Two days had passed since that strange, unforgettable moment.
Jessica tried to convince herself that it meant nothing. Just a random encounter. Nothing more. Yet, somehow, the memory refused to fade.
And now, she was back at her old coaching center.
She had come with her friend this time—who was planning to get a cat. Jessica didn't even plan to enter again at first, but something about returning here felt normal… familiar.
But normal didn't last long.
The moment she stepped inside, her steps slowed.
Her eyes caught a figure she instantly recognized.
Johnathan.
He was there.
Again.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Wait… he studies here? Since when?
Her heartbeat, which had just started to settle, immediately went out of control again.
Why is this happening again?
Without realizing it, Jessica turned quickly and grabbed her friend Neim's hand.
"Come with me," she said urgently, pulling her outside.
Once they were out, Jessica turned to her, trying to sound casual—but failing completely.
"Hey… tell me something. Since when does he come to this coaching?"
Neim looked at her with a playful smile, clearly noticing something Jessica was trying hard to hide.
"A few days," Neim replied casually.
Jessica frowned. "Can you… talk to him for me?"
Neim's eyes widened immediately, teasing lighting up her face. "Why? Got a crush or something?"
Before Jessica could even think, she snapped.
Without hesitation—slap!
"Ughh Stop joking like that!" Jessica said, flustered and embarrassed.
But even as she said it, her mind kept drifting back to him.
Inside the coaching room… standing there like nothing had changed.
And outside… Jessica trying very hard to act like nothing had changed too.
Neim went back inside the coaching center after a while, still smiling to herself as if he had discovered something interesting.
Jessica, however, stayed outside for a moment longer, trying to steady her thoughts.
Eventually, she also went back in.
But the moment she stepped inside again, her eyes automatically searched for him.
Johnathan was still there.
As if he had never left her mind in the first place.
Jessica quietly took a seat at the last bench, trying to hide herself in the corner of the room. Her friend sat beside her, but Jessica barely noticed anything around her.
Class began.
But Jessica's attention didn't fully stay on the lesson.
Every few minutes… her eyes drifted.
And every time she looked up, she found him.
Johnathan.
Sometimes he was looking at the board… sometimes at his notes… and sometimes—
At her.
Just for a second.
But enough to make her heart skip in a way she couldn't control.
Jessica quickly looked away every time, pretending she was focused on something else, but inside, everything felt messy.
Why does he keep looking? Or am I imagining it?
The class ended slowly, but her mind didn't feel settled at all.
Afterward, Jessica took the cat she had come for and left the coaching center with her friend.
Later, at her cousin's house, she tried to act normal. She even told her cousin sister about the coaching.
"I went there today," she said casually, like it meant nothing.
But it did mean something.
Because even while talking, her thoughts weren't fully there.
Her mind kept pulling her back.
Back to that classroom.
Back to those moments.
Back to him.
And the worst part was—
She didn't understand why she suddenly wanted to see Johnathan again.
It was annoying… confusing…
And impossible to ignore.
On the way out, she somehow convinced her cousin to pass by the coaching center again.
Just to walk past it.
Just once.
But even that "just once" felt like too much… and not enough at the same time.
By the time Jessica passed by the coaching center again, Johnathan was already gone.
The place suddenly felt quieter… emptier.
She stopped for a moment, her eyes scanning the surroundings as if hoping—just hoping—he might still be there somewhere.
But he wasn't.
A strange feeling settled in her chest. Not relief… not disappointment either. Something in between that she couldn't name.
Without thinking much, she suddenly grabbed her friend Keon's arm.
"Keon… I think I want to rejoin this coaching again."
Keon blinked at her in surprise. "Really? Sure! We'd love that. Come with us."
Jessica nodded quickly, almost like she was afraid she might change her mind if she thought too long.
Then Keon added excitedly, "We actually have a group chat. I'll add you there!"
At that moment, something in Jessica's mood shifted completely.
"A group chat?" she asked, trying to sound normal—but her eyes softened.
"Yeah," Keon smiled. "You'll be added with everyone."
Jessica felt a small spark of happiness rise inside her. Simple words… yet they made her unexpectedly glad.
She nodded again, a little faster this time.
"Okay… add me."
And as they walked away, Jessica didn't fully understand why this small decision felt so important.
But deep down, she knew one thing for sure—
Something about this coaching center… and someone inside it… was no longer just a coincidence.