~*Your/Hye Ri's POV*~

L Oppa and I walked together in silence. I played with my fingers and bit my lip, taking occasional glances at him. After the longest time, I finally get to see L Oppa, but he doesn't even speak a word. I was contemplating whether or not I should say something or not.

"L-L Oppa..?" I squeaked quietly, looking up at him through my lashes.

"Hm?" He questioned, sounding as if he was only giving me half of his attention.

"I missed you."

"Mm. Yeah. I missed you too." He said without looking at me, his mind somewhere else, speaking as if his words were just that. Words. Empty words. There was no meaning or feeling in them.

I gazed at him longingly, not the least bit satisfied by his response. His words made me feel distant from him. They made me feel as if the person standing before me was a stranger, someone I had never met before.

No, this is L Oppa. Stop thinking stupid thoughts!

I half-heartedly scolded myself with a frown.

Before, I thought that being apart from him was the most painful thing that I had ever experienced. I thought that nothing could compare with what I felt when he was away. I used to believe that just seeing him would make up for his long absence. When he wasn't there, all I wished for was to do something simple with him, anything at all, just as long as I got to spend time with him.

So now that I have him next to me, my wish granted, why don't I feel any better?

My gaze bore into him as if an answer would appear if I waited.

It's weird. I never understood how L could tell whenever someone was staring at him. It was as if he had a radar to indicate when someone was. Without fail, he would catch me every single time, even when my eyes just pass over him by chance. Always. Always he would lock eyes with me or acknowledge me in some way or another.

This time though, it was different. He acted as if he didn't notice me, acted as if I wasn't there at all. For all he cared, I could lag behind or get injured and he wouldn't even bat an eyelash at me. My expression contorted into one of hurt before, unable to take it any longer, I turned away from him, not able to keep my eyes on his distant figure for another moment. I closed my eyes and inhaled a ragged breath, giving up on making any conversation and just walking in silence.

It seems I was wrong before.

Being with L like this is just as bad- no. Being with L like this is even worse than not seeing him at all.

Unknowingly, I let a tiny tear escaped and trickled down the corner of my eye.

What's happening? When will I get my L Oppa back?