𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝘚. 𝘑𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

Study of a Breaking Heart

Monday morning felt wrong.

Like the universe had gone out of its way to make everything slightly shittier than usual. the weather was gloomy, the hallways felt colder, and even the vending machine had a sign that said "Out of Service."

Yeri decided it was personal.

Yeri walked into school feeling like she was moving underwater: everything muffled, distant, blurry around the edges. She stuck close to Ningning, hoping if she made herself small enough, she could slip through the day without anyone noticing the cracks.

"Do you want me to fake a fever so we can go home?" Ningning whispered as they pushed through the crowd.

"No," Yeri muttered. Her voice sounded wrong in her own ears. "I'm fine."

She wasn't. They both knew it.

But Ningning didn't push. She just kept walking with her, shoulder brushing against hers, like she was silently guarding her from the world.

Yeri had a biology test today, and for the first time ever, she hadn't studied. Just another "first" to add to the list, right next to her first crush and the first boy to break her heart within the same weekend.

The hallway buzzed with chatter: weekend gossip, college stress, someone yelling about losing their AirPods for the third time — but Yeri didn't register any of it.

Until she heard him.

"Yeah, I'll make it to practice later."

Yeri froze.

She didn't mean to stop. It just happened. Her body betrayed her. But she didn't look back. She didn't give herself the chance.

Jake did.

He looked up mid-sentence, almost like he felt her there. His voice trailed off, eyes flicking across the hallway, landing on her back.

She didn't look up. Her body stiffened, her fingers clutching the strap of her bag like it was her lifeline.

Ningning cut in, muttering, "Walk faster before he thinks he deserves eye contact."

Yeri obeyed, walking faster.

Jake stayed where he was, jaw tight, hands shoved in his pockets because he didn't trust them not to shake.

It was only a few seconds as she passed him.

But it felt like a bruise blooming.

Yeri slipped into her usual seat, keeping her gaze glued to her notebook as she unpacked her things with her head hung low.

Jake arrived two minutes later. The seat next to her was still Jake's. Because of seating charts. Because of fate. Because the universe was a comedian. Just last week she was thrilled with being his lab partner, but now? It felt like a death senatnce.

He didn't say anything at first. Just breathed out slowly, like sitting next to her physically hurt.

Halfway through the lesson, the teacher asked them to share the textbook.

Of all days.

Jake slid it toward her, fingers brushing the edge of the page.

"We can use mine," he said quietly.

His voice was softer, controlled, way too careful. Nothing like the way it was before.

Yeri nodded without looking at him. "Okay." She didn't trust her eyes not to give her away.

For the entire period, Jake sat perfectly still, like even shifting in his chair might scare her off. He kept glancing at her. Tiny, fleeting looks, like he was trying to memorize the way she blinked or breathed or existed beside him without really being with him.