TOMI'S POV
The air outside the exam hall was thick with relief. Students spilled out into the courtyard, some laughing, some crying, others calling their parents or hugging friends as if we had just survived war. In a way, we had—finals were their own kind of battlefield. My pen hand was cramped, my brain felt like mashed yam, but at least it was over. Done. I clutched my bag tighter, already thinking about going back to the dorm, collapsing on my bed, and not moving for at least twelve hours. Maybe Min-Jae would call. No—he would definitely call later. I remembered telling him my last exam was to end by 2pm but it was rescheduled earlier and we concluded by 12pm. The thought brought a little curl of warmth inside me. But then— The noise hit first. A collective gasp, then murmurs that rippled through the students. Heads started turning, phones came out. I slowed my steps, confused. And then I saw him. Ji-hoon. He stood like he was on a stage, right at the edge of the crowd, blocking the path. A massive bouquet of roses in one arm, designer shopping bags dangling from the other. Behind him, his sleek black car gleamed, the driver hovering awkwardly. Ji-hoon's smile was dazzling, rehearsed, the kind that belonged in a drama scene. And it was aimed at me. My stomach dropped. "Oh my God," someone whispered near me. "Isn't that Han Ji-hoon?" another voice squealed. "He's so handsome." "Look at those gifts—omo!" I froze. My sneakers rooted to the concrete. This wasn't happening. Not here, not now. "Tomi!" Ji-hoon called, his voice cutting over the chatter. He strode forward, roses first, like some kind of knight from a cheesy K-drama. "Congratulations on finishing your exams! I brought these for you." Every head turned. The crowd surged closer. Students circled us like vultures, phones held high. I wanted to disappear. "Take them," he urged, holding the bouquet out until it nearly brushed my chest. His eyes were gleaming with determination, like he thought this was the moment that would win me back. "You deserve it." I shook my head, stepping back. My heart was racing, not with excitement but with dread. "Ji-hoon, stop. I don't want this." A murmur ran through the students. Some girls gasped. Some guys whistled. "Ya, why is she acting like that?" I heard a girl mutter behind me. "She's pretending," another whispered. "Who wouldn't want him?" "She's so lucky," one sighed. "More like she's using him," another hissed. My cheeks burned. I turned, trying to push through the bodies, but they pressed closer, eager for drama. Phones kept flashing. Lenses pointed right at me. "Just accept the flowers, Tomi," Ji-hoon coaxed, his voice softer now, though the crowd made it echo. "Don't make me look stupid here." I flinched. The manipulation stung. "Hyung, kiss her!" a male student shouted suddenly. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" The chant caught like wildfire. Dozens of voices joined, their laughter high and cruel. I froze, breath shallow. Ji-hoon's smile widened like this was exactly what he wanted. He stepped closer, leaning in— "No!" I shoved him hard in the chest. Gasps erupted all around. His flowers tumbled slightly, a few petals breaking off and scattering on the ground. Phones zoomed in. I caught sight of one guy—popular, always streaming on campus—holding his phone up, grinning at the live feed he was recording. My humiliation was being broadcast in real time. I clenched my fists, trembling. Enough. "Ji-hoon," I said loudly, so everyone could hear. My voice cracked, but I forced it steady. "I don't like you. I never have. Stop following me around. Stop showing up like this. We are not together, and we will never be together." Silence. The words seemed to hang in the air, heavy, before crashing down over the crowd. The whispers turned sharp. "Oh my God…" "She rejected him?" "Did she just say that?"Ji-hoon's smile shattered. His jaw tightened, eyes flashing with disbelief and wounded pride. He stared at me like I had slapped him, like I was the villain in his perfect script. But I didn't care. I looked around, desperate for an escape—and that's when I saw her. Sasha. Her eyes met mine across the circle of students. Envy. Anger. Betrayal. It was all written across her face. My stomach dropped again, but for a different reason. "Sasha," I whispered, but she was already turning away, shoving past students, her steps quick and sharp. I didn't think. I just moved. Shoving Ji-hoon's flowers aside, ignoring the phones, ignoring his voice calling after me, I ran. I caught up with her near the small café by the dorms. She stood rigid, arms folded, staring at nothing. When she turned to me, her eyes were wet—but her mouth curved in a bitter smile. "Tomi," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "Of course. The star of the show." My chest heaved. "Sasha, wait—" "No. You wait." She snapped, words like knives. "Do you know how it feels? Watching him chase you like that? When I—" Her voice cracked, then hardened again. "I told Ji-hoon I liked him. I confessed. And he rejected me. Just like that. No hesitation. Because of you." I blinked, stunned. "Sasha, I didn't even—" "You didn't even notice!" she spat. "Too busy with your perfect little fairytale with Min-Jae, right? Too busy making every guy look at you like you're some goddess. Ji-hoon, Min-Jae—who's next? Huh? You just seduce whoever's rich and handsome enough?" The words hit like a slap. My throat closed. "Sasha, that's not—" She stepped closer, her face twisted. "You're a slut, Tomi. That's what you are. A shameless little slut. And you think you're better than the rest of us because you're… different." Her eyes flicked over my skin, her tone dropping to a sharp hiss. "Because you're Black." A black slut, bitch! My breath caught. Something inside me cracked. I couldn't speak. Couldn't even breathe. Her words seared into me like fire. The students walking past glanced uneasily at us, but no one intervened. My hands shook, my chest tight. I turned and ran. I didn't care where. I just needed to get away—from the café, from Sasha's voice, from the crowd, from the burning shame and the sting of her words. Away before the tears broke loose in front of everyone.