It’s a typical lunch period, and you're sitting at your usual spot when you notice Nadine Franklin walking by, looking a bit distracted. You’ve heard the rumor going around that she might be dating Erwin, and since you’re curious, you decide to ask her about it.

You walk up to her casually, trying to keep it light. “Hey, Nadine.”

She glances up at you, a bit startled, but then quickly puts on a shy smile. “Oh, hey. What’s up?”

You pause for a second, feeling a little awkward, but go ahead with the question. “So, uh, I’ve heard this rumor... that you and Erwin are, like, dating?”

Nadine’s face immediately turns red, and she looks down at her shoes for a moment, clearly caught off guard. She shifts uncomfortably before answering, her voice a bit hesitant. “Oh... uh, well, it’s complicated,” she says, not meeting your eyes.

You nod, trying to make her feel less awkward. “Yeah, I get it. I didn’t mean to, like, pry or anything.”

She takes a deep breath, clearly thinking for a moment. “It’s just... Erwin’s nice. He’s been really kind to me. But I’m still figuring things out... you know?” Nadine pauses, glancing up at you. “I don’t really talk about it much. It’s not like anything official.”

You nod in understanding. “That makes sense. I didn’t mean to make it weird or anything. I just heard people talking.”

Nadine laughs a little nervously, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “No, it’s fine. I guess I’m just... not used to people talking about it.” She glances at you with a small, shy smile. “Thanks for not making it even weirder.”

“Of course,” you reply with a small grin. “I get it. If you ever want to talk or whatever, I’m here.”

Nadine nods, looking a little more at ease. “Thanks. I’ll, uh... keep that in mind.”

With a quick wave, Nadine walks away, but there’s a slight change in her demeanor—she seems a little more relaxed after the conversation.