Sooheon shifted his position slightly, his gaze still on the playground but his words focused on Namra. He wasn’t sure what had happened in the last few days, but something was definitely different. She seemed quieter, more distant, and it wasn’t the Namra he’d come to know over the past months.

“Life’s strange, right?” he said, breaking the silence. He didn’t want to push her or make it obvious he was concerned about the shift he’d noticed in her, but he couldn’t help himself. “Things don’t always go the way you expect, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road.”

He turned his head toward her, catching her eye for a brief moment. “Sometimes we get stuck in a place, feeling like we can’t move forward or like things won’t get better, but trust me, they always do. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, things change. You just have to give yourself the chance to see it.”

Namra didn’t respond immediately, but she kept her gaze on him. He could tell she was listening, even if she wasn’t quite ready to speak herself.

“You’ve always been someone who’s carried a lot on your own. You don’t need to,” Sooheon continued, his voice gentle but firm. “There are people who want to help, who want to be there. You don’t have to keep everything to yourself. It’s okay to take a step back, to breathe. You don’t have to carry the weight of everything on your own.”

He paused, letting the words sink in before offering a small, reassuring smile. “Whatever you need, whenever you need it, I’ve got your back. Don’t forget that.”

Namra didn’t say anything at first, but for the first time in a while, her shoulders seemed to relax just a little. She didn’t respond with words, but the way she sat a little straighter, the faint shift in her expression, made Sooheon feel like maybe, just maybe, she was starting to hear him.

Sooheon blinked, taken aback by her words. He had expected her to remain quiet, maybe give a small nod or a sigh, but her statement caught him off guard. His eyes shifted slightly as he turned his head to face her, wondering if he had misread the situation all along.

"Why would you?" Namra's voice, though calm, held an edge of something he couldn’t quite pinpoint.

His mouth opened, then closed again, unsure of how to respond. He shifted slightly, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets as he stood next to her. It wasn’t awkward exactly, but there was a shift in the air, something unspoken hanging between them.

"Because, we're friends?" Sooheon said, hesitating. It was the only word that made sense to him at that moment, but as soon as he said it, he immediately felt the weight of her gaze on him. Her eyes didn’t seem to soften in the way they usually did, not even a little.

Her expression remained unreadable, her lips pressing together for a brief second before she spoke again. "We're not friends, Sooheon."

The words hit him harder than he expected. It wasn’t that they weren’t close—he felt like they were, even if it was in a quiet, unspoken way. But hearing her say it like that… it stung more than he realized.

He stood there, trying to collect his thoughts, his gaze dropping to the ground. What were they then? He had never really thought about it, never had to put a label on whatever it was they had. But now, with Namra’s words hanging in the air, it felt like a wall had been erected between them, even if it wasn’t something she meant to do.

"I don’t…" He trailed off, unsure how to finish the sentence. "I don’t know what we are, then." His voice was quiet, almost to himself. His gaze flickered back to her, meeting her eyes, though he still couldn’t quite read them.

There was a brief pause before she responded, her voice soft but firm. "Neither do I."

The words lingered in the space between them. Namra didn’t say it harshly—there was no bitterness in her tone. But Sooheon couldn’t help but feel like something important was left unsaid. Something that both of them were too afraid to name.

He shifted uncomfortably, taking a small step closer to her. "You don't mean in a negative way, do you?" He asked quietly, almost like he wasn’t sure if it was okay to ask.

Namra’s lips pressed together again, and she remained silent for a long moment. Sooheon, as hesitant as he was, couldn’t look away. Finally, she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if it's negative for you or not."

Her answer felt like both a relief and a weight. Sooheon wasn’t sure what she meant by it, or where it left them, but he knew one thing for sure: they both cared. Deep down, he could feel it in the way she’d softened when he was around, the way her eyes always lingered a little longer than necessary.

As the silence stretched, the sound of footsteps interrupted. Chanmi and Jaebom approached them, having finished their lunch.

"Are you sulking?" Chanmi asked, her voice sharp but not as playful as usual, her eyes darting between Sooheon and Namra. It was clear she wasn’t oblivious to the tension, even if she wasn’t ready to confront it directly.

Sooheon looked at her, offering a small, distracted smile. "We’re good," he said, though the words didn’t sound as convincing as he hoped.

Jaebom, walking alongside Chanmi, gave Namra a quick glance but didn’t say anything. His expression was unreadable, but his silence suggested that he was aware of the shift in the atmosphere. He didn’t push it, choosing instead to wait for the others to break the tension.

Chanmi didn’t look entirely satisfied with Sooheon’s answer. She crossed her arms, still eyeing Namra, but she wasn’t about to press her further. "You’ve been pretty quiet," she remarked, her tone softer now, though there was still an edge to it. "Everything okay?"

Namra, her face neutral, didn’t budge. She wasn’t about to open up, not in front of everyone. "I’m fine," she replied curtly, her gaze turning slightly away from the group.

The brief exchange left a moment of stillness hanging in the air. Chanmi’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t say anything sharp this time. She seemed to consider saying more, but something about the way Namra remained distant made her hesitate. Instead, she simply shrugged, though the frustration didn’t quite leave her expression.

Jaebom, sensing the rising tension, shifted his focus back to the group, though he didn’t add anything. He wasn’t going to comment on it, but it was clear from the quiet exchange that something was off. Still, he wasn’t about to make it worse by prying.

As the group stood near the playground, still caught in the awkward silence, Sooheon’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a video call from Cheongsan, their faces appearing on the screen.

"Hey, Sooheon!" Cheongsan's voice came through, a bright grin on his face. "We’re here at school. We wanted to see if we could catch you and, you know, Namra too." Onjo said.

Sooheon raised an eyebrow, glancing at Namra for a moment. He didn’t expect them to want to talk to her, but he nodded and held up the phone. "Hey, guys. Yeah, give me a sec," he said as he looked at Namra. "They want to see you."

Namra was quiet for a second, then shrugged, her usual calmness returning. She shifted a little closer to Sooheon, looking at the screen.

Onjo appeared next to Cheongsan, waving excitedly. "Is Namra there? We want to see her!"

Sooheon chuckled lightly, before turning the phone toward her. "She’s right here," he said casually.

Namra gave a soft smile, a bit reluctant but polite. "Hi," she said, her voice soft but clear.

Cheongsan immediately smiled widely. "Whoa, Namra, you look exactly like the class pres."

Everyone laughed.

Onjo, with her usual energetic vibe, leaned in. "You don’t mind us talking to you, right? I know things must be different at Yong Tan, but we’re just happy to catch up!"

Namra, who had gotten used to the attention over the months, nodded. "I’m fine. It’s different, but it’s fine. I miss you guys."

Sooheon stood beside her, letting the conversation flow. While the hyosan group continued talking, he couldn’t help but notice how at ease Namra seemed with his old friends, especially considering the way she had reacted to everyone else. It was a small relief, and he found himself watching her closely.

"Hey, Sooheon," Onjo said, glancing at the two of them on the screen. "You better treat her right."

Sooheon was caught a bit off guard, but he didn’t show it. "Yeah, I should," he replied casually. "She’s… someone I can talk to after all."

Onjo laughed. "That’s an understatement! We can tell. It’s good to see you two getting along." Her smile softened as she glanced back at Namra. "You look a lot more relaxed."

Namra gave a small nod, but her gaze flickered between the screen and Sooheon. She had never been one for much attention, but the warmth from Cheongsan and Onjo made her feel more comfortable.

Sooheon, seeing how well things were going, turned his phone toward Chanmi and Jaebom. "This is Chanmi and Jaebom, by the way. My friends here at Yong Tan."

Cheongsan and Onjo both waved at them through the screen, immediately introducing themselves. "Hey, nice to meet you guys!" Cheongsan grinned. "You two look just like the type to hang out with Sooheon."

Jaebom gave a polite nod, his expression warm but slightly distant. Chanmi, though, was more observant. She eyed the screen for a moment, not quite smiling but giving a brief acknowledgment. "Nice to meet you," she said, though her voice had a slight edge to it.

The moment of introductions felt oddly genuine, and soon enough, the group was talking freely. Onjo and Cheongsan shared some school gossip from Hyosan, laughing at a few inside jokes. Sooheon kept his attention on the conversation, occasionally glancing at Namra, who had stayed close by his side.

Namra, for the first time in a while, felt the weight lift off her shoulders. The casual interactions felt comfortable. She had always distanced herself from the "friend" label, but right now, this didn’t feel as heavy. Maybe, just maybe, it was okay to let these moments be lighthearted.

As the conversation continued, Namra leaned in closer to Sooheon, comfortable enough to listen without saying much. She was glad to be part of the moment, even if the distance she often kept still lingered somewhere inside her.

The call ended soon after, and Sooheon put his phone back in his pocket. The air felt a little lighter, and Namra, while still her usual reserved self, allowed herself to breathe more easily in the moment.

Chanmi looked at her briefly before turning toward Sooheon. "Your friends, huh?" she remarked, her tone not entirely friendly, but not hostile either. "Seems like you all get along."

Sooheon nodded, noticing how quiet Chanmi was. "Yeah, they’re good people. I guess things are… different here," he said, his tone soft, almost as if he was reminding himself.

Namra’s quiet presence was beside him, and for once, it didn’t feel out of place.