6:23 p.m. The clock displayed the time as I sat in my cozy bed, surrounded by the gloomy atmosphere of a rainy day. With a slight chill in the air, I focused on finishing up my biology notes, trying to distract myself from the recent drama that had unfolded. Amidst the studying, I couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness, realizing that a whole day had passed without any interaction with Jin. I knew deep down it was my own fault for my irrational behavior.

"Why did I expect studying reproduction to be exciting? All I get is tons of homework and no fun," I muttered to myself, taking a sip of my coffee. The day had been devoid of any messages from Jin, a consequence of my actions. Perhaps it was time for me to reach out to him and apologize.

I typed out a message: "Hey... I'm sorry about yesterday. How's it going?" After a moment's hesitation, I closed the chat, unsure if he would even respond. However, just as I put my phone down, another interruption occurred. Jisoo was calling.

In a span of 10 seconds, I made up my mind and answered the call. "Hey!"

Her greeting sounded forced, which only added to the mounting tension between us. "Hello, Jisoo."

"Are you perhaps busy? I just need a few minutes of your time," she said, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"Not really. What is it?" I replied, my heart beating faster, anticipating what she had to say.

"I'm honestly scared to bring this up, but I don't want any regrets in the future. It might make you uncomfortable too," Jisoo's voice trailed off, as if she was unsure about continuing.

"I can't exactly predict my reaction, but you can just tell me," I responded in a detached tone. I was feeling so drained and indifferent that I didn't care much about what she had to say.

"I like Seokjin, okay?" Jisoo's confession took me by surprise, and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. What was she getting at?

"Yeah, what about it, Jisoo?" I asked, trying to maintain a sense of calm despite the internal turmoil.

"I don't like seeing you guys so close almost every day. I've liked him for years, and I've never had the chance to be this close to him," Jisoo explained, her words tinged with a mix of sadness and frustration.

"Do you want me to stay away from him?" I asked her plainly, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, I do. And I'm sorry. You have many other people to talk to. Please, just don't let it be Jin," Jisoo pleaded with a hint of desperation in her voice. As much as I empathized with her, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"I can't make any promises about that, but I will try my best," I replied honestly, feeling a pang of guilt for the difficult situation Jisoo found herself in.

"You really are the best. Thank you!" Jisoo expressed her gratitude, and without saying another word, I ended the call.

Why were these teenagers so consumed with drama? Shouldn't the main purpose of school be focused on studying? This was starting to feel worse than my time in Busan. Why had I even been excited about moving here? It was a thought that lingered in my mind, clouding my already conflicted emotions.

My hands gravitated towards Jin's chat log, and there I found the message I had sent, still left on "delivered." Seizing the opportunity, I pressed the delete button, erasing the text. And sent another one in replacement.

"We have nothing real between us. I suggest you to not bother me when people are not around. Mind your own business and I'll mind mine. I hope you distance your clingy self from me now."

I'm sorry, Jin. This is for the sake of my friend.

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