FLASHBACK
Yesterday.
When Herry was standing by the window.
Herry's gaze narrowed slightly.
Rex kept looking back again and again, like he was checking something… or someone.
That caught Herry's attention.
Something about it didn't feel normal.
Didn't sit right.
Herry pulled out his phone.
Unlocked it.
Started recording.
A moment later—
Evi was already inside.
The door closed.
Rex stayed there for a second.
Then suddenly—
he started running.
Fast.
Without looking back this time.
A small laugh escaped Herry.
Low.
Almost amused.
But it didn't last.
His expression slowly turned serious again.
His grip tightened slightly around the phone.
"So you let this fool come this close…"
A pause.
"…not me."
BACK TO PRESENT
Rex stood in front of him, fingers tightening slightly around his phone.
"Why did you record me, Herry?"
His voice stayed controlled—
but the tension in it was clear.
Herry didn't react immediately.
Then he spoke—calm, almost careless.
"I thought it was a thief… someone acting weird around our area."
A slight pause.
"So I recorded it as proof."
Rex's grip shifted, his thumb pressing harder against the edge of his phone.
Herry continued, his tone unchanged—
"But after watching carefully… it reminded me of you."
A faint, unreadable look passed through his eyes.
"So I thought of posting it online."
Rex's fingers stilled completely.
"…don't tell me you actually put it online."
Herry just smiled.
Not answering.
Then he walked away.
Rex stayed there, his jaw tightening slightly.
He was about to check it—
thumb hovering over the screen—
—but the break ended.
The teacher was about to enter.
He exhaled quietly and walked back inside, uneasiness settling deeper in his chest.
During the class—
he couldn't focus.
His thoughts kept circling back.
What if Evi already saw it…?
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk, then stilled again.
On the other side—
Herry looked calm.
Composed.
Like nothing had happened.
But inside—
his thoughts were anything but calm.
How could she tell things like that …
to an outsider?
His jaw tightened slightly.
After all the classes ended—
it was lunch break.
Rex quickly took out his phone, finally about to check the video.
But before he could—
"Rex."
He flinched slightly.
Evi was standing right in front of him.
His hand slipped—
the phone fell to the ground.
Evi bent down to pick it up—
but Rex moved faster.
He grabbed it in a hurry—
—and their heads bumped into each other.
A soft thud.
Rex winced slightly, bringing a hand up instinctively.
"Sorry—"
Evi blinked, then smiled lightly.
"No worries."
She straightened up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Don't you remember? The teacher called us during lunch break."
Rex's expression shifted slightly.
"…oh."
"I forgot."
They walked together toward the teacher's office.
When they arrived—
the teacher didn't speak immediately.
Her eyes moved between them slowly.
Observing.
The silence stretched just enough to feel uncomfortable.
"Are you two dating?"
Both of them stiffened slightly.
"What—? No."
The reply came too quickly.
The teacher didn't react.
Instead—
she took out her phone.
Unlocked it.
Turned the screen toward them.
"Then explain this."
The picture filled the screen.
For a second—
neither of them spoke.
Evi's fingers tightened slightly around her sleeve.
Rex's gaze flickered away, then back.
They looked closer in that picture than they remembered.
Closer than it actually felt.
And that made it worse.
Confusion settled in.
Who took it?
Why?
Evi stepped forward slightly, her voice coming out quicker than usual—
"That's not what it looks like—"
She explained everything, her words rushing at first before steadying.
Rex nodded along, adding quietly—
"She's telling the truth."
The teacher watched them the entire time.
Unmoving.
A pause followed.
Then she sighed lightly.
"Alright."
"You can go."
She called the peon to bring the student who sent the picture.
After coming out of the office—
Evi spotted Herry walking toward the lunch area.
Her gaze lingered on him for a second.
Then she turned to Rex.
"Do you want to have lunch together?"
Rex blinked slightly—caught off guard—
then nodded.
"…yeah."
She took out her lunchbox and started walking.
Rex followed.
They reached the place where Herry and Evi usually had lunch.
Herry was already there.
Sitting.
Eating quietly.
Evi walked up and sat beside him—like always.
Rex sat next to her.
Herry didn't look at them.
Didn't react.
Evi opened her lunchbox.
Then—
like she always did—
she reached into Herry's lunchbox and took something.
Rex noticed.
His gaze stayed there a moment longer than needed.
Evi smiled slightly, eating casually—like nothing had changed.
Then she looked at Herry.
"Try this."
No response.
She nudged her lunchbox slightly toward him.
"Just try it."
Herry's fingers paused briefly.
A flicker of irritation crossed his face.
Without saying anything—
he took her lunchbox.
And started eating.
Fast.
Too fast.
Evi blinked—slightly surprised—
then a small smile formed.
He finished it.
Put it down.
Then stood up.
And walked away.
He forgot his lunchbox.
Evi looked at it.
Her hand hovered over it for a second—
then she picked it up.
A quiet smile appeared on her face.
Rex noticed that.
A faint line formed between his brows.
"Weren't you angry at him just now?"
Evi's hand stilled slightly around her spoon.
Then relaxed.
She didn't answer.
She just continued eating.
Ignoring the question completely.
Rex watched her for a few seconds—
then looked away.
Something felt off again.
After she finished—
she closed her lunchbox.
"Did you finish?" she asked.
Rex shook his head.
"…not yet. Give me a few minutes."
Evi nodded.
"Okay."
Then she stood up—
and left.
Just like that.
Rex stayed there.
Still holding his lunch.
Confused.
"…did I say something wrong?"