It was unexpected.
The question.
"Do you want to go somewhere?"
Reyansh looked up from his phone.
"…somewhere?"
Anaya nodded slightly.
"A walk. Or… a park nearby."
A pause.
Because this—
Was new.
She had asked.
"…okay," he said.
Without overthinking.
The park was quiet.
Evening settling in slowly.
The sunlight softer now.
Golden.
They walked without rushing.
No destination in mind.
Until—
They found a bench.
Near a small pond.
They sat.
Not too close.
Not too far.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
Then—
Anaya broke the silence.
"I used to hate moving."
Reyansh glanced at her.
"…I know."
She blinked.
"…you do?"
He paused.
Realizing.
"…I mean—most people do."
She nodded slowly.
"…yeah."
Then she continued.
"My parents had frequent transfers. Every few years… new city, new school."
He listened quietly.
This time—
Carefully.
"It wasn't easy," she said.
A small smile.
But not a happy one.
"I had to start over every time."
"I know."
The words slipped again.
She turned to him this time.
A little more observant.
"…you say that a lot."
He exhaled lightly.
"…habit."
She didn't question it further.
Not yet.
"My school life wasn't really… great," she continued.
A pause.
"I mean, it wasn't bad either."
She looked ahead.
At the water.
"Just… incomplete."
That word—
Hit him.
Because he knew—
Exactly what part was missing.
Her fingers intertwined slightly in her lap.
"I don't remember much from my high school."
Reyansh's breath stilled.
"…what?"
She nodded lightly.
Still looking ahead.
"I had an accident."
Silence.
"A small one," she added quickly. "Nothing major."
But her voice softened.
"Except…"
She paused.
"I lost parts of my memory."
Everything stopped.
For him.
"…partial amnesia," she said quietly.
The words settled heavily in the air.
And suddenly—
Everything made sense.
The confusion.
The distance.
The way she looked at him—
Like she knew him, but didn't.
The missed recognition.
The forgotten past.
"…Ana."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
She turned slightly.
"…hmm?"
He didn't continue.
Because now—
Now he understood.
She didn't forget him because she wanted to.
She didn't leave him behind.
She lost him.
Without even knowing.
His chest tightened.
"…why didn't you tell me before?" he asked quietly.
She shrugged slightly.
"It never came up."
A pause.
"And I didn't think it mattered that much."
He almost laughed.
But didn't.
Because it mattered.
More than anything.
"I just thought…" she hesitated.
"…if we're moving forward…"
She looked at him now.
Properly.
"…you should know."
Honest.
Open.
Trusting him.
And that—
That made it harder.
Because now—
He was the one hiding something.
"…thank you," he said softly.
She gave a small nod.
A silence followed.
Different this time.
Deeper.
Because now—
One truth was out.
And another—
Still buried.
"Does it bother you?" she asked suddenly.
He frowned slightly.
"…what?"
"This," she gestured lightly. "My memory thing."
He shook his head immediately.
"No."
Then—
Softer—
"Not like that."
She studied his face for a second.
"…then how?"
A pause.
"Like something important was lost," he said quietly.
Her breath caught slightly.
"…yeah."
She looked away again.
"I feel that sometimes too."
He didn't say anything.
Because if he did—
He might say too much.
The sun dipped lower.
The light fading slowly.
And in that quiet moment—
Reyansh made a decision.
He wouldn't tell her.
Not yet.
Because this—
This fragile beginning—
Might break.
And he couldn't risk losing her again.
Not when she had just come back into his life.
Even if she didn't remember it.
"…let's go?" she said softly.
He nodded.
And as they walked back—
The distance between them—
Felt smaller than ever.
But the truth between them—
Heavier.
The decision didn't take long.
It never does—
When families are sure.
Dates were discussed.
Calls exchanged.
Details aligned.
And just like that—
It was decided.
The engagement.
Next week.
Everything moved fast after that.
Too fast.
Shopping.
Preparations.
Invitations.
Anaya found herself being pulled into it—
Without fully realizing when it all became real.
"Mumma, this is too much," she muttered softly, looking at the outfits laid out before her.
Her mother smiled.
"It's your engagement, Anaya. It's supposed to be."
Anaya exhaled.
But somewhere—
Between the laughter.
Between the chaos.
Her mind kept drifting.
To him.
To that evening.
To that conversation.
To the way he had gone quiet after she told him about her past.
"…he changed."
Not drastically.
Not visibly.
But she noticed.
A slight distance.
A quietness.
Like he was thinking too much.
"…why?"
She shook her head slightly.
Maybe she was overthinking again.
Across the city—
Reyansh stood in front of the mirror.
The room was silent.
Too silent.
His reflection stared back at him.
Composed.
Put together.
Exactly how everyone saw him.
"…liar."
The word slipped out quietly.
His jaw tightened.
Because that's what it felt like.
Every step forward.
Every decision.
Without telling her the truth.
"She trusted you."
His mind replayed the park.
Her voice.
Her honesty.
"You should know."
And what had he done?
Kept quiet.
His hand clenched slightly.
"…what are you doing?"
Because this—
This wasn't fair.
She deserved to know.
She deserved the truth.
About him.
About them.
About everything she had lost.
His chest felt heavy.
"If she finds out later…"
The thought didn't complete.
Because he already knew the answer.
It would break something.
Maybe everything.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
"…then tell her."
Simple.
Too simple.
But the next thought came just as fast.
"And if she pulls away?"
Silence.
Because that fear—
Was real.
He had already lost her once.
This time—
He wasn't sure he could handle it again.
"…selfish."
The word hit harder this time.
Because he knew—
That's exactly what it was.
Wanting her.
Keeping her.
Even if it meant hiding the truth.
He closed his eyes for a second.
Then opened them again.
"…just till the engagement."
A weak justification.
But one he held onto.
"I'll tell her after."
Not now.
Not when everything had just started.
Not when she was finally—
Close.
His reflection didn't look convinced.
Neither was he.
The day of the engagement arrived faster than expected.
Lights.
Decorations.
Soft music.
Everything looked perfect.
Anaya stood in front of the mirror.
Dressed.
Ready.
And yet—
Her heart felt strangely unsteady.
"…why am I nervous?"
Not fear.
Not doubt.
Just—
Something she couldn't name.
Her phone buzzed.
A message.
From him.
"Are you ready?"
She stared at it for a second.
Then typed back—
"I think so."
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then—
"I'll be there."
Her breath softened slightly.
Because somehow—
That felt reassuring.
Across the venue—
Reyansh adjusted his cuff slightly.
People greeted him.
Family smiled.
Everything was in place.
But inside—
Nothing felt settled.
His gaze moved across the room—
Searching.
And then—
He saw her.
Standing there.
Under soft lights.
And for a moment—
Everything else faded.
Because she looked—
Like something he had already lost once.
And somehow—
Found again.
His chest tightened.
"…don't lose her again."
The thought echoed.
But the fear—
Didn't leave.
Because this time—
If she walked away—
It wouldn't be fate.
It would be him.
And that truth—
Was harder to face than anything else.