The day started normally.
But nothing felt normal anymore.
She noticed it first—his silence.
Not the usual calm silence.
A different one.
He didn't look at her when she entered the classroom.
Didn't speak.
Didn't even react when she sat beside him.
She frowned slightly.
Did I do something?
But she quickly pushed the thought away.
"Whatever," she muttered under her breath and opened her book.
Still…
something felt wrong.
---
During break time, she stepped out of the classroom.
That's when she saw it.
He was standing near the corridor.
But he wasn't alone.
A girl from another class was talking to him.
Laughing.
Standing too close.
Too comfortable.
She stopped walking.
For some reason, her chest tightened.
Why am I even looking at this…?
The girl leaned slightly closer and said something.
He didn't move away.
Didn't stop her.
Didn't look uncomfortable.
Just listened.
Quietly.
Her grip tightened around her notebook.
She didn't like it.
She didn't know why.
But she didn't like it at all.
Before she could stop herself, she turned and walked away.
---
Back in class, she avoided sitting properly.
Didn't look at him.
Didn't speak.
The silence between them now felt heavy.
Different.
Real.
Finally, he spoke.
"Why are you ignoring me?"
She froze for a second.
Then scoffed.
"I'm not ignoring you."
A pause.
"You are," he said simply.
She finally turned toward him.
Her expression was sharper than usual.
"You looked pretty busy outside," she said without thinking.
He frowned slightly.
"Outside?"
She closed her book louder than necessary.
"With that girl. You seemed fine."
Silence.
A long one.
Then he leaned back in his chair.
"Oh."
Just that.
One word.
That made her more irritated.
"That's all you have to say?" she asked.
He looked at her now.
Properly.
Calmly.
"She was asking about notes."
"So?"
"So I answered."
Another silence.
Her frustration rose.
"And smiling too?"
That came out faster than she expected.
He blinked once.
Then—
"Were you watching me?"
Her face went hot instantly.
"I—no—I wasn't—"
He didn't let her finish.
A faint smirk appeared.
"You were jealous."
Her eyes widened.
"I was NOT—"
But she stopped.
Because her voice betrayed her.
He noticed.
Of course, he did.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he looked away first.
"Next time," he said quietly, "just ask."
She looked at him, confused.
"What?"
"If something bothers you… ask me directly."
Her heart skipped again.
But she didn't reply.
Because suddenly—
she didn't know what she was feeling anymore.
And the space between them…
felt both smaller and wider at the same time.