The next morning, Seo-yoon almost didn't go to school.
She stood in front of the mirror longer than usual, her fingers gripping the edge of the sink as she stared at her reflection.
Her eyes looked tired.
Not obviously.
Not enough for everyone to notice.
But enough for her.
She washed her face again.
Cold water.
Once.
Twice.
Until the redness faded just enough.
"It's fine," she whispered.
It didn't sound convincing.
Still, she picked up her bag and left.
School felt louder than usual.
Too bright.
Too crowded.
Too much.
Seo-yoon kept her head down as she walked into the classroom.
Hyun-woo greeted her.
She nodded.
Min-chae waved.
She forced a small smile.
Ji-hoon was there.
She didn't look at him.
Not even once.
She sat down.
Opened her notebook.
Held her pen.
Everything looked normal.
It wasn't.
Min-chae noticed first.
Of course she did.
She turned around slowly, studying Seo-yoon's face.
"You didn't sleep," she said quietly.
"I did."
"No, you didn't."
Seo-yoon didn't respond.
Min-chae leaned closer.
"Hey," she said softly. "Look at me."
Seo-yoon hesitated.
Then she did.
That was enough.
Min-chae's expression changed immediately.
Not dramatic.
Just… serious.
"Come with me," she said.
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
"I said I'm—"
"Seo-yoon."
Her voice was firmer this time.
Not loud.
But enough.
Seo-yoon's words stopped.
For a moment, she just sat there.
Then slowly, she stood.
They walked out of the classroom together.
The hallway was quieter during class hours, their footsteps echoing softly as Min-chae led her toward the stairwell.
An empty corner.
Away from everyone.
Away from everything.
Min-chae stopped and turned to her.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie."
"I'm not."
Min-chae took a step closer. "You are."
Seo-yoon looked away.
Her chest tightened.
"I'm just tired."
"Seo-yoon."
There was something in Min-chae's voice.
Not pressure.
Not frustration.
Just concern.
Real concern.
And that was enough.
Because the moment Seo-yoon heard it
Something inside her slipped.
"I don't know what's wrong with me," she said suddenly.
Her voice was quiet.
Unsteady.
Min-chae didn't interrupt.
"I keep thinking about it," Seo-yoon continued, her words coming out faster now. "Everything. What he said. What he didn't say."
Her hands clenched slightly.
"I thought it wouldn't matter," she whispered. "But it does."
Her vision blurred.
She blinked quickly.
"No," she muttered under her breath. "Not again."
But it was already happening.
Min-chae stepped closer. "Hey—"
"I don't understand," Seo-yoon said, her voice breaking slightly. "If it didn't matter to him, why does it hurt this much?"
That was it.
That was the moment.
Her voice cracked fully.
Her shoulders trembled.
And before she could stop it
The tears fell.
Not as quietly as before.
Not hidden.
Not controlled.
Seo-yoon turned away slightly, her hand coming up to cover her face as she tried to breathe steadily.
"I didn't want it to be my decision," she said, her voice shaking. "I just wanted him to care."
Min-chae didn't say anything.
She just pulled her into a hug.
Firm.
Warm.
Steady.
And that broke the rest of it.
Seo-yoon's grip tightened slightly against her, her breathing uneven as the tears came faster.
"I hate this," she whispered. "I hate that it matters."
Min-chae rested her hand gently against her head.
"I know," she said softly.
For a while, they just stayed like that.
No questions.
No pressure.
Just quiet.
Just comfort.
Until Seo-yoon's breathing slowly steadied again.
Until the tears faded.
Until she could stand without shaking.
Min-chae pulled back slightly, her hands still resting on Seo-yoon's shoulders.
"You should've told me earlier," she said.
Seo-yoon looked down. "I didn't know how."
Min-chae sighed softly. "You don't have to know how. You just have to not do it alone."
Seo-yoon nodded.
She wiped her eyes quickly.
"I'm okay," she said.
Min-chae gave her a look. "No, you're not."
"…I will be."
Min-chae didn't argue.
Not this time.
"Come on," she said. "Let's go back before someone notices."
Seo-yoon nodded again.
They walked back together.
Step by step.
Slower this time.
When they entered the classroom, everything looked the same.
Students writing.
Teacher talking.
Nothing out of place.
But one thing had changed.
Ji-hoon looked up.
The moment Seo-yoon walked in.
His gaze went straight to her.
Not to her seat.
Not to anything else.
To her.
He noticed it immediately.
The slight redness in her eyes.
The way she avoided looking up.
The way she sat down quietly, more carefully than usual.
Something in his expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Almost unnoticeable.
But it was there.
Min-chae noticed it.
Of course she did.
She glanced at him once.
Then back at Seo-yoon.
And for the first time
Ji-hoon didn't look away.
Because something was wrong.
And this time
He couldn't ignore it anymore...