Ezekiel stared at Dean for a few seconds longer than he should have.
She was still laughing.
Still teasing Cy while the whole class continued making jokes about CJ and his very loud "sweetheart."
For a moment, Ezekiel thought about walking over.
Just walking there.
Just saying something simple.
Hey.
Or maybe something normal like before.
You're still laughing at stupid things, huh?
It wouldn't be that hard.
Right?
His hand tightened slightly around the strap of his bag.
He took one step forward.
Then stopped.
Because suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind.
I will not like Dean.
The words he said a month ago.
In front of everyone.
The way she laughed after that.
That bitter laugh.
Ezekiel looked down.
His chest felt strangely tight.
"…Forget it," he muttered quietly.
And just like that—
He stepped back instead.
Coward.
That was the word sitting in the back of his mind.
But it was easier to stay where he was.
Easier to pretend everything was fine.
Across the room, the chaos around CJ and Cy was still going strong.
Cy had her arms crossed, glaring at CJ while the class continued laughing.
"You embarrassed me on purpose," she accused.
CJ looked completely innocent.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Cy pointed at him.
"You literally shouted 'sweetheart' across the classroom!"
CJ shrugged.
"You walked away first."
"That is not a reason!"
CJ leaned closer slightly, lowering his voice just enough to sound teasing.
"You didn't hate it that much."
Cy's eyes widened.
"Excuse me?"
CJ smirked.
"You didn't pull your hand away immediately."
The class around them went quiet again.
Someone whispered,
"Oh this is getting interesting."
Cy's face turned red again.
"That's because I was shocked!"
CJ tilted his head.
"Sure."
Cy kicked his leg.
"You're so annoying."
CJ barely moved.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
"Then stop talking to me."
Cy opened her mouth—
Then closed it again.
CJ raised an eyebrow.
"See?"
Cy grabbed the nearest notebook and lightly smacked his arm with it.
"Shut up!"
The class laughed again.
Meanwhile, Dean leaned against the desk beside them, still smiling from the chaos.
"This is your fault," she told CJ.
CJ looked offended.
"How is this my fault?"
"You started the sweetheart thing."
CJ pointed at Cy immediately.
"She started the gay rumor."
Cy gasped dramatically.
"It was a joke!"
CJ leaned back with a grin.
"So was mine."
Cy glared at him.
"Your jokes are dangerous."
CJ shrugged.
"You're still here."
Cy rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small smile forming on her face.
Across the classroom—
Ezekiel watched everything quietly.
Dean looked happier than she had in weeks.
Laughing again.
Teasing again.
Even if it wasn't with him anymore.
For a moment, he wondered what would happen if he just walked over.
Joined the conversation.
Said something stupid like before.
But the distance between them felt heavier than it should.
So instead—
He looked away.
Pretending he hadn't been watching at all.
Across the room, Dean laughed again at something Cy said.
And Ezekiel missed it.
Just by a few seconds.
Another moment that was almost something.
But not quite.
Almost Something
While the classroom continued buzzing with laughter from CJ and Cy's argument, Ezekiel quietly moved toward the back of the room.
Or at least—
That's what he tried to do.
"Ezekiel."
He stopped.
He didn't even have to turn around to know who it was.
Jasmine stood beside him, leaning casually against the desk like she had been there the whole time.
Her arms were crossed, but the small smile on her face was confident.
Too confident.
"You've been quiet today," she said.
Ezekiel shrugged.
"Just tired."
Jasmine tilted her head slightly, studying him.
For someone who used to admire her from afar, standing this close now felt… strange.
Uncomfortable.
Jasmine reached out and lightly tapped his arm.
"You should smile more," she said.
"You look better when you do."
Ezekiel let out a small awkward laugh.
"…Thanks?"
She leaned a little closer.
"You know," she continued, her voice softer now, "people keep talking about us."
Ezekiel blinked.
"Talking?"
Jasmine smiled knowingly.
"You haven't heard?"
Before he could answer, two classmates whispered loudly nearby.
"See? They're together again."
"Told you."
Jasmine heard it too.
Instead of looking embarrassed—
She looked amused.
"Well," she said lightly, "I guess the rumors are spreading."
Ezekiel rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah… about that."
Jasmine stepped closer again.
Close enough that he instinctively leaned back a little.
"If people already think we look good together," she said playfully, "maybe we should give them something real to talk about."
Ezekiel froze.
For a second he didn't know what to say.
A month ago, this would have been completely different.
A month ago, he would have felt proud just standing this close to her.
Because Jasmine had always been the girl people admired.
Confident.
Popular.
Beautiful.
And there was a time when Ezekiel thought he liked her.
But now—
Standing here felt strangely awkward.
His shoulders stiffened slightly.
Jasmine noticed.
"You're acting weird," she said.
"I'm not."
"You are."
She poked his arm again.
"You used to talk to me more easily."
Ezekiel forced a small smile.
"Maybe I'm just having a long day."
Jasmine studied his face for a moment longer.
Then she leaned back again, still smiling.
"Well," she said casually, "I don't mind people shipping us."
Ezekiel's expression stiffened slightly.
Across the room—
Dean laughed again at something CJ said.
The sound reached him faintly through the noise of the classroom.
Without thinking—
Ezekiel glanced over.
Just for a moment.
Jasmine noticed immediately.
Her eyes followed his gaze.
And she saw Dean.
Laughing with CJ and Cy.
Jasmine's smile slowly faded into something more thoughtful.
Then she looked back at Ezekiel.
"…Interesting," she murmured.
Ezekiel blinked.
"What?"
Jasmine smiled again.
But this time, it looked different.
"Oh nothing," she said lightly.
But the way she looked at him now…
Was much more observant.
Like she had just noticed something important.
Something he didn't even realize he was showing.
And for the first time—
Jasmine started wondering if the rumors about her and Ezekiel…
Were only half the story.