As the following month went by, Zach made a concerted effort to stay focused on his goals and stick to his daily routines. He kept himself busy almost constantly and steered clear of any distractions. He took his studies even more seriously, putting in extra effort to excel in his classes. However, there were still moments when the mysterious presence in his mind would send shivers down his spine, especially when he experienced déjà vu. Despite his efforts to avoid it, the sensation persisted, weighing heavily on him. The only solution he could think of was to uncover something he seemed to have forgotten.
Nally didn't distance herself from him. Her feelings for him remained unwavering even after his rejection. Instead of feeling hopeless, she chose to empathize with his reasons. This only fueled her determination to win his affection, as she was convinced he was the one her heart truly longed for.
In school, they strolled together down the second-floor hallway, heading towards the library.
"Are you sure you don't want to celebrate your birthday somewhere nice?" Nally asked.
Zach forced a smile. "I'm not really into big birthday celebrations. Just a quiet dinner with my family is perfect for me."
She sighed as she reached into her bag and retrieved something wrapped in brown paper and ribbon. She handed it to him with a gentle smile. "Here you go. Happy birthday," she said warmly.
He was surprised. "You really didn't have to, Nal."
"Go ahead, open it," she urged him.
He hesitated for a moment, then carefully untied the ribbon and peeked behind the wrapping. He was taken aback. "Hey, this is an expensive book. Nal, I'm not sure if I ca---" he was cut off mid-sentence.
"No, don't say that. It's for you," she insisted earnestly.
He sighed gratefully. "Thank you."
Her smile widened. "What are your plans for winter break?" she inquired.
"I'm heading home," he replied.
"You're from Tennessee, right?" she confirmed.
"Yeah," he nodded.
"Well, looks like I won't be seeing you over the holidays," she remarked with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
After hearing that, he started feeling uncomfortable, sensing a shift in the atmosphere between them as they walked.
"I promised my grandparents I'd spend the entire break with them at home. Plus, there's something important I need to take care of there," he explained, hoping not to upset her.
"Can I at least call you?" she asked, feeling that her holidays would be dull and lonely without him.
"Yeah, of course. Feel free to call me," he responded willingly.
As they arrived at the library, they promptly began searching for the books they needed. Once Zach found his, he scanned the history section for Nally. Spotting her reaching for a book on the seventh shelf, he made his way over to her. "Here, let me give you a hand," he offered, moving behind her to reach for the book.
She turned to face him, and as he looked down at her while his hand was still extended toward the shelf, a strange sensation enveloped him. It was as if he'd been in this exact scenario before, but at that moment, he was certain he had been with someone else. Snapping back to the present, he fumbled, accidentally dropping the book he intended to retrieve, which ended up colliding with Nally's shoulder.
YOU ARE READING
Divine & Wicked: The Trapped Memories (Book2)
Fantasía(Fantasy•Romance) COMPLETED Zach woke up with an addled mind and empty heart a few days after his surgery. He seemed to feel that his life had begun again. As he continued with what he thought was his normal life, fragments of his lost past slowly b...
