Chapter Eight: The Return of Astrid đč
Three Months Later
Alex: "Hey, don't ask me to stop. Instead ask him to stop his stupid bets."
Alan: "No, no. Don't ask me. Ask him to stop being at the top of the class."
History Teacher: "When will you two start working together and finish this project?"
Math Teacher: "WHAT! Do you want them to destroy the school or to kill us?"
The teachers exchanged frustrated glances. Finally, the principal stepped in, her voice sharp but steady.
All the teachers together: "Enough! Both of you should be cooperating, not fighting. From today onward, you must work together and make this school the best. No more excuses."
The classroom fell silent. Even the students who usually laughed at our arguments looked uneasy.
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Alan's POV
Three years. It's been three years since I last heard her name.
School hasn't changed. Alex and I still pretend we aren't twins. It's better that way â fewer guards, less drama, fewer people trying to use us for money.
The only thing that changed is our reputations.
Alex is the school angel: basketball captain, top of the class, admired by everyone.
Me? I'm the opposite. The poor student turned fighter. The one with a bad temper, zero patience, always in trouble.
The only reason the school is still standing is because Alex stops me before I hit anyone. Everyone thinks he's brave for stopping me. No one knows the truth â that he's the only person I actually listen to. To everyone else, we're enemies.
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Alan the Football Captain
But I wasn't just a fighter anymore. I had joined the football club, and now I was captain. On the field, I was unstoppable â leading the team, pushing them to victory. The crowd cheered my name, but when the game ended, the cheers faded.
Because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't outrun the emptiness inside. Being captain gave me respect, but it couldn't heal the wound Bianca left behind.
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Brothers at School
"Hey guys, can you tell this classmate of yours to stop giving me bets and challenges?" Alex dropped into the seat next to me, sighing.
"Everyone's afraid of me," I said, not looking up. "So you should be too. Cause you're a mammy's boy."
"What! I'm not afraid of you," Alex shot back. "Even if you send your father to kill me, it won't work. Please, someone help me. Maybe the day you grow your own horns, then maybe I'll think about it."
I ignored him and went back to my book. Fighting with Alex was exhausting.
The day passed like always. Classes, bets, more bets.
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The Return
During lunch, I was sitting alone at my desk when Alex came running in from the playground. His face was pale, his breath uneven.
"She's back," he said.
My hand stopped writing.
"Yeah," I said quietly. "I saw her last week. Looks like she doesn't care about her promise anymore."
Alex stared at me, then smacked me on the head.
"You idiot. She got into a car accident last year. She lost her memory. And her parents."
He lowered his voice.
"Now she's living with her grandparents. You're a prince, Alan. And you didn't even think to check. You're really a coward."
Coward.
Maybe I was. Because I was scared to find out she forgot me.
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Astrid's Reintroduction
That afternoon, whispers spread through the school. A new student had joined. When she walked into class, the room froze. Astrid.
Her hair was shorter, her eyes softer, but it was her. She looked around, confused, as if searching for something familiar. Students whispered her name, but she didn't react.
She didn't remember. Not me. Not us. Not the promise.
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Alan's Fear
I looked out the window toward the garden. She was here. In this school. And she didn't remember me at all.
The thought cut deeper than any fight, sharper than any insult. Astrid had returned, but the bond we once had was gone â erased by fate.
Alex leaned on my desk, his voice low but firm.
"Don't rush. She's fragile. If you push too hard, you'll lose her again. Let me help you."
I clenched my fists, torn between hope and fear.
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(DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. NOT ALL YOU SEE OR HEAR IS TRUE. SOME ARE JUST FALSE INFORMATION) đŠđ