The classroom was quieter than usual. Most students had already gone home. The laughter and noise from earlier had faded.
Leaving behind a stillness that felt… heavy. Mandy sat at her desk, staring down at nothing in particular.
Her bag was already packed. Her responsibilities done. But she didn't leave. She couldn't.
"…Things change…" Liam's words echoed in her mind. Again. And again. She clenched her hand slightly.
"…That's not an answer." "Talking to yourself now?" Mandy looked up. Mark stood by the door, his bag slung over one shoulder.
He had that usual calm expression. But his eyes were sharper than before. "…You're still here," he added.
"…So are you," Mandy replied quietly. Mark shrugged and walked in, dropping his bag onto the desk beside hers.
"I figured we should talk." Mandy froze slightly. "…About what?" Mark looked at her for a moment.
Then. "…About Liam." Silence filled the space between them. Mandy looked away first.
"…There's nothing to talk about," she said. "Really?" Mark leaned slightly against the desk.
"Because from what I saw earlier. It didn't look like 'nothing.'" Mandy tightened her grip on her sleeve.
"…You were watching?" "I wasn't trying to," Mark replied calmly. "But it was hard not to notice."
Mandy didn't respond. Because he wasn't wrong. "…He's acting strange," Mark continued.
"…I know." "And it's mostly toward you." That made her pause. "…What do you mean?"
Mark let out a small sigh. "Mandy… he ignores everyone a little. But with you…"
He hesitated for a second. "…It's different." Mandy's chest tightened slightly.
"…Different how?" Mark looked directly at her now. "…Like he's trying not to care."
The words hit her harder than expected. "…Trying not to care…?" She repeated it softly.
As if testing how it sounded. As if trying to understand it. Mark crossed his arms.
"…Did something happen between you two?" Mandy shook her head quickly.
"No." That answer came too fast. Too defensive. Mark noticed. "…You're sure?"
"…Yes." Another lie. Or maybe not a lie. Just something she didn't fully understand herself.
Mark exhaled slowly. "…Then let me ask you something else." Mandy looked at him.
"…What?" Mark's gaze didn't waver. "…Why do you care so much?" Silence. The question lingered in the air.
Mandy's eyes widened slightly. "…What?" "You've been thinking about him all day," Mark said.
"You stayed after school because of him." "You went to talk to him first." Each word felt heavier than the last.
"…So I'm asking—" Mark stepped a little closer. "…Why?" Mandy couldn't answer. Because she didn't know.
Or maybe. She didn't want to know. "…I just…" Her voice faltered. "…I don't like it when things feel off."
Mark stared at her for a moment. Then let out a quiet breath. "…That's not all."
Mandy looked down. "…Maybe not." The admission was small. But it was real.
Mark's expression softened slightly. "…Mandy." She didn't look up.
"…You know we're together, right?" The words were gentle. But they carried weight.
A reminder. A boundary. Mandy nodded slowly.
"…I know." Of course she knew. She hadn't forgotten. Not even for a second.
"…Then don't get too caught up in something you don't understand yet," Mark said quietly.
"…You might end up hurting yourself." Mandy's hand tightened slightly. "…And what about him?"
The question slipped out before she could stop it. Mark paused. "…What about him?"
Mandy finally looked up. "…What if he's already hurting?" Mark didn't answer immediately.
Because for the first time. He realized something. "…So that's it," he muttered.
Mandy blinked. "…What?" Mark shook his head slightly.
"…Nothing." But his eyes said otherwise. Because now. He was starting to understand.
Not everything. But enough. "…Let's just go home," he said, picking up his bag.
Mandy didn't move right away. "…Yeah…" Her voice was quiet. Uncertain.
As they walked out of the classroom together. There was a space between them. Not large.
But noticeable. And for the first time. It didn't feel normal.