Liam had been restless ever since he returned from Japan. Two years had passed, yet his heart remained chained to Freya. Each passing day deepened the ache of longing that gnawed at him.
Now, he stood in front of the house—so many memories hidden behind these walls. The house where he used to knock on the door to invite Freya to play, laugh, and share secrets… and now, it greeted him with cold silence.
He knocked. One. Two. Three times. No answer.
Moments later, Freya's father peeked out from the window, then quickly shut it again as if he hadn't seen a thing. But Liam didn't leave. The next day, he returned. Knocked again. Still nothing. The third day… the fourth. A whole week passed, and the door remained closed to him.
Yet Liam didn't give up. Day after day, he came by. Sometimes he brought flowers, sometimes Freya's favorite childhood bread, and sometimes… nothing but the courage to hope that she might open the door.
---
The Meeting
One afternoon, finally, the door opened. Freya's father stood before him, weary and burdened.
"How long are you going to keep doing this, Liam?" he asked coldly.
Liam swallowed hard, feeling the weight of each word. "Uncle… I just want to see Freya. I just want to talk to her, even for a moment."
Freya's father's jaw tightened. "Haven't you done enough to hurt our daughter?!"
Liam felt as though a thousand needles pierced his heart. "I never wanted to hurt her. Never. Uncle… you know that—"
But he couldn't finish. Freya appeared on the stairs, holding a glass of water. She wore a simple dress, her hair loose and natural, yet to Liam, it was as if time had stopped. She had grown… matured… and looked more beautiful than ever.
Liam gripped the doorframe, restraining himself. He wanted to rush forward, to embrace her, yet he stood frozen, barely breathing.
"Ma, Pa," Freya called, furrowing her brow. "Who are you talking to?"
Her parents exchanged a quick glance before her mother answered, "Ah… sweetie, just the delivery order."
Freya nodded and returned inside without hesitation. No questions, no doubts. It was as if Liam had never existed.
And in that instant, Liam's chest sank.
She didn't remember me.
---
The Weight of Truth
As Freya disappeared, her parents faced Liam once more. The anger and disappointment in their eyes were impossible to ignore.
"Liam," Freya's father said firmly, "stop. We trusted you before. We welcomed you into our family. But what did you do? You went against the arrangement. If you had only told the truth back then… Freya wouldn't have been hurt like this."
Liam wanted to speak, to explain, but he had no words. He knew it was true. Any justification now would be too late.
"Yes," Freya's mother added, her eyes sharp, "we didn't tell Freya who you really were because on the day your family revealed the truth… she almost died. She underwent surgery. She was at the brink of losing everything. And while she was bleeding… you? You were the one who added to her pain."
Every word struck Liam like a slap. He wanted to apologize, to tell them he hadn't known, but how? How could he convince them he hadn't meant to hurt her? To Freya's parents, he was a wound that should never have returned.
"Liam," Freya's father said sternly, "leave. Stop. For Freya's sake. Let her live in peace. And maybe… learn to live without her."
Before he could speak, the door closed in his face.
---
The Letting Go
Liam was left standing outside, stunned, carrying a weight that felt like the entire world. He held the flowers meant for Freya, now wilting in his hands.
He breathed deeply, forcing himself to calm down. If this was what it took not to hurt himself any longer… maybe it was time to surrender.
He walked slowly away from Freya's house. With each step, the memories weighed him down—the hibiscus she had given him, the laughter on the terrace, the promises they had exchanged before he left for Japan.
But now… it felt like all of that had been erased by time.
And with that, Liam's pursuit ended. Not because he didn't want to fight for Freya, but because, at last, he realized that no matter how deep the love, some obstacles—sometimes the world itself—cannot be overcome.