Chapter 4:
The next morning, Ji-eun walked into school with a tiny smile she tried to hide.
She kept remembering yesterday — the umbrella, Min-jun's quiet voice, how close they stood.
Her heart beat faster just thinking about it.
But when she reached the classroom, something felt wrong.
Min-jun… wasn't looking at her.
He was sitting at his desk, staring out the window, jaw tight.
He didn't greet her.
He didn't glance at her.
It was like she didn't exist.
Ji-eun froze.
Did I do something wrong?
Did I misunderstand everything?
She sat down quietly, but her chest felt heavy again — the same weight she felt before he ever cared.
---
During break, she gathered her courage and approached him.
"Min-jun… about yesterday—"
He stood up quickly, avoiding her eyes.
"We shouldn't talk right now."
Her heart dropped.
"O-Oh… okay…"
He walked away.
The tiny smile she carried since yesterday… disappeared.
---
What Ji-eun didn't know was this:
That morning, Min-jun overheard two boys talking near the lockers.
"Did you see Ji-eun yesterday? She was walking home with some older guy last week too."
"Yeah, she's probably lying to get attention."
"She acts innocent, but she's definitely two-faced."
Min-jun felt something inside him twist — anger, jealousy, confusion.
He didn't know why it bothered him so much, but it did.
He hated hearing people talk about her like that.
He hated even more that he cared so much.
So he stayed quiet.
Cold.
Distant.
Trying to push away feelings he didn't understand.
---
Later, when the class ended and students left, Ji-eun stayed behind.
She sat at her desk, staring at her hands, trying not to cry.
I thought… maybe he cared.
Maybe I was stupid.
A soft sound made her lift her head.
Min-jun stood in the doorway.
He looked torn — frustrated, guilty, angry at himself.
"…Ji-eun."
His voice was softer this time.
She swallowed hard.
"You don't have to explain. I know you were just being nice. I won't bother you again."
He took a step toward her — fast.
"No. That's not it."
She didn't look up.
He clenched his fists.
He hated seeing her sad.
Hated that he caused it.
"I… heard people talking about you," he admitted.
"And I didn't like it."
She blinked, confused.
"…Talking about me? Why would that matter?"
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
He didn't want to tell her the truth — that the idea of her being close to someone else made him jealous.
Instead, he muttered,
"It just… bothered me."
Her eyes softened.
She stood up slowly, stepping closer.
"So you ignored me because you were… worried?"
He turned red instantly.
"I wasn't—! I mean— That's not—"
She smiled — small, gentle, warm.
The kind of smile he didn't realize he needed.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Min-jun looked at her, breath catching.
Something inside him broke open — something he had been trying to hide.
Without thinking, he reached out and gently brushed a tear from her cheek.
"Don't cry again," he said quietly.
"It… hurts to see."
Ji-eun's heart thumped loudly, her cheeks heating.
For a moment, the world felt quiet.
Just the two of them.
Confused, close, connected.
The misunderstanding didn't push them apart.
It brought their hearts just a little bit closer.