The next morning, the classroom was already buzzing when Bomi walked in.
She had barely placed her bag on her desk when whispers rose from every corner.
"Hey, did you see? Bomi went home with Hanz yesterday…"
"No way. He never talks to anyone."
"Are they… you know… dating?"
"Impossible… but kinda interesting."
Bomi froze.
Those voices felt like they were echoing right beside her ears.
She quickly sat down, hoping no one noticed how red her face was.
✦ ✦ ✦
A moment later, Hanz entered.
As always, he walked past everyone without reacting. But when his eyes caught Bomi looking uneasy, he paused ever so slightly.
Bomi glanced at him nervously.
Hanz responded with a small nod, as if saying "Calm down."
But then—
"Look! They just made eye contact!"
"Oh my gosh, something's going on."
Bomi panicked instantly.
She adjusted her posture, fiddled with her sleeves, opened her book, closed it again—anything to look normal.
Hanz?
Expressionless.
As if the whole classroom wasn't erupting with gossip.
✦ ✦ ✦
During break, they crossed paths in the hallway.
"H-Hanz! They're getting worse with the rumors!" Bomi whispered frantically.
"I heard," Hanz replied calmly.
"So… what do we do? Do we… act a little?"
Hanz looked at her blankly. "Whose idea was this?"
Bomi bit her lip. "M-mine…"
"Then we act," he said casually.
Bomi stiffened. "R-right now?!"
"Yes. They're watching."
She turned—and indeed, several classmates were peeking from behind the classroom door like rookie paparazzi.
"They're talking alone!"
"This is definitely something!"
Hanz took a slow step closer to Bomi. Not touching, but close enough to imply… something.
Bomi instantly froze like a malfunctioning robot.
"Don't be so stiff," Hanz said.
"I-I'm trying…"
And so, their fake couple act debuted in public—
With 200% awkward tension.