Having awakened from the coma, I was relieved to find that I hadn't died from all that thrill.
The adrenaline-fueled chaos that had unfolded felt like a distant dream, but the ache in my body was a sharp reminder that it had been very real.
What reassured me most was that the professor had managed to save everyone in the class.
The sterile white walls of the hospital room around me were a stark contrast to the harrowing scene I vaguely remembered before blacking out.
The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor beside me was oddly soothing, as if grounding me back to reality. Now that I had time to think, a flicker of memory emerged—those amber eyes.
I realized why they had felt so familiar. They were Emily's.
Her face flashed in my mind: those striking eyes, framed by worry, looking at me through the chaos.
Despite the pain in my head, I couldn't help but feel a swell of relief.
I had saved her.
Sure, it was reckless—diving into danger without a second thought—but seeing her alive made it worth every ounce of pain. All's well that ends well, right?
But as I reflected on Professor Ivan's words earlier, another thought crept in.
He'd mentioned Emily was waiting outside for me. 'Emily's here? That meant I would have to face her soon. And while I was grateful to be alive, I knew I wasn't ready to answer questions about my reckless behavior—or hers' I thought
Then, an idea struck me. 'Isn't this the perfect excuse to make them believe I have amnesia?' I mused, a sly grin threatening to break through my otherwise groggy expression.
I had hit my head, after all. Lost consciousness in the debris. No one would question me if I claimed I couldn't remember a thing. It would buy me time to think—and maybe even figure out what had truly happened.
Yeah, let's go with that, I decided.
Looking at Professor Ivan, who had been sitting nearby reading a report, I mustered whatever acting skills I had. With a furrowed brow and a deliberately confused expression, I asked, "Who are you?"
The professor's head snapped up, startled. His mouth opened slightly, as if unsure how to respond.
"Where is this place?" I added, glancing around the room like someone who had just woken up in a foreign land.
Professor Ivan, ever the rational thinker, stood up immediately. It seemed like he was about to head to the door—probably to call the girl he'd mentioned earlier—when my next words stopped him in his tracks.
"What did you say?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief as he turned to face me.
I tried not to grin. Hook, line, and sinker.
"Didn't you hear me? Who are you? And where is this place?" I repeated, injecting a touch of annoyance into my tone for authenticity.
The professor's brow furrowed deeply. His normally calm demeanor now showed clear concern.
"You… don't remember anything?" he asked cautiously, his voice softer this time.
"What do you mean, remember?" I asked, raising my voice slightly. "Is this a kidnapping?" I added, trying to sound appropriately alarmed.
The professor's expression shifted from confusion to worry. Slowly, he began walking toward me, his movements deliberate and unthreatening.
But I wasn't about to let him off the hook that easily. "Wait right there!" I shouted, my heart pounding as I threw in an extra layer of drama. "Don't come any closer!"
Despite the throbbing pain in my head, I forced myself to sit up, then stood unsteadily on the bed, taking a cautious step back.
"I know karate!" I declared, my hands forming an amateur fighting stance. "Don't come closer, or I'll beat you up!"
The professor froze in place, his hands half-raised as if to calm me. His lips parted to say something, but before he could, the door creaked open, and someone peeked inside.
It was Emily.
Her wide eyes scanned the room, landing on me—still standing precariously on the bed. Her expression shifted rapidly: first relief, then confusion, and finally concern.
"Um… why are you standing on the bed?" she asked, her voice tinged with hesitation.
I stared at her for a moment, marveling at how her concern shone even through the oddness of the situation. Her presence was grounding, yet unnerving.
"Are you okay?" she continued, stepping further into the room. "Does it still hurt from the head injury?"
She glanced briefly at Professor Ivan, as if seeking an explanation for my bizarre behavior.
Still staying in character, I pointed dramatically at her. And said the most reasonable thing in this situation "Um… girl, are you also kidnapped? Quickly, come over here—I'll save you!" I motioned for her to join me on the bed, trying to keep my tone serious despite the absurdity.
Then there was silence.
---
After much explanation on their part and my continued act of amnesia, everyone finally sat down. The professor paced thoughtfully, while Emily perched on the chair beside me, still watching me closely.
"First, let's call the doctor to better understand his condition," Professor Ivan suggested, gesturing toward me.
Emily nodded. "Okay, Professor. Please do."
She glanced at me again, her eyes softening. "I'll try to keep him calm," she added, her voice quiet but resolute.
"All right. Wait here; I'll be back soon," the professor said before striding out of the room.
As the door clicked shut, silence settled over us.
Emily turned to me, her amber eyes locking onto mine. "Did you truly forget everything?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I pretended to search my memory, furrowing my brow as if struggling to grasp something just out of reach. Finally, I shook my head slowly. "I don't know. What was I supposed to remember?"
Emily sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Wow… just my luck," she muttered under her breath, her tone laced with disappointment.
"Anyway," she continued, straightening up and forcing a small smile, "let me introduce myself again. I'm Emily."
Her smile was warm, but I could see the sadness in her eyes—the effort it took to keep up her cheerful demeanor.
Feigning deep thought, I pressed my fingers to my temples, trying to make it look like I was genuinely struggling to remember. In truth, I wasn't faking entirely—I really didn't know much.
Finally, I sighed and looked at her apologetically. "Sorry… I wish I could tell you my name, but I seem to have forgotten it, too."
Emily's smile softened. "It's okay. Just let me know when you remember."
Her tone was light, but there was an undercurrent of something deeper—something I couldn't quite place.
"So… do I know you?" I asked after a moment, then added with a playful smirk, "Are you my lover?"
Emily blinked in surprise, her cheeks flushing slightly. Then, to my relief, she burst into laughter.
"At least you didn't lose your sense of humor," she said, shaking her head as her laughter subsided.
"And as for that question," she added with an amused glint in her eye, "you'll have to figure it out yourself once you remember."
"Hey, that's not fair!" I exclaimed, pretending to be annoyed.
Emily chuckled again, then leaned forward slightly, her expression turning serious. "Anyway, how are you feeling? Does anything hurt?"
I pointed to my head. "Nothing much… just my head and a few other places," I replied honestly.
Emily's face fell. "Oh no… I'm so sorry. It's all my fault you got hurt."
"No, no, don't worry," I said quickly, trying to reassure her. "I'll be fine. And honestly, I don't even remember what happened, so you'll have to fill me in later. That means you're responsible for helping me out."
I offered her a smile, hoping to lighten the mood.
Emily's lips curved upward, but before she could respond, the door to the room creaked open again.