The classroom slowly filled with noise as students settled into their seats.
The teacher stood at the front, writing notes across the board while explaining the lesson.
I opened my notebook and tried to focus.
But for some reason...
my mind kept drifting.
Maybe it was because of this morning.
Walking to school with Kira.
Or maybe it was because I could feel someone looking in my direction.
I glanced across the classroom for a moment.
Mia quickly looked down at her notebook.
...Maybe I imagined it.
The teacher kept talking.
Students quietly copied the notes.
The classroom felt calm.
Then finally.
Ring.
The bell for lunch echoed through the hallway.
Almost instantly, the quiet classroom turned noisy.
Students stood up, stretching and talking as they prepared to leave.
John stood up dramatically from his seat.
"Finally," he said. "I thought I was going to die in that class."
A few students laughed as he walked out.
Beside me, Kira stood up and said.
"I'm going to grab a drink," she said, looking down at me. "Do you want anything?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Alright then, she said with a small smile. "Don't disappear while I'm gone."
"I wasn't planning to."
Kira laughed softly before walking out of the classroom.
Soon most of the students had already left.
The room became much quieter.
I leaned back slightly in my chair.
Then I heard footsteps behind me.
I turned around.
Mia was standing there.
Her arms were crossed.
Her cheeks were puffed slightly, and her eyebrows were lowered like she was trying very hard not to look annoyed.
I stared at her for a moment.
"...Are you angry?" I asked.
Her eyes widened immediately.
"What? No!"
She quickly looked away.
"I'm not angry."
I tilted my head.
"...You look angry."
"I said I'm not!"
She turned back toward me, clearly flustered now.
"I just wanted to ask you something."
"What?"
She hesitated for a second.
Then she asked,
"...You and Kira walked to school together this morning?"
I shrugged.
"We just ran into each other."
Mia stared at me for a moment.
Then her cheeks puffed again slightly.
"...Oh."
She turned her head away again.
After a few seconds, I said,
"You're definitely angry."
Mia spun around instantly.
"I told you I'm not angry!"
Her voice echoed a little in the mostly empty classroom.
A couple students near the door glanced inside.
Mia froze.
Her face turned bright red.
"...I'm leaving," she muttered.
She quickly turned and walked out.
I watched her go.
Then I sighed quietly.
"...She was definitely angry.
END OF CHAPTER 11