Monday started like nothing had happened.
Which almost made it worse.
Aylin arrived at 7:52.
Sat down.
Arranged everything the same way.
Notebook under textbook.
Pencil case centered.
Water bottle on the right.
Perfect.
Normal.
Kerem came in at 7:55.
Early again.
He glanced at her as he walked in.
She glanced back.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi."
That was it.
Simple.
But it felt… careful.
Like both of them were aware of something they weren't saying.
The first lesson passed quietly.
Too quietly.
Kerem didn't ask for notes.
Aylin didn't offer.
They stayed in their own spaces, even though they were sitting right next to each other.
Second period, though—
"That thing you said."
Aylin looked up. "What thing?"
"Yesterday. About 'maybe later.'"
Her stomach tightened slightly.
"…Yeah?"
Kerem tapped his pen once. Not repetitive. Just once.
"When is later?"
Aylin looked at her notebook.
The safe one.
Not the other one.
"…I don't know."
"Okay," he said.
Just that.
Again.
No pressure.
No jokes.
It should've made things easier.
It didn't.
Lunch was louder than usual.
Or maybe Aylin just couldn't focus.
She sat in her usual spot, picking at her food without really eating.
She kept thinking about that question.
When is later?
She didn't have an answer.
And that bothered her.
By the time last period came around, the feeling hadn't gone away.
If anything, it had gotten worse.
The classroom was quiet again.
Same as always at the end of the day.
Tired.
Slow.
Everyone just waiting for the bell.
Aylin stared at her notes.
Not reading them.
Just staring.
Her bag sat open beside her.
She could see the edge of her notebook inside.
She could just take it out.
Show him.
That was all.
Simple.
Her hand moved.
Stopped.
Moved again.
"…You're doing that thing again."
She froze.
Slowly turned her head.
Kerem was watching her.
Not directly at the bag.
At her.
"What thing?" she asked.
"That thinking too much thing."
"I'm not—"
"You are."
Aylin looked away.
"…Maybe."
There was a small pause.
Then—
"You don't have to," Kerem said.
She blinked.
"…What?"
"The notebook," he said. "You don't have to show it."
Aylin stared at him.
"That's not what this is about."
"Then what is it about?"
She didn't answer.
Because she didn't fully know.
Kerem leaned back slightly.
"Forget it," he said. "It's not a big deal."
Aylin frowned.
"It kind of is."
"Why?"
Because it mattered.
Because he mattered—
No.
That wasn't—
"I just…" she started, then stopped.
Kerem waited.
She shook her head slightly. "Nothing."
The teacher's voice filled the room again.
Something about homework.
Something about next week.
Aylin didn't hear any of it.
The bell rang.
Too loud.
Too fast.
People stood up immediately.
Chairs scraping.
Bags zipping.
Voices everywhere.
Aylin packed her things slower than usual.
Not on purpose.
She just… couldn't focus.
Her notebook was still inside her bag.
She could feel it there.
Like it was heavier than everything else.
"Hey."
She looked up.
Kerem was standing, bag over his shoulder.
"I'm heading out," he said.
Aylin nodded. "Okay."
He hesitated.
Then—
"Later, yeah?"
Her chest tightened slightly.
"…Yeah," she said.
He left.
Just like that.
Aylin sat there for a few more seconds.
The classroom was almost empty now.
She zipped her bag.
Stood up.
Left.
The hallway was crowded.
Then less crowded.
Then quiet again.
By the time she reached the school gate, it hit her.
Suddenly.
Clearly.
Her notebook wasn't in her bag.
Aylin stopped walking.
Her heart dropped.
No.
No, no—
She opened her bag quickly.
Checked.
Moved things around.
Checked again.
Nothing.
She replayed it in her head.
Classroom.
Desk.
Packing up—
Her breath caught.
She left it on the desk.
For a second, she just stood there.
Frozen.
Then she turned and started walking back.
Faster.
The hallways were almost empty now.
Her footsteps sounded too loud.
When she reached the classroom door, she stopped.
Not because she wanted to.
Because she had to.
The door was open.
Kerem was inside.
He was sitting in his seat.
Her seat.
The notebook in his hands.
Open.
Aylin couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
Couldn't even think properly.
He turned a page.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Not rushing.
Not skimming.
Reading.
For a second, Aylin thought about walking in.
Stopping him.
Saying something.
Anything.
She didn't.
She just stood there.
Watching.
Kerem's expression didn't change much.
Not dramatically.
But—
It wasn't the same as before.
Quieter.
More focused.
Like he was seeing something he didn't expect.
Aylin's chest felt tight.
Too tight.
She took a small step back.
Then another.
And left.
Kerem didn't notice.