The next day, they tried acting like a "couple" again.
But the problem wasn't Hanz.
It was Bomi.
✦ ✦ ✦
As they walked side-by-side toward class—
"C-can I walk next to you? Just so it looks natural?!" Bomi asked nervously.
"You don't have to shout," Hanz replied calmly.
"I—I wasn't shouting!"
Hanz slowed his pace so she could match him.
But every time their arms nearly brushed…
Bomi jumped away like she touched a hot stove.
"S-sorry!"
"Reflex!"
"I got nervous again, sorry!"
Hanz stared at her. "If you keep doing that, they'll be even more suspicious."
"I knowww…"
Her face was red all the way to her ears.
✦ ✦ ✦
In class, her friends noticed too.
"Bomi, you've been hanging out with Hanz a lot."
"You two came in together this morning."
Bomi immediately panicked. "N-no! I mean yes! I mean—no, I mean—AH!"
Her friends exchanged odd looks.
"Bomi… you good?"
Meanwhile, Hanz watched Bomi from across the room.
He stayed quiet, observing how she kept flailing and panicking over the smallest things.
"…Why is she so scared," he muttered under his breath.
Yet without realizing it, he started watching her more often.
Not out of curiosity…
But to make sure she didn't explode from stress.