Distance that hurts...

The classroom felt unfamiliar that morning.

Not because anything had changed physically—but because everything between them had.

Rosé sat in her usual seat near the window, her notebook open, pen in hand… yet she hadn’t written a single word in the last ten minutes.

Her eyes stayed fixed on the page, but her mind replayed the same scene again and again—

Jimin… standing with Yuna… letting her hold his arm.

Her grip on the pen tightened.

Why didn’t he move away…?

Before she could think further—

The classroom door opened.

Park Jimin walked in.

Her heart reacted instantly.

But—

He didn’t even glance at her.

Not even for a second.

He walked straight past her desk.

And sat at the back.

A seat he had never chosen before.

The entire class went silent for a moment before whispers filled the room.

“Wait… why isn’t he sitting with Rosé?”

“Did something happen?”

“Yuna was with him yesterday, right?”

Rosé lowered her gaze further.

She told herself not to care.

But the empty seat beside her felt louder than anything else.

Classes passed slowly.

Too slowly.

No notes exchanged.

No quiet conversations.

No shared glances.

Just distance.

Cold and heavy.

During break—

Yuna walked confidently toward Jimin again, leaning slightly against his desk.

“You didn’t come today morning,” she said lightly. “I waited.”

Jimin replied shortly, “Had work.”

Not warm.

Not cold.

Just… distant.

Still—

He didn’t send her away.

And from the front—

Rosé noticed that.

Without turning.

Because somehow—

She could feel every moment.

Her chest tightened again.

Sports period arrived like a storm.

Students rushed to the field, excited and loud.

But Rosé chose something different today.

Instead of her usual quiet spot under the tree…

She walked toward the badminton court.

“Hey, you want to play?” a classmate, Minho, asked with a smile.

She hesitated for a second.

Then nodded.

“…Okay.”

Maybe distraction would help.

Maybe it would stop her thoughts.

But across the field—

Jimin had already noticed.

On the basketball court, he stood still for a second, his eyes locked onto her.

Rosé… playing with someone else.

Talking.

Smiling.

Comfortable.

Something inside him shifted.

A feeling he didn’t recognize—

Or maybe didn’t want to.

“Jimin! Focus!” his teammate shouted.

The game resumed.

But his movements were sharper now.

More aggressive.

Every pass stronger.

Every shot harder.

As if he was trying to release something building inside him.

“Pass to me!” Yuna called again, running into position.

This time—

He looked at her.

For a second.

Then passed—

But not gently.

The ball hit her hands harder than expected.

“Ouch—!”

She frowned slightly, surprised.

Jimin didn’t apologize.

His attention had already drifted back—

To Rosé.

Laughing softly as she missed a shot.

Minho leaned closer, correcting her stance again.

Too close.

Jimin’s jaw tightened.

That feeling again.

Stronger now.

Clearer.

Jealousy.

The final whistle blew.

Game over.

Without waiting—

Jimin walked off the court.

Ignoring everyone.

Ignoring Yuna calling his name.

His steps were fast.

Direct.

Until—

He reached the badminton court.

Rosé had just finished playing, slightly out of breath, brushing her hair back.

She turned—

And froze.

Jimin stood in front of her.

Close.

Too close.

Minho looked between them awkwardly. “Uh… I’ll go.”

He left instantly.

Silence remained.

Thick.

Heavy.

Rosé avoided his eyes. “…Do you need something?”

Her tone was polite.

Distant.

And that—

That annoyed him more than anything.

“You’re avoiding me,” Jimin said.

Straight.

No hesitation.

She shook her head slightly. “No.”

“Then why didn’t you look at me today?”

Her breath caught.

But she forced herself to stay calm.

“…You moved seats.”

A pause.

His eyes darkened slightly.

“That’s why?”

She looked up at him finally.

And for the first time—

There was something different in her eyes.

Not just shyness.

Hurt.

“You were busy,” she said quietly.

“With Yuna.”

The name lingered between them.

Jimin frowned slightly.

“That’s what this is about?”

“I saw you,” she continued softly, her voice steady but her fingers trembling slightly. “Yesterday… in the library.”

Silence.

Realization hit him.

But instead of explaining—

He stepped closer.

“Then why didn’t you come to me?”

Her heart raced.

“…Why should I?”

The question was soft.

But it hit hard.

For a moment—

Neither spoke.

Then—

Jimin exhaled quietly, running a hand through his hair.

“She came to me,” he said. “Not the other way around.”

Rosé blinked.

“I didn’t push her away because it didn’t matter.”

A small pause.

Then he added—

“But you leaving… that did.”

Her breath stopped.

He looked at her directly now.

No coldness.

No distance.

Just honesty.

“You didn’t even ask me.”

His voice was lower now.

Almost frustrated.

Rosé looked down.

“…I thought…”

“What?”

“That maybe…” she hesitated, then whispered, “…you liked her.”

Silence.

For a second—

Then—

A soft, almost disbelieving scoff escaped him.

“I don’t.”

Simple.

Clear.

Her heart skipped.

“But you—” she started.

“I don’t,” he repeated, firmer this time.

And then—

More quietly—

“I only…”

He stopped himself.

But it was too late.

Because Rosé had already looked up.

Their eyes met.

And everything unspoken—

Was suddenly too obvious.

From a distance—

Yuna stood watching.

Her expression darkened.

Because now—

She understood.

It wasn’t that Jimin ignored people.

It was that—

He only cared about one.

✨ End of Episode 4

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