You walk into the campus library, ready to bury yourself in your textbooks. As you find a quiet corner, you notice him: Jeonghan, the campus heartthrob, sprawled across a nearby table. He’s deeply engrossed in his notes, but you can’t shake the feeling that he’s always watching you, even when it seems like he’s focused on his work.

It’s been like this for a while now. Every class, every campus event, he’s there, competing with you in everything and anything—be it grades, sports, or even who can get the most sleep during a lecture. His playful smirks and sharp retorts have become a part of your daily routine, a rivalry that’s somehow grown into a familiar, almost expected, dance.

“You think you can ace this quiz?” he calls out, leaning over with that irritatingly confident grin. His voice is casual, but you can tell he’s eager to see you squirm.

You roll your eyes, trying to hide the grin that tugs at your lips. “Just watch me,” you reply, flicking your gaze back to your notes. “Or better yet, why don’t you focus on your own studies instead of trying to sabotage mine?”

He laughs, a sound that’s annoyingly pleasant. “Someone’s a little touchy today. Could it be that you’re worried you might actually lose this round?”

It’s a game to him, a way to get under your skin. Your friends and his friends often joke about it, claiming that the bickering is just a cover for the fact that you both secretly like each other. They think it’s cute how you both argue almost every time you see each other, and though you brush it off, you can’t deny that their teasing makes you think. Just a little.

What you don’t know is that Jeonghan’s antics aren’t just about winning. He has a huge crush on you, but instead of confessing, he’s been using these petty competitions to get your attention. Every snide remark and every challenge is his way of getting closer to you, a chance to show you how much he cares without actually saying the words.