The Memory Keeper: The Sin In Our Name

Rain's POV

Watching Therese and Kroft exchange playful banter, with Khai laughing along, felt comforting—like I was part of something solid, something real. Still, there was this nagging feeling about Khai that I just couldn't shake. It wasn't anything bad, per se, just... unfamiliar.

Who books a Mercedes Benz Sprinter through Uber? Seriously? But then again, maybe she was telling the truth. Maybe I was just overthinking.

As we stepped into the diner, the familiar chaotic but welcoming atmosphere hit me. The clinking of glasses, the hum of conversation, and the faint sizzle from the kitchen—it was the kind of chaos that felt good, grounding even.

We settled into our usual corner table, a spot that felt like ours, no matter what else was happening in the world. The waitress came by, and just as I was about to place my order, Khai beat me to it.

"Six plates of waffles, bacon, and eggs, one cheeseburger with hot sauce, and four glasses of Coke," she rattled off confidently.

I blinked in surprise. Six waffles? Were we expecting someone else? I glanced at her, my curiosity evident, but she just smiled at me—a small, knowing smile that caught me completely off guard.

And then it hit me.

I stared at the table, piecing it together, and suddenly I remembered—my tradition. Growing up, whenever I had waffles, bacon, and eggs, I'd order extra plates. It was my way of remembering Dad and Mom. Even though they weren't there, those extra plates symbolized their presence.

She remembered.

I could feel my chest tighten in that bittersweet way, the kind of ache that comes from being reminded of something you thought no one else noticed.

I smiled back at her, a quiet, grateful smile. Cute, I thought, trying not to let the warmth spread too obviously across my face. For the first time in a long while, I felt like someone truly saw me, even if just for a moment.

Rain's POV

As we waited for our food to arrive, the familiar sounds of the diner filled the air—clinking plates, murmured conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter. Therese, always the curious one, decided to stir the pot, as usual.

He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table, and asked Khai a question that caught everyone off guard.

"So, Khai , do you know the daughter of the CEO?" her tone was light but laced with intrigue. "I heard she's, like, super tough, an introvert, and sharp—basically the cliché daughter-of-the-CEO type you see in every movie."

Khai had just taken a sip of her Coke, and I swear she almost spit it out right there. She coughed, hastily grabbing a napkin, her composure momentarily slipping.

Therese raised an eyebrow, looking both amused and suspicious. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Kroft, catching onto the awkwardness, leaned back with a smirk. "Or maybe you know her a little too well?"

Khai waved them off, finally recovering. "Wow, you guys have really vivid imaginations," she said with a chuckle, her tone almost too casual. "Maybe I've seen her in passing, but that's it. And seriously, where do you even get these stereotypes from?"

Therese wasn't convinced. He squinted at her as if trying to read her mind. "Hmmm... seems fishy. You almost choked on your drink when I asked."

"I choked because your timing was terrible, Therese," Khai shot back, rolling her eyes. "You always seem to ask the most random questions at the worst moments."