The weather had turned slightly colder that week.
Gray clouds covered the sky as students slowly entered Maplewood High School. The air felt heavier than usual, and even the hallways seemed quieter in the early morning.
Yuri walked through the doors with her usual dramatic energy.
"It's too cold," she complained immediately.
Ezra looked at her.
"You say that every winter."
"Because winter is rude," Yuri replied.
Ezra laughed quietly and opened his locker.
Yuri leaned against the one next to it and watched him.
"Did you study today?" she asked.
"Yes."
Yuri looked shocked.
"Who are you and what did you do with my boyfriend?"
Ezra rolled his eyes.
"It's called responsibility."
"I don't believe it."
Before Ezra could respond, Michael walked past them in the hallway.
"Morning," he said.
"Morning," Ezra replied.
"Hi," Yuri added.
Michael nodded slightly and kept walking toward his classroom.
Ezra watched him for a moment.
The rumor from earlier that week still stayed somewhere in his mind.
He tried to ignore it.
But sometimes ignoring something didn't make it disappear.
Later that afternoon, after the final bell rang, most students began leaving the building.
Ezra stayed behind for a few minutes to finish talking with a teacher about an assignment.
When he finally left the classroom, the hallway was almost empty.
As he walked toward the exit, he heard voices coming from around the corner.
One of them sounded familiar.
It was Michael.
Ezra slowed down slightly.
Michael was standing near the lockers with Aubrey.
"…I just don't know what to do," Michael was saying.
Ezra didn't mean to listen, but the hallway was quiet enough that he could hear clearly.
Aubrey spoke softly.
"You should just be honest about your feelings."
Michael sighed.
"It's not that simple."
"Why?"
Michael hesitated before answering.
"Because she's already with someone."
Ezra froze.
His heart suddenly beat faster.
Aubrey crossed her arms.
"Michael, you can't keep thinking about someone who's already taken."
Michael looked frustrated.
"I know that."
"Then move on."
"I'm trying."
Ezra didn't hear the rest of the conversation.
His mind had already filled in the missing pieces.
She's already with someone.
The words repeated in his head.
There was only one person Michael could be talking about.
Yuri.
Ezra quietly walked away before they could notice him.
His chest felt tight.
He knew he shouldn't jump to conclusions.
But the conversation sounded too clear.
Michael still had feelings for Yuri.
Meanwhile, outside the school, Yuri sat on the bench near the gate.
She was texting Yuki again.
Yuki:
Are you still at school?
Yuri:
Yeah. Waiting for Ezra.
Yuki:
You wait for him every day.
Yuri:
That's called being a good girlfriend.
Yuri smiled while typing.
Just then Ezra walked toward her.
But something about his expression looked different.
He seemed quieter than usual.
"You took forever," Yuri said playfully.
"Sorry."
Yuri stood up and looked at him.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You always say that."
Ezra forced a small smile.
"Just tired."
Yuri studied him for a moment.
But she didn't push further.
As they walked home together, Yuri continued talking about random things she saw online.
Ezra nodded occasionally.
But his thoughts were somewhere else.
He kept remembering Michael's words.
She's already with someone.
Maybe it meant something else.
Maybe Ezra misunderstood.
But the doubt had already entered his mind.
Meanwhile, back near the lockers, Aubrey looked at Michael seriously.
"You can't keep blaming yourself," she said.
Michael sighed.
"I'm not blaming myself."
"Then what are you doing?"
Michael thought for a moment.
Then he answered honestly.
"I'm trying to forget feelings that don't matter anymore."
Aubrey didn't say anything.
Because she knew something important.
Michael wasn't talking about Yuri anymore.
But someone else had already misunderstood everything.
And sometimes…
Misunderstandings were the most dangerous part of any story.
Because once doubt entered someone's heart…
It didn't leave easily.
And the story of four hearts was about to become much more complicated.