"Mark, your melodies are pulling me in, but I'm wrestling with these lyrics."
"Well, can't blame the guitar for wanting to dance with your words. And yes, I admit, my hotness is a bit distracting."
"Mark, let the lyrics take center stage without dis...
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___
The silence between them had stretched for a month, thick with unspoken tension. After the incident, neither Jia nor Mark had made any attempt to reach out. Jia resorted to the usual excuse of being "busy" whenever her friends brought it up, sensing how they were growing more aware of her distance. They could see through her half-hearted smiles and hurried goodbyes, but no one pressed her too hard.
In the halls of Neo Arts University, Jia moved with purpose, getting her tasks done as quickly as possible before slipping away. As soon as her lectures or meetings ended, she would rush home, telling everyone she had the internship to work on. The truth was, she just couldn't bear the thought of crossing paths with Mark, not when the weight of their unresolved tension hung in the air.
There were parties and social gatherings, but Jia made sure to skip any event she knew he would attend. It wasn't difficult, she'd grown used to keeping her distance. Mark, on the other hand, acted as if she didn't exist. Whenever their paths crossed in the hallway, he didn't even glance in her direction. It was as if they had never shared those moments of collaboration or connection. No texts, no calls, nothing.
The silence from both sides was deafening.
___
"What happened?" Jina asked, hanging her keys on the holder and slipping off her jacket. She raised an eyebrow as she glanced at Jia sprawled on the couch.
Jia barely looked up, still focused on the TV, where Friends played for what felt like the millionth time. "What do you mean by what happened?" she replied, casually munching on a handful of popcorn.
Jina sat down beside her, her eyes narrowing. "You haven't been coming home this early in weeks, not since you started hanging out with that handsome guitarist guy." She settled into the couch, the cushions sinking under her weight as if they were used to this routine.
Jia inwardly sighed. Her sister always had this uncanny ability to sense when something was wrong. No matter how busy their lives got, Jina knew her better than anyone, better than she knew herself sometimes. Hiding things from her was nearly impossible. She had managed to fool her friends, but Jina? No chance.
"I screwed up, Jina," Jia confessed, her voice low as she paused the show and turned toward her sister, her expression crumpling with frustration.
Jina's eyes lit up with a mischievous glint, completely misreading the situation. "Oh, no. Don't tell me you've finally realized you've got feelings for him," she teased, stifling a giggle at the thought of her sister falling for someone like Mark.
Jia's nose wrinkled in disgust at the very idea. "What? No! I don't see him that way." Her face twisted in genuine discomfort. The thought of falling for Mark felt... bizarre. Impossible, even.
Jina sighed dramatically. "So you still haven't figured it out. Shame. So what is it, then?" She grabbed the popcorn bowl from Jia's lap, settling into a more comfortable position, clearly prepared for a long conversation.
