His acting strange

Why was Ryan, of all people, talking to Hara?

He wasn't supposed to be talking to her.

Shouldn't he be somewhere in class? Or better yet, out on the hockey field practicing? None of those boys ever seemed to care about studying. Hockey was all they had in their heads.

He should be teasing and flirting with Viana, not stopping Hara.

But why was he stopping her?

The worst part was that Hara was pretending she hadn't heard his question, acting as though she were completely clueless.

Who am I?

Could he have realized that I'm not the real Hara?

Is my behavior giving me away?

Wait... I never intended to act like the original Hara in the first place.

Still, she didn't want him—or anyone else—to suspect that she wasn't the real Hara.

Ryan stared at her for a long moment before speaking.

"You're different."

"There's something in your eyes. They've changed."

"They're... different."

"I just can't figure out what it is."

Hara immediately put on a pitiful expression, letting her voice tremble.

"What do you mean I've changed?"

"I know you don't like me, Ryan, but you don't have to bully me like this."

Ryan looked at her for a few seconds before a smirk spread across his face.

"Yeah."

"That's the Hara I know."

The moment he said that, Hara let out a silent sigh of relief.

Good.

Nothing has been exposed.

Nobody thinks I'm an imposter.

She looked at him calmly.

"I haven't changed."

"I've simply come to my senses."

"I need to stay away from all of you."

"You guys don't like me, so be it."

"I'll keep my distance from every one of you... and especially from Viana."

"You should be happy about the change."

After saying that, Hara turned to leave.

Before she could take more than a few steps, Ryan suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Hara..."

He called her name in a slow, low voice.

The tone caught her completely off guard.

She couldn't understand why he was calling her like that.

Why did his voice suddenly sound so full of emotion?

What is this idiot trying to do now?

She panicked inwardly.

Don't act as if you have feelings for me.

You and Viana already have something going on.

Don't hold my hand like this.

People will misunderstand.

I don't want another poisoned needle stabbed into my back.

Without another word, Hara yanked her wrist free from his grip and walked away.

She headed straight back to class.

---

As soon as class began, Hara sat quietly in her seat, listening to the teacher while taking notes.

Coincidentally, all five members of the hockey team were in the same class as her, attending the same lesson.

Viana, however, was in a different class.

One thing Viana hated was the fact that Hara had the opportunity to study in the same classroom as all five of the male leads.

Hara remained focused on the lesson.

By another coincidence, she and Declan were seatmates.

She simply sat there, writing in her notebook and paying attention to the teacher.

Unlike the original Hara, she didn't ask Declan whether he wanted water.

She didn't ask if he needed help.

She didn't constantly fuss over him.

She did none of those things.

She refused to act like a love-struck fool.

Instead, she quietly continued writing her notes.

Every now and then, she felt as though someone was staring at her.

Whenever she looked up, however, she found Declan calmly looking at the board as if he had never glanced her way.

Maybe it's just my imagination, Hara thought before lowering her head and continuing to write.

---

After some time, the class was dismissed for lunch break.

Hara headed to the cafeteria and bought herself a meal.

Normally, the original Hara would have bought lunch for Declan as well, only for him to reject it every single time.

Today was different.

Hara bought food only for herself.

Instead of sitting with the others, she found an empty table and sat alone.

She had just picked up her spoon, about to eat, when someone stopped in front of her.

"Hara."

"What's wrong with you?"

She looked up.

It was Declan.

Hara frowned.

"What do you mean, what's wrong with me?"

"You've changed."

"You're different."

"Why didn't you buy food for me and bring it to me?"

Hara blinked before smiling politely.

"Oh."

"I'm sorry."

"I suppose I forgot."

"Or perhaps I didn't forget."

"Maybe I did it intentionally."

"I've noticed that you never eat the lunches I buy for you."

"So I thought it would be better to stop wasting food and focus on buying meals for myself instead."

Declan didn't say a word.

Instead, he pulled out the chair beside her and sat down.

Hara looked at him in confusion.

"Why are you sitting beside me?"

Declan met her gaze.

"You don't own this seat."

"I can sit wherever I want."

Hara couldn't argue with that.

She simply looked away.

"I'm hungry."

"You didn't bring me lunch."

"So what am I supposed to eat?"

Hara raised an eyebrow.

"The school cafeteria is right over there."

"You can buy your own meal."

Declan's eyes remained fixed on her lunch.

"I'm more interested in yours."

He spoke in a low voice.

It sounded deep...

...and surprisingly pleasant.

Hara immediately shook her head.

Hara.

Don't start admiring a man's voice.

Don't think about this man.

That will be the death of you.

Ignore them.

Avoid them.

Declan repeated himself.

"I'm more interested in your meal."

Hara looked at him before shrugging.

"Suit yourself."

She had no intention of giving him any more attention.

She picked up her spoon and continued eating.

Today's lunch was rice with the school's special sauce and a piece of beef.

She scooped up another spoonful, lifting it toward her mouth.

Before she could take a bite—

A hand suddenly caught her wrist.

In the next instant, the spoon was redirected.

The rice went straight into Declan's mouth instead.