She Became Distressed After I Stopped Being Restrained and Started Interacting with Others - Chapter 16

The first holiday since I started keeping my distance from Yuna.

I was lying alone in my bed at home.

Since I always spent holidays with Yuna, it had been a while since I’d been alone like this.

“…Sigh”

I slowly rolled over and let out a soft sigh.

(…Yuna)

My mind was filled with nothing but thoughts of Yuna.

If it were just loneliness, that might have been better.

But what I felt inside was different – a more restless emotion.

I knew the cause.

That scene I witnessed at the cafe that day still wouldn’t leave my mind.

Yuna sitting next to some girl I didn’t know, talking about something.

I didn’t know who that girl was, nor what they were talking about.

But the simple fact that Yuna was with someone else was stuck deep in my chest.

(Who was she?)

I couldn’t stop wondering, yet I couldn’t ask either.

Even though I was the one who created the distance between us, feeling this unsettled seemed selfish.

Still, I couldn’t help it – before I knew it, I had picked up my phone.

(…It’s not like I want to ask anything. I’m just going to message her briefly)

Making excuses to myself, I opened the chat screen.

‘Yuna, how are you?’

The moment I pressed send, my heartbeat quickened slightly.

She might read it immediately, or she might not.

Thinking this, I stared at my phone screen for a while – but no “read” notification appeared.

“…Maybe I should call her”

Saying it out loud made me feel a little better.

It’s just checking. Just to see if she’s okay.

The ringtone echoed.

…But no matter how many times it rang, Yuna never answered.

(…Why?)

A strange feeling spread through my chest.

Until now, Yuna had never ignored me like this.

Even when she was busy, she’d always reply later, or call me back.

But today –

(…Why won’t you answer?)

The ringing stopped, and as I stared at the ended call screen, my fingertips grew cold.

(Maybe she just didn’t notice? Or maybe she’s busy…)

I tried to convince myself.

But normally, Yuna would notice immediately and call back.

At the very least, she had never once ignored my calls before.

(…Why)

My chest tightened gradually.

Yuna wasn’t answering her phone. That was all it was, yet only unpleasant imaginings came to mind.

Maybe because she’s with someone?

Or she saw my call and still chose not to answer?

I gripped my phone tightly.

(…That couldn’t be, right)

But the reality remained that I couldn’t reach her.

Over something so simple, my heart was steadily being dyed black.

—Where is Yuna right now, and what is she doing?

Not knowing the answer made me feel this anxious.