Hwang Hyunjin || Call My Name (Under Revision)

20. The way things used to be

Song recommendation: Ha Hyunsang - Slowly fall

YEONA'S POV

Chan turned and walked away from me, leaving a hollow silence in his wake. My legs felt frozen, but my heart screamed for me to move.

"Chan!" I called out desperately.

He stopped—but he didn't turn around.

"I-I know this won't fix anything... and maybe it doesn't even matter to you now, but I just wanted to say..." My voice trembled. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I hurt you, in any way. I didn't mean to. I just... I miss you. I miss how things used to be between us."

No answer. He just stood there for a second more, then walked off again without a word. The bell rang, loud and sharp, signaling the end of lunch.

I stood there, stunned, my apology swallowed by the sound.

When I got back to the classroom, Yuji was waiting at the door.

"Hey, Yeona! Where did you go?" she asked quickly. "You said you'd catch up, but you never came. What happened? Did you eat anything?"

She was talking fast—too fast.

I gave her a tired smile, brushing off the questions. "I'm okay."

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Hyunjin chatting with Jisung. My stomach churned.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I couldn't concentrate. My mind kept bouncing between Chan's broken expression... Hyunjin's cold glances... and the dull ache in my stomach from not eating lunch.

When the final bell rang, I nudged Yuji, who had dozed off again.

"Let's go," I whispered.

"Huh?" She blinked, groggy. "Is it time to go home already?"

She sat up and quickly started packing her things. I moved toward Hyunjin's desk on instinct—but he was already gone. Not even a trace left behind.

Yuji and I walked out together, and we talked about how exhausting school felt. But... something was off. Her voice didn't match her words. Her smile felt too rehearsed.

Then her phone rang.

She answered it with a curt "Hello?" and then turned away from me as she spoke in a lowered tone.

After a short moment, she hung up.

"I guess you should go ahead without me, Yeona," she said, not quite meeting my eyes. "I have to get something for my mom."

"Do you want me to come with you?" I asked automatically.

She quickly shook her head. "No, no, it's fine! I got this. See you tomorrow, okay?"

She turned and walked away briskly before I could say anything else.

I stood there, watching her go.

Her footsteps were a little too quick... her tone just a little too forced. Something didn't feel right.

My best friend always had a way of hiding things behind a smile—but this time, I noticed.

Something was going on.

And I wasn't sure I liked where this was going.

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CHAN'S POV

The bus pulled up just as I was approaching the stop. I jogged to catch it, but then—I saw her.

Yeona.