Somewhere Across the Street ~Unknown POV
Click.
A camera shutter.
Click.
Another.
Sera walked out of her apartment in her usual hoodie and canvas backpack, hair tied up in that way she only did when she was in a rush.
The figure in the shadows didn't move.
Just adjusted the lens. Zoomed in. Clicked again.
Then scribbled something on a small notepad.
And disappeared down the alley before she noticed.
At School ~Later That Day
Jisoo was back.
He didn't say much. Just walked into class like he'd never been gone, headphones in, hoodie on, head low.
Sera's chest tightened the moment she saw him.
But she didn't rush over.
Didn't wave.
Just caught his eyes for one second longer than normal and gave the tiniest smile.
He returned it.
And that was enough.
They didn't talk during class.
Didn't sit together at lunch.
But during Literature Club, as Minjeong chattered beside them, Jisoo quietly slid her notebook toward himself.
At the bottom corner of the page, he scribbled:
"You okay today?"
Sera hesitated, then wrote back:
"Define okay."
He smirked faintly.
"Not murdered by cafeteria tray?"
"Survived. Leveled up."
She paused. Then wrote—
"Are you okay?"
He stared at the words.
Didn't respond.
Just passed her notebook back.
They never talked about it again.
That Evening – Taeyang's POV
Taeyang couldn't stop thinking about Sera's face the day Eunbi pulled that stunt.
The way she held back her tears. The way she brushed it off like it didn't matter. The way she still smiled at Minjeong after.
She was so damn strong.
Too strong.
He noticed things now. Little things.
Like the way she looked at her phone sometimes and smiled so softly it made his chest hurt.
Or the way her eyes darted to the back of the class every time Jisoo moved.
Or how Jisoo, quiet as ever, only ever really breathed when she was around.
He wasn't stupid.
Something was there.
But it wasn't like he could say it.
Not when Minjeong looked at him the same way he looked at Sera.
He watched from across the room as Sera walked out of class, hair bouncing behind her, hoodie sleeves covering her hands.
Jisoo followed her out a minute later.
Taeyang stared after them both.
And told himself he didn't feel anything.
Even though he did.