What I wanted to say back then

Chapter 3: What I Wanted to Say Back Then
Bentio sat alone in the classroom, the afternoon sun painting long shadows across the wooden floor. His bag lay at his feet, untouched, while his eyes stared blankly at the wall.
In the silence, a memory came rushing back—Middle school.A quiet afternoon.Magiru standing at the doorway of their classroom, her expression cold and distant.
> “We’re not friends anymore,” she had said.


He had laughed, nervously.
> “Is this a joke? Magiru, if something’s wrong, just tell me. We can talk—”


> “No,” she said firmly. “I don’t want to talk. I don’t want anything to do with you.”


And before he could reach her, she shoved him away—hard.His back slammed against the table.She screamed something—
> “Don’t follow me!”


Bentio’s breath hitched. He shot up from his chair.
“Haa—!”His heart raced.Just a dream.
He was in his room. The morning sun filtered through the curtains. A soft breeze stirred the paper on his desk. He clutched the bedsheet tightly, sweat dampening his brow.
> "Why… Why now?" he whispered.



---
The streets were quieter than usual that morning. Bentio adjusted his bag and walked toward school, trying to push the dream from his mind.
But fate had other plans.
Ahead, at a narrow alley beside the school gates, he saw three boys cornering someone.
> “Come on, just show us—what’s in the bag?”“Are you ignoring us? That’s rude.”


Then he saw her—Shizune.
She looked terrified, clutching her sketchbook tightly, her lips trembling as she struggled to say something. Her hands moved, trying to form signs, but the boys didn’t understand—nor did they care.
Bentio stepped forward without thinking.
> “Leave her alone,” he said coldly.


The leader turned.
> “Huh? Who the hell are you?”


> “I’m her boyfriend.”He surprised even himself.


The boys stared. Then burst into laughter.
> “Really? This mute girl? You’re kidding me.”


Shizune’s eyes widened at Bentio’s words. Her cheeks flushed pink. She tried to sign something—maybe to stop him—but before the tension could rise further—
> “Hey! You boys!”A police officer called out from the street.


The three punks scattered like rats.
Bentio rushed to Shizune.
> “Are you okay?” he asked.


She nodded quickly, hands trembling. She signed:“Thank you.”
And for the first time, she smiled.A shy, fragile smile that caught the sunlight in the most beautiful way.

---
At school, the teacher made an announcement:
> “Midterms are next week. Please prepare accordingly. Study hard.”


Bentio sighed. "Great. Just what I needed."
Later that day, as students packed up and left, Shizune lingered by the doorway. Bentio noticed her glancing at him several times.
He pretended not to notice.
Then—she walked straight up to him.
She tapped his shoulder lightly. When he turned, she signed slowly, her fingers slightly awkward:
“Study. Together?”
Bentio blinked.He wanted to say no. He wanted to walk away.But he looked into her eyes… and saw that same fragile hope.
> “Sure,” he said quietly. “We can.”


Her smile returned. That same sunshine warmth.

---
The next day, after school, they met at the library.
It was quiet—only the soft rustle of pages and the ticking of the wall clock.
They sat opposite each other. Shizune pulled out her notes, neatly written, full of diagrams and small doodles. Bentio opened his book, but his gaze drifted toward her.
There was something peaceful about watching her study. Her lips moved silently as she read, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Occasionally, she’d tap his notebook to correct something or slide over a note with a smiley face drawn beside an explanation.
He chuckled quietly.
Then—his pen rolled off the desk and landed near her feet. As he bent down to grab it—
Thud!Their foreheads bumped.
> “Ouch—sorry!” he winced, rubbing his head.


Shizune covered her mouth, giggling silently. Her face turned red.
He looked at her, concerned.
> “Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head and signed:“I’m okay.”
He couldn’t help but smile. "You should be more careful," he added softly.
She signed back:“You too.”

After their study session, Bentio offered to walk her home.
They stopped by a ramen shop. He watched her eat—the way she held the chopsticks, the soft delight on her face when the broth warmed her cheeks, the tiny nod of approval she gave after every bite.
> "You really like ramen, huh?"
She nodded with a bright smile. Her cheeks were a little red from the steam.
> “You’re smiling a lot lately,” Bentio said without thinking.
She blinked, tilted her head.
> “I like it,” he added, shyly. “Your smile, I mean.”
Shizune looked down, flustered, and scribbled something in her notebook.She flipped it around.
“I’m glad you’re not alone anymore.”
Bentio felt a strange warmth in his chest.He didn’t know what to say. So he just walked with her quietly.
They reached her house. She gave a small bow and turned to go inside. Bentio opened his mouth.
> “Shizune—”
She turned.
He hesitated.
> “Nothing. Just... take care.”
As he walked away, something inside him stirred.
That feeling again.The one he’d buried.The one he feared.
> Is this what love feels like?

What I do next .