As I was about to enter the car, I heard a familiar voice calling my name.
"Noa!" Mom's voice rang out, making me pause. I turned to see her walking toward me, a warm smile on her face. "Aren't you going to eat breakfast first? I made your favorites."
I felt a pang of guilt, but I shook my head gently. "Thank you, Mom, but I really have to go. There's a lot to do at school today," I said apologetically. "I promise I'll join you for dinner later."
She sighed but nodded in understanding. "Alright, sweetheart. But make sure you eat something, okay?"
"I will," I reassured her with a smile before stepping forward to give her a quick hug.
As I pulled away, she brushed a strand of hair from my face and cupped my cheek. "Take care, Noa."
"I will. See you later, Mom."
With that, John, our family's driver, opened the car door for me. I slid inside, letting out a breath as he closed it behind me. As we pulled away, I glanced back, watching Mom wave from the driveway.
I hated leaving in a rush, but today... something told me it was going to be a long day.
And that dream... and this cello bracelet.
I glanced down at my wrist, my fingers brushing over the delicate charm. It felt so familiar yet so distant, like a whisper from a memory I couldn't quite grasp.
I leaned back against the seat, staring out the window as the city blurred past. Questions swirled in my mind, but no answers came.
Who gave me this? Why did I dream about it? And why did it feel like a piece of me had been lost somewhere in time?
I sighed, shaking my head.
One thing was certain, this wasn't just a coincidence.
This wasn't just a dream anymore. I was certain, these were fragments of my past, memories buried deep within me, waiting to be uncovered.
I clenched my fist, feeling the cool metal of the cello bracelet press against my skin. If this was a piece of my past, then I needed to retrieve the rest.
But where do I even start?
As the car moved forward, so did my determination. No matter what it took, I was going to find the missing pieces of my story.
As we neared the entrance of the school, I glanced at the time on my phone and realized I was four hours early for my first class. I turned to John and said, "Can you drop me off at the nearby coffee shop instead?"
John nodded, smoothly changing lanes. "Of course, Miss Noa. Would you like me to wait for you?"
I shook my head. "No need. I'll just call when I'm ready."
A few minutes later, the car came to a stop in front of the cozy little café. I thanked John before stepping out, the scent of freshly brewed coffee instantly filling my senses.
Maybe some caffeine would help clear my mind and maybe, just maybe, give me the focus I needed to start piecing things together.
I opened the door and stepped inside, the familiar aroma of coffee wrapping around me like a warm embrace. The café was quiet, the morning rush yet to begin.
I made my way to the counter, ordering my usual, a caramel macchiato with an extra shot of espresso before turning my head to scan the room for a perfect seat.
That's when my eyes landed on it.
The same spot where Professor Elsher sat yesterday.
For some reason, my feet hesitated. I wasn't sure why, but the memory of him sitting there, effortlessly composed yet utterly captivating, made my heart skip a beat. Shaking off the thought, I took a deep breath and walked toward a different table by the window, far enough to clear my mind but close enough that my gaze kept drifting back.
Why did he seem so familiar? And why did it feel like there was something I was supposed to remember?
I sat down right away, placing my coffee on the table before reaching into my bag for my iPad. With four hours to spare before my first class, I figured I might as well do some advance reading.
As I opened my notes, my fingers hovered over the screen for a moment, my mind still distracted by the lingering thoughts of Professor Elsher and more importantly... the bracelet on my wrist.
I glanced down at it again, tracing its familiar yet unfamiliar details. There was something about it, something just out of reach in my memory. I sighed, shaking my head. Focus, Noa.
Taking a sip of my coffee, I straightened my posture and finally forced my attention onto my readings, determined to make good use of the time before the past could pull me under again.
I was finally starting to focus on my reading when a familiar voice caught my attention from the counter. The deep, smooth tone rang in my ears as he placed his order, coincidentally, the exact same coffee I had just ordered.
Curious, I turned my head toward the counter, and there he was, Professor Elsher. He stood tall, effortlessly composed, dressed in a sleek black coat that made him look even more polished than usual.
"Of course, it's him," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head slightly.
As he waited for his coffee, he casually glanced around the café. For a second, his gaze swept past me then stilled. His brows lifted slightly in recognition before a teasing smirk played on his lips.
"Miss Schmid," he said smoothly, stepping closer. "Are you stalking me now?"
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Oh, please. I was here first. If anything, you're the one following me, Professor."
He let out a soft chuckle, accepting his coffee from the barista before motioning toward the empty seat across from me. "Mind if I join you? Since fate clearly keeps throwing us into the same places."
I hesitated for a moment but then shrugged. "Sure. As long as you don't distract me from my reading."
"No promises," he said with a knowing smile as he took the seat across from me.
Professor Elsher took a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze settling on my iPad screen. "Advance reading, huh? Impressive."
I raised a brow. "Well, unlike some people, I like being prepared."
He smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Are you implying I don't?"
I shrugged, feigning innocence. "I don't know, Professor. You did bump into me last week while being late to class. Doesn't exactly scream 'organized.'"
He let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Touché. But in my defense, that was an unusual day."
I tilted my head. "Unusual how?"
He tapped his fingers against his cup, as if debating something, then finally said, "Let's just say, I had something important on my mind."
I narrowed my eyes playfully. "Mysterious. Should I be intrigued?"
"Maybe," he said, his smirk deepening. "Or maybe it's just another distraction from your reading."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't fight back the small smile tugging at my lips. "You're really not going to let me study in peace, are you?"
"Again," he said, taking another sip of his coffee, "no promises."
Shaking my head, I returned my attention to my iPad, though I could still feel his gaze on me. There was something about him, something undeniably intriguing. And for the first time, I wondered if fate was pushing us together for a reason.
I glanced up from my iPad, meeting his amused gaze. "I heard you were the top board passer last year?"
He raised a brow, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Word travels fast, huh?"
I shrugged, taking a sip of my coffee. "Well, when your professor is basically a law school legend, people tend to talk."
He let out a soft chuckle. "Legend? That's a bit much, don't you think?"
I tilted my head slightly. "I don't know... top of the bar exam, youngest professor in the department, sounds pretty legendary to me."
Professor Elsher leaned back in his chair, watching me with quiet amusement. "And what about you, Miss Schmid? You were quite the legend yourself in the music world."
I stiffened slightly, my fingers tightening around my cup. "That was... a long time ago."
His gaze softened, as if he sensed the weight of my words, but he didn't press further. Instead, he gave a small nod. "Fair enough."
A brief silence stretched between us, the soft hum of the coffee shop filling the space. I busied myself stirring my coffee, trying to ignore the strange familiarity that crept into my thoughts.
Then, with a teasing glint in his eyes, he leaned forward slightly. "You know, if you ever need a study partner or just someone to challenge that sharp mind of yours... I'm around."
I paused for a moment. There was something oddly familiar about that offer, as if I had heard those words before, felt this moment before. But just as quickly as the thought appeared, it slipped away.
Shaking it off, I let out a small laugh. "Is this your way of saying you'd like to tutor me, Professor?"
"More like a friendly academic rivalry," he corrected smoothly, his smirk deepening. "I have a feeling you'd keep me on my toes."
I raised an eyebrow, playing along. "So, you think I'd be a challenge?"
"Oh, I don't think," he said, tilting his head slightly. "I know."
I shook my head, smiling. "I'll think about it."
He took another sip of his coffee, his gaze lingering on me for a second longer before he leaned back in his chair, letting the moment settle between us.
Professor Elsher leaned back slightly, a knowing look in his eyes as he took a slow sip of his coffee. "Well, from what I've heard, your father is Gregory Schmid, right? Your family has quite the reputation in the legal world," he said casually. "And your mother is a famous opera singer."
I blinked, slightly taken aback. "How did you know that?"
He smirked. "I do my homework, Noa."
I narrowed my eyes playfully. "That sounds suspiciously like stalking, Professor."
He chuckled. "Hardly. Your family name carries weight, especially in law circles. It's only natural that people would talk about you, especially someone as accomplished as yourself."
I exhaled, leaning back in my chair. "Accomplished, huh? You mean the 'former cello prodigy who mysteriously disappeared from the music scene' kind of accomplished?"
His gaze flickered with something unreadable. "I mean someone who clearly had the world at her feet but chose to walk a different path. That makes people curious."
I looked down at my coffee, running my fingers along the rim of the cup. "Curiosity isn't always a good thing."
Professor Elsher studied me for a moment, then nodded. "No, I suppose it's not. But sometimes, it leads to answers you never thought you needed."
I met his gaze again, something stirring inside me-like a puzzle piece trying to click into place. But before I could dwell on it, he leaned forward with a lighter expression.
"Still," he said, smirking. "I have to admit, I didn't expect the Noa Schmid to end up in my class."
I raised an eyebrow. "Why? Because I don't fit the serious law student mold?"
"Not at all," he said smoothly. "Because I have a feeling you're going to make this semester... very interesting."
I scoffed, shaking my head with a small smile. "Well, let's just hope you can keep up, Professor."
His chuckle was low and amused as he lifted his coffee cup in a silent toast. "Challenge accepted."
I couldn't believe it. I finally let out a genuine smile for him.
It wasn't forced, not a polite courtesy or a mask to hide behind. It just... happened. And the strangest part? It felt natural. Effortless.
Professor Elsher must have noticed because his smirk softened into something more genuine, something unreadable yet oddly familiar.
"That's a good look on you," he commented, tilting his head slightly.
I rolled my eyes, but the warmth in my chest lingered. "Don't get used to it, Professor."
He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Too late."
I shook my head, but for the first time in a while, I felt... lighter. Like, just for a moment, I wasn't carrying the weight of all the questions, the lost memories, and the expectations that always seemed to follow me.
And maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something I didn't even realize I was looking for.
The air between us grew still, the casual ease from moments ago replaced by something heavier.
Professor Elsher's voice was calm, almost careful. "Why did you stop playing, Miss Schmid?"
I hesitated, my fingers tightening around my coffee cup. No one had dared to ask me that before. Most people just tiptoed around the subject, assuming the answer was too painful to hear or maybe, too painful for me to say.
I sighed, choosing my words carefully. "I didn't stop. I... I forgot how to play."
He didn't react right away, just studied me with those sharp eyes that always seemed to see more than I wanted to show.
"My mind has no recollection of ever playing," I admitted, forcing myself to hold his gaze. "But my body... it still remembers. It's like a song I can't quite hear anymore, but my fingers..." I glanced down at my hands, flexing them slightly. "They still know the melody."
A beat of silence passed before he spoke again.
"I've heard about the accident," he said, his voice quieter now. "And what you've been through."
I let out a soft chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah? What did you hear?"
He tilted his head slightly. "That you were in a coma for a year. That when you woke up, you weren't the same. And that..." He paused, as if weighing his words. "You left behind the thing you once loved the most."
I swallowed hard, looking away. "I didn't leave it behind," I whispered. "It left me."
For the first time, saying it out loud made it feel real. It wasn't just a fact I had accepted, it was a truth I was still trying to understand.
Professor Elsher didn't push, didn't offer empty reassurances. Instead, he just nodded, as if acknowledging the weight of my words.
"Maybe it's not gone," he finally said. "Maybe it's just waiting for you to find it again."
I looked at him then, really looked at him. And for the first time, I wondered... who exactly was Joshua Alexander Elsher to me? Because something about him felt familiar, like a song I once knew but had long forgotten.
"You are really gonna distract me, huh?" I said, trying to steer the conversation away from whatever emotional rabbit hole we were about to fall into.
Professor Elsher smirked, clearly catching on. "Is it working?"
I scoffed, shaking my head as I took another sip of my coffee. "You wish."
He leaned back in his chair, watching me with that unreadable expression of his. "Maybe. But you do seem less tense now."
I rolled my eyes. "Nice try, Professor, but I see what you're doing."
He chuckled. "And what exactly am I doing, Miss Schmid?"
"Turning this into one of your mind games," I teased, raising a brow at him. "Shifting the focus so I don't think too much about things I'd rather not remember."
He shrugged, not denying it. "Well, distraction can be useful sometimes."
I let out a small laugh, shaking my head again. "You're impossible."
"And you're intriguing." His words came smoothly, effortlessly, but there was a weight behind them that made me pause.
I met his gaze, searching for something in his expression that I couldn't quite place. There was something about the way he looked at me, as if he knew more than he let on.
I cleared my throat, deciding to brush it off. "Well, if you're done distracting me, I actually have studying to do."
He raised his hands in surrender. "By all means, don't let me stop you."
But as I turned my attention back to my iPad, I could still feel his eyes on me. And for reasons I couldn't explain, it made my heart race just a little faster.