The next day felt heavier than it should have.
Same classroom. Same seats. Same quiet air between them.
She was already there when he walked in.
Notebook open. Pen moving. Head slightly down.
Like always.
He paused for a second before taking his seat. Just one desk away. Close enough to hear the soft scratch of her pen on paper. Far enough to feel like miles.
He wanted to say good morning.
Simple. Normal. Easy.
But his throat tightened like it always did.
What if she just nodded again?
What if she didn't look up at all?
So he stayed quiet.
The teacher's voice filled the room, but he barely heard anything. His eyes drifted toward her without permission. There was something different today. Not obvious. Just… quieter than usual.
She stopped writing at one point and stared at the same line for too long.
He noticed.
He always noticed.
When the bell rang for break, students rushed out, laughing, talking, alive. She didn't move. Just closed her notebook slowly.
This was the moment.
Now or never.
He turned toward her, heart pounding so loud he was sure she could hear it.
"Hey…"
The word came out softer than he planned. Almost lost in the noise.
But she heard.
She looked at him. Not surprised. Not annoyed. Just… tired.
"Yeah?" she said gently.
He forgot everything he had planned to say.
All the smart lines. All the casual questions.
Gone.
"You… you didn't finish your notes," he blurted.
Great. Of all the things.
Her lips curved into a small smile. Not fake. Not fully real either. Somewhere in between.
"I'll finish later," she said. "Didn't really feel like it today."
There was something in her voice. Something heavy.
He nodded, even though he didn't understand.
An awkward silence stretched between them.
But this time… it didn't feel as sharp.
"I can share mine," he added quickly. "If you want."
She looked at him properly now. Like she was seeing him for the first time, not just the boy who sat nearby every day.
"That would help," she said softly. "Thanks."
And just like that, the distance between them didn't disappear.
But it shrank.
A little.