I exhaled softly, my fingers still hovering over the notebook. Even though the discussion had ended, a strange weight settled in my chest.
My gaze wandered aimlessly around the classroom until, without meaning to, it landed on Arin.
He wasn't paying attention to the lesson at all. Instead, he was slyly using his phone under the desk, his fingers moving swiftly across the screen. He didn't even glance up once, completely unfazed by the teacher's droning voice.
How does he manage to get away with it every time?
The way he hid his phone so effortlessly, as if he had done this a hundred times before, almost made me laugh. A small chuckle escaped my lips before I could stop myself.
And just at that moment, as if he had sensed it, Arin looked up—straight at me.
"Our eyes met."
My heart skipped a beat. "Oh no."
I immediately straightened up, forcing my gaze away. Just act normal. I grabbed my pen, pretending to focus on the notes I hadn't written. But the way my body stiffened, the way my fingers gripped the paper a little too tightly—it was obvious.
"Did he notice?"
I resisted the urge to glance back, but the feeling of being watched lingered.
The lecture continued, but my mind didn't. I should be thinking about the assignment, the endless routine of this school day, anything except—
"Why does he always make me feel like I've been caught doing something wrong?
It felt as if I had been the one caught red-handed, not him."
The lecture finally ended, and as soon as the teacher left, the classroom eased into a more relaxed atmosphere. Conversations broke out, laughter filled the air, and everyone took a moment to breathe before the next class began.
Just then, Tenzin casually slid into the seat behind me, settling himself dangerously close to Suhina. His movements were effortless, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
He leaned in slightly and said in a teasing tone, "Hey, beautiful. What are you up to?"
A smirk played on my lips as I turned to face him. "What do you think?" I replied, matching his flirtatious energy.
Tenzin let out a small chuckle, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You should give those delicate hands a little rest." His voice carried a playful charm, making it impossible to take him seriously.
"Then why don't you do my share of work too?" I replied to him with a playful smile.
"If you get tired, I might just do it… but at least give me permission first," he said—his words were meant for me, but his eyes were fixed on Suhina.
Nami and I exchanged glances, instantly understanding what was happening. A knowing smile crept onto our faces as we chuckled together.
"I'm hungry… and thirsty too," I sighed, looking at Nami.
"Come on, let's go get some water," she suggested.
"Lunch break is about to start anyway," she added casually.
I clutched my stomach dramatically. "But what if I don't make it till then, Nami? What if I collapse right here, right now?" I gasped, as if on the verge of fainting.
She rolled her eyes and glanced at my watch. "It's 10:35… just five more minutes. You'll survive."
"No" I request
"Alright, at least let me pack my book first," she said, tucking it away into her bag.
"Fine," I replied, doing the same.
Just then, the bell rang.
The corridors instantly filled with students pouring out of their classrooms, their chatter echoing through the halls. Nami and I rushed towards the water cooler, weaving through the crowd. But as soon as we reached, we came to a halt.
"Ah… there's too much crowd today. We're never getting our turn, Nami," I groaned, eyeing the long queue.
She glanced at the crowd and then at me. "Let's eat first," she suggested.
With a nod, we quickly washed our hands and made our way to our usual lunch spot.
As soon as we sat down, Nami smirked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "You definitely liked Rei. Maybe not a lot, but at least a little."