After school, we gathered at a small restaurant near the station.
The moment everyone sat down, the atmosphere felt completely different from the past few days.
Laughter filled the table.
Relief filled it too.
Minhu had ordered the same snacks we always shared whenever we came here.
"This feels weird," Yian said as he grabbed a snack.
"What feels weird?" Yoonji asked.
"You smiling this much."
Everyone immediately looked at Minhu.
"What?"
Minhu asked while trying not to laugh.
"It's true," Yian said.
"I was starting to think your face forgot how to smile."
"That's not true."
"It is."
Before long, Yoonji and Yian started arguing again.
The rest of us could only laugh.
Looking around the table, I realized everyone seemed happy.
Yoonji looked relieved.
Yian looked more excited than ever.
Minhu looked lighter, as if a weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders.
And somehow—
when my eyes drifted toward Sihoon, I noticed a small smile on his face.
It wasn't a big smile.
Most people probably wouldn't even notice it.
But I did.
For some reason—
seeing him smile made me feel even happier.
As if everything had finally returned to the way it should be.
"We should inform Sonje about the trip," Yian said excitedly.
"I can't believe we're actually going to Jeju Island," Yoonji said with a smile.
"Oh really?" Yian immediately pointed at her.
"Then why were you fighting with me when I said it before?"
"Because you never know the right time to say things," Yoonji replied.
"No, that's not true."
Yian placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"I just want to make people smile."
That earned him another glare from Yoonji.
The table burst into laughter.
For the first time in days, everyone looked completely relaxed.
Minhu was smiling.
Yoonji was smiling.
Even Sihoon had a small smile on his face.
And somehow—
seeing that smile made me even happier.
Then suddenly—
a sharp pain shot through my stomach.
I froze.
My smile disappeared instantly.
The pain wasn't unbearable.
But it was enough to make me grip the edge of the table.
"Jia?"
Yoonji's voice reached me.
"You okay?"
I quickly straightened up.
"Hm?"
"You suddenly went quiet."
Everyone looked at me.
Including Sihoon.
For a moment, I forced a small smile.
"I'm fine."
But the pain returned again.
Stronger this time.
And judging by the way Sihoon's expression changed—
he knew I wasn't telling the truth.
"I should go to the restroom for a minute," I said as I stood up.
Before anyone could ask anything else, I quickly walked away from the table.
The laughter and conversation faded behind me.
Once I stepped into the restroom, I finally let out a breath.
Then I froze.
"Oh..."
I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
Of all days—
it had to be today.
A small sigh escaped my lips.
I had gotten my period.
The cramps suddenly made sense.
I pressed a hand against my stomach and closed my eyes for a moment.
"Great..."
I muttered under my breath.
Just when everything was finally going well.
But suddenly—
the pain became worse.
I gripped the edge of the sink and took a slow breath.
Maybe the cramps had started.
I reached for my phone and quickly called Yoonji.
The call didn't connect.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Then I remembered.
Before leaving the classroom, Yoonji had complained that her phone battery was almost dead.
A small groan escaped my lips.
"Seriously..."
Of all times.
I looked down at my phone.
There was no point calling her again.
For a moment, I stood there in silence.
The pain in my stomach hadn't disappeared.
If anything, it felt stronger than before.
I pressed a hand against my abdomen and took another breath.
What am I supposed to do now?
Outside the restroom, I could still hear faint laughter from the restaurant.
Meanwhile—
I was stuck here alone.
And suddenly—
I heard a voice from outside the restroom door.
"Jia?"
I froze.
"Are you okay?"
For a moment, I simply stared at the door.
I immediately recognized the voice.
It was Sihoon.
My heart skipped a beat.
Why was he here?
"I-I'm fine," I replied quickly.
There was a brief silence.
Then—
"You've been in there for a while."
I bit my lip.
Of course he noticed.
The pain in my stomach returned again, making me close my eyes for a moment.
Outside the door, Sihoon spoke again.
"Jia."
His voice was calm.
But somehow, it sounded worried.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
For a moment, I didn't know what to say.
Part of me wanted to tell him.
The other part wanted to pretend everything was fine.
"I..."
The words got stuck in my throat.
Meanwhile, the cramps only seemed to get worse.
It took all my courage just to open the door.
Slowly—
I stepped outside.
Sihoon was standing there.
The moment our eyes met, I looked away.
"Did you call Yoonji?" I asked quietly.
There was embarrassment in my eyes.
For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to look at him directly.
Sihoon shook his head.
"Yoonji already went home."
"What?"
"She had a class to attend."
For a moment, my heart sank.
Of all times...
Then Sihoon looked at me carefully.
The calm expression on his face slowly faded.
"What happened?"
"Are you okay?"
I immediately opened my mouth to answer.
But the pain in my stomach returned again.
A small wince escaped before I could stop it.
Sihoon's eyebrows furrowed.
"Jia."
His voice became more serious.
"You're obviously not okay."
I lowered my head.
This was exactly what I had wanted to avoid.
How was I supposed to explain this to him?
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then something changed in Sihoon's expression.
It was as if he suddenly understood.
Maybe there was nothing to explain.
Maybe he had already figured it out.
His gaze softened.
"Wait here," he said.
I blinked.
"What?"
But before I could ask anything else, Sihoon had already turned around.
"Sihoon—"
"I'll be back."
And just like that, he walked away.
I stood there in confusion.
What was he doing?
A few minutes later, he returned.
In his hand was a small paper bag.
When he stopped in front of me, he held it out.
I stared at it.
Then slowly took it.
Inside—
were the things I needed.
For a moment, I couldn't say anything.
My face grew warm with embarrassment.
"You..."
I looked up at him.
"How did you know?"
Sihoon rubbed the back of his neck.
For the first time, he looked a little awkward.
"How did you know?"
Sihoon rubbed the back of his neck.
"You were holding your stomach."
"Then you suddenly wanted Yoonji."
"I just guessed."
And somehow—
the pain in my stomach didn't feel quite as heavy as before.
For a moment, I didn't know what to say.
"Thank you," I said softly.
Sihoon simply nodded.
"I'll wait outside."
I held the paper bag tightly and looked at him one last time.
Then I quickly returned to the restroom.
As the door closed behind me, I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding.
Honestly—
I had never been so relieved to see a paper bag in my life.
A small smile appeared on my face.
A few minutes later, I finally stepped out of the restroom.
The moment I saw Sihoon waiting outside, embarrassment rushed over me again.
I immediately looked away.
For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes.
"Jia."
I stopped.
"Hm?"
A small sigh escaped him.
Then he said,
"You don't have to avoid me."
My face grew even warmer.
"I-I'm not avoiding you."
"Really?"
For the first time, there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
I finally glanced at him.
Sihoon looked at me for a moment before speaking again.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about."
His voice was calm.
"It's natural."
For a second, neither of us said anything.
Then I let out a small laugh.
Somehow—
those simple words made me feel a little less awkward.
And a little more understood.
When we returned to the table, Yian immediately looked at us.
"There you are."
"Why did you two take so long?"
Before I could answer, Sihoon spoke.
"Jia wasn't feeling well."
The table instantly became quiet.
Minhu looked concerned.
"Are you okay?"
I quickly nodded.
"I'm fine."
Yian looked at me suspiciously.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Before he could ask another question, Sihoon added,
"She's better now."
For some reason, hearing him answer for me made my face warm.
"Good," Minhu said with relief.
"Don't push yourself."
Meanwhile, Yian suddenly pointed at me.
"See? I told you. You ate too many spicy snacks."
"What?"
"She hasn't even touched the snacks yet." Minhu said.
"Oh."
Yian paused.
"She hasn't even touched the snacks yet," Minhu said.
"Then my theory is ruined," Yian replied dramatically.
Everyone burst into laughter.
For the first time that day, I found myself laughing too.
Then a paper cup was placed in front of me.
I looked up.
Sihoon had set a cup of hot water on the table.
"Drink it."
His voice was calm, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I stared at the cup for a moment.
Then quietly wrapped my hands around it.
The warmth slowly spread through my fingers.
"Thank you," I said softly.
Sihoon simply nodded before returning to the conversation.
As the conversation continued around the table, my eyes drifted toward him for a moment.
He was listening to Yian's nonsense with the same calm expression as always.
Then, as if sensing my gaze, he looked up.
I quickly looked away.
And that only made my face feel warmer.
Maybe today hadn't gone exactly as planned.
But somehow—
it had become a day I wouldn't forget.