The next morning at the university felt… slightly off.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
But something had shifted.
In Class
Ethan sat quietly, flipping through his notebook.
Katrina entered a few minutes later.
The moment she saw him, her face brightened.
She walked toward him and smiled softly.
"Good morning, Ethan."
Ethan looked up.
"Yeah… morning."
His tone wasn't harsh.
But it wasn't warm either.
Just… plain.
Katrina paused for a second.
Katrina (thinking):
Why does he sound like that again…?
Still, she sat beside him.
Trying to ignore it.
Trying not to overthink.
During class, Katrina would occasionally glance at him.
But Ethan didn't look at her once.
He kept his eyes on his notebook.
Or out the window.
Or anywhere but her.
After Class
The bell rang.
Students started leaving.
Ethan stood up quickly, picking up his bag.
Katrina turned toward him.
"Ethan, wait—"
But before she could say anything—
"Hey, Ethan!"
Eric's voice interrupted.
Ethan turned.
Eric and his group were standing near the door.
"Come on, we're heading to the cafeteria. Join us."
Ethan shook his head.
"No, I have something to do."
Jackson laughed.
"Bro, you always have something to do."
Eric smirked, casually typing on his phone.
"Exactly. You're already boring. At least try to act like a normal person."
A few of the others laughed.
Jackson added jokingly—
"And anyway, Ethan is the only one single in our group."
Eric didn't even look up from his phone.
"Yeah… because he's boring. Who would even choose him when there's someone like me?"
He paused, then added casually—
"Even Katrina—"
The name hit differently.
Everyone laughed.
"Come on, Eric, she definitely likes you," someone said.
Ethan felt something tighten inside his chest.
A mix of anger… and something worse.
He clenched his jaw.
Jackson leaned toward Eric.
"By the way, who are you texting?"
Eric smirked.
"My girlfriend, of course."
Jackson raised an eyebrow.
"But you said you like Katrina."
Eric shrugged, completely unbothered.
"Come on, don't be so boring. Why have one… when you can have two?"
There was laughter again.
But this time—
Ethan couldn't stay quiet.
"That's disgusting, Eric."
The laughter stopped.
Everyone turned toward him.
Eric slowly looked up.
A smirk still on his face.
"Relax, Ethan. Don't act like you're better."
Ethan's eyes hardened.
"I just don't want to be like you."
Eric chuckled.
"Please. Don't lecture me when you can't even get one girl."
That line—
Hit deeper than it should have.
Ethan looked away.
"I don't want to argue."
And without another word—
He walked away.
Eric watched him leave, his smirk fading slightly.
In the Corridor
Katrina was standing near the window, waiting.
When she saw Ethan coming, she smiled again.
"Ethan—"
But this time—
He didn't stop properly.
"Yeah?"
His tone was slightly sharp.
Katrina blinked.
"I was just asking… are you free today?"
Ethan let out a small sigh.
"Why?"
The question caught her off guard.
"I just thought… we could spend some time together."
Ethan looked at her.
Really looked at her.
At her perfect appearance.
Her confidence.
The way people glanced at her even while passing by.
Ethan (thinking):
Of course… she belongs there…
With people like Eric…
Something bitter rose inside him.
"I don't think I can," he said.
Katrina's smile faded slightly.
"Oh… okay."
She tried to keep her voice normal.
"We can do it some other day."
Ethan shrugged.
"Yeah. Whatever."
That word—
Whatever.
It stayed in the air longer than it should have.
Katrina felt it.
Clearly this time.
Katrina (thinking):
Why is he talking like this…?
She looked at him carefully.
"Ethan… did I do something wrong?"
For a second—
Ethan almost softened.
But then—
Eric's words echoed again.
"…she looks good with me…"
"…someone like him…"
Ethan shook his head.
"No. You didn't."
But his tone didn't match his words.
The Moment
A group of students passed by.
One of them whispered—
"Isn't that Katrina?"
"Yeah… she's so pretty."
"Eric was talking about her yesterday…"
Ethan heard it.
Again.
Katrina didn't.
She was still looking at him.
Confused.
Waiting.
Ethan stepped back slightly.
"I have to go."
And just like that—
He left.
Katrina Alone
Katrina stood there for a moment.
Silent.
Still.
Her hands slowly tightened around her bag.
Katrina (thinking):
What just happened…?
She replayed everything.
His tone.
His expressions.
The way he avoided her.
Something wasn't right.
Something had changed.
And this time—
She couldn't ignore it.
Somewhere Else
Ethan walked quickly down the corridor.
His thoughts messy.
His emotions heavier than before.
Ethan (thinking):
Why does it bother me this much…?
He knew the truth.
He knew Katrina liked him.
He knew she hadn't done anything wrong.
But still—
The more people talked…
The more he saw her surrounded by attention…
The more he felt—
Small.
Replaceable.
Not enough.
Between Them
Katrina—
Standing in confusion.
Hurt, but still trying to understand.
Ethan—
Walking away.
Not realizing—
That the distance he was creating…
Wasn't because of Katrina.
But because of his own fears.
And those fears—
Were only growing.