Lunch was almost over.
Kira was still sitting across from me.
"…Cody, please. Forget about the past."
I didn't answer.
I didn't even look at her.
For a moment, she stayed silent.
Then she spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper.
"…I guess you still hate me."
I said nothing.
After a few seconds, she quietly stood up and walked away.
I didn't stop her.
Soon after, the bell rang.
I returned to the classroom and sat down at my desk, but I couldn't stop thinking about what she had said.
Forget about the past.
How could she say that so easily?
She wasn't the one who lived through it.
She would never understand.
I looked out the window, hoping to clear my mind.
It didn't help.
The classroom slowly filled with students returning from lunch. Chairs scraped across the floor, conversations echoed through the room, and backpacks were dropped beside desks.
Then I heard the chair next to mine slide back.
Someone sat down.
I turned my head.
It was Mia.
Before I could stop myself, I looked at her.
At almost the same moment, she turned toward me.
Our eyes met.
For a brief second, neither of us moved.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
I felt my own face grow warm.
We both quickly looked away, pretending nothing had happened.
My heart was beating much faster than it should have been.
…What am I doing?
Why was I looking at the girl who abandoned me all those years ago?
I quietly clenched my fist beneath the desk.
Memories I thought I'd buried came rushing back.
Even after all this time…
Somehow…
I still had feelings for Mia.
Before either of us could say anything—
A familiar voice broke the silence.
"Wow… going all lovey-dovey, huh?"
I froze.
Slowly, I turned around.
John stood behind us with the same smug grin I had grown to hate.
Mia frowned.
"Shut up, John."
He crossed his arms.
"No, you shut up."
"I said shut up."
"No, you shut up."
The two of them stared at each other for a moment before a few nearby students burst into laughter.
I let out a quiet sigh and rubbed my forehead.
Seriously…?
Just then, the classroom door slid open.
"Alright, everyone," the teacher called. "Take your seats."
John shrugged and walked back to the desk behind us.
Mia turned toward the front of the room, still looking annoyed.
The classroom gradually fell silent.
I leaned back in my chair.
High school…
Was already becoming a pain.
END OF CHAPTER 9