FADED

{1} UNSEEN

"Sometimes, it's easier to push away than to pull closer."

AUTHOR'S POV

Iseul flipped her biology paper shut, rolling her eyes as Joshua stormed over, his paper clenched tightly in his hand.

"Explain this to me, Iseul." He practically seethed, his dark eyes flashing as he waved his test in front of her face. "How do you get a 98, and I get a 97.5? You don't even care about biology!"

Iseul arched an eyebrow, barely containing her smirk. "Guess I'm just naturally smarter," she said, shrugging. "Maybe you just can't keep up, lover boy."

Joshua's expression soured at the nickname, his jaw tightening. "For the hundredth time, don't call me that."

"Why not?" Iseul leaned forward, her tone dripping with fake innocence. "It's cute, just like your little crush on Ara."

Joshua's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping. "I don't have a 'little' crush on her. Not that it's any of your business."

"Oh, but it's hilarious," Iseul teased, tilting her head as she glanced at him. "You, the ever-confident Joshua, pining for Ara since forever and she has no idea." She paused, letting that sink in. "And, I mean, why would she? You're just her best friend."

Joshua's cheeks flushed as he clenched his fist tighter around his paper. "You're unbelievable, Iseul. Just because you think you know everything doesn't mean you do. Some of us don't have to flaunt our feelings everywhere like you do."

Iseul's smirk wavered, but she quickly covered it up, crossing her arms. "At least I don't waste time on people who aren't interested."

"Oh, right. Because you're just so wise and above all this," Joshua shot back sarcastically. "Honestly, do you even have feelings for anyone? Or is being annoyingly superior your only pastime?"

Iseul's heart jumped at the question, but she hid it with a scoff. "Not that it's any of your business, but at least I don't fall head over heels for people who don't even see me that way. Maybe if you stopped obsessing over Ara for five minutes, you'd get that." She knew the words would sting, but the tiny pang of guilt in her chest didn't make her take them back.

Joshua's lips pressed into a thin line, his fists clenched by his sides. "You really don't get it, do you?" he said, voice tense. "Not everything is as simple as 'I like you, you like me.'"