Some memories don't fade.
They stay… not because they were beautiful,
but because they changed the way you see people.
Flashback — Class 11
It was the day of the school's culminating event.
The campus looked different—decorated corridors, loud music, students everywhere pretending not to care but secretly enjoying every second.
Anne stood near the ground, slightly away from the crowd.
She never liked chaos.
"Hey… hotspot milega?"
She turned.
A boy stood there—confident, casual, like he belonged everywhere. Senior. Class 12.
For a second, Anne hesitated.
Then she unlocked her phone and turned on her hotspot.
"Yeah."
"Thanks," he said, smiling. "I'm Robin."
"Anne."
Simple.
But something about that moment… stayed.
It didn't end there.
Somehow, they started talking again.
First at school.
Then at home.
Messages turned into conversations. Conversations into late-night chats.
Robin was easy to talk to. Too easy.
And for the first time, Anne didn't feel like she had to think before speaking.
Maybe that's why… she didn't notice when things started changing.
Sarah
"Anneee… you didn't tell me about him!"
Sarah's voice was soft but excited, her eyes shining with curiosity.
"He's just a friend," Anne replied, trying to sound normal.
Sarah smiled.
"Still… he seems nice."
And he was.
At least, that's what it looked like.
Robin treated Sarah like a younger sister—protective, caring, warm.
Sarah trusted him easily.
She always did.
"Big brother vibes," she laughed once.
Anne didn't reply.
Something felt… off.
But she ignored it.
The Shift
Feelings are quiet at first.
Then suddenly… they're not.
Anne noticed it in the way Robin talked.
In the way his messages felt heavier.
In the way he looked at her—like he meant more than he said.
She didn't feel the same.
Attraction? Maybe.
But not that.
Not enough.
So she stepped back.
Slowly. Carefully.
But Robin didn't.
"Why are you avoiding me?" he asked one day, his voice low but intense.
"I'm not," Anne replied.
But she was.
And he knew it.
The moment that changed everything… was small.
Too small for anyone else to notice.
But not for Anne.
He reached out—held her hand.
Casual. Like it meant nothing.
Then his fingers brushed through her hair.
"Relax," he said softly.
Anne froze.
It didn't feel right.
Not even a little.
She pulled back.
And in that moment… something inside her shifted.
After That
She started creating distance.
Less replies. Shorter conversations. Avoiding him in school.
But some people don't understand distance.
They try to break it.
And that's when Anne noticed something else.
Robin… talking more to Sarah.
Laughing with her. Sitting closer. Messaging more.
At first, it looked harmless.
But Anne wasn't convinced.
Because she had already seen a side of him that didn't feel right.
"Sarah," Anne said one day, her voice serious.
"Hmm?"
"Just… be careful with Robin."
Sarah looked confused.
"He's nice, Anne. You're overthinking."
Maybe she was.
Maybe she wasn't.
But Anne knew one thing for sure—
She didn't like the way Robin looked at Sarah now.
And she didn't trust his intentions anymore.
Because Sarah…
was too soft for people like him.
And Anne?
She wasn't going to let anything hurt her.
Not again.