Monday morning hit differently.
Sera entered the classroom with that kind of nervous flutter you get after something good. That soft hum of hope. She hadn't texted Jisoo after Saturday night, but she figured maybe that was okay. Things didn't need to be rushed. They were—
comfortable. Or getting there.
She spotted him immediately, hunched over his desk in the back row.
Same hoodie. Same headphones.
But this time…
he didn't look up.
Not even when she walked past him.
Not even when she said softly, "Hey."
She sat down slowly, the flutter in her chest replaced by a sinking weight.
Maybe he didn't hear her?
Maybe he was tired?
Maybe…
The day dragged.
And it got worse.
During Literature Club, Eunbi was in rare form.
"Oh, look who's here," she sang as Sera walked in alone. "No partner this time? That must be awkward."
Sera didn't flinch.
Not today.
She moved to the table and began unpacking her notes.
Eunbi didn't stop.
"You know," she said, flipping her hair, "some people just use clubs to pass time. But it's embarrassing when someone thinks it's more than that."
A few of the other students chuckled under their breath.
Sera straightened her papers, chin held high. "You must be really bored, Eunbi."
"I just don't like people faking chemistry for attention."
Sera smiled sweetly. "You'd know a lot about faking, wouldn't you?"
That shut her up.
But Jisoo never walked in.
He didn't come.
Not during the meeting.
Not after.
Not even a text.
Later that evening, she sat at their usual library table. Alone.
The books were there.
The window seat was there.
Even the light was the same.
But the chair across from her stayed empty for nearly twenty minutes.
Until finally—
He came in.
Dropped his bag wordlessly. Sat down.
Didn't say hi.
Didn't look at her.
Just opened his notebook and started scribbling like nothing had changed.
Sera stared at him.
"Okay," she said finally. "What's going on?"
He didn't answer.
"You're ignoring me. All day. What happened?"
Still nothing.
"Was it something I said? Something I did?"
He stiffened.
"Jisoo."
He closed his notebook.
"Sera—"
"No. Talk to me."
He slammed his palm on the desk.
The sound cracked through the library.
A few students turned around, startled.
Sera flinched.
Jisoo stood up fast, grabbed his bag, and muttered through clenched teeth:
"Just drop it."
She stood too. "No! You don't get to act like I imagined Saturday. You don't get to shut me out after all of that—"
"I SAID DROP IT!"
His voice echoed off the bookshelves.
Sera's heart slammed against her ribs.
The librarian peeked from across the room.
Everyone stared.
Jisoo turned and stormed off.
Out the doors.
Down the hallway.
Gone.
Sera stood there, still breathing hard, the table between them suddenly feeling like an ocean.
And for the first time in weeks—
She felt completely alone again.