Chapter 3
Out of the seven–hour flight, I spent about six and a half hours in a daze, as if sleepwalking.
It wasn’t until we landed and my phone rang that the old memories in my head were finally pushed aside by someone else’s voice, bringing a brief moment of relief to my heavy mood.
“Hello?”
“You landed?”
It was Ethan–a friend I met while studying in Italy.
“Yeah, just got off the plane.”
“What’s wrong? You don’t sound right.”
He had only heard five words from me and immediately picked up on something being off.
I had to admire Ethan’s sensitivity, but I didn’t want to tell him about Noah.
That Chapter was long closed, and bringing it up now would only stir up more trouble.
“I’m fine. Just tired from sitting for so long.”
“Go get some rest at the hotel, okay? Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Alright.”
I hung up and headed toward the hotel shuttle.
But the jet lag hit harder than I expected. Even though I was physically exhausted, my mind stayed disturbingly alert.
I couldn’t fall asleep no matter how tightly I shut my eyes, so I just lay there listening to the wind outside my window,
sweeping through the foreign streets.
I finally managed to doze off for a few hours, only to be woken by a call from an unfamiliar number.
It was my old class president from high school–Viola Sinclair.
“Mint! You’re back in the country and didn’t even say anything?!”
Her tone was full of excitement, while I was still trying to catch up.
“How did you know I was back?”
“Obviously from the high school alumni group chat!”
…???
I froze.
That Facebook group–I hadn’t logged in for ages.
Chapter 3
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I only remembered the password after three tries.
Back before graduation, someone had started a “Westfield High Alumni” group.
At first, everyone was pretty active, but over time, the chat had gone so quiet it was practically abandoned.
Until–two days ago.
Someone posted a photo of me in the group.
[OMG! Just ran into Mint at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris!]
[I wasn’t sure at first, but I called out her name and it was really her!!]
[She looks exactly the same! Her aura is unreal, I’m freaking out!!]
It was a photo of me resting at the gate, eyes closed.
I was sitting in a chair, head slightly tilted, face calm and composed and the background was unmistakably the Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The moment I saw it, I knew that the person who had taken that picture was the same girl who’d called out to me at the
boarding area that day.
And just like that, the group chat exploded.
[That’s really her?! She hasn’t changed a bit after all these years!]
[Is she traveling alone? Noah’s not with her?]
As I kept scrolling, sure enough–Noah Carter’s name came up again.
Just like it always had.
Whenever one of our names was mentioned, someone would inevitably bring up the other.
It was like our names had become permanently linked–a single keyword, bound together in people’s memories.
Even after seven years, people still mentioned us side by side.
Like shadows that never faded. Like a scar etched deep.
Chapter 3
