Chapter 5 — The Space Between Us

🎬 Scene 1 — Haneul Academy, Courtyard, Morning

The morning sun felt too bright.

Too normal.

Too… wrong.

Clint stood near the edge of the courtyard, blending into the sea of uniforms but somehow apart from all of it.

He leaned on a bench beneath the acacia tree, hands in his pockets, pretending not to scan the crowd.

Then he saw her.

Janet.

Walking alone.

No earbuds today. Just silence.

Her grip on her books was tight—like she needed something to hold herself together.

She saw him too.

Her steps faltered—only slightly—then kept moving.

They crossed paths near the vending machines.

Tension clung to the air like fog, thick in the way her eyes didn't know where to land.

> Janet (low, avoiding eye contact):

"You're... here early."

> Clint (equally stiff):

"Yeah. Couldn't sleep."

> Janet:

"Oh."

Silence.

Just the beep of vending machines.

The low hum of passing students.

> Clint (forcing a smirk):

"Don't worry. I'm not gonna bring it up."

> Janet (quickly):

"Good."

They both nodded—at nothing.

> Janet (quietly):

"It was just... a weird night."

> Clint:

"Yeah."

Another pause.

Longer.

Heavier.

> Janet (shifting her weight):

"Anyway... I should go. I'm late."

She turned—too fast, too eager to leave.

> Clint (blurting, then regretting):

"You smiled."

Janet froze.

But didn't turn around.

> Clint (softer):

"Last night. You smiled like you meant it."

> Janet (flat):

"Don't read into things."

And just like that, she walked away.

No wave. No glance back.

Only footsteps fading into the hallway.

Clint stayed frozen.

He looked down at his hand—still in his pocket, gripping nothing.

He didn't know what he expected.

Maybe nothing.

Maybe too much.

> Clint (inner thought):

"Whatever that was... it's gone now, isn't it?"

---

🎬 Scene 2 — Janet POV | Stairwell, After Lunch

Janet sat alone on the stairwell between buildings.

Her lunch tray lay beside her, untouched.

She wasn't hungry.

She just needed to breathe.

> Janet (inner thought):

"That girl… why is she still here?"

She tried to brush it off.

Tried to convince herself it didn't matter.

Clint wasn't hers. She knew that.

But the way Mia smiled at him like they shared a secret—

The way Clint didn't flinch, didn't pull away—

It stung.

> Janet (inner thought):

"She walks in like she never left."

"Like nothing ever broke."

She hugged her knees.

The breeze through the stairwell wasn't enough to cool the heat behind her eyes.

> Janet (softly, to herself):

"You're not jealous. You're just... annoyed."

A lie.

A weak one.

She hated how easily Mia made it look—

That confidence. That timing. That fake laugh like she owned the room.

But more than that…

She hated that Clint didn't look uncomfortable.

> Janet (inner thought):

"Why did he let her sit?"

"Why didn't he say anything when she said they never ended?"

She rested her head against the wall.

Closed her eyes.

> Janet (inner whisper):

"It was just one night. One stupid moment."

"So why does it feel like it meant more... to me?"

The bell rang in the distance.

Janet stood.

No tears. No drama. Just the same calm mask she always wore.

> Janet (final whisper):

"Fine. Talk to her, Clint."

"Just don't expect me to wait around next time."

---

🎬 Scene 3 — After Class | Academy Courtyard

The final bell rang.

Students spilled out like water flooding the halls.

Janet walked fast.

Arms crossed. Eyes forward. Ignoring the footsteps chasing her down.

> Clint (calling out):

"Hey! Janet!"

She didn't stop.

Didn't turn.

Just a slight lift of her brow—barely.

> Janet (inner thought):

"I knew he'd follow."

Clint caught up, slightly out of breath, grinning.

> Clint:

"Parang galit ka yata, ah?"

Still no reply.

> Clint (mock offended):

"Ano bang nagawa ko? Hmm... wait... ahh! Yung sa canteen!"

"Nagseselos ka kay Mia?"

Janet stopped.

> Janet (snapping):

"Tumahimik ka nga! Ang ingay-ingay mo!"

She faced him, trying to look annoyed—

But her pink cheeks betrayed her.

> Janet:

"At bakit naman ako magseselos e—"

Before she could finish, Clint gently pressed two fingers to her lips.

> Clint (teasing):

"Shhh. Baka madulas ka pa."

Then, with a flick, he tapped her forehead.

> Clint:

"Kalma lang, general."

> Janet (growling):

"Hmp!"

She swatted his hand—

Then chased him as he jogged away, laughing.

> Clint (teasing):

"Ayan na si jealous girl!"

> Janet:

"Halika nga dito!"

She caught him—grabbed his hair, gave it a light tug.

> Clint (laughing):

"Ouch! Suko na ako! Ayoko na!"

They were laughing now.

Loud. Clumsy. Real.

Like the world hadn't broken.

Like none of this was temporary.

---

🎬 Scene 4 — Second-Floor Window

But not everyone was smiling.

From behind the glass on the second floor…

Mia watched.

Arms crossed.

Smile gone.

> Mia (coldly, under her breath):

"Clint... you're mine."

Her fingers pressed hard against the glass.

A crack formed.

Thin. Barely visible.

But it was there.

And her smile?

Long gone.

Only her eyes remained—unblinking.

Still.

Dangerous.

A breeze moved through the hallway, even though the windows were sealed.

A janitor paused, glancing her way.

> Janitor (cautious):

"…Miss? Are you alright?"

Mia didn't answer.

She turned away—

But her shadow on the wall…

didn't follow.

---

🩸 TO BE CONTINUED…

✨ Enjoyed the tension? Felt the twist?

Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and ADD TO LIBRARY —

because Clint and Janet's story is just getting started…

and Mia?

She's not done yet. 😈

💬 Got a theory or favorite moment?

Drop it below. I read every comment. 👀

Let's talk heartbreak, hair-pulling, and hidden shadows.

---