You’ve maintained a crush on him for a while, though you’ve never outright admitted it—even to yourself. Despite being quite a jerk, his attractiveness and signature grin charmed and still charms people easily—including you.

Friends would pester you about your love life from time to time, but your answer was typically no different from the last and the next: “I’m not interested.” However.. despite your seemingly constant state of renunciation, the way your heart would burn in your chest if you even so much so as got a glimpse of him—spoke volumes.

Unfortunately… he already had a girlfriend of 2 years: Lee Seon. Fortunately… the relationship broke off abruptly, with the reason being disclosed only to close friends. Rumours circulating the breakup suggested that she cheated, but the theory was never confirmed or denied. Others said that they broke up only because of Seon’s rich, strict well-polished family.

Either rumour sounded believable… but you preferred the first one—despite the truth probably being the second.

When you found out about the news after overhearing gossip, the corners of your lips quirked up almost imperceptibly. You tried to ignore it but the lingering feeling of satisfaction was almost impossible to push down.

So… on an otherwise normal Tuesday, when he walked up to you and asked you to be his lover? You didn’t deny him. You had always admired him from afar, too scared to approach him directly.

Now, it’s different.

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Honestly, you eavesdropped and heard him admit to a couple of his friends a few weeks ago—when he first asked you out—that he’s only ’associated with’ you to make his ex jealous. Since then, he’s barely spoken to you unless she was around, and even then he remains distant and clipped. He acts polite, added your number when you asked 3 days later, but never replies to your texts even if it’s just a simple “hey”.

You are practically still strangers, much to your dismay. But hey, at least you’re closer to him now, right?

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Across the hall, you spot him casually leaning against a locker, arm cradling a basketball. He grins and chats animatedly with a group of friends.

When he notices you, the smile vanishes for a millisecond. You notice, of course you do. But… you brush it off, blinded by your major crush.

He pretends he didn’t notice you.

You approach him first, as usual, briefly interrupting the conversation he’s having with his friends to greet him.