Chapter 10: Memories of the Past

Jake's POV

As we walked away from the park, I kept my expression neutral, but my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

That necklace…

I recognized it the moment I saw it. The small moon pendant hanging from Aiden's neck was exactly the same as the one I used to have... the one I gave to him all those years ago.

He still had it.

All this time.

I clenched my fist slightly, my other hand slipping into my pocket where my own pendant... the sun... rested. The weight of it felt heavier now, as if the past had suddenly caught up with me.

I stole a glance at Aiden. He looked lost in thought, staring ahead as we walked. Did he remember me? Did he ever wonder about the friend who suddenly disappeared?

I wanted to say something, to ask him directly. But I stopped myself.

Not yet.

I wasn't sure why I hesitated. Maybe because I wasn't the same kid he used to know. Maybe because I wasn't sure if he'd even want to remember me after all this time.

Or maybe… I just wanted to stay by his side a little longer before the truth came out.

"Hey," I said, forcing a small grin to push away the tension in my chest. "Since it's my first weekend here, how about I buy us drinks?"

Aiden blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Huh? Oh, sure."

His voice sounded distracted, but he didn't question it.

Good.

For now, I'd keep pretending.

For now… I'd just stay close.

As we walked in silence, my thoughts drifted back to that day... the day I left. 

I still remember it so clearly. The way the sun filtered through the trees in the park, the way Aiden smiled so easily, unaware that it would be the last time we'd see each other for years. 

I knew I had to leave. My parents had already decided. They were moving to another country for work, and there was nothing I could do to change that. 

But I couldn't bring myself to tell Aiden. 

I knew him too well. I knew how he would react... his eyes would water, his voice would tremble, and he would try so hard to hold back his tears. And I… I didn't think I could handle seeing him cry because of me. 

So instead, I smiled at him like everything was normal. I gave him the necklace with the moon pendant and told him, "See you next time."

Then I left. 

No goodbyes. No explanations. Just those last words, hoping that one day, we really would  see each other again. 

And now, here we were. 

He had changed, but at the same time, he was still the same Aiden I remembered... the same Aiden I had always… 

I stopped that thought before it could go any further. 

This wasn't the time. 

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He was still touching the pendant, his brows slightly furrowed, as if lost in his own memories. 

Did he still think about me? 

Did he ever wonder why I never came back? 

I let out a quiet breath and shoved my hands into my pockets, feeling the familiar shape of my own pendant... the sun... resting there. 

Not yet, I told myself. Not yet.

We arrived at a small café, the kind of place that felt warm and familiar, with the scent of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air. Aiden stepped up to the counter first, scanning the menu before placing his order.

"I'll have an iced caramel macchiato," he said, his voice casual but a little softer than usual.

I smirked. "Sweet tooth, huh?"

He shot me a look but didn't deny it.

I stepped forward. "I'll take a black coffee."

After paying, we grabbed our drinks and looked around for a seat. The café wasn't too crowded, so we managed to find a table by the window. Aiden slid into his seat across from me, stirring his drink absentmindedly.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence wasn't exactly awkward, but there was something lingering in the air... something unspoken.

I leaned back in my chair, watching him. "So, do you come here often?"

Aiden shrugged. "Not really. I usually just grab coffee near the campus or at work."

"Right, the café you work at," I mused, taking a sip of my coffee. "Bet it's weird sitting on this side of the counter for once."

He snorted. "Yeah, a little."

I chuckled, resting my elbow on the table. My gaze drifted toward the pendant around his neck again. I almost wanted to bring it up... to see if he remembered anything. But instead, I just let the moment be.

Aiden glanced up at me, his expression unreadable. "What?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously but didn't push it. Instead, he took a sip of his drink, his fingers still loosely holding onto the pendant.

I hid my small smile behind my coffee cup.

He still didn't know.

But something told me… he was starting to remember.

Aiden set his cup down, tapping his fingers lightly against the table. His gaze wandered toward the window, where people passed by, lost in their own worlds.

I watched him carefully, noting the way his brows furrowed slightly in thought. He was remembering something... I could tell.

"Hey," I spoke up, making him blink and turn back to me. "You okay? You've been spacing out a lot today."

He hesitated before shrugging. "Just thinking."

"About what?" I asked, tilting my head.

He looked down at his drink, stirring it with his straw. "It's nothing. Just… memories, I guess."

My chest tightened slightly, but I kept my expression neutral. "Good memories or bad ones?"

Aiden let out a small chuckle. "I'm not sure yet."

I hummed, taking another sip of my coffee. "Memories have a way of sneaking up on you, huh?"

"Yeah…" He sighed, leaning back against his chair. "It's weird, though. I don't even know why I'm thinking about it now. It's not like it matters anymore."

I forced a smile. "You sure about that?"

He looked at me, confused. "What do you mean?"

I shrugged. "Sometimes, things from the past come back for a reason."

Aiden scoffed lightly. "Sounds like a line from a drama."

I chuckled. "Maybe. But that doesn't mean it's not true."

He didn't respond right away, just tracing the rim of his cup with his fingertip. His pendant caught the light, and I couldn't stop my gaze from lingering on it.

I wanted to tell him.

I wanted to say, It matters. It mattered then, and it still matters now.

But instead, I just leaned forward, resting my chin on my palm.

"So, after this, wanna go anywhere else?" I asked, changing the subject.

Aiden blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "Uh… I don't know. I didn't really plan anything."

"Then let's just walk around," I suggested. "See where we end up."

He studied me for a moment, then let out a small sigh. "Fine."

A small victory.

Maybe I couldn't tell him everything just yet.

But at least, for now, I could stay by his side a little longer.

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