🌙 EPISODE 2 — Too Close to Ignore
By the next morning…
Everyone already knew.
Not about the tension.
Not about the looks.
Not about the silence.
But about Elisa.
She had always been known on campus.
Top student. Debate champion. Scholarship winner.
Unapproachable. Untouchable. Unbothered.
People admired her.
Some feared her.
Most stayed away.
Which is why…
Everyone noticed when Jason walked beside her in the hallway.
Close.
Comfortably close.
Like it was normal.
Like they had known each other for years.
Students whispered.
"Since when do they talk?"
"Didn't she ignore everyone?"
"Are they dating?"
Elisa walked forward stiffly, eyes straight ahead.
"Why are you following me?"
Jason smiled lightly.
"I'm not following you. We have the same class."
"You arrived early yesterday."
"And you noticed."
She stopped walking.
Turned toward him.
Calm but cold.
"Don't make yourself comfortable around me."
Jason stepped closer instead.
Deliberately.
Lowering his voice.
"But you don't seem uncomfortable."
She opened her mouth—
Then froze.
Because someone was watching.
Across the hallway…
Justin.
Standing near the classroom door.
Arms crossed.
Expression unreadable.
Eyes locked directly on Jason.
The air suddenly felt tight.
Jason noticed immediately.
His smile changed slightly.
More amused now.
More intentional.
"Oh," he murmured softly. "He's watching."
Before Elisa could react—
Jason moved even closer.
Close enough that their shoulders touched.
Light contact.
Brief.
But visible.
Very visible.
Justin's jaw tightened.
Elisa stepped away instantly.
"Don't do that."
Jason leaned slightly toward her.
Voice calm.
"But you stepped away because of me… or because of him?"
Her chest tightened.
She didn't answer.
She walked straight into the classroom.
Justin entered seconds later.
Silent.
Controlled.
But his gaze never left Jason.
Lecture began.
Seats filled.
And just like yesterday…
Elisa sat down.
Opened her notebook.
Focused.
Then someone pulled the chair beside her.
She turned—
Jason.
Again.
"You said yesterday was interesting," he said calmly.
"I wanted a better view today."
Before she could respond—
Another chair moved loudly.
Justin sat on her other side.
Hard.
Deliberate.
Now she was between them.
Again.
Jason chuckled softly.
"Well… this is convenient."
Justin didn't look at him.
Didn't speak.
Just leaned slightly toward Elisa.
Close enough that only she heard him.
"Switch seats with someone else."
Her eyebrows pulled together.
"Why?"
His voice dropped lower.
"Just do it."
Jason leaned forward casually.
"I don't mind sitting here."
Justin finally turned his head.
Their eyes met.
Silent challenge.
Elisa felt irritation rise.
She closed her notebook sharply.
"I'm not moving."
Justin leaned back slowly.
Expression calm again.
But his fingers tapped once on the desk.
Hard.
Jason rested his elbow on the table…
And casually slid his notebook toward Elisa.
"Can you explain this part later? I heard you're the best."
Students nearby glanced over.
Of course they did.
Everyone knew Elisa helped no one.
Ever.
She hesitated.
Just one second.
Then nodded slightly.
"…Fine."
Justin's pen snapped.
The plastic cracked in his hand.
Jason looked at the broken pen… then at Justin… then smiled slowly.
"Oh."
Justin stood up suddenly.
Chair scraping loudly.
Everyone looked.
"I need another pen," he said flatly.
And walked out.
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then whispers.
Soft.
Curious.
Speculative.
Jason leaned slightly closer to Elisa.
Voice gentle.
"Did I upset him?"
She stared at the door Justin had left through.
Something felt… wrong.
Too sharp.
Too sudden.
"…He overreacts," she said quietly.
Jason's eyes softened.
"But you still looked worried."
She turned sharply.
"I wasn't."
Jason smiled.
"But you noticed he left immediately."
Her chest tightened again.
Why did that sound like an accusation?
Why did that feel… uncomfortable?
Jason spoke softly.
"Don't misunderstand him."
Pause.
"He doesn't like sharing attention."
Her brows pulled together.
"What does that mean?"
Jason leaned back calmly.
"It means… he doesn't like when people get close to what he considers his."
Her heart skipped.
Annoyance rose immediately.
"Justin doesn't 'consider' anything."
Jason's gaze held hers.
Quiet.
Steady.
Then he said softly—
"Are you sure?"
Elisa didn't answer.
Because suddenly…
She wasn't.
Outside the classroom…
Justin stood in the hallway.
Holding a perfectly fine pen.
Unopened.
Unused.
His jaw tight.
His thoughts louder than the noise inside the room.
He had seen it clearly.
Jason leaning close.
Elisa agreeing to help him.
Elisa not pushing him away fast enough.
Elisa choosing to stay between them.
And the worst thought of all—
Maybe she didn't mind.
His grip tightened around the pen.
And just like that…
The first misunderstanding took root.
Inside the classroom…
Jason watched Elisa quietly staring at the door.
And smiled faintly.
Plan step one…
Successful.
✨ END OF EPISODE 2 — MISUNDERSTANDING BEGINS ✨