The library was almost empty that afternoon.
Hanz was already seated at the far corner table, staring at a piece of binder paper with a pink sticky note labeled Contract Draft.
When Bomi arrived, she looked nervous enough to faint.
"H-Hanz…?"
"Sit."
She sat down quickly, hands clasped tightly.
Hanz slid the paper toward her.
"You wrote this?"
Her face instantly flushed.
"Y-yes… I thought if everything was clear, it'd be easier."
"You wrote Fake Dating Contract using pink marker?"
Hanz's voice was flat, but the amusement in his eyes was obvious.
"Hanz—!" Bomi covered her face in embarrassment.
Hanz sighed.
"Listen. I can't promise everything will go smoothly. And I'm not good at… acting like someone's boyfriend."
"It's okay," Bomi said softly.
"I just… need someone I can rely on right now."
Silence fell between them.
Then Hanz said:
"Alright. I'll do it."
Bomi almost dropped her pen.
"R-really?!"
"Under one condition," Hanz added.
"If you ever feel uncomfortable, we stop. If the rumors get worse, we rethink everything. And don't expect me to suddenly become warm."
Bomi shook her head with a relieved smile.
"I don't need you to change."
They both signed the paper.
As the ink dried, something unexplainable settled inside both of them—
a quiet beginning neither expected.
"Starting today…"
Hanz looked at her.
"We're fake dating."
Bomi nodded, cheeks red, hands trembling slightly.
"Starting today."
When they stepped out of the library, the entire school seemed ready to explode with new rumors.
But for the first time, Bomi didn't feel alone.
And for the first time, Hanz didn't mind the attention.