The few days didn't feel new. They felt like something that had already been happening for a while—
Like I had just noticed it late.
He was there every morning.
Same seat.
Same timing.
Same quiet, almost effortless presence.
"Morning," he said the next day as I walked in.
I didn't hesitate anymore.
Didn't pause at the door.
Didn't question it.
I just walked to him.
"Hi."
That was it.
No awkwardness.
No tension.
Just normal.
I sat down, pulling out my notebook, my pen already in my hand before I even realized it.
He watched me for a second.
"You're always prepared,"he said.
"I like being prepared."
"I don't," he replied.
I glanced at him.
"I noticed."
He smiled slightly.
"You're judging me again."
"I always am."
"I knew it."
I almost smiled.
Almost.
A few minutes passed in silence, the kind that wasn't uncomfortable anymore.
The kind that just… existed.
Then—
"You didn't text me last night."
I didn't even look at him.
"I slept."
"That's rude."
Now I looked at him.
"You want me to text you while sleeping?"
"If possible, yeah."
I let out a small breath, somewhere between a laugh and disbelief.
"You're actually serious."
"I usually am."
"That's concerning."
He leaned slightly closer.
"You still replied this morning."
I paused.
"…That doesn't mean anything."
"It does to me."
I didn't respond.
Because I didn't know how to.
And somehow—
That didn't feel as uncomfortable as it should have.
Class started, and for once, he actually tried to pay attention.
Or at least—
He pretended better.
"You understand this?"he whispered after a few minutes.
"Yeah."
"Explain."
"Listen."
"I am listening."
"To me,"he added.
I turned my head slowly.
"You're distracting."
"And you're still talking to me."
I held his gaze for a second.
Then looked away.
Because he wasn't wrong.
A few minutes later, he tapped my pen lightly.
"You missed something."
I frowned.
"No, I didn't."
He pointed at the board.
I checked.
…he was right.
I sighed.
"Don't get used to this."
"Too late,"he said. "I like being right."
"You would."
"You like that I'm right."
I gave him a look.
"Don't push it."
He just smiled.
And somehow—
That smile didn't irritate me anymore.
After class, we didn't even ask.
We just walked out together.
Side by side.
Not touching.
But close enough to feel.
"You're coming tomorrow, right?"he asked.
"Yeah."
"Good."
I glanced at him.
"Why?"
He shrugged.
"I don't like it when you're not there."
Something about the way he said it—
not dramatic.
Not exaggerated.
Just simple.
It stayed.
"Okay," I said quietly.
That evening, I sat on my bed, my crochet in my hands.
The yarn slipped through my fingers easily.
The hook caught each loop in a rhythm I didn't have to think about.
One stitch.
Then another.
Simple.
Predictable.
Safe.
My phone buzzed.
I already knew who it was.
Ethan:Miss me?
I rolled my eyes.
Ivy:No
A second later—
Ethan:Liar
I stared at the screen.
Then typed—
Ivy:What do you want?
Ethan:Nothing. Just you.
I paused.
That again.
That line.
It should've felt too much.
Too obvious.
But somehow—
It didn't push me away.
It just…
stayed.
Ivy:That's cringe
Ethan:You still replied
I let out a small breath.
Ivy:Unfortunately
Ethan:rude
A few seconds passed.
I locked my phone.
Picked up my crochet again.
But the rhythm wasn't the same.
Because even in the quiet—
He was still there.
The next day started like every other.
Same classroom.
Same seat.
Same as him.
"Morning,"he said.
"Hi."
He leaned slightly closer.
"You look tired."
"I slept late."
"Talking to me?"
"No."
"Liar."
I shook my head.
"You're obsessed."
"Maybe."
I glanced at him.
He didn't look like he was joking.
And for a second—
I didn't know what to say to that.
Before I could think—
"Ivy."
That voice.
Everything in me stilled.
I didn't have to turn around.
I knew who it was.
Still—
I did.
She stood there.
Same expression.
Same confidence.
As she belonged anywhere, she decided to stand.
"What?"I asked, my tone flat.
She smiled.
Fake.
"Relax,"she said. "I'm not here to fight."
"Then don't start."
Her smile didn't drop.
Instead—
She stepped closer.
"I just thought you should know something."
My chest tightened.
I didn't want to listen.
Didn't want to care.
But I stayed.
"What?"I asked.
Her eyes flicked toward Ethan.
He was across the room.
Talking.
Laughing.
Like everything was normal.
"You look really comfortable lately," she said.
I didn't respond.
Didn't give her that.
"Don't get too used to him,"she added softly.
My jaw tightened.
"And why is that?"
She tilted her head.
"Because you're not the first girl he's done this with."
Something in my chest dropped.
But I didn't let it show.
"You expect me to believe that?" I said.
She shrugged.
"You don't have to."
Then she leaned in slightly.
Close enough that I could hear every word clearly.
"But you will."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
"You're lying,"I said.
"Am I?" she smiled.
And for a second—
I hated how calm she looked.
How sure.
Then she stepped back.
"Just thought I'd warn you."
And walked away.
Just like that.
Like she hadn't just—
shifted something inside me.
I stood there.
Trying to breathe normally.
Trying not to think.
But my mind didn't listen.
It went back—
to everything.
His words.
His actions.
The way he looked at me.
The way he said things.
Too smooth.
Too easy.
"Ivy?"
I turned.
Ethan.
Walking toward me.
Smiling.
Like nothing had happened.
"Where'd you go?" he asked.
I looked at him.
Really looked.
And suddenly—
Something felt off again.
"Nowhere," I said.
But it didn't sound the same.
Because now—
There was a question sitting quietly in my mind.
And no matter how much I tried—
I couldn't ignore it anymore.