Unable to sleep, Gina reached for her phone and stared at Emma's name on the screen.
Should I talk to her?
she didn't have the face for it. She had refused to tell her everything today, and now here she was, alone with her thoughts.
I'll deal with this when I see her, she decided, even though she wasn't convinced.
Early the next morning, a message popped up on her phone.
Noel: We need to talk today. It's important.
Gina stared at the screen for a full minute, trying to process it.
Did he really send this… or am I dreaming again?
Her heart jumped. She checked the message again.
Is he going to apologize?
Or… is he finally going to confess his real feelings?
She hurried to get ready. Gina chose a short yellow dress and pearl-white heels, leaving a few loose strands framing her face while tying her hair neatly back.
"Everything's ready," she whispered to herself, forcing a smile.
Downstairs, she found her mother, who looked irritated—as usual—complaining about the same man she always talked about.
"What is it, Mom?" Gina asked, hoping the daily complaints wouldn't start today.
"Look at this," her mother snapped sharply.
"He still doesn't know what he's doing. He's completely unstable."
"Who?" Gina asked, pretending not to know.
"Your father," her mother replied.
Gina laughed lightly. "What? Are you jealous now, even though you're divorced?"
Her mother glared at her, then turned away. Gina leaned in, kissed her cheek, and said quickly, "Bye, Mom. I love you."
"Wait—where are you going?"
"A friend is outside waiting for me."
"…Fine. But come back early."
"I will."
Outside, a luxury car waited. Inside sat a handsome boy.
"Noel! Hi—how are you?" Gina said excitedly as she got in.
"Hello, Gina," he replied calmly.
Silence filled the car.
"Do you want to hear something?" Noel asked, trying to break it.
Gina hesitated, then said honestly, "I don't see any intention of you apologizing."
"For what?" he asked coldly.
"For what happened yesterday. I thought you texted me to apologize."
"We'll talk about that later," he said. "There are things I couldn't say yesterday."
Her heart tightened.
Did I throw myself into this again?
"So… Noel," Gina asked carefully, "do you talk to Emma?"
"Emma?" He looked slightly surprised.
"Yes. I thought maybe you got her number or something happened between you two."
"No," he replied flatly. "We're just classmates. Maybe even strangers. I don't feel comfortable around her—and she doesn't either."
Gina looked away.
I won't lie… hearing that made me relieved.
They arrived at a restaurant—elegant, expensive, the kind Gina had never entered before. Her family couldn't afford places like this.
"Do you want to sit here?" Noel asked.
"As you like," she said quietly.
The waiter handed them the menus.
"I'll have tomato soup," Gina said after a moment.
"What?" Noel laughed. "That's just an appetizer."
"I know. I'm not very hungry. I came to see you."
He looked unconvinced. "Fine. I'll have a medium steak and two drinks."
He looked at her again. "Are you sure?"
She nodded, even though she wasn't. For a moment, she wondered if she'd have to pay.
"Noel… I don't know if I should say this," she said softly, "but I might travel abroad to continue my university studies."
"And?" he replied. "That's good news."
Her smile faded. She had expected him to be at least a little sad.
"You're not against it?" she asked. "Won't you miss me?"
"Why would I?" with a light laugh.
"I mean, we're not that close. You should know that." he said.
"I know," forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
He still hadn't apologized. He still hadn't said anything about yesterday.
"Then what did you want to say about yesterday?" she asked.
"I just don't think this way,".
"It's strange to fall in love overnight." he said
"That's exactly what you said yesterday," Gina snapped.
"What's so strange about it? Is that why you brought me here—to mock me again?"
"You're rushing things, Gina," .
"You want to catch everything all at once."
"I'm not!" she said, trying to defend herself—yet feeling painfully weak in front of him.
"You are," he continued.
"It's like watching the first episode of a show and expecting the characters to start a relationship immediately."
Her body stiffened with anger. She couldn't even speak.
Why am I this weak?
"I'm not saying I don't see you as someone close," he added, "but isn't it too early?"
"Please… stop humiliating me," she whispered.
"I'm not humiliating you,".
"I just don't like clingy, annoying people. You know that."
Inside, Gina felt crushed.
That smile… that look… it was pure mockery.
"Fine," she said quietly, standing up.
"I'll leave so I don't bother you anymore."
"At least wait for your soup," he said casually.
"Though I don't really like tomato soup."
"I don't want it. Thank you."
She grabbed her bag and walked out.
Outside, she pulled out her phone—and Emma's name appeared again.
Damn it… I should've listened to her.
I was so stupid… especially to her.
She hesitated.
Can I call her now?
Back home, she changed her clothes.
"Why are you back so early?" her mother asked.
Gina smiled faintly. "School is close. I thought I should sleep early."
"That's good," her mother said.
Gina smiled back and walked to her room.
To be continued…