn't follow.
I went home and crawled into bed, staring at the ceiling until everything blurred together.
I replayed the moment over and over—every word, every pause—looking for something I could fix.
I told myself I'd done the right thing.
Then I decided thinking about it wouldn't change anything.
The next day, I went back to the computer class.
The room felt different. Smaller. Emptier.
I still liked computers. I still liked learning.
But I didn't want to be there anymore.
Before leaving, I wrote a note.
I addressed it to Lilia.
Not an accusation.
Not a confession.
Just enough to make her think.
Just enough to make her question what she thought she knew.
I folded the paper neatly. Slid it into her drawer.
Didn't look back.
Then I left.
I never returned to that class again.
And after so many years—
I saw him.
Right there.
Across the road.
Standing too casually. Laughing too easily.
That face.
The moment it registered, my stomach twisted violently—like something rotten had been dug up from deep inside me without warning. Not fear. Not shock.
Recognition.
My feet stopped on their own.
I didn't move.
Didn't breathe properly.
I watched from where I stood as Himmel talked to him. They looked… normal. Familiar. Like people who shared history I didn't want to imagine.
I stayed out of his view.
Didn't want him to see me.
Didn't want my face to give me away.
After a few seconds, they parted. He went his way.
Himmel crossed the road and walked toward me.
"You good?" Himmel asked. "You look kinda pale."
"It's nothing," I said quickly.
Too quickly.
We started walking together toward the gate. My jaw felt tight, teeth pressed together harder than necessary.
"That guy you were talking to," I said, forcing my voice to stay neutral. "You friends with him?"
Himmel shrugged. "Nah. We were neighbors before. I know his sister better."
"Oh," I said. "Okay."
I paused, then added casually, "I know him too, actually. Nara, right?"
Himmel looked at me, surprised. "Yeah. How'd you know?"
"We were… acquaintances," I said. The word felt thin. Inaccurate. But usable.
"Huh," Himmel said. "Then why didn't you come over earlier?"
I shook my head. "Didn't feel like it. It's fine."
We walked a little more. The school gate was getting closer.
"Hey," I asked, like it just occurred to me, "you ever hear any rumors about him?"
Himmel frowned slightly. "Well… kind of. He causes a lot of trouble. Gets into things he shouldn't. That sort of guy."
My fingers curled slowly.
"Oh," I said. "I see."
Then, as lightly as I could manage, "Do you have his number? Might text him sometime. Catch up."
Himmel shook his head. "Nah, I don't. But I can ask my sister if you want."
"Yeah," I said. "That'd be good."
Good.
The word tasted strange.
I kept walking. Kept talking. Kept pretending—like I hadn't already decided something.
But inside, something old had stirred—something that had never really gone away.
That memory hadn't rested all these years.
And now that I'd seen him again—
I wasn't going to let it.