Chapter 6: The Truth Between Us

INDIE

Tristan stared at me without blinking.

For a few moments, we simply looked at each other. His expression had changed. His jaw tightened, and it felt as though time had come to a standstill.

“What did you just say?” His eyes bore into mine, making me lower my gaze.

I drew a slow breath. “I never lost my memory, Tristan.”

Tristan let out a short, disbelieving laugh, shook his head, and stepped closer to me.

“You didn’t lose your memory? So... this was all a game? How long have you been lying to all of us? Do you think this is funny, huh?”

I lowered my head. I knew I was wrong, but I hadn't expected him to be this angry. I clenched my fists, trying to steady myself. No matter what happened, he needed to know why I'd done it.

“How am I supposed to believe any of this?” His voice was cold.

I lowered my gaze for a moment before looking at him again.

“I knew you would be angry.”

“Angry?” He repeated the word. “You think I'd only be angry after finding out that you've been pretending not to recognize anyone this whole time?”

“I had my reasons.”

“Then explain them. Honestly, Indie, you've already destroyed my trust in you.”

His words left me with nowhere to turn.

“I just wanted to know who truly cared about me,” I finally said.

Tristan frowned.

“What do you mean? Were you suspicious of Liora, Jesper, and me too?”

“Tristan, after the accident, I was unconscious for a long time. When I finally woke up, I wanted to see how the people around me would treat me if they thought I couldn't remember anything. It was the hardest time for me, and that's when you find out who truly cares about you.”

“So you decided to pretend you had amnesia?”

I nodded slowly.

“Especially with Jesper?”

I didn't answer right away. But my silence was enough.

“So I wasn't wrong, was I? Jesper and Liora... I don't know what's going on, but they're changing something I still remember perfectly clearly. I was his girlfriend. Not Liora.” My voice trembled, and my eyes grew misty. I'd been Jesper's girlfriend for three years. It would be a lie to say I could simply forget him. I turned away, staring out the room's large window.

Tristan rubbed his face roughly, then took several steps away from me.

“God, Indie. I don't know what to think.”

“I didn't plan any of this from the beginning,” I said quickly. “At first, I only wanted to see how Jesper would treat me. He's my boyfriend. I thought he would at least try to make me feel safe after everything that happened.”

“You wanted to test him? And then he... refused to acknowledge you?!”

“Yes. And now... now I don't know what else to do, Tristan.”

Tristan turned back toward me.

“What about me, then? Was I part of your game too?”

His question left me speechless.

“I didn't know if I could trust you,” I answered honestly.

His expression changed.

“So you've been pretending with me this whole time too?”

“I didn't know how to act around you. You always seemed unhappy to have me here. I didn't even know why Jesper had asked you to look after me.”

“I never said I didn't want you here.”

“But you never made me feel welcome, either. We've been so... distant from each other all this time.” Tristan was quiet and cold. Although he was Jesper's friend, the truth was that I had never really known what he was like.

Tristan stared at me for a long moment. I could tell he wanted to argue, but no words came out.

“I only did what Jesper asked me to do,” he finally said. “He told me you needed a place to rest and someone to keep an eye on you. I had no reason to think anything was wrong. We're friends, aren't we?”

“You trusted Jesper right away and agreed to look after me. Even though you knew I'd been his girlfriend all this time.”

“He's my friend.”

“That's exactly the problem. Does being friends mean you have to let him do whatever he wants to me, when I'm clearly his girlfriend?”

I let out a sigh. There were so many things I wanted to say, but I didn't know where to begin.

“I hoped he would take care of me. I hoped he would act like someone who truly loved me. But the longer I pretended not to remember anything, the harder it became for me to trust him.”

Tristan glanced at the phone lying on the table again.

“That conversation earlier...” He paused. “You heard everything?”

I nodded.

“Even when he mentioned Liora?”

“Yes.”

“And you weren't surprised to hear her name?”

I shook my head. “Actually, I've been having doubts about Liora lately too. I've caught her lying several times, and I can't understand why.”

Tristan let out a long breath. Then he picked up his phone and slipped it into his pocket.

“There are so many things about this that don't make sense. Especially why he's with Liora and why I had to watch over you. Is he afraid you'll remember something?”

I looked at him. “Then why is he so worried about me remembering something?”

Tristan didn't answer. The question seemed to bother him too.

“I don't know. You lied, and now you're asking me for answers about things you've discovered through that lie? Do you think I'm not shocked by all this?”

His voice rose. I immediately fell silent.

Tristan rubbed the back of his neck, trying to calm himself.

“Sorry,” he said briefly. “I just... I don't know who I'm supposed to trust anymore.”

I understood how he felt. But I couldn't ignore the fact that I'd been in the same situation all this time.

“I feel the same way,” I replied quietly.

Silence fell between us again.

Tristan walked toward the window. He stood with his back to me, looking out at the view.

“Why didn't you tell me the truth from the beginning?”

“Because I was afraid. Afraid of making the mistake of trusting the wrong person.”

He turned his head slightly.

“Nobody likes being lied to, Indie.”

Our eyes met. For a moment, I sensed something had changed between us. It wasn't closeness, but an awareness that perhaps we had both become part of something we didn't understand.

Tristan finally walked back toward me.

“From now on, I want you to tell me if you find out anything. Don't hide anything from me again.”

I looked at him cautiously.

“Okay. I'm sorry, Tristan. I know my lie must have shocked you.”

His response didn't completely put me at ease, but at least he nodded.

“For now, don't tell Jesper that you've confessed everything to me,” he said.

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because I want to find out what's really going on. If he thinks you still can't remember anything, we can see what he does next.”

I studied his face.

“So, will you help me, Tristan?” My eyes brightened as I looked at him.

“I'll find out the truth. But don't get the wrong idea. I still don't know whether I can trust everything you've told me.”

I nodded. “I understand.”

Tristan looked at me. “I have a few things to take care of. Get some rest. And don't do anything reckless.”

He headed for the door.

“Tristan.”

He stopped.

“Thank you for listening to my reasons.”

He glanced back at me. His expression was still difficult to read.

“Don't thank me yet. We haven't resolved anything.”

Then he left.

I remained seated on the sofa, staring at the door that had just closed.

I'd told Tristan the truth, but somehow, that hadn't made anything easier.

Now he knew I'd been lying. And I knew he still didn't fully trust me.

But at least one thing had changed. Tristan was no longer simply following Jesper's instructions.

Tristan turned back at the doorway.

“Tomorrow, act as

you normally would. Don't let Jesper find out we've talked about this.”

“And what if he contacts me?” Indie asked.

“Answer him as usual. I want to see what he does next,” Tristan replied.