When I get into the dorm, it's even warmer than usual: a wet, suffocating blanket of heat. Jeongguk must be cooking dinner today. The house smells of broth and oil mixed with the smells of wet pavement and sweat.

"I'm back," I say, dumping my bag to the ground. Jeongguk greets me and goes back to cooking dinner, his back faces me. I bite my bottom lip. Living with Jeongguk makes me feel as though we're dating, and coming home to Jeongguk cooking after a tiring day makes me feel as though we're married. The thought makes my insides flutter, a small smile flits across my face, then it's gone.

Jeongguk sets the dishes onto the surface of the small dining table we have in the middle of our kitchen. It is only big enough for two. He smiles at me softly before sitting down across me.

"Thanks for the dinner," I tell Jeongguk, and he nods. We both eat in silence. The air feels thick with tension, and it makes me squirm in my seat. I can't take this. I decide to start a small talk with Jeongguk.

"How was training today?" I ask, internally slapping myself. I am in the same class as him, why did I even ask? I expect him to reply back with a sarcastic remark, but he just says, "It was okay."

Why are you acting like this?" I ask, poking on my limp asparagus. Jeongguk raises his head, and says, "Like what?"

"Why are you so quiet now? During lunch, you were so noisy and you couldn't keep your mouth shut," I snap, sounding harsher than I want to. I am about to apologise but Jeongguk's scoff stops me.

"Why did you scoff?" I am irritated by Jeongguk's cold behaviour.

"Why am I so quiet?" He scoffs again, his lips tug to a bitter smile. "Did you think I didn't notice the way you act around me? How you're always so awkward and hateful. Did you think I wouldn't notice when you're making is so obvious that you hate me?" He shouts, bringing up his fist and banging it against the table once, twice, thrice. I flinch from his sudden outburst, but I shouldn't show him my fear, I am afraid he might get the wrong idea, again.

"Jeongguk, I don't hate you." It is true, I don't. "You got the wrong idea, I don't hate you, at all."

"Then why do you always avoid me?" He asks, covering his head with his hands. Why do I avoid him? Even I don't know myself, so how can I tell Jeongguk the reason?

"I . . . don't know," I mumble, hoping he couldn't catch that. Jeongguk raises his head to look at me before wiping his face with his palms. He takes a deep breathe, saying, "Sorry for my outburst, let's just eat so you can go take a shower. It's getting late and we still have school tomorrow."

I chew on my rice slowly. I want to talk to Jeongguk, but I am afraid of saying something wrong and then making a mistake, so I just decide to keep my mouth sealed.

That night, after taking a shower and washing the dishes, when I excuse myself from the kitchen to sleep, Jeongguk doesn't say goodnight like how he usually does, instead, he walks past me, and bumps into me on purpose. My heart aches but I ignore it. It's my fault anyway, Jeongguk has the right to be angry. And it's not like we're having a couple fight, so why am I feeling so bothered?

Shrugging my shoulders, I close my bedroom door behind me and dive straight for my bed. My hand reaches out for my only soft toy, and when it's in my arms, I feel relaxed.

Maybe I'll talk to Jeongguk tomorrow, maybe I won't. I'll just have to let time heal everything.

√a.n.

another lame chapter. Like woah my writing is so so bad these days I can't with myself anymore. This was a really short filler but I'll update soon, sorry :( and my mom bought me a kanken bag but I'm not an aesthetic person so idk what now since I don't own fancy clothes :(
P.s your comments are really motivating thank you for your support I don't deserve— T-T