The sun setting saw AZ return to her apartment looking like she'd just come back from a whirlwind. The moment she opened the door, she didn't bother with anything else—she headed straight for her bed and collapsed onto it with a sigh.
Her mind replayed everything that had happened, but one thing stood out like a glowing sign in her daydream-filled head—Ian.
She knew nothing about him—not his age, not what he did, not even if Ian was his real name. Still, she couldn't help wanting to know more.
Curious, she grabbed her phone and typed in the name he'd given her—Alyster Cashian Vyrelun. Or… was it spelled like that?
Nothing came up. No Facebook. No Instagram—not even discord. Just an empty digital trail.
She tried Google next.
"Did you mean Alistair Cassian Virelune?" Google offered, in its all-knowing tone.
She clicked.
Only one result—a business page, all charts, investor updates, and corporate language that might as well have been a foreign language to her.
"Ugh. Boring," she muttered, and closed it.
With a sigh, she tossed her phone aside, feeling no closer to solving the mystery of the man with the sharp suit, sharper smile and gentle energy.
"I should've asked for his number," she muttered. "What a waste. I just lost a gem."
Feeling sleepy and slightly dramatic, she closed her eyes—and before she knew it, she was fast asleep.
-----------
A loud, obnoxious beep shattered the peaceful silence of the room.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
AZ groaned and rolled over, smacking around her nightstand like she was trying to fight a mosquito. Her hand finally landed on her phone, which continued blaring its cheerful betrayal at full volume.
"Okay, okay! I get it! I'm awake!" she grumbled, her voice hoarse and sleepy.
She peeked at the screen through one barely-opened eye. 7:00 AM. Why on earth did she set it so early? Oh, right. Responsibilities. Life. Ugh.
Still wrapped in the warmth of her blanket cocoon, AZ let out a long, groggy sigh. Her brain was still booting up, thoughts dragging themselves together like slow-loading tabs. Then—just like that—the image popped back into her mind, clear as if he were standing in front of her.
Isaac.
Wait... was it Isaac? Fuck.
Not this again. Names and faces always slipped through her mental filter like sand through fingers. The details never stuck. Except for the style—that part she always remembered. The vibe. The way he carried himself. Everything else? A blur.
She blinked at the ceiling.
With a groan, she dragged herself out of bed like a reluctant zombie on a Sunday morning.
Yes, It was Sunday morning, and yet, she was heading to work—school.
She's a teacher, after all. Elementary teacher to be exact.
No classes today, just lesson planning and preparation. A never-ending cycle of reviewing modules, printing worksheets, and double-checking class activities. It was her routine, and in some strange way, it gave her peace.
Before heading to the school building, she made a stop at the café she'd come to frequent—her comfort spot.
She ordered her usual: iced strawberry latte w/ 10 percent sugar. The barista already knew her by name.
Carrying the drink in hand, she walked to her usual spot by the window and sat down, letting the caffeine do its magic.
It was supposed to be just another typical Sunday. But somehow, this day already felt different.
"AZ?"
The voice was faint, almost drowned by the music playing in her Earbud, but it cut through enough that her senses caught it. She paused, removed one earbud, and turned toward the source.
Standing there, half-smiling, half-surprised, was someone from her past.
AZ blinked. Luciana Jones. Of all people.
Luciana's smile widened. "Oh my gosh—it is you!" she said, a little louder than necessary.
AZ forced a polite chuckle as Luciana walked over and went in for a hug. AZ awkwardly stood up halfway to meet it, more out of obligation than affection.
"Wow, it's really been a while," Luciana said as they pulled away.
AZ nodded slowly. "Yeah… morning."
"Didn't expect to see you here," Luciana said, eyeing the coffee and the papers on the table. "Working on a Sunday?"
AZ gestured vaguely toward her notes. "Yeah. Just catching up with lesson plans. You know how it is."
Luciana gave her a look of mock sympathy. "Same AZ, always the diligent one."
AZ managed a weak smile. Still fake sweet, huh.
Luciana had always been that girl in high school—the one who wore sweetness like perfume: strong, noticeable, and entirely artificial. With her soft voice and calculated smile, she fooled most people. But AZ knew better. She remembered the whispered rumors Luciana started, the way she turned friends against each other with a single word, how she always played the victim while pulling the strings behind everyone's back. She wasn't just two-faced—she was a master of pretending. Better than Nie Huiasang in MDZS And AZ hated pretenders—Not Nie Huaisang though. That's why she never liked Luciana, even if she never had a solid reason others could understand. She just knew.
"So," Luciana continued, flipping her long hair over her shoulder, "are you going?"
AZ blinked. "Going where?"
Luciana raised a brow like it was obvious. "To the reunion, duh."
"Reunion?"
"Yeah. Not the whole batch—just our section. From Grade 9," Luciana clarified.
AZ's expression froze for a second. Grade 9. That chaotic year. It was their 'prime,' sure—they won competitions, nailed performances—but beneath the shiny surface was a pit of backstabbing, rumors, and fake friendships. AZ had never truly belonged in that class, no matter how hard she tried.
"When is it?" AZ asked cautiously.
"Tomorrow evening. At Savannah Resort." Luciana's eyes sparkled with excitement. "We've got a reservation. Just say our section's name at the entrance."
AZ hesitated. "I'll... think about it."
Luciana tilted her head and pouted slightly. "Come on, it'll be fun. Please? Everyone's dying to see you again."
Doubt it. AZ thought. But she found herself saying, "Okay… I'll try."
Luciana grinned, satisfied. "Yay! See you there then. Don't bail!"
AZ gave a noncommittal wave. "Sure."
With that, Luciana turned and walked away, heels clicking lightly against the cafe floor. AZ exhaled deeply and slumped back into her seat, sipping her now lukewarm coffee.
Did she just come by here to tell me about the reunion? She didn't even order. AZ thought.
She glanced out the window. The street outside looked the same as every other day. But inside her chest, something had shifted.
Reunion, huh?
"Shit."
AZ slapped her forehead lightly and groaned.
She forgot to ask about the theme.
Of course she did. She was too busy trying to survive a forced conversation with Luciana and mentally preparing herself for an evening of fake smiles and awkward small talk.
Now she was stuck, clueless about what to wear. She reached for her phone but paused.
Polina would've been her go-to for these things. After all, they were classmates in Grade 9 too. But Polina was off the grid for now—honeymoon bliss in full swing.
Who else could I even ask? AZ thought, biting her lip. She wasn't close to anyone else from that class. Most of them she could barely stand.
Well...
There is someone.
Her fingers hovered above her laptop keyboard, hesitating for a moment. Then, almost on instinct, she started typing.
Click. Clack. Tap. Send.
Message sent.
Not even a minute passed before a notification pinged on her screen.
|"AZ?"
God, she thought, why is everyone calling me by my name like it's some sort of roll call today?
She shook her head with a small laugh, then quickly typed a reply:
"Hi... Kean."
His replies came fast—too fast.
|"Long time no talk."
"How are you?"
"Are you doing well?"
Three messages in under ten seconds.
"Wait—slow down, gee." she typed, followed by a laughing emoji.
|"Sorry... I'm just excited."
AZ rolled her eyes affectionately. Still the same Kean.
"Are you going tomorrow?" AZ asked.
|"The reunion?"
"Yeah. Wait—are you?"
"Somehow..."
"What's the theme, by the way? I forgot to ask Luciana earlier."
"Your favorite color. That's what they said."
"Oh, and apparently, there's a prize if you bring a partner."
AZ blinked.
"A partner? What kind of prize?"
|"Not sure. Something sponsored by Winter's family."
AZ paused at that. Winter. One of their popular classmates. Born with a silver spoon, poised to inherit her parents' chain of resorts.
"Did she really take over their business?" AZ asked.
|"Even if she didn't want to, she had to."
AZ stared at the screen for a second, reflecting. Some people really don't get to choose, huh?
"You're right. Welp—I have to go now. I still have to prep for tomorrow's classes."
|"Alright. See you, princess."
She stared at the message.
Princess.
A nickname she hadn't heard in years. Not since high school. Not since the days when Kean used to tease her mercilessly in the hallways—playfully calling her "princess" because of the way she held her books like a little lady and always corrected the teachers' notes.
Back then, she thought he was just messing with her. But a part of her had secretly liked the attention.
She typed back quickly:
"Gosh, you already have a girlfriend. Stop calling me that."
His response came almost instantly.
|"You mean Isabelle?"
"We broke up. Long time ago."
AZ froze.
"Oh."
"Well… I guess it's gonna be awkward tomorrow then."
"I don't know. Let's just see where this goes."
AZ stared at those words. Typical Kean Charles Hugh, she thought.
"Still the same unpredictable flirt, huh?"
|"See you tomorrow."
The chat ended there. She closed her laptop slowly, a swirl of thoughts swimming behind her eyes.
Kean Charles Hugh.
He was part of her teenage story. A harmless crush. A funny memory. That's all.
She didn't feel anything for him now—not the butterflies, not the yearning. Nothing unresolved. Just a sense of clarity. And maybe a little amusement.
She remembered liking him once, back when she still believed high school drama mattered and teasing meant something more. But those feelings faded with time, like pencil marks erased from an old notebook.
"Never thought they'd broken up," she murmured.
Not because it changed anything—but because it reminded her how much people change.
She gathered her notes, and stretched her arms.
Reunion or not, life goes on.
And hers? It was in a pretty good place. Depends..
"AZ?"
Another voice called out, cutting through the low hum of cafe chatter.
She blinked and looked up from her laptop, halfway through sipping her coffee.
"What in the world—" she muttered, eyes narrowing as she turned toward the source.
A guy stood just a few feet away. Tall, with neatly styled hair and an easy grin. He looked vaguely familiar.
"Uh… yeah?" she raised her eyebrows cautiously.
The guy tilted his head, amused. "Don't you remember me?"
AZ gave a sheepish smile, squinting at him a little harder this time.
"Sorry… I'm terrible with faces. Even worse with names. Mind reintroducing yourself?"
He laughed—an honest, amused kind of laugh. "We met two days ago. At the reception? Polina and Frenrich's wedding?"
AZ froze mid-sip, eyes going wide.
"Oh." She blinked. "OH! Goodness, I'm so sorry!" She quickly gestured to the chair across from her. "Please, have a seat!"
"Thank you," he said, grinning. "But I'll grab a drink first. Be right back."
She watched him walk toward the counter, mentally kicking herself. How could I forget someone I just met—at a wedding, no less the guy she always wanted to get to know more?
A few minutes later, he returned, coffee in hand, and sat across from her.
"I'm glad I ran into you again," he said, smiling warmly.
AZ gave a small, nervous chuckle. "I even thought I'd be the one to recognize you first. But clearly, I failed."
"It's fine, really. Don't be too hard on yourself. Happens all the time." He waved it off like it was no big deal. "So, why are you here?"
"This place? It's kind of my second home," she replied, lifting her cup slightly. "I come here almost every weekend. Helps me prep for my classes."
"Ah, right. Work life." He nodded. "Makes sense."
She tilted her head curiously. "But I've never seen you here before. You just visiting?"
"Yeah, first time in this part of town, actually. I've got some business to deal with this week, so I figured I'd explore the area a bit."
AZ nodded, giving a small hum of acknowledgment, but before either of them could continue the conversation, his phone buzzed loudly on the table.
He glanced at the screen and let out a quiet sigh.
"Well, that's my cue. I've got to take this. But I'll see you around, okay?"
He stood up, slipping his phone into his pocket. Then, flashing her a final grin,
"And hey—try not to forget me next time."
She laughed softly as he walked away, disappearing out the door with the same casual charm he entered with.
But before she could return to her laptop, another voice called out;
"AZ?"
She turned again, slightly exasperated. "Who is it this time—"
It was the barista.
"Miss, your drink's ready."
She frowned, confused. "But I didn't order another one."
The barista smiled knowingly. "You didn't. But the guy did."
Her eyes widened slightly as she stepped up to the counter. A second coffee sat waiting for her. On the side of the cup, written in black marker;
"For AZ. In case you forget again. #63+*********** :)"
AZ blinked, surprised. A small laugh escaped her lips as she took the cup.
"I got his number… but I forgot his name." she muttered.
Shaking her head, she returned to her table, gathered her things, and slung her bag over her shoulder.
Whatever this week had in store, it was already shaping up to be interesting.