“Sometimes the quietest absence is the loudest thing in the room.”
Thursday morning.
The classroom buzzed with its usual noise.
Heosok walked in carrying a carton of chocolate milk.
He proudly placed it on Jiwoo’s desk.
“A peace offering.”
Jisoo looked at him.
“You fought yesterday.”
“I’m planning ahead.”
“…That’s surprisingly mature.”
“I know.”
He smiled proudly.
“I scared myself.”
Five minutes passed.
The bell hadn’t rung yet.
Jiwoo still hadn’t arrived.
Heosok looked toward the door.
“…She’s late.”
Jisoo shrugged.
“She’ll probably run in at the last second.”
“Like always.”
The bell rang.
The teacher entered.
The lesson began.
Jiwoo’s chair remained empty.
Heosok slowly turned toward Jisoo.
“…She’s really absent?”
“I guess.”
He looked at the chocolate milk.
“…Well…”
“…Now I have two.”
Jisoo smiled.
“Your plan failed.”
“My plan was perfect.”
“My timing wasn’t.”
During lunch…
The group felt strangely smaller.
Nobody said it.
But everyone noticed.
Even the conversations weren’t as loud.
Heosok poked at his lunch.
“…It feels weird.”
Yongi nodded.
“…One person can change a group more than people realize.”
Zaizai quietly looked down at her food.
She didn’t say anything.
Jeheon noticed.
School ended.
The Five of them walked toward the gate.
Not six.
The laughter slowly returned.
Mostly because Heosok refused to let silence win.
He told terrible jokes.
Jisoo pretended they weren’t funny.
Then laughed anyway.
As they reached the hallway…
Jeheon realized he’d forgotten his notebook.
“…Go ahead.”
“I’ll catch up.”
He turned back toward the classroom.
The hallway was almost empty.
He picked up his notebook.
As he stepped outside again…
He heard quiet voices.
Around the corner.
Jisoo.
And Zaizai.
He wasn’t trying to listen.
He simply stopped when he heard Jiwoo’s name.
“…Is she doing any better?”
Jisoo asked softly.
A long silence followed.
Then Zaizai answered.
“…No.”
“…She’s trying.”
“…But it still hasn’t changed.”
Jeheon froze.
His fingers tightened slightly around the notebook.
Jisoo sighed.
“…I just want her to have one normal week.”
“So do I.”
Zaizai whispered.
For a moment…
Neither of them spoke.
Then Jisoo looked up.
Her eyes widened.
“…Jeheon?”
Zaizai turned around.
Jeheon was standing near the bookshelf.
Holding his notebook.
He looked at them quietly.
No surprise.
No questions.
Just silence.
Jisoo walked over first.
“…How much did you hear?”
Jeheon thought for a second.
“…Enough to know…”
“…you’re worried about Jiwoo.”
Neither girl answered.
He looked at them.
Then gently shook his head.
“…I won’t ask.”
Jisoo blinked.
“…You won’t?”
He smiled faintly.
“When someone wants to tell me…”
“…they will.”
He picked up his bag.
“…See you tomorrow.”
And quietly walked away.
Neither girl moved.
After a few seconds…
Zaizai smiled.
“…He’s kind.”
Jisoo nodded.
“…Yeah.”
“…He really is.”
Outside…
Jeheon slowly walked home alone.
He wasn’t trying to solve anything.
He wasn’t trying to uncover a secret.
Only one thought stayed in his mind.
If Jiwoo is smiling every day…
…why are the people who know her best so worried?