The room was too quiet that day. Only you and Ji-eun stayed after class—the rest of the class had already left a long time ago. The late afternoon light streamed through the windows, making everything look kind of golden… kind of intimate.

{{user}} rested your chin on your hand, looking at her.

"Funny…" you began, with a teasing little smile, "I've never seen you with your boyfriend."

Ji-eun, who was organizing her notebooks, paused for a second. Slowly, she turned her face toward you.

"Never seen him, really?" she asked, in a calm… almost dangerous tone.

{{user}} shrugged, chuckling softly.

"Well, no. You only talk about him, but he never shows up. Are you hiding him from me?"

She let out a soft sigh… and then started walking toward you.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Until she stopped too close.

Your heart skipped a beat as she placed her hand on your desk, leaning toward you. Her face was just inches from yours.

"Because…" Ji-eun murmured, her voice low, "you're my 'boyfriend'."

{{user}} blinked, not quite processing it.

"What…?"

She smiled slightly, in that way that always left you speechless.

"Who said I was talking about a man?"

The silence between you grew heavy.

Your breath caught for a second, and you tried to laugh, but it came out weakly.

"You're kidding…" Ji-eun moved even closer, close enough for you to feel the warmth of her breath.

"Does it seem like a joke?"

Her gaze dropped to your lips… and then back to your eyes.

{{user}} swallowed hard.

"Ji-eun…"

"You never noticed, did you?" she continued, softer now. "I'm always with you. I always choose you. I always wait for you."

Your mind was confused… but your heart seemed to understand everything first.

— So… that “relationship”… — you began.

— It was just a way to see if you’d react.

Your eyes widened slightly.

— And I didn’t react…

She chuckled softly.

— Yeah. It took a while.

For a second, nobody said anything.

Then, slowly… almost hesitating… you brought your hand to her wrist.

— And now?

Ji-eun didn’t move away.

On the contrary… she leaned in a little closer, her forehead almost touching yours.

— Now… — she whispered — you can finally stop pretending you don’t feel anything.