The school bell rang 🔔, and students rushed out to the playground 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️. Laughter echoed 🎶.

Ren leaned back against a tree 🌳, his eyes scanning the crowd—searching for someone 👀.

Before he could look further, a soft voice interrupted 💬, “Hey, Ren!”

It was Haru—the cheerful, bubbly girl from their class 😊💛.

She walked over with a bright smile 😄, holding two juice boxes 🧃🧃.

> “I saw you from the window. Want one?”

Ren took the juice silently 🤫, nodding. Haru sat beside him 🪑, her hair bouncing slightly as she smiled at him again 🌼.

She was kind, warm... and always there 🩷.

---

In the next few days 📅, Haru seemed to appear everywhere 📍.

When Ren walked to the basketball court 🏀—she followed.

When he ate lunch in the canteen 🍱—she sat beside him.

When class ended 🏫—she waited outside.

Ren didn’t dislike her. She made him laugh sometimes 😅, and her energy was nice ⚡...

but something always felt off 🌀. Something was missing 🔍.

Every time his eyes wandered, they stopped at the quiet boy with the headphones 🎧.

Aki. 🌙

He sat near the window 🌫️. Alone. Eating slowly 🍞, writing something in a notebook 📓✍️.

Ren wanted to walk over, say something... anything 💭.

But every time he stood up, Haru’s voice pulled him back 🔁.

---

> “Wanna come with me to the music club after school?” 🎹 Haru asked one day.

Ren hesitated 🤔. His eyes found Aki again—heading toward the music room alone 🎸, carrying his guitar case 🎼.

That small, quiet figure...

That silence Ren wanted to sit inside 🌌.

But instead, he turned to Haru, nodded slightly.

> “Sure.” 😐

---

Later that day, Ren finally got a few moments with Aki 🕰️.

They stood near the lockers 🔒.

Ren said,

> “Hey... I saw your guitar the other day. You play well.” 🎶

Aki gave a small smile 🙂.

> “Thanks... I just practice alone. I don’t really perform.”

There was a pause ⏳.

Ren asked,

> “Why don’t you join the club?”

Aki looked at him, calm 🧊.

> “I don’t know. I guess I’m not really into... group things.”

Ren nodded. The silence between them felt heavy—but gentle 🌫️🫧.

He wanted to say more 💬.

But then Haru’s voice called again 📢,

> “Ren! We’re going to the cafeteria!”

Aki glanced at her, then back at Ren 👁️‍🗨️.

Ren forced a smile 😔.

> “I’ll see you later, maybe.”

---

That night 🌃, Ren sat by his window 🪟, headphones on 🎧, music playing softly 🎵.

His thoughts were loud 🧠💥.

> “He talks to me like a friend… That’s it. I don’t know why I thought it could be something else.

I mean, he’s a boy. Maybe he just… needs space.

Haru is everything people want. She’s cute. She fits.” 💔

Ren closed his eyes and leaned back 😞.

> “I should stay away. Focus on music. Maybe… it’s better that way.” 🎼

But still, something inside him ached quietly 💭💘.

Like a song he couldn’t finish writing 🎶🖋️.

---

To be continued...

💭 Sometimes closeness doesn’t mean connection. And silence doesn’t mean distance. 🌌