"...Everyone around me is so sad."
Morning arrived again.
The school gates stood open.
Students walked in groups, voices blending into a familiar noise.
Jiwon stepped inside calmly.
As if yesterday had never happened.
"Jiwon."
She stopped.
Turned.
Jinwoo stood a few steps behind her.
His posture wasn't relaxed this time.
"...Yeah?"
He hesitated.
Just for a second.
"I... want to tell you something."
Jiwon raised an eyebrow slightly.
"At this early in the morning?"
"...Yeah."
A small pause.
She looked at him directly.
"Then say it."
Jinwoo's fingers curled into a loose fist at his side.
He opened his mouth-
"...Uh..."
Silence.
Then-
"The weather is nice today."
Jiwon blinked once.
Then glanced up at the sky.
Clear.
Normal.
"It's like every day," she said calmly. "Nothing unusual."
Jinwoo gave a small nod.
"...Yeah."
"Nothing unusual."
A pause stretched between them.
Jiwon looked back at him.
"Is that all you wanted to say?"
"...Yeah."
She studied him for a second.
Because it wasn't.
But she didn't push.
"As you say."
Jinwoo nodded once.
And just like that-
They walked toward the classroom together.
-
The classroom buzzed with early chatter.
Yerim leaned back in her chair, watching them enter.
The moment Jiwon walked past-
She leaned toward Jinwoo immediately.
"You didn't tell her today."
Her voice dropped into a teasing whisper.
"Loser."
Jinwoo frowned slightly.
"I tried."
Yerim rolled her eyes.
"Trying doesn't do anything."
"Stop taunting me."
She smirked.
"I think I should just tell her."
Jinwoo's head snapped toward her.
"No."
A pause.
"I can say it."
Yerim crossed her arms.
"When?"
"...Soon."
Right then-
Jiwon returned to her seat.
Her gaze moved between them.
"Telling what?"
Jinwoo didn't hesitate this time.
"Nothing."
Yerim smiled lightly.
"Yeah. Nothing."
Jiwon narrowed her eyes slightly.
"...Why does it feel like you both are hiding something?"
"No," Jinwoo said quickly.
Before the silence could grow-
Yerim spoke.
"Well, I heard the parents' meeting is coming soon."
The shift worked.
Jiwon nodded once.
"Yeah."
Jinwoo watched her carefully.
For a brief moment-
Something flickered in her eyes.
A quiet sadness.
Gone just as quickly.
He noticed.
But didn't say anything.
Instead-
"Jiwon."
She looked at him.
"Can we meet after school?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"For group study?"
"No."
A small pause.
"Then?"
"...Just hanging out."
Jiwon considered it for a second.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
Jinwoo smiled faintly.
"...Good."
A small silence followed.
Then-
"Yerim can join us too."
Yerim's reaction was instant.
"No."
Too fast.
Jiwon blinked.
"...Huh?"
Yerim straightened quickly.
"I mean-I have some work after school."
Jiwon nodded slowly.
"Okay. We can hang out later."
Yerim shook her head lightly.
"No."
Then softened her tone.
"You both should go."
A small smile.
"It'll help clear your mind."
Jiwon blinked once.
Processing that.
"...Okay."
"Good."
Jiwon turned and walked to her seat.
Settling down quietly.
Behind her-
Jinwoo exhaled softly.
"...Thanks."
Yerim smiled.
Satisfied.
The classes passed slowly.
Too slowly for Jinwoo.
Too quietly for Jiwon.
-
The final bell rang.
Chairs scraped.
Students stood, gathering their things.
Before Jiwon could even reach for her bag-
Jinwoo was already there.
Standing beside her desk.
Restless.
Almost bouncing.
"Quick," he said. "Pack your bag."
Jiwon glanced at him.
"I am."
"Faster."
She paused mid-motion and gave him a look.
"I'm doing it fast enough."
Jinwoo shifted impatiently.
"...Too slow."
"Stop rushing me."
A small pause.
Then-
Jiwon stood up, slipping her bag over her shoulder.
Jinwoo straightened immediately.
"So... where should we go?"
Jiwon shrugged lightly.
"Anywhere."
He thought for a second.
"What about the park nearby?"
A small pause.
"There's a café there too."
Jiwon nodded.
"...Sounds good."
"Good."
-
They walked side by side.
The afternoon sun soft.
The air calm.
But between them-
Silence.
Too much of it.
Jinwoo glanced at her.
"...Why are you so quiet?"
Jiwon didn't look at him.
"I'm always like this."
"...Yeah."
He knew that.
But it felt different.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Ask."
A small pause.
"You've seemed... sad lately."
Jiwon's expression didn't change.
"I don't think so."
"Really?"
"...Yeah."
Now she turned slightly toward him.
"Why do you think I'm sad?"
Jinwoo hesitated.
"I just... feel like it."
Jiwon held his gaze for a moment.
Then-
"You're not my mother," she said calmly. "You don't know my emotions."
The words weren't harsh.
But they weren't soft either.
Jinwoo let out a quiet breath.
"...I wish I did."
Jiwon looked away again.
"There's no need to."
Silence returned.
He lost the moment.
Again.
So she changed the topic.
"Well..."
A pause.
"Why isn't Sora coming to school?"
Jinwoo blinked.
"...Why bring her up now?"
"You hate her?"
A small pause.
Then-
"...We dated."
Jiwon stopped walking.
"What?"
Jinwoo looked slightly uncomfortable now.
"She's my ex."
A short breath.
"Nothing more."
Jiwon stared at him.
"When?"
"...A while ago."
Another pause.
"...For about fifteen days."
Jiwon blinked.
"...Fifteen days?"
"That's... short."
"Yeah."
He shrugged.
"We didn't really have feelings."
"Then why date at all?"
Jinwoo hesitated.
"...Maybe because people wanted us to."
Silence.
Then-
A quiet, bitter chuckle escaped Jiwon.
"So you just... did what people wanted?"
That line wasn't loud.
But it carried something sharp.
Before he could answer-
"I have some work."
Jiwon stepped back.
"I should go."
Jinwoo frowned slightly.
"...Already?"
"Let's meet tomorrow."
She didn't wait.
She turned.
And walked away.
Jinwoo opened his mouth-
Wanting to stop her.
But no words came out.
"...Okay."
Too late.
-
The park grew quieter.
Jinwoo sat down on a bench.
Alone.
The place they were supposed to spend time together-
Now empty.
Time passed.
He stared ahead.
Then pulled out his phone.
Called.
"Hello?"
Yerim.
"I think I messed up."
A pause.
Then-
"...Not again."
"What did you do?"
Jinwoo ran a hand through his hair.
"I think that's the problem."
"I didn't do anything."
Yerim scoffed.
"Tch. I should've given you a script."
"And..."
A pause.
"I told her about Sora."
Silence.
Then-
"...What?"
"That she's my ex."
Another pause.
"...Are you serious?"
Jinwoo sighed.
"I messed up."
Yerim groaned.
"Who tells a girl about their ex when they're about to confess something?!"
"...I know."
A beat.
"I'm an idiot."
"Yes," Yerim said immediately. "You are."
Jinwoo leaned back against the bench.
"...So what do I do now?"
Yerim didn't hesitate.
"Do anything."
A pause.
"But not this again."
Jinwoo let out a dry breath.
"...Very motivating."
Yerim huffed softly.
"You deserve it."
-
The call ended.
And Jinwoo sat there a little longer.
Thinking.
About what he didn't say.
And what he said instead.
Jinwoo stared at his phone.
"...Hell."
He exhaled sharply.
Then pressed her name.
Calling.
The line rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
He pulled the phone away slightly, clicking his tongue.
"Tch... this is real hell."
He leaned back against the bench, staring at the sky.
"...Can I just go back in time?"
Silence answered him.
His grip on the phone tightened.
"Why do I keep messing up..."
A quiet breath escaped him.
"This is the first time I've ever felt like this."
His voice dropped.
"I actually want to be with her."
A pause.
"...Is that really so hard?"
The question hung there.
Unanswered.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
"Why do I forget everything when she's close?"
His jaw tightened.
"Why do I go against my own feelings?"
Another pause.
"It's like..."
He exhaled slowly.
"...forgetting how to breathe."
Silence.
Then-
"Tch..."
He pushed himself up from the bench.
Straightened.
Determination slowly replacing frustration.
"I'll fix it."
A small pause.
"I'll do it properly next time."
-
Night fell quietly.
-
Jiwon sat alone at the dining table.
A plate in front of her.
Half-eaten.
Her phone rested beside it.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
She scrolled absentmindedly.
Then-
Her screen lit up.
Missed call.
Jinwoo.
She stared at it for a second.
Then pressed call back.
-
Jinwoo picked up almost instantly.
"Hello?"
Jiwon blinked slightly at how fast he answered.
"...Uh."
A small pause.
"I saw you called earlier."
"I was busy at that time."
Jinwoo sat up straight.
"It's fine."
Silence lingered for a second.
Then-
"Why did you call?"
Jinwoo hesitated.
Then asked-
"...Are you angry at me?"
Jiwon's expression didn't change.
"No."
A pause.
"Why would I be?"
Jinwoo let out a quiet breath.
"...Yeah."
Another pause.
"Why would you be..."
The silence stretched again.
Jiwon spoke first.
"Is that all you called for?"
Jinwoo looked down.
"...Yeah."
"Okay."
Her voice remained calm.
"Then... bye."
"...Bye."
The call ended.
-
Jiwon lowered her phone.
Placed it back on the table.
Picked up her spoon again.
Ate quietly.
Like nothing had happened.
-
But the silence in the room felt heavier than before.