*(Somi's Perspective)
Something was wrong.
I didn't know what exactly…
But I could feel it.
Chi-Ho was acting different.
Not suddenly.
But slowly…
like he was moving away from me.
At first, I ignored it.
Maybe he's just tired…
Maybe I'm overthinking…
But…
the more I tried to ignore it…
the more obvious it became.
"Hey," I said one day.
"Hmm," he replied.
That was it.
No smile.
No eye contact.
Just… "hmm."
I stayed quiet for a second.
Was he always like this…?
No.
He wasn't.
Before…
he used to talk more.
Explain things slowly.
Even repeat the same thing again if I didn't understand.
And now…
"It's done."
That's all he said…
as he pushed the notebook towards me.
I blinked.
"That fast?"
"Yeah."
No explanation.
No effort.
Just answers.
I looked at the notebook…
then at him.
Something felt off.
But I didn't say anything.
Not yet.
Later…
I tried again.
"Chi-Ho… can you explain this—"
"I'll do it."
He cut me off.
I froze.
"…Okay."
That word felt strange.
Like something was slipping away.
That day…
when I went back home…
I couldn't stop thinking.
Did I do something wrong?
I opened Instagram.
Our chat was still there.
Same messages.
Same me.
But him?
"Hmm."
"Okay."
"Yeah."
I stared at the screen.
"…Seriously?"
I frowned.
Why is he replying like this?
I scrolled up.
Old messages.
He used to talk more.
Ask things.
Reply properly.
And now…
Just short answers.
I threw my phone on the bed.
"I don't care."
Silence.
A few seconds later…
I picked it up again.
"…But still…"
Why does it feel like this?
Why does it bother me so much?
I sat there quietly.
Thinking.
Overthinking.
Again and again.
Did I say something wrong that day…?
I tried to remember.
Everything felt normal.
Then why…
Why is he avoiding me?
The next day…
I went again.
Same place.
Same table.
Same person.
But…
Different feeling.
He didn't even look at me properly.
He just kept writing.
Like I wasn't even there.
That hurt.
More than I expected.
Why does it hurt…?
I looked at him.
For a moment…
I wanted to ask.
But the words didn't come out.
So I stayed quiet.
Again.
Days passed.
Nothing changed.
If anything…
it got worse.
He stopped joking.
Stopped teasing.
Stopped talking.
And I…
Kept noticing.
Every single thing.
One day…
I picked up the pencil.
"Can I try this one?" I asked.
Before…
he would smile.
Encourage me.
But now—
"No need. I'll do it."
I froze.
"…Okay."
Why does he keep saying that?
Why does it feel like…
he doesn't want me here anymore?
That thought…
hurt.
A lot.
I looked down.
Trying not to show anything.
This is stupid…
Why am I feeling like this…?
"I don't care," I whispered to myself.
But my heart didn't agree.
Not even a little.
That night…
I lay on my bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
Just like someone else probably was.
Why is he doing this…?
Did I really do something wrong…?
I turned to the side.
Clenching the bedsheet slightly.
"…Why does it matter so much…?"
Silence answered me.
And maybe…
deep down…
I already knew.
The next morning…
I made a decision.
Enough was enough.
I won't just sit there and keep thinking.
I won't keep guessing.
I'll ask him directly.
No matter what.
Even if it's awkward.
Even if I'm wrong.
I'll ask.
Because…
this feeling…
I couldn't ignore it anymore.
"…Chi-Ho."
I'm going to ask you today.
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