Chapter 6 - .....

The classroom felt the same.

But it wasn't.

Not anymore.

One seat remained empty.

Minji's.

No one said anything about it.

But everyone noticed.

Every single day.

💜 AFTER THAT DAY

There was no investigation.

No clear answer.

No one knew exactly what happened.

And slowly—

People stopped talking about it.

Because it wasn't their place.

Because it was uncomfortable.

Because it was easier to move on.

But not for him.

💜 HIM

Taehyung changed.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just…

enough.

He stopped laughing in class.

Stopped talking much.

Stopped staying around people.

And most of all—

He stopped sitting next to you.

Your seat stayed the same.

His didn't.

He moved to the back.

Far away.

Like distance could erase something.

Like distance could erase you.

💜 THE WAY HE LOOKED AT YOU

He didn't talk to you.

Didn't acknowledge you.

Didn't even accidentally interact.

But sometimes—

Your eyes met.

And those moments?

They hurt the most.

Because now—

There was something in his eyes.

Not confusion.

Not doubt.

Not even sadness.

Just—

Coldness.

And something close to hate.

💜 WHISPERS

"They were together, right?"

"I heard she was the last one with her…"

"But nothing's proven."

"Still…"

People stopped saying it out loud.

But the thought stayed.

And somehow—

It always circled back to you.

💜 JIMIN

"Don't look at him."

Jimin's voice was firm.

You blinked. "I wasn't—"

"You were."

You looked down.

"I didn't do anything," you whispered.

"I know."

"Then why does it feel like I did?"

Jimin didn't answer.

Because even he—

Couldn't change what people felt.

💜 ONE MOMENT

After class—

You stayed back.

As usual.

Waiting for everyone to leave.

You preferred it that way now.

Less eyes.

Less weight.

Less… him.

But—

Footsteps.

You looked up.

Taehyung.

Your breath caught.

He was gathering his things.

Not looking at you.

Not even once.

You stood there.

Unsure.

But something in you—

Didn't want this silence anymore.

"…Taehyung."

Your voice was soft.

Careful.

He paused.

For a second.

But didn't turn.

"What?"

One word.

Flat.

Cold.

Unfamiliar.

"I didn't—"

"Don't."

He cut you off instantly.

Now he turned.

And his eyes—

They hit harder than anything.

"I don't want to hear it."

Your throat tightened. "At least listen—"

"I was there."

His voice rose slightly.

Not shouting.

But shaking.

"I saw you with her."

Your hands trembled. "I didn't push her—"

"I didn't say you did."

That stopped you.

A pause.

Then—

"But I don't believe you didn't do anything either."

The words landed slowly.

Like they were meant to.

💜 BREAK

You stared at him.

Unable to speak.

Unable to breathe properly.

Because this—

This was worse than blame.

It was doubt.

It was distance.

It was—

Him choosing not to trust you.

"I don't want to think about it," he continued, quieter now.

"But every time I see you—"

He stopped.

Jaw tightening.

"Just… stay away from me."

💜 SILENCE

You didn't move.

Didn't argue.

Didn't cry.

Just stood there.

Because what could you say?

When someone had already decided where you stood?

He picked up his bag.

Walked past you.

Like you weren't even there.

💜 END SCENE

That night—

You sat on your bed.

Lights off.

Room silent.

Your mind replaying one thing—

"Stay away from me."

You let out a shaky breath.

And whispered—

"I already was…"