The morning sunlight streamed through the classroom window, but Joya hardly noticed. Her mind was tangled with thoughts of Sudom from last night.
She had finally tried to hint at her feelings yesterday, but he hadn't reacted the way she had hoped. Instead, he had smiled softly and said something that seemed kind yet distant:
"You don't have to say anything right now. I'll listen whenever you're ready."
Joya's chest had tightened at that moment. She wanted to scream, laugh, cry—any emotion to escape the confusion inside her. Yet, the words she longed to hear from him were still trapped somewhere between her heart and his oblivion.
During the first class, she barely managed to focus. Her notebook was filled with doodles of Sudom's face, each one an echo of a feeling she couldn't yet name. Every time she caught his eyes, her heart raced and a silent hope flickered, only to be dimmed by the calm distance in his gaze.
Lunchtime came, and she found herself walking beside him, their steps almost matching. She wanted to speak, to confess, to make him understand without using words—but every time her lips parted, the courage slipped away.
Sudom looked at her, noticing her silence for the first time. "Are you okay?" he asked, genuine concern in his voice.
Joya nodded quickly, her throat tight. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine," she stammered, forcing a smile.
He smiled back, simple and warm, yet it didn't answer the question that burned in her chest.
As the afternoon passed, Joya couldn't shake the feeling of being so close to him, yet so far. Each laugh, each word, each glance carried a weight she couldn't explain.
When the last bell rang, releasing students into the corridor, Joya lingered. She wanted to catch him before he left, to finally let the words slip out naturally—but the moment passed, and he was gone, leaving her alone with a heart full of questions.
What will Joya do if Sudom still doesn't notice her heart?
Tomorrow, a small gesture might change everything… but will Sudom see it?