The classroom slowly filled with noise as students settled into their seats.
The teacher stood at the front, writing notes across the board while explaining the lesson.
I opened my notebook and tried to focus.
But for some reason, my mind kept drifting.
Maybe it was because of this morning.
Walking to school with Kira.
Or maybe it was because I kept feeling someone looking at me.
I glanced across the classroom.
Mia quickly lowered her eyes to her notebook.
…Maybe I imagined it.
The lesson continued, and the classroom remained quiet except for the teacher's voice and the scratching of pencils across paper.
Then—
Ring.
The lunch bell echoed through the hallway.
Almost instantly, the classroom came alive.
Students stood, stretched, and began talking as they packed up.
John stood dramatically from his chair.
"Finally," he groaned. "I thought I was going to die in that class."
A few students laughed as he walked out.
Beside me, Kira stood up.
"I'm going to grab a drink," she said. "Do you want anything?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
She smiled.
"Alright. Don't disappear while I'm gone."
"I wasn't planning to."
Kira laughed softly before leaving the classroom.
Soon, most of the students had gone, and the room became much quieter.
I leaned back in my chair.
Then I heard footsteps.
I turned around.
Mia was standing there.
Her arms were crossed, her cheeks were slightly puffed out, and her eyebrows were lowered as if she was trying very hard not to look annoyed.
I stared at her for a moment.
"…Are you angry?"
Her eyes widened.
"What? No!"
She quickly looked away.
"I'm not angry."
I tilted my head.
"…You look angry."
"I said I'm not!"
She turned back toward me, looking even more flustered.
"I just wanted to ask you something."
"What?"
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"…You and Kira walked to school together this morning?"
I shrugged.
"We just happened to run into each other."
Mia stared at me for a few seconds.
Then her cheeks puffed out again.
"…Oh."
She looked away.
After a brief silence, I smiled a little.
"You're definitely angry."
Mia spun around so quickly that I almost laughed.
"I told you I'm not angry!"
Her voice echoed through the nearly empty classroom.
A few students near the doorway peeked inside.
Mia froze.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
"…I'm leaving."
She turned around and hurried out of the classroom without another word.
I watched her disappear down the hallway.
Then I let out a quiet sigh.
…
She was definitely angry.
End of Chapter 12