Love Before Graduation

I could still see... the strange sadness in Rei's eyes last night.

That moment... when her smile stopped, as if a light had been extinguished inside her.

And now, seeing that same broken shadow in Nami's eyes... my heart accepted—I had broken her too.

Perhaps unintentionally. Perhaps intentionally.

She was about to say something—her lips trembled—but the words died in her throat.

She just sat, looking at me... as if a forgotten question was waiting for an answer.

For the first time since last night... I allowed myself to feel fully.

The pang that rose in my chest, the heavy breaths that were stuck in my throat, and the exhaustion... that had penetrated to my soul.

And in that moment...

I didn't know what was more painful—

That I had hurt Rei...

Or that whatever I had said... every word... had come from my heart.

"You did the right thing," Nami's voice pulled me out of my desolate thoughts.

I turned my head to look at her. My voice was a stranger than my own, a broken whisper.

"You really think so?"

She nodded without blinking. "Of course. You clearly told him no. Then why did he come back to try and embroil you again?"

Her laugh was bitter, like rubbing salt into the wounds.

She folded her arms and said, "To be honest, I feel like punching him in the face. And you... you're sitting here, shedding tears for him?"

I looked at her—shocked at her brutal honesty.

But that was Nami.

She didn't sweeten the truth... she just stabbed me like a knife.

A part of me wanted to smile at her unwavering support,

But the other part... was asking just one question:

Was I really right?

"And you're crazy," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Just last night you said you liked Arin. And now you're crying over Rei?"

I opened my mouth to say something, then closed it.

Do I really like Arin?

Or was I convincing myself of a dream that never existed?

Despair began to fill me like a flood.

I ran my fingers through my hair and took a deep breath.

"I don't know, Nami. Maybe yes, maybe no. I don't know for sure."

Her eyes softened a little, but then she leaned forward,

her voice no longer friendly... it was commanding.

"Okay, whatever Arin has to do with it, we'll see later. But one thing is clear—the Chapter on Rei must end now. Forever."

There was no hesitation in her voice, her words, her tone.

This was not an admonition.

It was an order.

I looked at the desk in front of me, as if it held an answer.

If only...

If only it were as easy to finish a story...

Like turning a page in a book.

But some stories...

Stick to your soul.

No matter how much you want to leave them behind.