31

Faded MemoriesEvan opened the door to his old room and inhaled the familiar scent. The smell of wood and a bit of dust greeted him, mixed with the fragrance of detergent from the sheets that seemed to be changed often. The room hadn't changed much. His bookshelf was still full of adventure novels and biographies of world figures, along with several miniature mountains he used to collect.

He stepped in, scanning the room with a sharp gaze. His fingers touched his old study desk, still sturdy, then reached toward the drawer. Inside, he found some old notebooks, a worn-out concert ticket, and... a leather bracelet that looked familiar.

As he lifted the bracelet, a knock on the door made him turn. Mom stood there, smiling gently.

"What made you suddenly want to open your old room?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Evan swallowed. "Just wanted to look around, Ma. Thought maybe I left something behind."

Mom stepped in, her eyes observing her son as if waiting for something. Then, cautiously, she asked, "Do you remember anything from the past?"

Evan frowned. "What do you mean?"

Mom sighed, then walked closer. Her hand reached out, touching Evan's arm softly. "December 2015, you had an accident. The doctor said you lost part of your memory."

Evan's chest pounded faster. "Accident?" he repeated quietly.

Mom nodded. "Yeah. You were coming home late at night. They said it was after some kind of victory party… You were driving alone and suddenly lost control. Luckily, you survived, but you hit your head pretty hard."

A chill crept down Evan's neck.

December 2015… victory party…

He remembered. He remembered that night clearly. It was the night he celebrated his victory over Hendra. The night he proudly humiliated the man, pushed him into despair until he chose to end his life.

And the night he was cursed.

But the accident?

Evan didn't remember any accident at all. As far as he knew, he had gone home that night in perfect condition—no injuries, no trauma.

Or maybe… there was a part erased?

"After that accident, you often got confused when asked about certain things," Mom continued. "Your friends said you changed—quieter, more... different."

Evan fell silent. His hands clenched at his sides.

So all this time, in this 2017 version of life, did he have different memories? Were parts of his 2015 memories—memories that should have remained—erased in this version?

Then… what really happened after that night?

What had he forgotten?

And more importantly—was it connected to Ayla?

—

Evan gripped the edge of the table, feeling the cold wood beneath his palm.

Accident? No. That's impossible.

He remembered that night. He remembered how he laughed in satisfaction, drink in hand, and Hendra's broken expression before it all ended tragically. He went home fully conscious—no accident, no head trauma.

But in this world, in this 2017 version, the story was different.

Mom said he had an accident, lost part of his memory. But if the accident really happened, why didn't he have any scars or related trauma? Why had he never felt like something was missing—until now?

This wasn't an accident. This was a curse.

A curse that kept toying with his life, twisting his path at will. Sometimes it only erased his achievements, sometimes it altered the people around him, and this time… it created an accident that never even happened.

So, what else has been changed?

If his memories were scrambled, what really happened in December 2015, in this world's version?

Evan took a deep breath, trying to steady his heartbeat.

"Everything's fine, Ma," he said at last. "I just wanted to check out some old stuff. Maybe take a few things to the apartment."

Mom looked at him for a moment, as if trying to read his mind, before finally offering a small smile. "Alright then. Don't overthink it. I'll be downstairs."

As the door closed again, Evan looked at the leather bracelet in his hand. His eyes shifted to the open drawer, to the stack of photos, concert tickets, and...

He swallowed hard. There was a small black USB drive.

His fingers reached for it carefully. If there was anything that could give him answers, maybe it was in there.

—

Evan stared at the medical card in his hand. The thin plastic felt cold against his skin, as if it held something more than just patient information.

Name: Evan Wijaya

Date of Birth: January 3, 1992

Medical Record Number: 201512-xxxxx

Last Visit Date: December 28, 2015

His hand clenched unconsciously.

1992.

It should be 1990.

But in this world, all his documents always changed to match the age of 25. So if in 2017 he was "born" in 1992, that meant the curse was still working.

But this accident? This was something new.

December 28, 2015.

Three days before New Year's Eve.

He was certain that on New Year's Eve, he had been in perfect health. No injuries, no trauma. But according to this record, he had already been a hospital patient before the new year even began.

This wasn't just about age manipulation.

This was something bigger.

Evan took a deep breath and slipped the card into his wallet.

If he truly had an accident, there had to be a medical record.

He had to go to the hospital and see the evidence himself.

Without a second thought, he grabbed his car keys and rushed out of the room, his steps firm toward a truth he might not be ready to face.

—

The hospital looked exactly as he remembered—sharp antiseptic smell, shiny white floors, and the hurried footsteps of medical staff.

Evan made his way to the medical records section. Stacks of files piled high behind the glass counter, but the clerk only needed a few minutes to find his records.

"Here, Mr. Nathaniel Evan," the clerk said, handing over a brown folder.

Evan stared at the name on the folder.

Nathaniel Evan. No Wijaya.

He'd been using this hospital since he was a child. But his last name?

Gone.

His hands trembled slightly as he opened the first page.

Admission Date: December 28, 2015

Diagnosis: Mild head trauma, bruises on the right arm, abrasions on the left temple.

Patient condition upon arrival: Unconscious, found by a pedestrian near the overpass.

Doctor's notes: Patient experiencing temporary memory disruption due to impact. Further observation required.

Evan flipped through the pages, his breath growing heavier. There was a CT scan, a blood pressure chart, and at the bottom...

Patient discharged on December 30, 2015.

December 30?

He stared at the date for a long time.

On New Year's Eve, he should have been healthy, partying, celebrating his victory over Hendra.

He even remembered every detail— the booming music, the champagne glass in his hand, and Hendra standing on the balcony before jumping.

But if all that were true, why was he in the hospital?

And more than that… why didn't he remember this accident at all?

Evan closed the folder slowly.

This wasn't just about his age always reverting to 25.

Even the history of his life had been altered.

This curse didn't just turn back time for him.

It rewrote his life.