Jay's POV
The hallway slowly emptied after the bell rang.
Students rushed back to their classrooms, conversations fading as teachers began pulling them inside. I walked toward Class 3-E, my mind still stuck on the same thing.
Mila.
That girl had looked at me like she knew me.
Not like someone who had just heard my name.
Like someone who already recognized it.
Which was strange… because I was pretty sure I'd never seen her before.
I pushed the classroom door open.
Immediately, chaos greeted me.
Felix was standing on top of a chair.
"—AND THAT'S WHY I SAY I COULD DEFINITELY BEAT YURI IN A RACE!"
Yuri leaned back in his seat, arms crossed.
"You can't even beat Ci-N."
Ci-N looked offended.
"Hey!"
Felix pointed dramatically.
"You run like a confused chicken!"
The class burst into laughter.
David sighed from his desk, rubbing his temples.
"Why am I surrounded by idiots?"
Calix didn't even look up from his book.
"Statistically speaking, you chose this seat."
I dropped my bag onto my chair.
"Good to know nothing changes here."
Ci-N immediately spun around in his seat.
"Jay!"
Felix jumped down from the chair.
"Jay!"
Yuri raised an eyebrow.
"Jay."
They were all looking at me with the same weird grin.
I narrowed my eyes.
"…Why do you all look like that?"
Felix leaned against a desk dramatically.
"Oh nothing."
Ci-N nodded quickly.
"Absolutely nothing."
David closed his notebook.
"Just a small question."
I crossed my arms.
"Ask it."
Felix grinned.
"So… Jay…"
He stretched the name.
"…why was Keifer lying on your lap yesterday?"
The entire class went silent for a second.
Then—
BOOM.
The boys exploded with laughter.
"WHAT?!" I said immediately.
Yuri smirked slightly.
"We saw it."
Ci-N nodded enthusiastically.
"With our own eyes."
Felix pointed accusingly.
"You were sitting on the bleachers after gym."
David added calmly,
"And Keifer was lying down."
Calix finally looked up.
"His head was on your lap."
I stared at them.
Then slowly turned my head.
Across the room…
Keifer was sitting at his desk.
Completely calm.
Like none of this involved him.
Felix leaned closer to me.
"So… care to explain?"
I rolled my eyes.
"He was tired."
Ci-N gasped dramatically.
"Ooooh."
Felix clutched his chest.
"She said it so casually!"
Yuri chuckled.
"Jay, that's not normal."
David nodded.
"People usually use pillows."
I grabbed a pencil from my desk and pointed it at them.
"You all need hobbies."
Felix ignored that.
"So how comfortable was the lap pillow?"
"Felix."
"Soft?"
"Felix."
"Would you recommend—"
I threw the pencil at him.
He dodged it easily, laughing.
Across the room, Keifer finally spoke.
"Are you guys done?"
Felix turned immediately.
"No."
Ci-N leaned forward.
"President Keifer, please explain."
Yuri smirked.
"Yes."
David folded his hands.
"We're listening."
Keifer didn't even blink.
"I was resting."
Felix clapped his hands loudly.
"YES!"
"CONFIRMED!"
Ci-N pointed between us.
"You two are suspicious."
I groaned.
"Can we change the topic?"
Felix shook his head.
"Absolutely not."
Just then—
A soft voice spoke behind me.
"Jay."
I turned around.
Standing near the door was Mila.
She looked slightly nervous but determined.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked.
The class immediately went quiet again.
Felix whispered loudly,
"Ooooh."
Ci-N leaned over his desk.
"New girl."
Yuri looked curious.
I stood up.
"Sure."
We stepped outside into the hallway.
The door closed behind us.
For a moment Mila didn't say anything.
Then she looked at me carefully.
"You really don't remember me… do you?"
I shook my head.
"No."
She smiled faintly.
"I thought so."
I waited.
Then she took a small breath.
"We knew each other before."
I blinked.
"…What?"
Her voice softened.
"When we were younger."
My eyebrows slowly pulled together.
"You and I… used to play together sometimes."
I searched my memory.
Nothing.
She noticed my expression and laughed quietly.
"It was a long time ago."
"So what happened?" I asked.
"My family moved abroad," she explained.
"We left suddenly."
Her eyes held mine.
"But I never forgot you."
I stared at her.
This girl… remembered me.
From childhood.
And yet I couldn't remember her at all.
"…Why didn't you say that earlier?" I asked.
She shrugged slightly.
"I wanted to see if you would recognize me first."
I leaned against the wall, thinking.
Then I sighed.
"Well… I'm sorry."
She shook her head quickly.
"No, it's okay."
Then she smiled again.
"Actually… I'm just glad you're still the same."
I raised an eyebrow.
"The same?"
She nodded.
"Still laughing when people fall."
I grinned.
"Hey, that was funny."
She laughed softly.
Then the classroom door suddenly burst open.
Felix's head popped out.
"Jay!"
I groaned.
"What?"
"Class is starting!"
Then he looked at Mila.
"Also hello new person."
Ci-N appeared behind him.
"And please come join us later so we can ask important questions."
Yuri shoved them back inside.
"Stop embarrassing us."
The door slammed shut again.
Mila stared at it.
"…Are they always like that?"
I nodded.
"Unfortunately."
She smiled.
"I think I'm going to like this school."
I pushed off the wall.
"Good."
Then I opened the door again.
"Welcome to the chaos."
And as Mila went back...
I couldn't shake the strange feeling in my chest.
Because if she really knew me from before…
Then there was still one question left.
What exactly did she remember about me…
That I didn't remember myself?
End of Chapter 32 📖✨