chapter 23

Diana's pov

It was just one of those days. The kind where I couldn't bring myself to sit through another long chemistry lecture, not with everything on my mind lately. Abby must have sensed it too because as we walked toward class, she nudged me with her elbow, lowering her voice.

"You look like you wanna be anywhere but here."

I sighed, shifting my bag on my shoulder. "That obvious?"

Abby smirked. "To me? Yeah."

We both slowed down, letting Nora and Chole walk ahead toward Ms. Collins' classroom.

"Skip with me," Abby suggested, her eyes lighting up with that mischievous energy she always had. "We can chill somewhere instead of sitting through another one of Collins' lectures."

I hesitated for half a second, but honestly? I needed a break. "Alright," I agreed, turning in the opposite direction before Nora or Chole noticed.

Abby grinned, grabbing my wrist and leading the way down the hall. "Now that's the Diana I know."

We made our way past the crowded hallways, dodging teachers and students as we snuck toward one of the quieter stairwells. It wasn't like I skipped often, but sometimes it felt good to just... not be where I was supposed to be.

"So," Abby said as we settled onto the steps in the empty stairwell, "what's up with you and Collins lately? She’s still on your ass, or what?"

I rolled my eyes. "She’s not on my ass, Abby."

Abby raised an eyebrow. "Could’ve fooled me."

I sighed. "It’s just... complicated. She’s been really supportive lately. I don’t know, I feel like I can actually talk to her..She's okay, obviously I only talk to her in school."

Abby tilted her head, looking at me like she was trying to figure something out. "You like talking to her, huh?"

I shot her a look. "Yeah? So?"

Abby smirked but didn’t push it. Instead, she leaned her head back against the wall. "Well, at least she isn’t still acting all weird about me being around you."

I hesitated. "She kind of is. She asked me to stay after class the other day to ask about us."

Abby scoffed. "Seriously?"

I nodded. "She thought we were back together or something."

Abby laughed under her breath. "Damn. That’s actually kinda funny. I bet she was pissed."

I didn’t respond to that, but Abby’s smirk deepened like she knew something I didn’t want to admit.

For the next half-hour, we just talked—about dumb things, about how annoying Chole and Nora could be when they got too nosy, about how the semester was dragging. It was nice, just sitting here, away from everything.

Eventually, my phone buzzed.

Chole: where the hell are you two

Nora: yeah why do I only see two empty seats in this class

Chole: tell me you didn’t actually ditch rn

Me: We didn’t actually ditch rn

Nora: oh my god. You liar.

Chole: Ms. Collins is def gonna notice😬

Me: just tell her I’m sick or something idk

Nora: girl she’s not stupid

Chole: y’all are so dumb

I sighed. "Nora and Chole are mad."

Abby peeked over at my phone and laughed. "Eh, they’ll get over it."

Maybe. But something told me Ms. Collins wouldn’t.

As soon as I put my phone down, it buzzed again.

Another message. But this time, not from the group chat.

Minji: Where the fuck are you?

My stomach dropped.

I quickly turned my screen away from Abby, heart pounding in my chest. Ms. Collins never texted me during school hours—until now. And she was definitely not happy.

Minji: Don’t ignore me, Diana. I know you’re not sick. Where are you?

I swallowed hard, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. I needed to respond, but Abby was sitting right there. If she saw me texting Minji on Instagram, she’d start asking questions I wasn’t ready to answer.

Abby shifted beside me, stretching her arms. "They still mad?" she asked, nodding toward my phone.

"Yeah," I mumbled, forcing a fake annoyed sigh as I locked my phone and shoved it into my hoodie pocket. "They’re just being dramatic."

Abby snorted. "Typical. Bet Collins didn’t even notice we’re gone."

I laughed nervously. "Yeah… probably."

My phone buzzed again.

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to check it right away. Abby was too close. She’d definitely notice if I kept glancing at my phone like my life depended on it.

So I did the only thing I could do. I ignored it.

For now.

My phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.

One.

Two.

Three more messages in a row.

I tried to ignore it. I really did. But Ms. Collins—no, Minji—wasn’t giving up.

I shifted in my seat, forcing myself to act normal. Abby was relaxed, scrolling through her own phone, totally unaware of the stress building in my chest. But my phone was practically burning a hole in my pocket.

Another buzz.

And then another.

I had to check.

I let out a fake sigh, making it seem like I was just bored, then casually pulled my phone out and tilted it away from Abby. My heart pounded as I unlocked it and saw the messages.

Minji: Diana.

Minji: I know you’re seeing this.

Minji: Where. Are. You.

Jesus. She was pissed.

Minji: Don’t make me come find you. This school is big.

I swallowed hard. Come find me? Was she serious? My eyes darted to the last message, my pulse skyrocketing.

Minji: Do you really want me to do that?

I shivered. She would do it too.

I quickly typed back.

Me: Relax. I just skipped one class.

The three dots appeared instantly.

Minji: Relax? Do you want to get in trouble?

Me: No, but it’s just chemistry. I’ll survive.

I waited. No response.

Then—another buzz.

Minji: I’m not worried about chemistry. I’m worried about you.

My breath caught.

I stared at the message, unsure of what to even say. There was something about the way she said it. Something that made my stomach flip in a way it definitely shouldn’t have.

But before I could respond—

"Who keeps texting you?" Abby asked suddenly.

I nearly died on the spot.

I froze for a second, but I forced out a casual laugh. "Just Chloe and Nora spamming about class," I lied, quickly locking my phone and slipping it into my pocket.

Abby hummed, clearly not suspicious. She leaned back against the bench, stretching her arms behind her head. "Bet they're talking shit about us skipping."

"Probably," I muttered, still feeling my heart race from Ms. Collins’—Minji’s—texts.

For a few minutes, I thought I was in the clear. The conversation moved on, Abby started ranting about something stupid from gym class, and I let myself relax.

But then—

"Hey, you got a notification."

I looked up just in time to see Abby casually snatch my phone from where I'd put it.

My stomach dropped.

"Abby, give it—" I reached for it, but she smirked and leaned away, her eyes already flickering to the screen.

My brain short-circuited. I couldn't remember if I had any incriminating messages open, but what I did see was the notification sitting right there—

Minji: I’m serious. Answer me.

Oh. My. God.

I lunged for my phone, actually panicked now. "Abby, give it back."

But instead of teasing me further, Abby just squinted at the name on the screen. "Minji?" she read out loud, then glanced at me with a raised brow. "Who the hell is Minji?"

I almost blacked out from sheer stress.

Think. Think.

I snatched my phone out of her hands before she could open the message, forcing out a laugh that definitely sounded suspicious. "Nobody. Just—uh, just a girl I met online."

Abby blinked, then made a disgusted face. "Oh my god. Please don't tell me you're getting catfished."

I let out a relieved breath, clinging to the excuse. "Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s probably fake. I’m just messing with them."

Abby shook her head, shoving my shoulder. "You're so dumb."

I forced a laugh, stuffing my phone deep into my pocket. Abby knows Ms.Collins real name is minji, thank god she didn't remember it. Obviously she didn't even suspect it. Who would text with her own teacher on Instagram?

Crisis. Barely. Averted.

Abby was mid-sentence about something stupid when we heard the noise.

A sharp click of shoes against pavement. A shadow stretching over us. The sudden presence of someone standing way too close.

I looked up.

And there she was.

Ms. Collins.

She wasn’t looking at Abby. Not even for a second. Her dark eyes were locked onto me, sharp and unblinking, like she had already decided I was guilty of something.

Her usual outfit—those loose black jeans, the belt cinched perfectly, the crisp white blouse tucked in just enough, the tie hanging slightly loosened—made her look effortlessly put together. Cold. Commanding.

I swallowed.

"Where the hell have you been?" she asked, her voice calm but heavy.

Abby stiffened beside me, clearly thrown off by a teacher talking like that. "Uh—"

"Not you," Ms. Collins cut her off smoothly, eyes still on me. "Diana. You weren’t in class."

Abby turned to me, now looking very confused. "Wait, what?"

I couldn’t answer. I was too busy trying to breathe.

Ms. Collins took a step closer, her presence nearly overwhelming. "Come with me."

Abby scoffed. "Okay, what the hell is going on?"

Ms. Collins ignored her completely, tilting her head slightly at me, expectant. Waiting.

I knew right then—I wasn’t getting out of this. Couldn't Minji be MORE obvious??

Abby was staring at me like I’d just been caught in some massive secret. Which—technically, I had.

I cleared my throat, trying to act casual. "Uh, I’ll be back soon."

Abby frowned. "What? Dude, what’s going on? Why is she—"

I cut her off before she could make this worse. "Just wait here, okay?" I gave her a look, silently begging her not to question this right now.

Ms. Collins—Minji—was still standing there, waiting. She didn’t rush me. Didn’t say anything. But the way she was looking at me? It was enough.

I turned and followed her without another word.

As we walked, I could feel Abby’s eyes burning into my back. I knew she’d be dying for answers when I got back.

If I got back.

Minji led me around the corner, away from anyone who could overhear. The second we were out of sight, she turned to me, arms crossed. "What the hell was that?"

I exhaled, already exhausted. "I just—wanted a break from class."

Her jaw tightened. "You skipped my class."

"You act like I do that all the time," I shot back, crossing my own arms.

Her eyes darkened. "Don’t start with me, Diana Miller."

I swallowed. She only used my full name when she was pissed.

Minji exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through her hair. "What am I going to do with you?"

The way she said it—low, frustrated—sent something sharp down my spine.

I didn’t have an answer. I wasn’t sure I wanted to answer.

I shifted on my feet, trying to act like Minji’s frustration wasn’t making my heart pound.

"Look, we’ll come back to class now, alright?" I said, keeping my voice steady. "I just need to talk with Abby first."

Minji’s expression didn’t change. She was still watching me like I was a problem she couldn’t quite solve.

After a pause, she nodded—once. "Five minutes."

I exhaled in relief. "Got it."

I turned on my heel and walked back to where Abby was still sitting, looking more than a little suspicious.

The second I reached her, she crossed her arms. "Okay. What the hell was that?"

"Nothing," I said quickly, sitting down next to her. "Just—she caught us skipping, so we have to go back now."

Abby narrowed her eyes. "Why did she only talk to you?"

I swallowed. "Because… I don’t know. Maybe she thinks I’m a bad influence on you or something."

Abby let out a short laugh. "Yeah, right. If anything, I’m the bad influence."

I forced a shrug, hoping she’d let it go. "Either way, we should probably go before she hunts us down again."

Abby groaned, tilting her head back. "Ughhh, fine. But you owe me for making me sit through chemistry."

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway. "Yeah, yeah. Let’s go."

Together, we got up and started making our way back. But even as Abby talked beside me, my mind was still stuck on Minji—on the way she’d looked at me, the way her voice had dropped, the way she had demanded answers.

And no matter how much I tried to shake it off, my stomach twisted with something I wasn’t sure I wanted to name.

As soon as Abby and I stepped into the classroom, I spotted Nora and Chole already seated, both of them giving me a look that screamed "Where the hell were you?" I was just about to walk over to them when—

Yank.

I barely had time to react before I was pulled backward by my collar, my breath hitching as I stumbled a step. I turned, my back hitting something firm, and suddenly, Minji was right there.

Her grip wasn’t rough, but it was firm enough to keep me in place. She leaned down, just enough so her lips were next to my ear, and whispered,

"Don’t pull that shit again, Diana."

Her voice was low, controlled, but I could hear the irritation beneath it. My pulse spiked.

Before I could even process what to say, she continued, still close, her breath warm against my skin.

"I let you off easy this time. Next time, I won’t be so nice."

She let go of my collar just as quickly as she had grabbed it, and when I turned to look at her, she was already walking toward her desk like nothing had happened.

I stood there for a second, my mind racing, my heart pounding.

"Diana!" Nora whisper-shouted from her seat, waving me over.

Snapping out of it, I forced my legs to move and headed toward them, trying to act normal.

But no matter how hard I tried, my skin still burned from where Minji had touched me.

As soon as I sat down, Abby wasted no time pulling me closer until I was practically on her lap.

"Skipping class was fun, but us getting caught?" she murmured near my ear, her arms wrapping around my waist. "You're gonna have to make it up to me."

I rolled my eyes, trying to shift off her, but she tightened her grip, smirking.

"Relax, princess," she teased, resting her chin on my shoulder.

Nora and Chole were already staring at us like we were the most interesting thing in the room.

"So," Nora started, leaning forward. "What the hell happened? Did Ms. Collins scold you?"

Chole snorted. "More like hunt you down."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "She was mad. Like, actually pissed."

Abby huffed a laugh. "What’s she gonna do? Give us detention? Please."

I opened my mouth to respond, but then—

I felt it before I even saw it.

A burning stare.

Minji.

I turned my head slightly, and sure enough, she was watching us. No, she was glowering at us from her desk, her fingers curled slightly against the table, her jaw tense.

Her eyes weren’t just on me. They were on Abby. On the way she was holding me. On the way I was sitting comfortably on her lap like it was nothing.

Oh.

Oh, she hated this.

Her expression didn’t change, but the way she was gripping her pen told me she was this close to snapping it in half.

I swallowed, quickly looking away, pretending I hadn’t just seen the storm brewing behind those dark eyes.

"So, what’d she say?" Chole prompted, oblivious.

I tried to focus. "She basically told me not to pull that shit again."

"Classic teacher talk," Nora said with a smirk. "But damn, she really tracked you down just for skipping?"

"She really did," Abby muttered, tightening her hold on me like she suddenly didn’t want to let go. "Kinda weird, don’t you think?"

I tensed slightly at that, but before I could say anything—

Snap.

Minji’s pen had just broken in her grip.

I didn’t dare look her way again.

Abby, completely unaware of the danger sitting just a few feet away, kept going.

She shifted slightly, adjusting me on her lap like she owned me, her grip around my waist firm. "You’re way too comfy like this," she murmured, her voice dipping into something dangerously close to a purr. "Might just keep you here all day."

I rolled my eyes, trying to play it off, but my face was heating up. "Abby—"

She leaned in, brushing her lips against the shell of my ear. "You smell so good," she whispered.

My heart stopped.

Nora let out a low whistle. "Damn, Abby, calm down."

Chole just raised an eyebrow, but she was smirking. She knew exactly what Abby was doing.

I shifted, about to slide off her lap, but Abby wouldn’t let me.

She chuckled, nuzzling into my neck like we weren’t in the middle of a classroom. "Why are you acting all shy now? I’ve held you like this a million times."

I opened my mouth, but then—

BANG.

Minji slammed her hand against her desk.

The whole class jumped.

The room fell into complete silence.

My breath caught in my throat as I turned toward her.

She was fuming.

Her chair was slightly pushed back like she had almost stood up, her jaw clenched so tight it looked like it hurt.

And her eyes—oh, her eyes.

They were locked directly on Abby, dark and dangerous, filled with something I couldn’t quite decipher, but it sent a shiver down my spine.

"Everyone," she said, her voice sharp, controlled—but there was something underneath. "Get back to work."

Nobody dared to move.

Nora and Chole exchanged a look. Abby, finally noticing the tension, shifted slightly beneath me.

Minji’s gaze flickered down to me for one brief moment.

Then she stood up.

And started walking.

Straight toward us.

Abby didn’t seem phased at all by Minji’s furious approach. She just smirked, tightening her arms around my waist. "What's the problem, Ms. Collins?" Abby's tone was light, casual, almost like she was teasing her. "I’m just trying to make Diana comfy."

But Minji didn’t respond to Abby’s playful tone. Instead, she took another step forward, her shoes clicking sharply against the floor. I could feel the tension building in the air, thickening with every second that passed.

Abby still didn’t let go of me, not even when Minji came to a halt right in front of us. I could see the clash of energy between the two—Abby with her laid-back, fearless attitude, and Minji with her cold, seething glare.

I felt like I was caught in the middle of something that could explode at any moment, but Abby just casually leaned back, still holding me firmly. She wasn’t scared. In fact, she seemed almost bored by the tension in the air. "You know, you don’t have to look so upset, Ms. Collins. I’m not doing anything wrong," she said, her voice soft but teasing.

Minji’s nostrils flared, and she narrowed her eyes. Her gaze flickered to me briefly, almost like a warning, before she focused entirely on Abby. "You need to stop," Minji said, her voice low and controlled, but with an edge that sent a chill down my spine. "You don't get to play games with her."

Abby just raised an eyebrow, clearly not feeling the gravity of the situation. "Play games?" she repeated with a laugh. "I’m just talking to her, Ms. Collins. No harm in that, right?"

I couldn’t breathe. I could feel Minji’s eyes boring into me, her anger and something else—something protective—swirling in the air. The tension between them was thick, and I felt trapped in the middle, unable to escape it.

Chole and Nora were watching, their attention split between Minji and the exchange between Abby and me. Neither of them dared to say a word, knowing full well this was a battle unfolding before us.

Minji’s jaw clenched again. She took another step closer, leaning down just slightly, lowering her voice but not bothering to mask the venom. "Not in class when you're supposed to work," she muttered, barely audible. "I told you to stop before, and now I’m warning you again."

Abby, still sitting comfortably, grinned up at Minji like she didn’t even notice the undercurrent of danger. "Oh, come on, Ms. Collins," she said, almost sweetly. "You don’t really care what I do with Diana, do you?" She threw a glance at me, a wink accompanying the move.

I couldn’t even think. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I felt like I was watching two worlds collide—one that was easygoing and playful, and one that was intense, full of unspoken rules and boundaries.

Minji wasn’t backing down, though. Her voice was calm now, but there was a firmness to it that made me shiver. "I do care, not because it's Diana, but because I care about my students doing work in class," she said, eyes glinting dangerously. "And if you don’t stop messing with her, I’ll make sure you never get the chance to again."

Abby’s face softened, but only for a second. "You’re so serious," she teased, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes now. "Relax, Minji. I’m not doing anything bad."

Minji didn’t respond, but the tension between them was palpable. She didn’t take her eyes off Abby for even a second. I could feel myself sinking lower, wanting to disappear under the weight of their stares.

Finally, Minji took a deep breath, straightening up. Her gaze turned away from Abby, and for a brief moment, she looked directly at me. There was something unreadable in her eyes—anger, frustration, maybe even worry. I didn’t know.

But I could feel her gaze drilling into me, and the words she’d spoken earlier echoed in my mind. 'I’ll make sure you never get the chance to again.' The weight of that promise lingered in the air like a heavy fog.

Abby, however, wasn’t going to let things sit for too long. She flashed a grin at Minji, then turned her attention back to me. "You good, Di?" she asked, voice warm and teasing, as if she hadn’t just been the center of an intense standoff.

I could barely nod. My brain was scrambled, and I was still processing everything that had just happened. How had we gotten to this point?

Minji took one last glance at Abby before straightening up and walking to her desk. Her shoes too loud, the sound echoing through the silent room. The atmosphere was charged with unresolved tension, but she didn’t seem to want to linger any longer.

I didn’t dare move at first, unsure of what I was supposed to do now.

Abby still had me in her grasp, but now there was an odd silence between us. Something had changed. Something I couldn’t quite explain.

"That was intense," Abby muttered under her breath, her tone more serious than I’d ever heard it before.

I just nodded slowly, my heart still racing.

"Hey," she said, softer now. "I didn’t mean to make things weird. Just..." She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You’re important to me, you know? I’m not trying to mess this up for you. We're just friends, and I respect it."

Her words almost made me want to break down. This wasn’t how I wanted things to go—none of this was how I thought it would turn out.

But as much as I wanted to respond, as much as I wanted to say something, the room was still heavy with the unspoken conflict. Minji hadn’t spoken a word after walking away, but I could still feel her presence looming over us like a shadow.

"Let’s just get through today," I finally said, my voice quiet. "Okay?"

Abby nodded, and just like that, the tension seemed to lift, but only slightly. We both turned to face the rest of the class, trying to act like nothing had happened. But inside, I knew things had changed with Minji. They had to have changed. And I wasn’t sure where this was all headed anymore.

After the bell rang and everyone started packing up, I was about to head out with my friends when I heard Minji's voice, low and calm but undeniably sharp. "Diana, could you stay for a minute?"

My stomach dropped. I glanced over at Abby, who was walking out with Nora and Chole, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that Minji was clearly upset. I nodded and slowly walked toward her desk, my heart pounding in my chest.

As soon as the door closed behind Abby and my friends, Minji’s expression hardened. She didn’t waste any time. “So, tell me,” she said, her voice low but tinged with frustration. “What exactly is going on with you and Abby?”

I froze, unsure of how to respond. "I—I thought I already explained. We're just friends now."

Minji shook her head, letting out a frustrated sigh. "No. That’s not what I saw earlier," she snapped. "It was clear to me that there’s still something between you two, and you’re just pretending like nothing’s going on."

I wanted to argue, to tell her that things were different now, that Abby and I had broken up and were just... trying to get through it as friends. But there was a sting in her words that made me hesitate.

She leaned forward, her eyes never leaving mine. "I can’t just sit back and watch you get hurt again, Diana. You think it’s okay to stay friends with her, but she’s been nothing but a distraction. She will hurt you again."

I felt a tight knot in my stomach. I knew Minji was right to be worried; I’d seen how Abby acted, how easy it was for her to slip back into that flirty, dangerous behavior.

"I... I don’t know," I muttered, struggling to find the words. "It’s complicated."

Minji’s expression softened, just a little, but there was still anger in her eyes. "Of course, it’s complicated," she said with a dry chuckle. "But that doesn’t mean you should let her keep playing with your emotions."

I felt like I was in the middle of a tug-of-war, caught between Minji’s protective instincts and Abby’s overwhelming presence in my life. Part of me still wanted to believe that Abby had changed—that we could be friends and not fall back into the same patterns—but deep down, I knew Minji was right. It wasn’t that easy.

“I just don’t want to lose my friends,” I finally said, the vulnerability in my voice making my throat tighten.

Minji’s gaze softened even more, and she sighed, leaning back in her chair. “I know, Diana,” she said quietly. “But if Abby’s really your friend, she should respect your boundaries. And if she can’t do that, maybe you need to rethink what kind of relationship you actually want with her.”

I could feel the weight of her words pressing down on me, and I couldn’t help but look away, trying to process it all. Was Minji right? Should I just walk away from Abby completely?

Minji’s voice broke through my thoughts again. "I just want you to be happy. And you’re not going to find happiness if you keep letting people like Abby walk all over you."

It felt like my whole world was spinning. I knew I had to make a decision, but I didn’t know if I was ready. There was so much history with Abby, so much unresolved emotion, and I didn’t want to face the idea of cutting her out completely. But at the same time, I couldn’t keep doing this to myself.

Minji must have seen the conflict on my face because she stood up, walking over to me with a softness in her eyes that surprised me. "You don’t have to decide everything right now. But you need to think about what’s best for you. Not for Abby. Not for anyone else."

I nodded slowly, unsure of what to say next. My mind was racing, my heart tangled in a mess of emotions. Minji was right, though. I had to start thinking about myself. I couldn’t keep getting pulled back into toxic cycles, no matter how much I cared for Abby.

"I’ll think about it," I whispered, still feeling the weight of everything.

Minji gave me a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes completely. "Good," she said simply. "Just remember—you come first."

With that, I left her classroom, my mind still swirling with questions and doubts. I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew that Minji was trying to protect me, even if it meant pushing me to make hard choices.

As I stepped into the hallway, ready to head out, I heard Minji’s voice calling me back. I turned around, my heart still racing from our earlier conversation. Her tone was calm but had a certain intensity that made me stop in my tracks.

“Diana, wait,” Minji called, and I felt a little chill run down my spine as I turned back to face her.

She was standing by her classroom door, her arms crossed as if she’d been waiting for the right moment to say something. “I’ve been thinking,” she began, her voice a little softer now, “about everything that just happened.”

I raised an eyebrow, confused. “What do you mean?”

Minji hesitated for a moment, clearly weighing her words carefully. When she spoke again, her tone was a lot more direct, almost vulnerable in a way I wasn’t used to hearing from her.

“Seeing you with Abby today, how you two were together—it made me realize something. I’ve been trying to protect you, to shield you from getting hurt, but I think maybe I’ve been doing it all wrong.” She took a step toward me, her expression serious. “The truth is, Diana... I care about you. A lot. And I’d like to take you out sometime. Just the two of us.”

My heart skipped a beat at her words. Was this a confession? Was she being serious? I stood there, stunned for a moment, processing the unexpected turn in our conversation. Minji, my teacher, the person who had been so protective and intense, was asking me out. It felt like everything was happening too fast, and I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it.

“I—Minji, I don’t know what to say,” I stammered, feeling a mix of surprise and confusion. “I didn’t expect this.”

Minji looked at me, her gaze softening. She stepped closer, her tone gentle now. “You don’t have to say anything right away. I just wanted you to know how I feel. I can’t keep pretending like I don’t want something more with you. I’m here for you, Diana. And I’d really like to show you that.”

My mind was racing. I had so many thoughts swirling around, the remnants of my feelings for Abby still fresh and confusing. But at the same time, Minji was right there in front of me, offering something different, something new. I had to admit, a part of me was curious, intrigued by the idea of exploring something with her.

“I—I don’t know if I’m ready for anything serious right now,” I said, my voice quieter, still unsure of how to handle this situation. “I just ended things with Abby, and it’s... a lot to process.”

Minji nodded, understanding. “I get it, Diana. I’m not trying to rush you into anything. I just want you to know that I’m here, and I care about you more than you realize.” She smiled, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. “Take your time. But whenever you’re ready, we can go out and see where things go. No pressure.”

I stood there, my heart torn in two directions. Part of me felt pulled toward Minji, toward the idea of starting something fresh with her, but another part of me was still tangled in my emotions for Abby. Everything felt so complicated, and I wasn’t sure if I could handle anything more right now.

“Thanks, Minji,” I said finally, my voice quiet but genuine. “I appreciate it. I just... I need to figure some things out first.”

Minji gave me a soft smile, her expression warm but understanding. “Take all the time you need, Diana. I’m not going anywhere.”

As she turned to head back into her classroom, I stood there for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts. My emotions were all over the place, but one thing was clear—I wasn’t ready for anything new just yet. Not with Minji. Not with anyone. But the fact that she cared, that she wanted to take me out, made me feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time—hope. Maybe I should say yes. Abby and I clearly can't be together anymore without me thinking she's cheating all the time.

After talking with Minji, I walked over to Chloe, needing her advice. She could always help me clear my mind, and I knew she’d be honest with me. I sat down next to her, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on my shoulders.

"Hey, what's going on?" Chloe asked, her voice soft but curious, noticing how tense I was.

I let out a sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Minji—Ms.Collins,  she wants to take me out, like, as more than just a teacher-student thing, you know? And I don't know what to do. It's all getting so complicated."

Chloe raised an eyebrow, clearly processing everything. "Wow, that’s... a lot. You’re really considering it, huh?"

"I don’t know. I mean, I care about her, but it’s confusing. We’ve been talking for a while now, but I never thought she’d actually ask me out. It feels like I’m being pulled in two different directions."

Chloe paused for a moment before responding, "You’ve got some mixed feelings, and that’s okay. But you have to decide what feels right for you. If you think there’s something there with Minji, then maybe you should explore it, but you need to be sure. And you need to be careful. Having a relationship with your own teacher...it's not really the easiest thing."

I nodded, feeling a little more at ease with her words. "Yeah, I know. I just don’t want to mess things up, especially with her being my teacher and all."

Chloe smiled reassuringly. "I get it, but you’re not alone in this. Just follow your gut. And if you ever need to talk, I’m here."

Her support made me feel lighter, and I found myself smiling for the first time that day. "Thanks, Chloe. You’re the best."

We talked for a little longer, and I felt like I had a clearer head about things, but deep down, I still wasn’t sure what to do.