The classroom felt different that morning.
Not tense.
Not noisy.
Just… quiet.
I paused at the door for a moment before stepping inside.
Something about the silence made me uneasy.
Usually, the moment I entered, whispers would start.
Eyes would follow me.
But today—
no one was looking at me.
Instead…
they were all looking somewhere else.
I slowly walked to my seat, my fingers tightening slightly around my bag.
Then I noticed it.
Students were whispering—
but not about me.
About Sora.
Small pieces of paper were being passed from one desk to another.
Someone held up a phone.
A photo.
A document.
I frowned.
"What's going on…?" I murmured under her breath.
I turned slightly—
and saw Sora.
Sora had just entered the classroom.
At first, she looked the same as always.
Confident. Calm.
But then she noticed the stares.
The whispers.
Her expression slowly changed.
"What's wrong with all of you?" she asked sharply.
No one answered.
But the whispers didn't stop.
"Did you see this?"
"It's real, right?"
"They look exactly the same…"
Sora's eyes widened slightly.
"Stop it," she said.
But her voice wasn't as steady as before.
"Stop spreading nonsense."
My heart started beating faster.
I didn't understand…
but something told me this was connected to me.
Slowly, I turned my head—
and looked at Sihoon.
He was sitting quietly in his seat.
As if nothing unusual was happening.
But his eyes…
were already on me.
Calm.
Steady.
For a moment, everything else faded.
The noise.
The whispers.
The confusion.
I just looked at him.
He didn't say anything.
He didn't move.
But somehow…
she understood.
This… was his doing.
Whatever those students were seeing—
whatever truth had come out—
Sihoon was behind it.
Not for revenge.
Not to create drama.
But to stop it.
To stop Sora.
To protect her.
I lowered my eyes slowly.
My chest felt tight.
But this time…
it wasn't because of fear.
It was something warmer.
Something unfamiliar.
Sora suddenly slammed her hand on the desk.
"I said stop it!"
The entire classroom fell silent.
Her breathing was uneven now.
Her calm image… was breaking.
I looked up again.
For the first time—
I didn't feel afraid of Sora.
I just felt… distant.
Sora's eyes slowly moved—
and stopped on Me.
There was something different in them.
Not just anger.
Something deeper.
"So…" Sora said quietly.
"Now you know."
I didn't answer.
I didn't even know what exactly i was supposed to know.
But before i could speak—
the classroom door opened.
The teacher walked in.
"Everyone, sit down."
The moment broke.
Students quickly returned to their seats.
The whispers faded.
But the tension… remained.
I sat down slowly.
My hands rested quietly on my desk.
I didn't look at Sora again.
Instead—
I glanced sideways.
At Sihoon.
He was already writing, as if nothing had happened.
Calm.
Silent.
Just like always.
I lowered her gaze slightly.
A small thought crossed my mind.
He never says anything…
But he's always there.
Her fingers tightened slightly on the edge of the desk.
For the first time…
I didn't feel alone in that classroom.
Even without words—
I knew.
He was always on my side.
The final bell rang.
Chairs scraped softly against the floor as students began to leave.
The noise slowly filled the classroom again—
but to me, everything still felt distant.
I remained seated.
My mind was still stuck on everything that happened.
The whispers.
Sora's expression.
And…
Sihoon.
"Jia."
I looked up.
Sihoon was standing beside my desk.
"Class is over," he said quietly.
I blinked, as if I had just returned to reality.
"Ah… yeah," I replied softly.
I quickly gathered my things.
But my movements were slower than usual.
As I stood up, I hesitated.
"…Sihoon," I called.
He stopped.
"Did you… do something?"
My voice was quiet.
But it carried something deeper.
Sihoon looked at me for a moment.
Then—
"Let's go," he said instead.
I frowned slightly.
"You didn't answer me."
He picked up my bag before I could react.
"You shouldn't stay here too long," he said calmly.
I looked at him, surprised.
"Why are you avoiding the question?"
Sihoon paused.
Just for a second.
Then he looked at me again.
His expression softened slightly.
"Does it matter?" he asked quietly.
I didn't answer.
Because…
I didn't know.
He stepped a little closer.
Not too much—
just enough for me to notice.
"As long as you're okay," he added.
My breath caught slightly.
I looked at him—
really looked at him this time.
His eyes were calm.
But behind that calm…
there was something I couldn't fully understand.
Concern.
Care.
Something more.
I quickly looked away.
"I'm fine," I said softly.
Sihoon didn't reply.
He simply started walking.
After a second—
I followed him.
The hallway was almost empty now.
Our footsteps echoed quietly.
Neither of us spoke.
But the silence didn't feel uncomfortable.
Somehow…
it felt safe.
As we reached the school gate, I slowed down.
"Sihoon," I said again.
He stopped walking.
"…Thank you."
My voice was barely above a whisper.
Sihoon turned slightly.
"For what?"
I hesitated.
Then I smiled—just a little.
"For being there."
Sihoon didn't say anything.
But the corner of his lips moved slightly.
Almost like a smile.
And in that quiet moment—
without any promises…
without any confession…
something between us.
quietly grew stronger.