Chapter 1

1

My brain has a cruel glitch. It erases every moment I am hurt. School bullies called me a brainless freak, but I woke up the next morning with a clean slate. At my old job, client harassment and coworker cold shoulders dissolved into thin air by nightfall.

Then Lucas and my childhood friend Frank entered my life. They kept a leather notebook of my daily life and sought specialists to treat me. "Julie, as long as we are around, no one will ever hurt you again."

Yet on my birthday, they brought Amber, the very girl who'd tormented me in school. "Julie, she was your best friend," Lucas whispered. "You just don't remember." I stayed silent.

Stepping out to the restroom, my phone accidentally called Lucas. Through the speaker, a friend's voice rang out. "If Julie finds out you two only got close because of a bet with Amber, wouldn't she lose her mind?" Laughter followed. Lucas stroked Amber's hair, indifferent. "Who cares? She'll forget by tomorrow anyway." Frank tossed my cake figurine into the trash. "If not for Amber, who'd want to stay with an idiot?"

My nails dug into my palms. They didn't know that this time, I would not forget.

…

I stood frozen by the door for a long time until a passing waiter paused. "Miss, are you lost?"

I snapped back to reality, shook my head, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

The room instantly fell silent the moment I stepped inside. Lucas subtly pulled away from Amber. Frank walked straight up to me.

"Julie, what took you so long? Lucas and I were just about to go look for you."

I stared right into his eyes, truly unable to fathom how someone I grew up with could hide such a hideous second face.

Frank reached out to feel my forehead, but I instinctively flinched away. "I am fine. Just got a little confused by the hallways."

Amber sat comfortably in my seat, showing no intention of getting up.

I flashed my phone screen at Lucas. He saw the call timer showing fifteen minutes and a flash of panic crossed his face.

"I must have pocket dialed you by mistake, Julie. You did not hear anything, did you?"

The nervous probing in his voice was glaring. I lowered my gaze and shook my head.

Lucas and Frank exchanged a quick glance, visible relief washing over them.

I was never someone who enjoyed noisy crowds, and after hearing their dirty secret, I lost whatever little mood I had left. I sat in a dark corner, watching Lucas and Frank take turns singing love songs to Amber. I let out a bitter, silent smile.

While no one was paying attention, I quietly slipped out.

The moment I unlocked the front door at home, all my strength drained from my body. I collapsed onto the foyer floor, hugging my knees in the dark. By the time I forced myself to stand, my legs were completely numb.

I walked into the study and pulled out the leather notebook from the drawer. Inside were all the daily logs Lucas and Frank kept about me. As I flipped through the pages, I realized several sheets had been torn out, mostly entries concerning Amber.

I closed it quietly. The two men who swore to protect me had turned out to be the ones who cut me the deepest.

Returning to my bedroom, I pulled out my own private journal. I had secretly learned to keep notes just like them. Word by word, I recorded everything that happened tonight so that I would not forget tomorrow.

A few days ago, my specialist told me my brain was finally healing and my memory was stabilizing. I had asked him to keep it a secret, wanting to give Lucas and Frank a wonderful surprise today.

At one in the morning, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Ordinarily, if I went missing for more than five minutes, my phone would blow up with their panicked calls. But tonight, nobody noticed I was gone. Their hearts had never belonged to me in the first place.

Downstairs, the front door clicked open. Giggly whispers and playful banter echoed into the hallway.

Lucas walked in with his arm around Amber. Seeing me wide awake in bed, his movements stiffened for a second.

"Julie, when did you get back? Were you not right behind us?"

I squeezed my trembling hands under the blanket, my voice raspy. "I have been home for nearly three hours."

Lucas cleared his throat nervously. Frank stepped in behind them, setting down Amber's heavy suitcases.

"Julie, someone was hanging around Amber's apartment building, so we brought her here for her safety. You two are best friends, so I know you would worry about her too. You do not mind, right?"

I met Amber's mocking, triumphant gaze, and for the first time in my life, I said no.

"What if I do mind?"

Lucas and Frank froze, completely caught off guard.

"Julie, Amber helped you so much in the past. How can you be so heartless?"

"Just pack your things and move to the guest room next door, Julie. Amber likes large windows, so we are giving her this room."

They finished each other's sentences seamlessly, leaving me zero room to refuse.

I fell silent for a long moment, then suddenly let out a soft laugh.

Back in middle school, the girl gang led by Amber threw my backpack into the dumpster, tore my clothes, and forced bugs into my mouth. If that was her definition of helping me, I would rather die than accept it.

While Lucas and Frank bustled around preparing the master bedroom for Amber, I gathered my belongings and walked out.

"I once swore that if I ever stopped forgetting the pain, I would run so far away that no one could ever find me again," I whispered to the empty corridor.

I stared at the ceiling of the guest room, my mind flooded with memories of every sweet thing Lucas and Frank had ever done for me. But comparing those memories to the truth I heard tonight made me feel sick.

Love really could be faked so flawlessly.

Tossing and turning, I suddenly realized I had left behind the plush bunny doll I hugged every night. I sighed and walked back toward Amber's room.

I did not expect Frank to answer the door. Through the crack, I saw Lucas sitting beside the bed, gently cooing Amber to sleep.

I felt a sudden pang of dizziness. Once upon a time, that spot belonged exclusively to me.

"Julie, is something wrong?" Frank explained in a low voice. "Amber got a terrible fright tonight. Lucas and I were worried she might have a panic attack, so we stayed."

I nodded mindlessly. Then my eyes caught the plush bunny lying crumpled on the dirty floor.

Frank followed my line of sight, quickly picking it up and dusting it off. "We were busy swapping the bedsheets just now and did not notice it fell."

He handed it to me, but my hands remained firmly at my side.

This doll was something he and Lucas had spent weeks hand-sewing for me following an online tutorial. It was lumpy and uneven, but it meant the world to me. Half a month ago, during a severe rainstorm, the doll was lost during our evacuation. Lucas and Frank had ignored all safety warnings and rushed back into the mud to retrieve it for me. I still remembered how soaked and filthy they were when they returned, holding the doll with bright, triumphant smiles.

"Julie, do not cry. We found it."

"Julie?" Frank called out, his voice laced with faint impatience as I stood dazed.

I pulled myself out of the flood of memories, tore my eyes away from the toy, and spoke softly. "I do not want it anymore. Throw it in the trash."

Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and walked back to my room.

Lucas carefully slipped his arm from beneath Amber's head and hurried out right behind Frank.

"Julie, this is your favorite thing in the world. Why are you throwing it away all of a sudden?"

I kept my back to them, blinking rapidly to stop the tears from falling. "I liked it before. I do not like it now."

They opened their mouths to say more, but a soft whine from Amber inside the bedroom immediately stole their attention away.

The next morning, when I walked downstairs, Amber was already up. Lucas and Frank were buzzing around the kitchen in aprons.

"Julie, come over!" Amber walked over affectionately and pulled my arm as if nothing had ever happened. "Lucas and Frank made breakfast. Let us eat together."

The moment I saw the fried eggs served on the table, my entire body began to shake uncontrollably.

In high school, Amber had cracked raw eggs over my head in front of the whole school. Even when my conscious mind used to forget the trauma, my nervous system kept the terrifying memory etched into its bones.

In all the time I lived with Lucas and Frank, eggs had never once been allowed in the house.

"Amber loves eggs, Julie," Lucas said casually. "You can just eat something else."

My face turned ghostly pale. I could no longer hold it in, I ran into the bathroom and fell to my knees, throwing up violently over the toilet.

Lucas stepped in behind me, holding a glass of water. "Are you okay, Julie? Guess Amber was right, you really do have some weird dramatic stress response to eggs."

I turned my head in sheer disbelief.

They did it on purpose. They deliberately triggered my fear just to entertain Amber and watch me make a fool of myself.

Lucas flinched slightly under the ice-cold hatred in my eyes. "Julie, it was just a small joke. You will forget all about it tomorrow anyway, do not be so petty."

I leaned heavily against the wall, pulled myself up, and pushed his hand away. Under the watchful eyes of all three, I forced my spine straight and walked back into my room.

I pulled out my hidden notebook and wrote a new line:

"In two weeks, I will receive the clinical memory-erasing serum. Then, I will disappear forever."

Before Lucas and Frank left for work, they placed a freshly cooked plate of oatmeal outside my door. "Julie, we are heading out. Eat when you feel better so your stomach does not hurt."

I curled up on my bed, wiping away tears.

A moment later, the door handle clicked. Amber unlocked the door with a spare key, walked over, and ripped the blanket off me.

"Julie, you are just as repulsive as you were years ago," Amber sneered, her face twisting with malice. "Lucas and Frank only approached you because of a bet to see who could tame you first. I never expected them to actually catch feelings for you along the way."

She stepped closer, towering over me. "But a broken freak like you will never compare to me."

I sat up slowly. "Amber, you did not bully me back then because I was weak. You targeted me because my grades were better and the teachers loved me more. You were consumed by envy."

I looked straight into her furious eyes. "Just like now. Lucas and Frank were supposed to revolve entirely around you, but their hearts drifted toward me. You cannot accept that, so you resort to picking on me to feel superior again."

Even if part of me still feared her, I refused to cower anymore.

Ironically, Lucas was the one who had taught me this. He used to hold my hands and say, Julie, bowing your head only invites cruelty. Never be afraid to bite back.

Amber was stunned. She gritted her teeth, her voice dripping with venom. "Looks like spending time with them actually gave you some backbone."

She leaned in, whispering softly, "But tell me, Julie, do you really think that fancy doctor is trying to cure you? Have you not noticed your body getting weaker every single day?"

My eyes widened.

So that was why my memory kept slipping and my stamina was draining. Thank God I had secretly consulted an independent specialist weeks ago.

Amber burst into a high-pitched laugh and skipped out of the room, humming a tune.

That evening, Lucas and Frank returned home holding a set of concert tickets.

"Julie, your favorite singer is in town for a tour. Let us grab dinner and go together."

I was still shaken by Amber's revelation, and I instinctively pulled away when Lucas tried to touch my shoulder. "I am not feeling well today. You guys go without me."

Amber immediately grabbed my arm, shaking it playfully. "Oh come on, Julie! Staying cooped up at home is so boring. Just come along to clear your head!"

I did not miss the sinister glimmer flashing across her eyes.

"Settled then," Lucas declared, completely ignoring my refusal.

On the way out, Amber walked between the two men, leaving me trailing behind. She pulled open the passenger door of Lucas's car and casually ripped down the custom resin crafts I had spent days assembling, tossing them onto the wet pavement.

"What is all this tacky junk? It looks hideous. I will redesign your car interior next week."

I watched my hard work crush under her heel. My heart shattered right along with it, beyond all repair.

Lucas and Frank merely smiled at her indulgence, not offering a single word of restraint.

When we arrived at the arena, the crowd was suffocating. Fearing she might get lost, Lucas and Frank tightly clutched Amber's hands on either side.

Noticing I was left behind, Lucas showed a sudden burst of charity and extended his left hand back toward me. "Julie, hold on to me."

I stared at his outstretched palm for a few long seconds, then took two steps backward. "No thanks."

Lucas frowned, finding my behavior odd, but Amber called his name and pulled him away before he could press further.

Inside the venue, their three seats were grouped together in the front row, while mine was placed several rows behind them.

"Julie, the front section sold out before we could grab your ticket," Frank said casually. "You do not mind sitting back here alone, right?"

The concert started. It was an artist I had idolized for years, yet I could not bring myself to listen to a single note.

From my angle, I had a perfect view of Lucas and Frank leaning over Amber, taking endless photos of her from every angle.

"Yeah, hold that pose, Amber, you look stunning."

"Look over here, the lighting hits you perfectly."

Two teenage girls sitting beside me began to whisper. "Look at that girl up there, she is so lucky to have two handsome guys catering to her every whim."

"Right? The love in those guys' eyes is practically overflowing. They look so good together."

I turned my face away, forcing my eyes shut.

Halfway through the show, a loud crack echoed from the stadium ceiling. A heavy support beam snapped without warning. Panic ripped through the crowd as someone screamed, "Structural collapse! Run!"

The crowd surged like a stampede. I was shoved to the concrete floor, my ankle twisting with a sharp pop.

I screamed in agony, instinctively reaching toward the two men who had sworn to protect me. "Lucas! Frank! Help me! I cannot move my leg!"

Lucas did not even turn around, his entire body wrapped protectively around Amber as he pushed through the frantic crowd. Frank paused for a fraction of a second, glanced back at my sprawled form on the floor, and then turned away, prioritizing Amber's escape.

I watched in total despair as they vanished into the storm of people, leaving me behind.

Then, darkness consumed me.

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed, my body wrapped in thick bandages. Every micro-movement sent blinding pain shooting through my nerves.

I gasped softly.

Lucas rushed to my bedside, his face a mask of frantic concern. "Julie! How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere else?"

Frank rushed out to get the doctor. I stayed completely still, refusing to offer them a single glance or word.

"Julie, I swear I did not see you back there," Lucas stammered, his voice trembling. "Otherwise I would never have left you!"

"Julie, Amber has a severe heart condition," Frank added hastily as he re-entered. "If she gets shocked or trampled, it could kill her. That is why we panicked. Thank God you are okay."

I listened to their pathetic excuses, a bitter smile bleeding onto my lips as tears silently leaked into my hair.

Throughout my hospital stay, Lucas and Frank stayed by my side around the clock, acting like devoted guardians. Fearing long-term complications, they insisted I stay hospitalized for an extra week. When we finally returned home, they treated me like fragile glass, making Amber fume with jealousy.

My phone buzzed with a private text: The clinical memory serum is tested and ready. You may pick it up at your convenience.

I read the message once and deleted it permanently.

To celebrate my recovery, Lucas proposed throwing a grand dinner party at our house. Both he and Frank looked at me with eager, desperate eyes. Ever since the concert disaster, they had been walking on eggshells around me, weighing every single word before speaking.

I accepted the invitation. After all, I needed an audience for the grand grand finale I prepared for them.

On the night of the party, the room was packed with familiar faces from our social circle. Everyone in the room knew about the secret bet, and their eyes darted curiously between the four of us.

As the night kicked off, Lucas and Frank pushed out a massive display of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine red roses.

"Julie, do you like it?"

I remained silent, reaching out to pick up the signature card tucked inside the bouquet. If the card had not been signed with Amber's initials, I might have felt a flicker of emotion.

"Let us play a game of truth or dare," I suggested softly. "Whoever loses must reveal three secrets no one else knows."

Lucas and Frank eagerly agreed, desperate to please me.

I won round after round, while others confessed harmless, silly secrets. On the fourth round, I rolled the lowest number.

Amid the roaring cheers of the crowd, I looked at Lucas and Frank, offering them a sweet, breathtaking smile.

"First secret: My condition is completely cured. I will no longer forget anything."

"Second secret: I know the real reason why you two approached me in the first place."

"Third secret: I know you have been lying to me every single day."

Lucas and Frank froze. Their hands shook violently, tipping over their wine glasses and splashing crimson liquid all over the floor.

I lifted my glass and swallowed the clear, tasteless serum mixed inside it in one smooth gulp.

Once this drink settled into my bloodstream, Lucas and Frank would be permanently erased from my mind forever.

From this moment on, we would never meet again.