The next few days felt normal… until they didn't.
One afternoon, after the last bell rang, Anna was packing her bag slowly. Emily had already left for choir practice. When Anna stepped out into the corridor, she paused.
Near the staircase.
Sophia was talking to Oliver.
They weren't laughing loudly. They were talking softly. Seriously.
Sophia looked calm.
Oliver looked thoughtful.
Anna stood still.
She didn't want to stare, but her eyes wouldn't move away.
After a few seconds, Sophia noticed her.
"Anna! We were just talking about the science project," she called out casually.
Anna forced a small smile. "Oh… okay."
Oliver looked at her for a moment.
But this time, his expression was unreadable.
Not teasing.
Not soft.
Just… distant.
From that day, something changed.
Oliver stopped asking small questions.
No more "Did you finish the homework?"
No more random teasing.
No more long eye contact.
He became polite.
Simple.
Formal.
"Can you pass the notebook?"
"Thank you."
That was all.
Anna felt it.
The distance.
It was quiet, but it was real.
During math class, he didn't turn back to ask doubts.
During break, he stayed with the boys.
During free period, he didn't look at her.
Or maybe he did… but not the same way.
Anna tried to tell herself it didn't matter.
She had no right to feel hurt.
He was free to talk to anyone.
Sophia was her best friend.
And Oliver had never promised her anything.
But still…
Her chest felt heavy.
That evening, while sitting at her study table, Anna opened her physics book.
But she wasn't reading.
She was thinking.
Her feelings hadn't changed.
Not even a little.
She still noticed him when he entered class.
She still felt nervous when he stood near her desk.
She still secretly wished he would talk to her the way he used to.
Even if it was just teasing.
Even if it was just homework.
She didn't need grand gestures.
She just missed the small things.
The next day at school, Sophia was talking excitedly about something funny that happened.
Anna listened and smiled.
But when she glanced across the room—
Oliver was looking out the window.
Far away.
And for the first time…
Anna felt like maybe he was slipping away.
Yet no matter how distant he became—
Her heart refused to move on. 💔