As soon as the Professor left, Jia hurried to Jinu's side, her heart racing.
"Jinu? What's wrong? Is there a problem?" she asked, her voice soft but full of concern.
Jinu exhaled slowly, forcing a faint smile onto his face.
"Oh, it's nothing, really. I was just lost in thought," he said, his eyes meeting hers.
"Don't worry, I'm fine… but why are you worrying about me so much?"
Jia's expression faltered, a shadow of sadness crossing her face.
"First, Shini didn't come to school today, and now you… you don't even seem like yourself. I'm just really worried," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jinu realized the weight of his silence.
His quietness, which had always been a part of him, was clearly affecting Jia more than he had anticipated.
He tried to lighten the moment.
"Listen, how about we go for ice cream after school? Or maybe a walk in the park? I promise it'll cheer you up."
At the mention of 'ice cream,' Jia's face lit up with a soft, sweet smile, one that could melt even the heaviest of worries.
"Okay! That sounds nice," she agreed, a tiny spark of excitement returning to her eyes.
The school day crawled by, but eventually, the final bell rang.
Jinu led Jia down the familiar streets toward the little ice cream parlor they always went to.
He laughed softly, talking about random things, yet Jia could feel the tension behind his smiles.
They weren't as carefree as before—there was something weighing on him, something he wasn't ready to share.
Jia finally mustered the courage to ask, her voice cautious. "By the way… have you thought about the sports festival? You've never told me what kind of sports you like."
The question seemed to strike a chord.
Jinu froze mid-step, his eyes blank for a moment, and his body stiffened.
The laughter and lightness of the afternoon vanished like mist in the morning sun.
Jia felt a twinge of unease. She moved closer, searching his face for answers.
"Jinu? Are you hiding something from me? Or is it that you just… don't want to tell me?
When you go quiet like this… it honestly scares me," she admitted, her voice tinged with worry.
Jinu remained silent for a heartbeat, then gently took her hand in his, his touch reassuring yet firm.
"It's nothing like that, Jia," he said softly, his eyes locking onto hers with a promise. "I will tell you everything when the time is right. I promise."
Jia reached up, cupping his cheek with her hand. Her eyes searched his, looking for honesty and trust, and in that simple gesture, she found it.
"Okay… I'll wait for that time," she whispered, her voice steady now, her heart believing in him completely.
For a while, they walked in silence, the city around them bustling, but it felt like a quiet bubble existed just for the two of them.
The air smelled faintly of fresh grass from the nearby park and of sweet, melting ice cream.
Every laugh, every glance between them, carried a layer of unspoken understanding.
At the ice cream parlor, they settled on their favorite flavors. Jia chose her usual strawberry, while Jinu went for chocolate, though he barely tasted it.
He was too lost in thought, still weighed down by things he couldn't yet say.
Jia noticed, but instead of pressing, she simply smiled, understanding that some burdens take time to share.
"Promise me something," Jia said suddenly, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"No matter what, don't let your worries steal your smile. Okay?"
Jinu looked at her, surprised by her concern, and nodded, a small, genuine smile breaking through the shadow on his face.
"I promise," he replied.
They lingered there a little longer, enjoying the ice cream and each other's presence, savoring the quiet comfort they found in the other.
The world around them could wait—the rush, the expectations, the worries—they didn't matter right now.
Because in that simple afternoon, amidst laughter, strawberry ice cream, and soft promises, Jia and Jinu found a small yet profound peace.
And though the questions and secrets hadn't been answered, the bond between them felt unshakable, like a silent vow etched deep in their hearts.