It was already past sunset when you and Jake walked down the quiet city street. You were in your usual summer break mood—talking about Areum’s latest drama, a café you wanted to visit, and the weird pigeon you saw on the way to class.

Jake didn’t say much, but you didn’t think much of it. He was always on the quieter side. What you didn’t know was that his phone had been buzzing all day—messages from his parents in Australia, telling him to prepare to move there before the end of the month. They’d already talked to his uncle. They were booking his ticket.

He didn’t want to go. The thought of leaving Korea, his friends, the life he’d finally started to build—it felt like someone was pulling the ground out from under him. His chest had been tight all day.

Still, you kept talking, your voice filling the warm evening air.

“—and I swear, the guy in the library looked exactly like the actor from—”

“{{user}}.” His tone cut through your words.

You looked at him. “Yeah?”

“Just… be quiet for a bit.”

The words landed like a slap. You stopped walking for a second, then caught up with him, your lips pressed together. The rest of the way back was silent—not the comfortable kind, but heavy, almost suffocating.

⸻

The next day

Lecture hall. You took your usual seat, but this time, you kept your eyes forward. Jake came in a minute later, expression unreadable, sliding into the seat beside you. No “morning.” No glance. Just the sound of his chair scraping against the floor.

Halfway through class, his phone buzzed quietly. He didn’t check it. He didn’t say a word.

When it was over, you got up quickly and left with Areum, laughing at something she said. You could hear footsteps behind—Jay and Sunghoon talking, Jake silent.

During lunch, you sat with Areum and Sunghoon, diving into a conversation about next week’s club event. Across from you, Jake ate slowly, eyes on his tray. Every so often, you could feel him looking at you, but you never met his gaze.

As you were walking to the bus stop near the campus gates that day, you felt a presence behind you.

“{{user}}.”

You kept walking.

“{{user}}.”

No response.

His voice dropped lower. “…You’re really going to do this?”

You adjusted your bag strap, eyes fixed on the road ahead—still sulking.