I didn't go back to class immediately.
I just stood there.
Looking at nothing.
Thinking about everything.
His words stayed in my head, repeating in a way I couldn't stop.
"Is it?"
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm down, but it didn't work.
Nothing was calm anymore.
Not my thoughts.
Not my heart.
Not even the silence.
When I finally went back inside, everything felt the same—but also not.
Like something had shifted, and I couldn't fix it.
I sat down quietly.
I didn't look at anyone.
I didn't even look at her.
But I could feel it.
Her eyes on me.
Watching.
Waiting.
"Mina."
My name felt heavier now.
I slowly turned.
She was already facing me, her expression different this time. Not just worried.
Something else.
"You've been acting really strange," she said.
I forced a small smile again. "I told you, I'm fine."
She didn't smile back.
"You left during break," she continued. "And you didn't tell me where you were going."
My fingers tightened slightly.
"I just needed air."
"With him?"
My heart stopped.
I looked at her properly this time.
"What?"
"I saw you," she said.
Everything inside me went quiet.
"I saw you leave with him."
There was no anger in her voice.
Not yet.
But there was something worse.
Confusion.
And that scared me more.
"It's not what you think," I said quickly.
But even as I said it…
I knew how it sounded.
Her eyes didn't leave mine.
"Then what is it?"
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it again.
Because I didn't have an answer.
At least, not one I could say out loud.
"It's nothing," I whispered.
She let out a small breath, like she didn't believe me—but didn't want to push too hard either.
"You know he likes someone, right?" she said quietly.
The words hit harder than I expected.
"I know," I replied.
My voice felt empty.
"And you know who that someone is."
I nodded.
Of course I knew.
That was the problem.
She looked at me for a few seconds longer… then finally looked away.
"Just don't do anything stupid," she said.
It sounded like a warning.
But also like trust.
And I didn't deserve either.
The rest of the day went slowly.
Too slowly.
I tried to focus on lessons, but I couldn't.
My mind kept going back to him.
The way he looked at me.
The way he spoke.
The way everything felt different when he was close.
I hated it.
I hated how I couldn't stop thinking about it.
When the final bell rang, I packed my bag quickly.
I didn't want to stay.
I didn't want to think.
I just wanted to go home.
"Mina, wait."
I stopped.
Not because I wanted to.
But because I had to.
I turned slowly.
It was her again.
"I'm sorry," she said.
I frowned slightly. "For what?"
"For earlier," she replied. "Maybe I overthought things."
Guilt twisted inside me.
"No… it's fine," I said softly.
She smiled a little, but it didn't fully reach her eyes.
"Let's go together," she added.
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then I nodded.
"Okay."
We walked side by side, like we always did.
But something felt different.
The space between us wasn't the same.
The silence wasn't comfortable anymore.
It felt… careful.
Like we were both trying not to say the wrong thing.
When we reached the gate, she suddenly stopped.
"I forgot something in class," she said. "I'll go back quickly."
"I'll wait—"
"No, it's okay," she cut in. "You can go."
Before I could say anything else, she turned and walked away.
I stood there for a moment.
Then sighed and started walking home alone.
But I didn't get far.
"Mina."
My steps slowed.
I didn't turn immediately.
I already knew.
It was him.
"Why are you avoiding me?" he asked.
I faced him slowly.
"I'm not."
"You are."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Just certainty.
"You shouldn't be talking to me," I said.
"Why?"
I looked at him.
Really looked this time.
"Because she trusts me," I said quietly.
"And you?"
His question caught me off guard.
"What about me?" I asked.
He stepped closer.
"Do you trust yourself?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't.
Not anymore.