Ten years. It feels like a lifetime, and yet, here I am, standing just a few feet away from him. Cauis Zane Martell—Zane. The same boy I grew up with, the one who used to share his lunch with me when I forgot mine, the one who laughed with me until we couldn’t breathe. But that was then, and this is now. He doesn’t know me anymore.

I’ve watched him from the sidelines for far too long. He’s grown into someone powerful, someone who commands respect without even trying. Confident, polished, successful—he’s everything I could never be. I used to be the quiet kid, the nerd with thick glasses, the one who always sat in the back of the class, keeping to myself. And now, I’ve traded those glasses for contacts, shed the awkwardness, and put in the work to become someone else. A new version of myself—someone he wouldn’t recognize.

When we were kids, Zane and I were inseparable. We’d spend hours together, talking about everything and nothing, sharing dreams of the future and what we would be when we grew up. Back then, it felt like nothing could break us apart. We were a team. But then life happened, and things changed. People changed.

I left. I had to. I couldn’t stay in a place where I felt suffocated by everything around me, by the expectations and the reality that my future would always be decided for me. My family was wealthy, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough to make me feel like I had a purpose of my own. So, I ran. I went far away, made a life for myself, and cut all ties with the past.

But Zane—he stayed. He stayed and became the man he is today. He rose to the top of his family’s company, gained respect in a world that only valued power and success. And I watched him from afar, seeing the life he built, wondering if I could ever be a part of it again.

Now, here I am, standing in front of him, and he doesn’t know me. He looks at me like I’m just another employee, another face in the crowd. And maybe I am to him now. The boy he once knew is gone. I’m no longer that shy, awkward kid. But the truth is, I don’t know how to feel about it. Part of me wants him to remember. Part of me wants him to see the boy he used to laugh with, the boy he used to trust.

But it’s been too long. And sometimes, I wonder if he’s better off not knowing. He’s moved on with his life, and so have I. Or at least, that’s what I tell myself.

I’ve come back into his life not by chance, but by choice. I’m here, pretending to be someone I’m not, because the only way to get close to him is to keep this mask on. He doesn’t know I’m the same boy he used to call a friend. He doesn’t know I’ve changed, that I’ve built a life of my own, with my own success. But for now, that doesn’t matter. What matters is getting close to him, even if it means hiding the truth.

I can’t blame him for not recognizing me. After all, who would recognize the person they once knew if that person was no longer the same? I used to wear glasses, but now I don’t. I used to be quiet, but now I’m confident. I’ve worked hard for this life, for this moment, but every time I see him, it feels like I’m still that boy—still longing for something I don’t know how to reach.

What am I doing? I should just tell him the truth, shouldn’t I? But what if it changes everything? What if he doesn’t feel the same way I do? What if he doesn’t even remember me at all?

I’ve built up so much just to get here. And now that I’m this close, I’m afraid that the truth might be more than I can handle.

Standing outside Martell Enterprises, my heart beats faster than usual. The building is huge, all shiny glass and metal, and I feel a sense of awe mixed with nerves. I glance at my reflection in the door—sharp suit, confident stance, and the face of a man who looks nothing like the shy kid I used to be.

It’s been ten years. Ten years since I last saw Zane Martell. Back then, I was the quiet kid in glasses, always looking up to him, the boy who would share his lunch when I forgot mine, the one who laughed with me until we couldn’t breathe. But that was before everything changed. That was before life pulled us apart, before I became someone I didn’t recognize just so I could stand a chance at getting close to him again.

I take a deep breath and push open the glass door, stepping into the lobby. The place is just as impressive as I imagined—modern, sleek, the kind of place that screams power. I’m not used to places like this, but I keep my cool, walking up to the receptionist.

"Good morning," she says with a polite smile. "How can I help you?"

“I—uh—I’m here for an interview,” I say, my voice is a little shaky. I handed her my resume, trying to look confident even though my insides are a mess.

She scans the resume quickly, then looks up at me with a raised eyebrow. “Mr. Navarro, your appointment is with Mr. Martell?”

I nod, my throat tight at the mention of his name. "Yes, that's right."

"Please have a seat," she says, pointing to a waiting area. "Mr. Martell will be with you shortly."

I sit down, doing my best to calm myself. The lobby is quiet, with soft music playing in the background and the faint sound of heels clicking on the polished floor. I try to distract myself by looking out the window, but all I can think about is Zane. The boy I used to know. The man I still think about, even after all these years.

Zane Martell. He’s not just the kid I grew up with anymore. He’s the CEO of this company, a powerful man who commands respect with every move he makes. He’s successful, confident, and everything I could never be. I was the shy, awkward kid who didn’t fit in. But now, I’ve worked hard to change that. I’ve ditched the glasses, built a new life for myself, and become someone else. Someone who looks like he belongs in a place like this.

But even with all that change, I still feel like that scared kid who used to follow Zane around, hoping he’d remember me. And now, here I am—standing in front of the man who used to be my best friend, pretending to be someone I’m not.

“Mr. Navarro?” The voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I look up to see Zane standing in front of me. It takes everything in me not to freeze, but I can’t help the way my heart skips a beat.

He doesn’t recognize me. Why would he? I don’t look the same anymore. I’m not the boy he used to know. I hold out my hand, doing my best to appear calm.

“Mr. Martell,” I say, my voice is steady, even though inside I’m panicking. “It’s an honor to meet you.”

He shakes my hand, his grip firm but professional. “The pleasure’s mine,” he replies. “Please, follow me.”

I nod and follow him down a hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. I’m close now—so close to the man I once called my best friend. But he doesn’t know that. He doesn’t know who I really am. And maybe it’s better that way.

Zane opens the door to his office and gestures for me to go in first. The office is just as impressive as the rest of the building—modern and sleek, with a view of the city that takes my breath away. I take a seat across from his desk, trying to keep my nerves in check. He sits down as well, his eyes studying me for a moment.

“So, Mr. Navarro,” he says, his voice calm and polite. “Tell me about yourself.”

I clear my throat, suddenly feeling the weight of the moment. I could tell him everything—about the boy I used to be, about how I left, how I changed—but I don’t. Not yet. Not now.

Instead, I give him the version of myself I’ve created—the confident, successful man who’s worked hard to get to this point. I talk about my experience, the jobs I’ve had, the skills I’ve developed. The man sitting across from him is someone Zane doesn’t know, and for now, that’s the way it has to stay.

“I’ve worked in a number of industries,” I say, my voice sounding more confident than I feel. “I’ve managed teams, led projects, and I believe I can bring a fresh perspective to your company.”

Zane nods, listening carefully. He doesn’t seem to recognize me. And maybe that’s for the best. I don’t know if I’m ready for him to know the truth. To know that I’m the same boy who once sat beside him in class, the one who laughed with him, the one who thought they’d always be friends.

But life changed. We changed. And now, I have to live with the mask I wear.

For now, I’ll keep pretending. I’ll keep pretending to be someone I’m not—someone who can walk into his life without dragging the past along. Because if I don’t, I’ll lose the only chance I have to get close to him again.

And that’s the hardest part of all.

The interview ended faster than I expected. Zane asked a few more questions, most of which I answered with confidence, but there was this strange feeling in the air, a tension that wouldn’t go away. Every time I spoke, I wondered if he noticed something—if he could sense the hesitation in my voice, or maybe the way I looked at him longer than I should have.

But Zane didn’t seem to notice anything. He kept things professional, polite, and distant. He thanked me for coming in, and I shook his hand, trying to remain composed despite the turmoil inside me. I followed him to the door of his office, where he let me out. His eyes didn’t linger on me, just like I’d expected. To him, I was just another employee, another face he had to deal with. He didn’t see me as the boy he used to know.

I forced a smile, nodding at the receptionist as I left the building. The lobby felt a little too quiet as I walked through it, my steps echoing in the large space. My heart was racing, but I didn’t know why. I should be relieved that it was over, that I’d made it through the interview without giving myself away. But the emptiness was still there. It felt like nothing had changed, even though everything had.

When I stepped into the elevator and the doors closed behind me, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. I pulled out my phone, noticing a message from Marco.

“How did it go?”

I quickly typed a response, trying to keep it casual.

“It went well, I think. No surprises.”

But I didn’t feel sure of that. It felt like I was lying to him, even though I wasn’t. The truth was, I had no idea how to feel. Zane didn’t recognize me. And honestly, a part of me was relieved by that. I don’t think I’m ready for him to remember who I really am.

I left the building and walked to my car. The drive home was quiet, and my thoughts kept drifting back to Zane. His face, his voice, the way he looked at me like I was just another person in his company.

The whole time I had been so careful, hiding behind a mask. I wasn’t the awkward, shy kid anymore. I wasn’t the one who needed him to protect me. I had changed. I was confident now, someone who had built a life on his own. But still, when I saw Zane, I couldn’t help but feel that pull. The connection we had when we were younger—was it gone forever? Or was there still a chance?

As I pulled into my parking spot, I stared at my phone again. Another message from Marco.

“So, what’s next? Are you going to tell him who you are, or keep pretending?”

I paused, looking at the screen. I knew what he meant. What did I want to do? Should I come clean and tell Zane the truth about who I really am? Or should I keep pretending, like I’d been doing all these years?

I didn’t have the answer. I wasn’t sure I could ever tell him the whole truth. There was too much at risk. What if he didn’t feel the same way? What if, after all these years, he didn’t remember anything? What if he hated me for hiding who I was?

I typed a response.

“I don’t know yet. I’m not sure I’m ready.”

Then, I turned off my phone and sat there in my car for a while. The weight of everything pressed down on me. I couldn’t help but wonder if things would ever be the same between Zane and me. But maybe they wouldn’t be. Maybe that was the reality I had to accept.

For now, I had to keep moving forward, even though the past kept pulling me back. I couldn’t go back to the way things were. But at the same time, I didn’t know how to move forward. I didn’t know what was going to happen next.

The only thing I was sure of was that pretending felt easier than facing the truth. But at what cost? How long could I keep up the act before everything fell apart?

I sighed, looking out the window as the sun began to set. For the first time in a long time, I felt lost.