Hearts Entwined || PpoToz

CHAPTER 11

NO ONE POV

Weeks had passed, and the tense dynamic between Seoyeon and Yooyeon remained unchanged. Every glance, every word, every competition between them still crackled with unspoken tension, but something in the air felt different. Seoyeon couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she felt like she was holding her breath, waiting for something to shift.

Then, one morning, Seoyeon arrived at school to find Yooyeon's seat empty. The sight gave her a strange thrill. No icy glare from across the room, no smug look when Yooyeon aced another test. It was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and Seoyeon couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness.

She went about her day with an extra spring in her step, the absence of her rival making everything seem a little brighter. But when the bell rang to signal the end of the day, Yooyeon's seat remained empty. The same thing happened the next day, and the next. By the end of the week, Seoyeon still hadn’t seen Yooyeon, and her initial happiness began to waver.

The empty seat was starting to bother her. It wasn’t that she missed Yooyeon, she told herself. It was just... odd. Yooyeon never missed school. She was the type who would show up even if she was sick, just to make sure she didn’t fall behind.

Seoyeon found herself glancing at the door every time it opened, hoping to see Yooyeon walk in, her usual air of confidence surrounding her. But the door remained empty, just like the seat next to Seoyeon.

During lunch on the fifth day, Seoyeon finally broke down and approached Nakyoung, who was laughing at something dumb Xinyu had said. "Hey," Seoyeon began, trying to keep her voice casual, "Do you know why Yooyeon hasn’t been coming to school?"

Nakyoung looked surprised. "Yooyeon? I have no idea. I haven’t seen her since last week."

Seoyeon nodded, trying to mask her disappointment. "Oh, okay. Just curious." She quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on it any longer.

For the rest of the day, Seoyeon went back to pretending she didn’t care. She was good at that. She kept her head down, focused on her work, and pushed all thoughts of Yooyeon out of her mind. But as the days dragged on, that empty seat next to her became harder and harder to ignore.

And deep down, no matter how much she tried to deny it, Seoyeon knew that something was missing.

Two weeks had passed, and Seoyeon had grown accustomed to the absence of her rival. Her days had fallen into a predictable rhythm, and she had managed to keep her mind occupied with schoolwork and friends. But nothing could prepare her for the sight of Yooyeon walking through the school gates once again.

Yooyeon’s return was marked by a noticeable change. Her face was paler than usual, with dark circles under her eyes suggesting that she had spent many sleepless nights. The most striking detail, however, was the dried blood on her lip—a stark contrast to her usually pristine appearance.

Seoyeon spotted Yooyeon standing by her locker, her posture rigid and her eyes focused on the floor. The usual confident swagger was replaced by a subtle weariness. Seoyeon’s heart raced as she hesitated, grappling with the mix of relief and concern that Yooyeon’s return stirred within her.

Gathering her courage, Seoyeon approached Yooyeon with a determined stride. “Yooyeon,” she called softly, trying to keep her voice steady, “where have you been? We were all wondering.”

Yooyeon turned slowly, her eyes meeting Seoyeon’s with an unreadable expression. “I was... just taking some time off,” she said, her voice lacking its usual clarity.

Seoyeon frowned, unconvinced by the vague answer. “Time off? That’s it? You missed two weeks of school. What happened to your lip?”

Yooyeon’s gaze dropped to the floor again, and for a moment, Seoyeon thought she might not answer. But then Yooyeon looked up, her eyes meeting Seoyeon’s with a flicker of defiance. “I got punched,” she said simply.