Our Christmas Break flew by really fast. I wasn't able to see (y/n) or (f/n) the whole time so I just spent my days baking or helping out in the library. And before I knew it, we were all gathered in front of the school, ready to start a new trimester.

"How was your break Ray?" Norman asked. He waved at me.

"It was fine," I answered, "Break was a little boring without you guys, though."

"Well I'm glad we're all back," Emma said, putting her arms over the both of us. Norman laughed as he opened the doors. Here's to a new year.

I felt someone put their arms on my shoulders as I opened my locker. I turned around, and it was Don.

"Hey loverboy," he said. "Christmas Eve was quite an experience, am I right?"

Of course. He was referring to what happened with (y/n). I shook my head and chuckled. "Shut up, Don. Go to homeroom."

He snickered as he walked away. After getting my bookbag, I started walking to the council room. When I opened the doors, I raised my hand in greeting and took in my surroundings.

Emma slightly remodeled the place, and I noticed that she added a mini-fridge and microwave. She also added another table in case we wanted to eat our lunch here. I noticed a small bookcase on the right and a coffee machine as well. I leaned on one of the couches while Norman wrote some stuff at his desk and Emma warmed up her breakfast with the new appliances.

"Hi, Ray!" (f/n) said, waving frantically at me. She was currently reading The Gracefield Chronicles' new article about the Math Club's victory against two other schools. "We missed you!"

I smiled gently. "Glad to be back, (f/n). Do you know where (y/n) is?"

She put on a thoughtful expression. "I think she went to the bathroom, and she should be coming back anytime soon."

(f/n) was right. Literally, a minute later, (y/n) pushed open the doors. I watched as (f/n) walked up and greeted her and they participated in idle conversation. She was wearing my blue scarf as well.

I walked up to her to greet and maybe tease her over what happened last year. I couldn't hear what she was saying with (f/n) but I observed as she did a sideways glance at me.

"Hey, (y/n)-" I started but looked away and walked to Norman. Did she just brush me off?

I dismissed her action and began my day with homeroom.

(y/n) sits in front of me in our first class. "(y/n)," I whispered.

I knew that she felt my finger tap because her shoulders flinched slightly. However, she didn't turn around. Instead, she turned to Anna next to her and had a small chat with her about ice skating before class.

The entire morning, every time I went to talk with her, she would either walk away or start talking to someone else. I was confused about why she was doing this, so I decided to ask her best friend (f/n).

(f/n) and I met up during our second break. I gave her a note to meet me after class in the library. We sat across each other at one of the tables and opened our lunch.

"What do you need Ray?" (f/n) asked, getting her food ready. She always portions her soba so she can prepare it before she eats it. She poured her sauce onto her noodles and mixed it all together.

"So (f/n), I'm sure you've noticed this because you're always with her, but, is (y/n) ignoring me?" I asked. She paused from eating her noodles and her hand stood midair holding her set of pink cherry blossom chopsticks.

"Ignoring you?" she asked. "(y/n)'s ignoring you?"

I looked at her seriously. "You haven't noticed?!" I whisper-screamed.

She put her chopsticks down. "No, I have not. But, why would you think she would ignore you?"

"Every single time I tried talking to her, she would always start talking to the person closest to her," I explained. (f/n) drank her water nodding as I went along.

"Ok, ok, I see," she said, putting her drink down. "Now that you've explained it, she was becoming more talkative than usual."

"So do you know anything?" I asked, worried. "Like is she mad at me, did I do something wrong?!"

"Ray, you're spiraling," she said, clasping her hands. "And I'm sure she's fine. She probably felt more outspoken today or something."

I groaned and put my head in my hands. Something definitely didn't make sense. I had a thought, but it was really far-fetched. I pondered over this while slowly eating my food.

"Hey (f/n)," I said, grabbing her attention. She hummed in response, as she finished her cold soba. "Do you think (y/n)'s disregarding me because of what happened on Christmas Eve?"

I watched as she visibly choked on her noodles, but quickly regained herself. "Y-yeah, there's always that possibility."

"But why?" I wondered out loud. She zipped up her backpack and cleaned our table.

"Ok, Ray, you didn't hear this from me," she said. "So you better not confront her."

I narrowed my eyes at her. (f/n) continued. "Because we're talking about (y/n), her go-to solution whenever she's embarrassed is to pretend the person who made her feel that way doesn't exist. She would do that until she felt comfortable with them again. And another thing. I knew (y/n) was ignoring you. So since you somehow made it to the conclusion of your issue, I decided to tell you the cause."

"Oh ok, thanks (f/n)," I said. I was pretty surprised by her answer. (y/n) was, flustered? She didn't seem like that. She looked as serious and composed as ever. But from what I learned, inside she was probably internally screaming. "So what should I do?"

"That I cannot help you with," (f/n) said, pointing at me with her chopsticks. "You're on your own now, loverboy."

"Why do people keep calling me that?" I inquired. She looked at me like I was crazy.

"Because you are one! As academically smart as you are, you need to be strategic and learn the way to a girl's heart," she said before standing up.

"Well good luck with (y/n)!" she said, as she went out the library doors. "I'll be rooting for you on the sidelines! And whatever you do, don't encounter her right now. That's just not gonna go well because either a) she'll never speak to you again, b) she'll die of embarrassment, or c) all of the above. Again, good luck!"

Overprotective much?

She left in a flash. I could literally feel the wind when she ran out. What to do now?

I packed my bags and closed my bento before waving goodbye to the librarian.

(y/n) is getting on my nerves. Each time I even attempt to look in her direction, she either looks the opposite way or gets up and leaves.

I silently cursed under my breath while shelving books. I was doing volunteer work for community service hours before our daily council meeting. As I was sorting the children's section, I saw (y/n) through the empty slot. She was looking through the fairytales, for her younger sibling.

Even though she was turned around, I'd recognize my royal blue wool scarf anywhere.

I know (f/n) specifically told me to not approach her personally, but this was the perfect chance. No one was around, and it was dead silent.

I quietly walked where she was and stood behind her. So far she hasn't noticed me yet. I leaned against the shelves and counted to thirty before the plan of action.

"You really love my present, don't you?" I asked, startling her. I noticed her look up from her books, but not turn around, so I traced the cloth with the tip of my forefinger. I crossed my arms. She wasn't ignoring me this time and actually listening. However, she still did not want to even spare a glance at me.

"I know you're disregarding me," I said matter-of-factly. She stood as still as a statue, her back facing me. "It's a shame you don't like me anymore."

"Ray, what do you want?" she asked, almost inaudibly. I could hear her voice wavering. Her head moved a little, as to glimpse at me.

She fully turned around but concealed half her face in my, well hers now, scarf. I quickly grabbed her hand, pulled her to me, and proceeded to embrace her.

She gasped quietly when I felt her head against my heartbeat.

"You," I answered quickly. "I missed you, and we weren't able to see each other the whole break. The least you could've done was wave back."

I put one of my hands behind her head and tenderly stroked her hair. "Now that you're here, why don't we discuss Christmas Eve?"

I felt her alert and move. "I'm sorry if I made you nervous at that time. And for confronting you right now," I said. "But please, come back."

She shook her head. Wow, she really plans on ignoring me for the rest of the school year.

I carefully kissed the top of her head. Ray, what the hell are you doing right now? I thought.

After a long time of silence and (y/n) thinking, she finally spoke.

"Ray, can you please move?" she asked. We separated. "Fine, I'll stop ignoring you. But can we never talk about this or last year ever again?"

I laughed. "Alright, I'm good with that. I answered. Well, see you at our meeting!" I waved. I walked out the door, leaving her to check out books.

After I gave myself a mental high-five in the middle of an empty corridor, I felt my phone vibrate against my pocket. I took it out and it was three missed calls from (f/n).

I called her back, and she answered.

"RAY I TOLD YOU NOT TO FREAKING APPROACH HER!"

I instantly declined and went on my way to the council room. Seriously, how does she magically knows what happens between me and (y/n) every single time?!