Just Pretend

The Group Project

Prom went way better than I thought it would. Don't get me wrong, I was stoked to be going with Beomgyu. But knowing that the whole time, he was doing me a 'favor'? I thought it would be super awkward. Especially when I realized that neither of us had tickets to the dance, I thought I blew it right then. But I didn't.

It's harder now. It was easy to have a crush on him when I figured that was all it would be, and maybe that's the same. However, now I know so much more about him. And I feel like there's a connection between us, like he's not as unreachable as he used to seem to me.

And when I said that I might understand him, he said maybe!!! Maybe! And that he had a good time! But... that doesn't mean that it'll mean something after that. He could've just been responding.

Despite that, I don't want to think that way. As I walk into the classroom and sit at my desk, I find myself getting excited for class. I grab my notebook and pencil case, thinking what my color scheme should be for today's notes. Well, it's raining today, maybe blues? I grab a dark blue pen and match it with a light blue highlighter. And maybe... a bright red! Red like the vibrantly colored umbrellas and raincoats. I title my page and add the date. Mesmerized by the notebook in front of me, I'm pulled out of my trance the second a certain someone walks in.

It's Beomgyu. And he looks perfect. He always does to me. His long hair is fluffed up as he saunters into the room. What do I do? Should I wave, or is that too much? Should I pretend I don't see him? Is that rude??

He looks over and meets my eyes. He brightly grins and waves. My heart skips a beat, eyes widening. I give a short wave back and stare down at the paper facing me.

Why do you have to be so awkward, Y/N! You're losing your chance!

----------

When the bell rings, I stroll over to his desk. I hesitate, but we're friends now, right?

"Hey" I greet.

"Hi" he grins, "how was your weekend?"

"Mine was good! What about you?"

He starts, "Mine was-"

"How's the new couple doing?" Yeonjun says a bit too loudly.

But it's fine, because most of the class had already left, right?

...Wrong.

I turned in horror as the rest of our classmates stared from the door. I guess I took for granted how small our class was. They all were much more invested than I feel they should be.

"YOU TWO ARE DATING?!" Someone yelled.

"Um, uh.." Beomgyu stutters.

Yeonjun interjects, "Yeah, they went to prom together. Did none of you know that?"

As he's talking, he turns to us. His face gets confused as he whispers, "What's wrong? Are you two trying to keep it low key or something?"

I grimace as Beomgyu finally answers the other students, "Um, yes. This is my uh, girlfriend, Y/N" The students that remain in the class seemed shocked, but most of them fled the classroom quickly.

Once they'd all left, Yeonjun asks, "What's up with you guys?"

"We aren't actually dating," I answer, "Beomgyu was just pretending to be my prom date, 'cause my mom wanted me to go, and.. yeah"

"Ah, I'm sorry.." Yeonjun apologizes, "you're a super bad liar though, Beomgyu"

He laughs as Beomgyu glares at him, I look down at the ground in guilt, "I'm really sorry Beomgyu. You're in this mess because of me. I'll help you fix it"

"Oh, It's not your fault! It's his," he glares at Yeonjun, "besides, I don't mind. We're friends, right?"

I nod. Friends...

He puts his arm around my shoulders and grins, "C'mon, girlfriend, we gotta get to our next class!"

I, however, am a fantastic liar. Because as we laugh together about how "we're just friends", my heart tears itself apart.

------

Rain pours from the sky, dripping down the window panes and onto pedestrians passing. A selection of patterned umbrellas shower the streets. I watch from the table on the second floor as people walk past.

It was our second class of the day now, history. And I'm feeling even more tired than this morning when I woke. I can't seem to focus, my mind cringing at the former scene and how my peers now know of my crush on Beomgyu, in a way. And yet, he still doesn't.

"-and you'll be choosing your own groups for the project"

What did the teacher say?? Choosing groups? This is the worst part of my classes. If I could just do the project on my own, that'd be easier. Now, I have to awkwardly glance at acquaintances and hope that someone partners up with me. If not, we'll have to do the whole "everyone without a partner raise your hand!" And I've had just about enough attention from my classmates today.

(BEOMGYU POV)

I turn to my friends, "should we all group up together?"

They aren't listening, they're talking about something else. Without me. It might be nice to work with someone else for a change, instead of having to nag them to do the work and feel like such an uncool friend.

"Oh! You all weren't in our first period, were you? Everyone knows about Beomgyu's girlfriend now, it was hilarious" Yeonjun laughs.

Huening Kai just gives him a blank stare, "Beomgyu has a girlfriend?"

Yeonjun stops, "yeah, they went to prom together? Y/N?"

Huening gasps, "YOU AND Y/N ARE DATING?!"

"It's not-" I begin.

"Shouldn't you work with her then?" Soobin questions.

"Yeah, yeah! You can get closer with your girlfriend" Yeonjun teases.

It feels like they're trying to leave me out again, like they dont want me in their group. I attempt to join back in, "but, aren't we always a group?"

"Well, yeah, but the groups can only have four people, so it just makes sense for you to work with her" Taehyun reasons.

Before I know it, they've pushed me in front of Y/N. And now we've made eye contact, and I'm making a fool out of myself in front of a pretty girl.

"H-hi"

"Hey" she says.

"Can uh, can we work together?"

"Sure!" She replies.

The class settles as everyone sits down with their group. However, the teacher notices our group of two and questions, "what's going on here? I said groups of four"

"W-well sir, we are going to work as a group of two" I stutter.

"It's gonna be a lot more work as just a pair, but if that's what you want"

I gulp as I turn to look at Y/N. She's turned away from me, staring out the window. I might be wrong, but I can't help but notice a faint blush on her face.