The Depth of Love

Chapter 15: Words Left Unspoken

Several days had gone by, and Kai hadn’t heard a single word from Rina.

The silence between them felt heavier with each passing day. Each time he opened his phone, he was reminded of their last conversation—short, cold, and painfully distant.

He tried to distract himself by focusing on schoolwork, watching his favorite shows, even listening to songs he loved, but everything just seemed to circle back to the silence between him and Rina.

Finally, unable to take it any longer, Kai thought of a reason to reach out, something casual enough not to make things weird. He decided to ask about a school assignment, hoping it would lead to a real conversation.

Kai: Have you done the assignment that was given earlier, Rina?

He hit "send" and immediately regretted it, his stomach knotting with nerves. He set his phone down, not wanting to wait like he usually did.

He tried to read a book, but the words blurred together as his mind kept drifting back to his phone. After about an hour, he checked for a reply but found nothing. He told himself she was probably busy, but the longer he waited, the worse he felt.

Finally, after nearly five hours, his phone lit up with a notification. He felt a rush of relief and tapped on the screen quickly.

Rina: Yes.

One word. Cold and uninviting. He felt his heart sink a little, but he didn’t want to show his disappointment. He replied, trying to keep his tone light.

Kai: Okayyy.

But as soon as he sent it, he stared at his screen, waiting. He thought maybe she would say something else, add something more. Yet there was nothing but silence.

He felt the warmth drain from the conversation, leaving him feeling colder and lonelier than before. Rina was no longer the cheerful, engaging person he’d come to care for. She was formal, almost robotic, responding only when necessary.

He put his phone aside and lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The silence around him was overwhelming, and he felt a growing emptiness that he couldn’t shake.

He replayed their past conversations in his mind—the jokes, the shared interests, the comfort he’d felt. Now, it all seemed distant, as though he’d imagined it.

Later that evening, while Kai was scrolling through old photos, another notification caught his eye. It was from their adviser, Ms. Takahashi, posted in the class group chat.

Ms. Takahashi: Good evening, everyone! I wanted to inform you that starting next week, we will be transitioning back to face-to-face classes. Get ready to come back on campus! Further details will be shared soon.

Kai’s heart raced. He’d been used to seeing Rina through a screen, which created a safe distance that he hadn’t realized he relied on.

The thought of being face-to-face made his mind race with possibilities. What if it’s awkward? Will she act distant in person, too?

Kai thought back to their past online interactions during class. Back then, seeing her on-screen had been his favorite part of the day. He’d look forward to the small moments when they’d laugh together or exchange quick private messages while pretending to focus on the lecture.

But now, with things so different, he didn’t know how to act. Should he keep trying? Should he step back and let her come to him if she wanted to?

As the thought weighed on him, Kai opened his phone again. His fingers hovered over her contact, tempted to send her a message, but he hesitated.

He could feel his hands shaking as he debated it. What could he say that wouldn’t seem desperate? He wished he had the courage to be straightforward, to ask her what had changed, but he knew that wasn’t his style. Instead, he typed out a simple message and deleted it, over and over, struggling with his thoughts.