The Silent Canvas (Catnipz)

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Haerin spent the rest of her day in a fog, her mind too heavy to focus on anything. She drifted through her classes, the world outside feeling distant as she tried to shut out the turmoil inside her. By lunchtime, she could barely bring herself to care. She didn't look for Minji, she didn't want to face her, didn't want to explain herself or deal with any of the guilt eating at her. Instead, she went straight to the cafeteria, finding an empty seat in the far corner.

Haerin lowered her head to the table, her arms wrapped around her as she rested her face against the cool surface. She let the heaviness in her chest pull her under, closing her eyes and letting the exhaustion take over. The world around her became a blur, everything feeling too much. She just wanted to disappear, to escape the crushing weight of her own thoughts.

The table was a cold comfort, but it was all she had as she lay there, disconnected and numb.

Minji sat with her friends at lunch, trying to focus on the conversation around her, but her eyes kept drifting to the far corner of the cafeteria. There, Haerin sat alone, her head down on the table, seemingly lost in her own world. The sight tugged at Minji's heart, and for a moment, she felt the urge to walk over, to apologize, to explain. But when her gaze lingered a moment too long, she quickly looked away, the weight of everything still heavy on her chest.

She wanted to be there for Haerin, to make things right, but the words felt stuck, and the fear of making things worse held her back. Instead, she turned her attention back to her friends, her mind still on Haerin despite her efforts to focus elsewhere. The silence between them felt so loud, but Minji didn't know how to bridge the gap that had grown.

After the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Minji walked through the empty hallways, her footsteps echoing softly. Her thoughts were still tangled with Haerin, her mind replaying the argument they had earlier. She wasn't sure if she had made things worse or if there was any way to make it right, but her heart ached, knowing Haerin was upset.

As she passed by the art studio, she caught a glimpse of Haerin through the window. Haerin was sitting at one of the easels, her body still, her gaze fixed on the empty canvas in front of her. It was as if she was lost in thought, disconnected from the world around her. Minji hesitated for a moment, her hand resting on the door handle, unsure if she should intrude. But after a brief pause, she pushed the door open quietly, stepping into the room.

Haerin stood up from the stool, her movements stiff, as if weighed down by something much heavier than just her body. Her eyes remained fixed on the empty canvas, her expression unreadable. She didn't even glance toward the door as she gathered her things. The silence in the room felt suffocating, and Minji watched her from the doorway, frozen.

For a moment, it seemed like the world had shrunk, leaving just the two of them in that stillness, the tension so thick it could almost be touched. Haerin moved toward the door, her hand brushing the handle, ready to leave the art studio without a second glance. She didn't know Minji was standing there, her presence unnoticed in the space between them.

Minji stood there, silently watching, unsure if it was right to disturb Haerin, not sure if Haerin would even want her there. Her heart twisted, torn between wanting to fix the rift between them and not wanting to make things worse by forcing her presence on Haerin. She stayed rooted to the spot, the weight of the situation settling over her, every second feeling like it was stretching into eternity.

As Haerin bent down to pick up the last of her things, a wave of exhaustion hit her like a crashing tide. Her body trembled, and before she could catch herself, her knees buckled. She fell to the floor, her hands bracing against the cool surface of the table as her vision blurred. The world around her spun in a dizzying haze.