That night, after ending the call with Ethan, Katrina sat quietly on her bed, her phone still in her hand. The room was silent, but her thoughts were anything but.
She kept replaying his words.
"Jessica called me…"
Katrina sighed and leaned back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling.
Katrina (thinking): Why does it bother me so much? She's just his childhood friend… I know that.
She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself.
"You're overthinking… this is wrong," she told herself.
But no matter how much she tried to ignore it, that strange, uncomfortable feeling stayed in her chest.
Meanwhile, across the street, Ethan sat at his study table, his phone placed beside his books. He looked completely normal—calm, focused… but his mind was elsewhere. Katrina's voice echoed in his head.
"Take care of yourself…"
Ethan smiled faintly.
To him, everything was simple.
Jessica was someone important—someone who had been there during the hardest time of his life. Caring about her, helping her… it felt natural. It never crossed his mind that it could mean anything else.
Or that it could hurt someone.
The next day at the university, Katrina arrived with her usual calm expression—but inside, she felt unsettled.
As she walked toward the classroom with Ella and Arice, her eyes searched for Ethan.
And there he was.
Sitting in his usual place… talking on the phone.
Katrina's steps slowed.
She didn't know why, but she stopped for a moment, watching him.
Ethan looked… different.
He was smiling.
A soft, genuine smile.
Katrina (thinking): Is he talking to… Jessica?
Her chest tightened slightly.
She quickly looked away and walked into the classroom, pretending nothing had happened.
During the lecture, Katrina couldn't focus.
Her eyes kept drifting toward Ethan.
He was completely normal—taking notes, listening carefully… as if nothing in the world was bothering him.
How can he be so normal? she wondered.
Break time.
Katrina sat with Ella and Arice in the cafeteria, absentmindedly stirring her drink.
Arice noticed immediately.
Arice: "What happened to you? You look… off."
Katrina: "Nothing. I'm fine."
Ella raised an eyebrow.
Ella: "You're definitely not fine."
Katrina hesitated.
For a moment, she thought about telling them… but then she shook her head.
Katrina: "It's really nothing. Just tired."
But Arice wasn't convinced.
Her eyes followed Ethan, who was now sitting with his friends.
Arice (smirking): "Or maybe… it's about someone."
Katrina didn't respond.
She just quietly looked at Ethan again.
And right then—his phone rang.
He picked it up immediately.
And smiled.
That same smile.
Katrina's grip tightened around her glass.
Katrina (thinking): Why does he always smile like that when he talks to her…?
She looked down.
Stop it… she told herself. This isn't right.
Later that day, as classes ended, Katrina was walking toward the exit when she saw Ethan again—standing alone, talking on his phone.
His expression was soft… concerned.
Ethan: "Did your father took medicine? …No, you should also rest… tell me you there is any problem."
Katrina froze.
She didn't need to hear the name.
She already knew.
Jessica.
That uneasy feeling returned—stronger this time.
But along with it… came guilt.
Katrina (thinking):
What am I even thinking?
He's just caring… that's who he is.
And she's going through a hard time…
She took a deep breath.
I shouldn't feel like this.
Ethan ended the call and turned around—only to see Katrina standing there.
He smiled immediately.
Ethan: "Oh, Katrina… are you leaving?"
Katrina forced a small smile.
Katrina: "Yeah."
There was a brief silence.
Ethan didn't notice anything unusual.
To him, everything was the same.
Ethan: "I'll walk with you."
Katrina nodded.
They started walking together.
But this time… it felt different.
The silence between them wasn't comfortable anymore.
As they walked, Ethan spoke casually.
Ethan: "Jessica's father is recovering well now. She was just worried."
Katrina nodded.
Katrina: "That's good."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
Katrina (thinking): Why is he telling me this…?
And yet, she listened.
Ethan continued, completely unaware.
Ethan: "She gets really stressed easily… so I just try to help."
Katrina looked at him for a moment.
He looked sincere.
Genuine.
That's what made it harder.
They reached the gate.
Ethan: "Okay… see you tomorrow?"
Katrina: "Yeah… see you."
She turned and walked toward her car.
But this time, she didn't look back.
Inside the car, Katrina leaned her head against the window.
Katrina (thinking):
Why does this feel so… uncomfortable?
Why do I feel like this when he talks about her…?
She closed her eyes.
This is wrong… she whispered to herself.
I don't have any right to feel this way.
And somewhere, without realizing it—
Katrina had stepped into a feeling she didn't understand yet.
And Ethan…
Was still completely unaware that his "normal" was slowly becoming the reason for her silence.