If there was one thing I'd learned about college by then, it was that whispers traveled faster than any lecture note.
And that day, the whispers were about me.
---
Morning Classes
The day started normally enough. Our morning literature lecture filled the wide classroom with the smell of chalk and the low murmur of turning pages. The professor's voice was steady but dry, like he was reciting poetry that had long lost its rhythm.
I tried to focus, scribbling notes into my book. But like always, my focus broke the moment the chair beside me scraped against the floor.
Soo-min.
She sat down casually, dropping her notebook onto the desk with one hand. Her short brown hair brushed just above her jawline, a few strands falling into her eyes as she leaned back in her chair. She didn't ask. She never asked. She always sat beside me, as if that seat had been hers from the start.
"Morning," Yura whispered from the row in front of us, spinning around with her usual energy.
"Shh," Mirae hushed, nudging her with a pen. Hye-jin rolled her eyes, tapping her pencil loud enough to show her impatience.
I gave Yura a small smile, but then I felt it—Soo-min's gaze.
Her eyes flicked from Yura to me, quiet but pointed, like she was reminding me she was still there. I quickly bent my head over my notes, pretending to be absorbed in the professor's words.
It was ridiculous, really. She hadn't said a thing. But just her presence beside me made my pulse faster than the lecture ever could.
---
By lunchtime, I started noticing it.
Two girls near the vending machine glanced my way, then whispered to each other, covering their mouths. In the hallway, a pair of boys smirked when I walked past, one of them nudging the other like they shared some secret joke.
I didn't understand at first. I hugged my books tighter, trying to convince myself I was imagining it.
But when I entered the cafeteria, I heard it clearly.
"They're always together, aren't they?"
"Eun-ji and Soo-min?"
"Yeah. You think they're…?"
The words cut off into laughter.
My face burned. I rushed to our table, heart racing.
---
At Lunch
The five of us gathered like usual. Yura was already halfway through her dessert, Mirae was carefully peeling the lid off her yogurt, and Hye-jin was ranting about how our math professor "hated students on purpose."
I sat quietly, forcing myself to eat. But the whispers kept echoing in my mind.
Eun-ji and Soo-min. Always together.
Was it that obvious?
"Did you hear?" Yura suddenly leaned forward, eyes sparkling like she was about to share the juiciest news of the century. "People are saying Eun-ji and Soo-min are a thing."
My chopsticks froze midair.
Hye-jin almost spat out her drink. "What?!"
Mirae gave me a cautious look, as if gauging my reaction. Yura, meanwhile, was grinning like she'd just lit a fire.
"Yura," I whispered, horrified, "don't—"
But it was too late. Hye-jin slammed her hand on the table. "Unbelievable. Just because they sit together? That's enough for people to gossip?"
Mirae's voice was calmer but firm. "Rumors spread quickly. Ignore them, Eun-ji. They'll die out."
I wished I could ignore them. But I could feel my ears burning, my chest tight with embarrassment.
And then, slowly, I felt Soo-min's gaze again.
She was leaning back in her chair, her lunch untouched, her eyes fixed on me. Not mocking. Not even teasing. Just watching, as if she was trying to read the thoughts I was too flustered to say out loud.
---
The rest of the afternoon felt heavier. In class, I caught more glances, more muffled giggles. My hands shook slightly as I tried to take notes, my long black hair falling forward like a shield.
Beside me, Soo-min sat as calm as ever. She didn't speak, didn't acknowledge the stares, didn't even seem to care. The contrast made me dizzy. How could she sit there like nothing was wrong when my whole body wanted to disappear?
At one point, Yura leaned back and whispered, "Honestly, I think it's kind of cute."
I nearly choked on my water. "Yura!"
Soo-min's lips curved into the faintest smirk, but she didn't look at me.
---
It was after our last class when things went too far.
I had stopped by the lockers to gather my books when two upperclassmen passed by. They didn't lower their voices.
"See her? That's the one following Soo-min around."
"Figures. She doesn't look like Soo-min's type."
My chest tightened, words freezing in my throat.
Before I could react, a shadow fell across the hallway.
"What did you say?"
The voice was cold, low, and unmistakable.
Soo-min.
She stood a step behind me, her short brown hair catching the dim light, her eyes sharp as steel. The two boys stiffened instantly.
"N-nothing, we were just—"
"Careful." Her tone was icy, every syllable laced with warning. "Next time, I won't be so polite."
The hallway went silent. The boys mumbled something and hurried away, pale.
I stood frozen, clutching my books so tightly my knuckles turned white. My heart was pounding in my ears.
Soo-min glanced at me once, her gaze softer now, before she walked ahead without waiting.
---
Aftermath
That evening, the five of us stayed in the library for a group project. The others were chatting, scribbling notes, and bickering quietly over sources, but I could hardly concentrate.
Every time I glanced at Soo-min, sitting across the table, my stomach flipped.
She had defended me. Fiercely. Publicly. She hadn't cared who was watching.
But she hadn't said a word to me since.
When the others went to grab snacks, it was just us left at the table. The silence was suffocating. I twisted my pen between my fingers, my voice barely a whisper.
"Thank you. For earlier."
She didn't look up from her notebook. "Don't mention it."
"I mean it. You didn't have to—"
"I did." This time, her eyes lifted, locking onto mine. "They crossed the line."
My breath caught. Her gaze wasn't mocking, wasn't playful. It was steady, protective, almost fierce.
I didn't know what to say. My heart was thundering, my thoughts a tangled mess.
Then, just as quickly, she leaned back, flipping her pen in her hand. "You should drink water. You look flushed."
The moment broke. My cheeks burned hotter.
Why did she always do that? Tear down my defenses with one look, then act like nothing happened?
As the others returned, laughing and carrying snacks, I lowered my gaze to my notes. But deep down, I knew the truth.
The rumor had unsettled me, embarrassed me, left me shaken. But it wasn't entirely wrong.
Because if I was honest with myself, I didn't mind being paired with her.
What scared me more was how much I wanted it to be true.