Chapter 14: Shattered Memories
The words "Who are you?" echoed in Noah's mind, a phrase he had never imagined hearing from Kai. His heart raced as disbelief flooded his senses. He stared at Kai, waiting for him to smile or laugh, expecting it to be some cruel joke. But Kai's expression remained blank, his eyes filled with uncertainty and a hint of awkwardness.
"I… I'm Noah," Noah stammered, his voice shaky, almost pleading, as if saying his name would trigger something in Kai's memory. "Don't you recognize me?"
Kai remained silent, his face devoid of the recognition Noah so desperately hoped for. Finally, after a long pause, Kai spoke again, his voice quieter this time, tinged with confusion. "I'm sorry... I really don't know who you are."
It was like a punch to Noah's chest. The air around him felt suffocating. His eyes welled up, and before he could stop them, tears began streaming down his face. He looked into Kai's eyes, searching for a glimmer of familiarity, anything to prove this was some kind of misunderstanding.
Kai shifted uncomfortably, his hand gripping the door tighter as he took a step back. "Look, I'm sorry," he said again, his voice strained with confusion and a hint of sympathy. "I don't know who you are, but… please leave."
Noah stood frozen for a moment, his entire body trembling. He wanted to scream, to demand an explanation, to ask how Kai could forget him after everything they had shared. But no words came out. Instead, he turned abruptly and fled, stumbling out of the house as if his legs were moving on their own.
As he ran, the world around him blurred. His vision was clouded by tears, his heart hammering in his chest. He didn't know where he was going, didn't care. All he knew was that he had to get away, away from the house, away from the shattered remains of his memories with Kai.
Finally, he stopped, collapsing by the familiar lake. The lake where he and Kai had spent countless evenings, talking about everything and nothing. His body shook as he sat down, his knees pulled to his chest. The tears wouldn't stop. He wasn't sobbing anymore, just sitting there, lost in his pain as silent tears fell down his cheeks.
His mind raced with memories, moments they had shared, the laughter, the touches, the promises. How could it all mean nothing to Kai now? Noah's heart ached as he whispered to himself, "Grandma, what should I do?" before the exhaustion took over and everything went dark.
Back at Kai's house, confusion lingered in the air long after Noah had fled. Kai stood at the doorway for a moment, watching the direction Noah had disappeared. His chest felt tight, and an unfamiliar sadness welled up inside him.
He didn't understand it, but seeing that stranger—Noah—had stirred something in him. An old ache, a faint glimmer of a memory just beyond his grasp, but it was gone before he could catch it.
He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair in frustration. The last thing he needed was more confusion in his life. Shaking his head, Kai shut the door and made his way back to his room, trying to shake off the strange encounter. Yet, even as he lay down, the image of Noah's tear-streaked face haunted him.
Meanwhile, across town, Alex received a phone call from an old, familiar number. It was Kai's parents. His heart leapt when he heard the news—they were back in town, and they wanted to meet him. The excitement was overwhelming. He had missed his best friend, and now that Kai was back, things would finally return to normal. They had so much to catch up on.
Without a second thought, Alex rushed over to Kai's house. It had been years since he had stepped foot inside, but the memories came flooding back as soon as he saw the familiar door. He knocked eagerly, a wide grin on his face as he anticipated seeing Kai again.
Kai's parents greeted him warmly at the door, but as Alex stepped inside, he immediately noticed the tense atmosphere. Kai's mother's smile didn't reach her eyes, and his father's face was drawn tight with worry.
"Is… everything okay?" Alex asked, his voice tinged with concern. His excitement quickly turned to anxiety as he noticed how unusually quiet the house was. "Where's Kai?"
Kai's mother motioned for him to sit on the couch, her hands fidgeting nervously. Alex's heart began to pound in his chest as he sat down, glancing between Kai's parents. He could tell something was wrong. Very wrong.
"What's going on?" he asked, his voice quieter now, more careful. His eyes searched theirs, desperate for answers.
Kai's parents exchanged a glance, their expressions heavy with concern. His mother took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she finally spoke.
"Alex… do you know who Noah is?"
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