The classroom was noisy, filled with casual chatter.
Jiwon entered and walked to her seat as usual.
A few seconds later—
Sungwon followed.
Instead of going to his own section, he stopped beside her desk.
She didn't even look at him.
"What now?"
He smiled lazily.
"You left in such a hurry earlier."
A few nearby students glanced over.
"I told you to move," she replied flatly.
Sungwon leaned one hand on her desk.
"You could've stayed a little longer."
Murmurs started.
Jiwon finally looked up at him, annoyed.
"Don't twist things."
"Twist?" he repeated innocently. "I was just enjoying our moment."
The word moment landed perfectly.
Two girls in the back exchanged looks.
"Our moment?" Jiwon repeated slowly.
Sungwon shrugged lightly.
"You're the one who grabbed my wrist yesterday."
The classroom went quieter.
Jiwon's eyes sharpened.
"You were following me."
"But you still chased me," he said smoothly.
From the doorway—
Jinwoo had just walked in.
He heard that part.
His expression froze.
Sungwon noticed him.
Of course he did.
He straightened slightly and added, just loud enough—
"Don't worry. I don't mind when you're bold."
A few students gasped softly.
Jiwon stood up immediately.
"You're insane."
Sungwon only chuckled.
"And you're interesting."
He finally walked away to his seat.
Whispers exploded around the room.
Jiwon felt the shift instantly.
Eyes.
Questions.
Speculation.
She didn't look toward the door.
But she felt it.
Jinwoo's silence.
He walked to his seat.
Not beside her.
Not behind her.
Farther.
Yerim watched him carefully.
He didn't say a word.
But this time—
The distance wasn't small anymore.
Upstairs, near the staircase—
Sora sent a short message.
"It's working."
In the council room—
Eunbyeol read it.
And smiled.
The hallway had emptied.
Classes were over.
The whispers hadn't stopped all day.
Jiwon walked toward the stairs, tired of the looks, the half-hidden smiles, the silence that followed her.
"Jiwon."
She stopped.
Jinwoo stood a few steps below her.
His expression wasn't angry.
It was calm.
Too calm.
"What?" she asked.
He climbed the last few steps slowly.
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
She frowned slightly. "About what?"
He looked at her carefully.
"Sungwon."
Her expression hardened a little.
"What about him?"
Jinwoo let out a small breath through his nose.
"You chased him yesterday."
"He was following me." Jiwon said calmly
"You grabbed his wrist." Jinwoo said.. it was a statement more than a question.
"He was running." jiwon corrected.
"He said you had a moment."
Her eyes flashed.
"You believe that?"
"I believe what I see," he replied quietly.
The words weren't loud.
But they landed heavy.
She stared at him.
"So what did you see?
"I saw you standing close to him."
"He was the one standing close."
"I saw you talking to him every morning."
"He approaches me." Jiwon said but the change in tone is visible.
"I saw you laughing."
Her voice dropped.
"So now I can't laugh?"
"That's not what I said."
"But that's what you're implying."
Silence stretched between them.
Jinwoo's jaw tightened.
"You know what?" he said finally, voice low. "Maybe I was wrong."
Her chest tightened slightly.
"Wrong about what?"
"About thinking you were different."
That one.
That was the one.
Jiwon blinked once.
"What does that mean?"
"It means," he continued calmly, "maybe you enjoy attention more than you pretend."
Her face went still.
Completely still.
"You think I'm playing?" she asked quietly.
"I think," he said, looking straight at her, "you don't mind being chased."
The words shattered something invisible.
She stepped back slightly.
"You don't trust me."
He didn't answer immediately.
That hesitation was worse than a yes.
Jiwon swallowed.
"For someone who says nothing happened… you've already decided everything."
His voice softened slightly.
"You didn't deny it properly."
Her eyes widened.
"I shouldn't have to."
Silence again.
Heavy.
Painful.
Finally, she straightened.
"Fine."
Her voice was steady now.
Cold.
"If you think I'm like that… then keep thinking."
She walked past him.
This time—
He didn't stop her.
And as she disappeared down the staircase—
For the first time—
Jinwoo wasn't sure if he'd just protected himself…
Or destroyed something.
The next morning.
Jiwon entered the school quietly.
She walked toward her classroom without expecting anything unusual.
But the moment she stepped inside—
She stopped.
The classroom wasn't arranged normally.
The desks were gone.
Chairs formed a large circle.
A single long table stood in the center.
And sitting at the head position—
Eunbyeol.
Waiting.
Jiwon's eyes didn't look at anyone else.
Not the whispers.
Not the stares.
Only her.
Eunbyeol smiled.
"Good morning, Jiwon. We were waiting for you."
Jiwon stepped inside slowly.
"Why?"
Eunbyeol leaned back in her chair.
"Let's play a game."
"It's not a question," she added smoothly. "I'm telling you."
Jiwon raised an eyebrow.
"At morning?"
A soft chuckle spread through the circle.
Eunbyeol tilted her head.
"Why? Are you afraid?"
Silence.
Jiwon's eyes shifted for a brief second—
To Jinwoo.
He stood near the wall.
Quiet.
Unreadable.
He didn't move.
He didn't speak.
Jiwon looked back at Eunbyeol.
"…Okay."
A small pause.
"What's the game?"
The room grew still.
Eunbyeol's smile deepened.
Perfect.