The corridor felt frozen—
Like time itself had stopped.
---
Harin and Serin—
Still standing—
Facing each other.
---
Eyes locked.
---
Neither moving.
Neither backing down.
---
Around them—
Whispers spread like wildfire.
---
"…Haru is a GIRL??"
"…How did we not know—"
"…She was acting as a boy this whole time??"
---
Another group whispered—
---
"…But look at them…"
"…Why are Harin and Serin staring like that??"
"…This feels like a war…"
---
Kyungmin stood in between—
Not knowing where to look.
---
"…Why does it feel like I'm in danger…"
---
From a distance—
---
Yuna watched carefully.
---
"…This is getting out of control…"
---
Minji nodded quickly,
"…Very much out of control—"
---
Jihun crossed his arms,
"…If this continues, it'll turn into a scene."
---
Yuna took a step forward.
---
"…Hey."
---
Her voice wasn't loud—
But it cut through the tension.
---
"…We need to stop this now."
---
Minji immediately followed,
"…YES, before someone faints—probably me—"
---
Jihun walked forward too,
"…Enough."
---
The presence of the three—
Shifted the atmosphere slightly.
---
But still—
Harin and Serin didn't break eye contact.
---
Serin spoke first.
---
"…You hid well."
---
A pause.
---
"…Impressive."
---
Harin smirked slightly.
---
"…You noticed late."
---
Kyungmin whispered to himself,
"…They're fighting without fighting…"
---
Serin took a step closer.
---
"…So…"
---
A pause.
---
"…You're his girlfriend?"
---
Harin didn't hesitate.
---
"…Yes."
---
The word landed heavily.
---
The whispers grew louder again.
---
"…SHE ADMITTED IT—"
"…IT'S CONFIRMED—"
---
Serin's smile faded slightly—
Not completely—
But enough.
---
"…Let's see…"
---
A pause.
---
"…How strong that position is."
---
Yuna stepped in between slightly—
Breaking the direct line of sight.
---
"…That's enough for today."
---
Her tone was calm—
But firm.
---
Minji added quickly,
"…Yeah yeah, let's not start a battlefield in the corridor—"
---
Jihun looked at Serin,
"…Class is about to start."
---
A pause.
---
For a moment—
No one moved.
---
Then—
---
Serin stepped back.
---
"…Fine."
---
She looked at Harin one last time.
---
"…I'll be watching."
---
Then turned—
And walked away.
---
The tension slowly broke.
---
Students started breathing again.
---
"…WHAT JUST HAPPENED—"
"…THIS IS CRAZIER THAN DRAMA—"
---
Kyungmin collapsed slightly in relief.
---
"…I survived…"
---
Harin looked at Yuna.
---
"…You stopped it too early."
---
Yuna smirked.
---
"…Or maybe just in time."
---
Minji grinned,
"…But I won't lie…"
---
A pause.
---
"…That was ICONIC."
---
Jihun shook his head slightly—
But there was a faint smile.
---
"…This isn't over."
---
Everyone knew.
---
This wasn't the end.
---
It was just—
---
The beginning—
Of something much bigger.
Behind the school—
Near the old garden benches—
A quiet spot where almost no one came during class time.
---
Yuna, Minji, Jihun, Harin, and Kyungmin sat together—
Skipping class.
---
Minji kept looking around nervously—
Fidgeting with her fingers.
---
"…Is this okay…?"
---
She whispered.
---
"…We are literally skipping class…"
---
Jihun leaned back calmly.
---
"…Relax."
---
A pause.
---
"…I already told the teacher."
---
All of them looked at him.
---
"…What did you say?"
Yuna asked.
---
Jihun replied casually,
---
"…That I'm taking you all to help arrange books in the library."
---
Minji's eyes widened.
---
"…That means you LIED—"
---
Jihun shrugged slightly.
---
"…Yes."
---
A pause.
---
"…But if someone finds us here—"
---
He continued smoothly,
---
"…We'll just say we finished the work and came to rest."
---
Minji stared at him.
---
"…You are scary…"
---
Kyungmin nodded slowly.
---
"…I agree…"
---
Yuna smirked slightly.
---
"…Efficient."
---
Then—
Minji turned toward Harin.
---
Her expression changed—
From nervous—
To curious.
---
"…But seriously…"
---
A pause.
---
"…WHY did you suddenly tell everyone you're a girl?"
---
Kyungmin immediately added,
---
"…Yeah!"
---
"…You said you weren't going to reveal it!"
---
Harin leaned back—
Looking completely unbothered.
---
"…Yeah, I did."
---
A pause.
---
"…But things changed."
---
Yuna watched her carefully.
---
"…Explain."
---
Harin sighed lightly.
---
"…If I didn't say it…"
---
A pause.
---
"…People would keep doubting."
---
"…About me…"
"…About him…"
---
She glanced at Kyungmin.
---
"…And Serin would use that."
---
Silence.
---
Jihun nodded slightly.
---
"…She's right."
---
"…Serin would've questioned everything."
---
Minji added slowly,
---
"…And the 'girlfriend' thing wouldn't look real…"
---
Harin smirked.
---
"…Exactly."
---
Kyungmin scratched his head.
---
"…So you exposed your biggest secret…"
---
A pause.
---
"…Just to make the act stronger?"
---
Harin looked away slightly.
---
"…Don't think too much."
---
Minji leaned forward—
Smirking.
---
"…Awww… sounds like you did it for him—"
---
Harin immediately replied,
---
"…I didn't."
---
Yuna smiled slightly—
Clearly not fully believing that.
---
Kyungmin looked at Harin—
A bit softer this time.
---
"…Still…"
---
"…Thanks."
---
Harin didn't respond.
---
Just looked ahead—
Trying to act normal.
---
Jihun suddenly spoke—
Serious again.
---
"…Now the situation is different."
---
All of them looked at him.
---
"…The whole school knows."
---
A pause.
---
"…Serin knows."
---
Yuna completed calmly,
---
"…Which means…"
---
Minji whispered dramatically,
---
"…We are in danger."
---
Kyungmin sighed.
---
"…Great…"
---
Harin smirked again—
Confidence back.
---
"…Relax."
---
A pause.
---
"…If she wants to play…"
---
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
---
"…I'll play better."
---
Yuna looked at her—
A small smile forming.
---
"…That's the spirit."
---
And somewhere—
Not too far—
---
Someone watched them again.
---
Quietly.
---
Waiting.
---
Because this game—
Was far from over.