I Should Have Never Sat In That Seat

Chapter 3:THE RUMOR THAT STARTED IN ONE SECOND

Emma Park noticed the change the moment she stepped into Class 2-3 that morning. It wasn’t something obvious like silence or noise; it was more subtle than that. Conversations didn’t stop, but they slowed slightly, as if people were aware of her before she even reached her seat. The feeling made her uncomfortable in a way she couldn’t explain, so she ignored it and continued walking forward.

Daniel Kim was already seated by the window, as usual. His posture was the same as always—calm, controlled, and distant—but Emma had started noticing that his eyes moved more than his face did. He observed things without making it obvious, as if he was constantly aware of everything happening around him but chose not to react to most of it.

As Emma sat down, she immediately felt it again. That same strange tension from yesterday returned, like the space beside Daniel carried something unspoken that she hadn’t been told about yet.

From the back of the classroom, Lily was already there.

She wasn’t just sitting like the others. She stood near a desk, leaning slightly forward with her arms crossed, her attention fixed completely on Daniel. There was no attempt to hide it. Her presence alone seemed to change the atmosphere of the room because people naturally noticed her wherever she went.

Ryan slid into the seat behind Emma just as she placed her bag down. He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice even though he clearly enjoyed moments like this.

“Hey… you didn’t hear what people are saying this morning?”

Emma didn’t turn around fully, but she responded quietly. “I don’t usually listen to rumors.”

Ryan gave a small laugh, like that answer was exactly what he expected. “That seat you’re sitting in… people are saying you chose it on purpose because of Daniel.”

Emma paused for a moment, her hand still resting on her bag. She didn’t look back at him immediately, but when she finally spoke, her voice was calm.

“I didn’t choose anything.”

Ryan shrugged. “That’s not how people see it though. Once a rumor starts, nobody really cares about the truth.”

Before Emma could respond, Sofia arrived and placed her bag on the desk beside Emma’s. She looked more serious than usual, her expression tense in a way that immediately caught Emma’s attention.

“Emma,” Sofia said quietly, leaning slightly closer so only she could hear, “don’t pay attention to Lily today.”

Emma frowned slightly and turned her head toward her friend. “Why? What’s wrong?”

Sofia hesitated, glancing briefly toward the back of the room where Lily stood. “Because she already decided she doesn’t like you.”

Emma looked in the same direction, just in time to see Lily begin walking toward them.

Her steps were slow but confident, like she already knew no one would stop her. The entire classroom slowly became quieter again without anyone saying anything. Even Ryan, who was usually talkative, leaned back slightly as if sensing something approaching.

Lily stopped right beside Emma’s desk.

She didn’t smile. She didn’t greet her. She just looked at Emma for a moment, as if evaluating her presence there.

“So you’re the one,” Lily finally said.

Emma blinked slightly. “The one… what?”

Lily tilted her head a little, her tone calm but sharp. “The one sitting there.”

From behind, Ryan whispered under his breath, “Oh no… this is getting serious.”

Sofia’s hand moved slightly under the desk, lightly touching Emma’s arm as a warning not to react too quickly.

Daniel spoke suddenly from beside Emma, his voice calm but firm without even turning fully.

“It’s just a seat.”

Lily immediately turned her attention toward him.

“Oh?” she said, her tone shifting slightly. “So you’re defending her now?”

The classroom felt like it stopped moving for a second. Even students pretending not to listen were now clearly paying attention.

Daniel finally turned his head slightly, just enough to look at her.

“I’m not defending anyone,” he said. “It’s just a seat.”

Lily’s expression tightened slightly, but she didn’t back away.

“That seat isn’t just a seat,” she replied quietly, her voice lower now but more serious.

That sentence made the atmosphere shift again. Emma noticed it immediately. The way Ryan stopped smiling completely. The way Sofia went quiet. Even Daniel’s expression changed very slightly, though it was hard to tell if it was concern or irritation.

Lily stepped back slowly, but her eyes didn’t leave Emma.

“You should move,” she said softly, almost like advice.

Emma didn’t respond immediately. She looked at the desk in front of her, then at Daniel beside her, then back at Lily.

And she stayed where she was.

That silence seemed to affect Lily more than any argument would have. Her expression hardened slightly before she turned and walked back to her seat.

At that exact moment, the classroom door opened.

Mr. Lee entered.

The entire class straightened instantly, as if someone had reset the atmosphere of the room. His presence alone made everything feel more controlled, more serious.

His eyes scanned the room slowly.

And for a brief moment, they stopped at Emma’s seat.

Just a second.

Not long enough for anyone else to notice.

But long enough for Emma to feel it.

Then he looked away.

“Sit down,” Mr. Lee said coldly. “We’re starting class.”

The room returned to order, but the tension didn’t leave. It stayed behind, quietly spreading under everything like something unfinished.

Lily didn’t look at Emma again, but Emma could feel it. The stare. The judgment. The certainty that something was wrong with where she was sitting.

Ryan leaned toward Sofia as class began.

“Why is everyone acting like a seat is a crime scene?”

Sofia didn’t answer right away. Her eyes were still fixed forward, but her voice came out quieter than before.

“Because last year… someone else sat there too.”

Emma heard that clearly.

She didn’t turn, but her fingers tightened slightly on her notebook.

Ryan frowned. “So?”

Sofia hesitated for a moment longer before continuing.

“And they didn’t finish the school year.”

The classroom suddenly felt colder, even though nothing in the room had changed.

And for the first time since Emma sat down in that seat…

She wondered if Daniel Kim’s warning wasn’t about the seat itself.

But about what the seat remembered.