30: Finally Dating

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After the dramatic showdown with Luna, things seemed to settle down on the surface. Seungkwan and Hansol were now publicly recognized as a couple, and for a brief moment, Seungkwan thought that maybe, just maybe, the drama had finally come to an end. He should have known better.

As Valentine's week wrapped up, Seungkwan started noticing subtle shifts in how people were treating him. At first, it was just a few cold glances in the hallways, or girls whispering and giggling behind their hands whenever he passed by. He could handle that—he was used to people gossiping. After all, he and Hansol had been the center of attention ever since the rumors about their relationship began. But things quickly escalated.

It started in his classes. Every time Seungkwan raised his hand to answer a question or participate in a discussion, a few girls would snicker, muttering just loud enough for him to hear.

"Oh, look, it's Hansol's boyfriend."

"Guess you don't need to study when you've got Hansol, right?"

"Does Hansol help you with everything, Seungkwan?"

Seungkwan tried to ignore it, keeping his head high and focusing on his work. But it was hard. The teasing felt relentless, and no matter how much he tried to brush it off, it got under his skin.

Things got worse during lunch. The cafeteria, once a neutral space where Seungkwan could relax with his friends, started feeling hostile. Whenever he walked in, groups of girls would stare at him, whispering behind their hands, sometimes bursting into exaggerated fits of laughter as he passed by. Some even started making snide remarks, loud enough for him to hear.

"I can't believe he managed to get someone like Hansol."

"I don't know what Hansol sees in him. He's not even that cute."

"I bet Seungkwan's just using Hansol for attention."

One day, while Seungkwan was carrying his tray to his usual table, a group of girls "accidentally" bumped into him, knocking his tray out of his hands. His lunch spilled all over the floor, and the girls burst into laughter.

"Oh no! Looks like you're a bit clumsy, Seungkwan," one of them said mockingly, her voice dripping with fake concern. "Maybe Hansol can help you clean that up?"

Seungkwan's face flushed red with embarrassment as he bent down to pick up his tray. His hands shook with frustration, but he kept his head down, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing him react. But inside, the hurt was bubbling up. What had he done to deserve this? Just because he was dating Hansol, suddenly he was a target?

Hansol noticed, of course. He wasn't oblivious to the way the girls were treating Seungkwan. Every time he walked into a room with Seungkwan, the whispers would start, and the mood would shift. It made Hansol furious, but Seungkwan always brushed it off, playing it cool as if none of it bothered him.

But it did.

One afternoon, Hansol and Seungkwan were sitting in the library, trying to get some work done, but Seungkwan was unusually quiet, staring blankly at his laptop screen.

Hansol leaned over, nudging him gently. "Hey, what's going on? You've barely said a word since we got here."

Seungkwan sighed, closing his laptop. He wasn't one to be vulnerable easily, but the constant bullying had been weighing on him. "It's just... the girls," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Ever since we made things public, they've been all over me. Making fun of me, tripping me up, saying things behind my back. It's getting worse, Hansol."

Hansol's face darkened, his jaw clenching. "They're bullying you?"

"Yeah," Seungkwan admitted, looking down. "I know I shouldn't let it get to me, but... it's hard not to. It's like they all hate me for being with you."

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