𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 - 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐮

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟔𝟑

there was tension. jihyun could feel it the minute she walked into the canteen and eyes turned to look at her and then when she walked towards the usual table she would eat at. plus, her seven friends weren't all there. mark, jisung and jeno were sat at the table but the others were separated.

"what's going on?" jihyun asked, sitting down with a tray of food.

"everyone knows." mark replied.

"knows what?"

"that you're with haechan." jisung said, looking away from her.

"what? what do you mean? we aren't together?" she said, mortified that people were so invested in their business that rumours were spread.

"someone saw you two kissing in the hallways. now everyone knows."

"this is unbelievable." she gasped. "we were not kissing."

"you weren't?" jeno asked, finally lifting his head to meet her gaze.

"no. we were only pretending because haechan was trying to hide from someone and it worked."

"well, you'll have to tell that to everyone else." mark sighed.

"where's haechan? did he not deny any of this?"

"no, he was awfully quiet. he didn't know of the rumours when he came down for breakfast and jaemin confronted him about it. it got a bit ugly, jaemin was angry... but haechan stayed quiet and just let every word hit him. it was unusual." jeno explained.

"why was jaemin angry?" jihyun asked. of course, she knew the answer. she wasn't even sure why she was asking.

"isn't it obvious? he likes you." jeno shook his head. "but he wasn't annoyed about the supposed kiss. he was annoyed that haechan was careless enough to let such rumours spread or that is what he said at least."

"it's not his fault and all these people should learn to mind their business." she said, raising her voice enough for people to hear and have heads turn away from her. "why are they so invested in gossip? it's like the capitol all over again."

"eyes have been on us since we came here. we're their source of entertainment. anything we do, they're watching. a little gossip is probably exciting because nothing interesting happens here." mark said.

"i need to find haechan." jihyun said, her eyes scanning the room.

"he's at the table in the far back." jisung told her. "but maybe wait for the rumours to clear."

"i love you, sung, but i'll do as i want." she said then stormed off to the table where haechan was quietly eating food alone. he was startled when she suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him up from his seat.

"jihyun?"

"let's go."

jaemin was a few tables down and had seen the interaction. he watched them leave the canteen, clutching his fork so hard it dug into his hand. he dropped it onto his plate and stood up to follow after them.

"dear god. jaemin is following them." mark said, having seen the younger leave the canteen too.

"this will go badly." jeno said, as they hastily got up.

"chenle, renjun, come." jisung called when he walked past their table.

jaemin wandered through hallways looking for the two that he had lost. when he finally found them, he stayed around the corner so he could eavesdrop without getting caught.

"haechan, this is insane. how did people see us? i don't understand."

"so it is true." jaemin said, revealing himself. he had only heard half their conversation and thought it to be confirmation that they were together.