Love Before Graduation

As soon as the pen moved on the paper, a question pricked my mind—why had Arin given me the notebook?

The question was stupid, and I brushed it off like one would brush off a fly. But my heart was pointing its finger again and again, like an old nail coming off and pricking me.

I was thinking, or perhaps pretending, that no, everything was fine.

Suddenly, the bell rang. Stupidly and absurdly. The teacher packed up her things and ran away as if she hated this place.

There was a commotion in the class. Chairs were knocked over, books were banged, and students ran to the door as if to save their lives.

I kept fighting with myself. I was packing up my books when I saw Nami and Suhina standing at the door.

"Let's go!" Nami said, stamping her feet.

"We're getting late," Suhina said irritably.

I was about to get up when the books slipped from my hands.

The papers scattered like the dreams of a poor person.

"You did a great job," Suhina taunted.

Nami sat down next to me. She started helping me. Just then a crumpled letter fell out of Arin's notebook.

Nami picked it up. Her eyes sparkled as if she had been caught stealing.

"Oh! Aira!" she teased.

I replied without thinking, "It's Arin's notebook, he had given it to me to copy notes."

Nami laughed. Suhina snatched the letter. Her smile had disappeared. Her face was like stone.

She read it in a cold voice—

"Read carefully next time. You are making it too obvious."

On hearing it, it felt as if someone had slapped me under the ear.

Nami pretended, grabbed her chest as if her heart was sinking.

"He is noticing you!" she said.

I gathered the books in frustration. "Don't say anything."

But Suhina had started a war.

"Nami is right," she said, her voice laced with venom.

"Anyway, I know Arin better than you do. He's not interested in girls like that."

"Like that?" I asked quietly.

"You mean... closer than me," she said bitterly.

Nami rolled her eyes. "Oh please. Arin is not your private property."

I was tired of this drama.

"Enough Nami," I said, pulling her away.

Nami giggled. "Look who has become a peacemaker!"

I jerked her hand away. "Shut up."

But my eyes were fixed on Suhina. She was still there, crumpling the letter. Then suddenly, without saying anything, she went to a corner.

Nami asked, "What's the matter with this?"

I shook my head. "I don't understand. Something is strange these days."

We went out. I looked out of the window—there was the same dry tree outside. Naked, lifeless.

Just like me.

Or maybe...like I was afraid of becoming.

But there was no moisture in my mind, no happiness.

There was just that irritation.

"You are making it too obvious."

I swear, my heart was on fire. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

What does Arin think?

he hide things in papers, and now laughing carefree with Rian?

I held the books tighter, as if I would suppress my anxiety with them.

I saw him in the last corner of the hall—laughing, as if nothing had happened.

My lips tightened.

What is the matter with him?