plot twist: us ➵ sim jaeyun

chapter 6

Chapter 6: Passing Periods & Subtle Stares

The following Monday, Sarang walked across the bustling campus, trying to shake off the lingering fog of the weekend. Between the loud party, a few too many drinks, and that almost-kiss with Jake, her thoughts were tangled. She'd spent way too much time replaying that moment, telling herself it was just the party atmosphere-yet somehow, her cheeks still heated up every time she thought about it.

As she rounded the corner to her sociology class, she spotted Jake in the crowd ahead, chatting with a couple of his friends, looking as nonchalant and effortlessly cool as ever. He hadn't seen her yet, and for a moment, she thought about turning around and making a dramatic escape.

But as she debated, his gaze caught hers across the crowded hall, and his face lit up with a grin that sent a warm, embarrassing flush through her.

"There's my partner-in-crime!" he called, walking over with a confidence that made her stomach twist.

Sarang tried to look casual, giving a wave. "Fancy meeting you here, Mr. Dance Champion," she joked, trying to keep the mood light.

He chuckled, his eyes crinkling in that annoyingly charming way. "You looked like you needed the backup. Besides, we were unstoppable out there."

"Yeah, a real power duo on the dance floor," she replied, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Probably should've cleared out the dance floor for us."

"Hey, no need to be modest." He leaned against the wall, clearly enjoying this. "So, you remember everything from Saturday?"

"Yep. I'm not about to let you live down your ridiculous 'robot' dance," she teased, trying to sound casual, even though her heart had picked up again just standing next to him.

Jake laughed, rolling his eyes. "It was experimental art."

Sarang snorted. "Sure, we'll call it that." She quickly looked down at her phone, trying to find an escape. "I've got to head to class."

"Catch you later, then?" he asked, still grinning as if he knew she was flustered.

"Yeah. Later," she said, turning on her heel and forcing herself to keep walking without looking back. She could feel his eyes on her, though, and even from behind, she knew he was smirking.

In class, she tried to focus on her professor's lecture, but her mind kept drifting back to the party, the dance floor, and the way Jake had looked at her-like there was something more between them. She mentally shook herself, trying to snap back to reality.

As the lecture ended, she gathered her things, hoping the rest of her day would be less... eventful. But as she walked out of class, she nearly bumped into another student, who stepped aside with a half-hearted apology. Just as she recovered, a familiar voice called out.

"Sarang! Wait up."

It was Jake, striding toward her, notebook tucked under one arm and that same easy grin on his face.

"Is this a coincidence or are you stalking me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Can't a guy just be in the right place at the right time?" he countered, unfazed.

She laughed, but her heart skipped as he fell into step beside her. "You've got some smooth lines for someone who's supposed to be my pretend boyfriend."

"Oh, it's just one of my many talents. Besides, we should keep up appearances, right?" he said, giving her a casual wink. "Can't let the world forget about our epic relationship."

They walked together, weaving through campus, occasionally bumping shoulders. She noticed a few people watching them, probably wondering if something was really going on between them. Jake seemed oblivious, but Sarang felt the curious stares lingering as they passed.

"People are starting to talk," she murmured, half-joking.

"Good," he replied, glancing at her with a grin. "We're giving them a love story to gossip about."

She rolled her eyes. "You really are loving this, aren't you?"

"Hey, it's not every day I get to be in a secret relationship with someone as high-maintenance as you," he teased.

"High-maintenance? Says the guy who spent ten minutes fixing his hair in the bathroom before the party," she shot back, nudging him.

He laughed, holding his hands up. "Alright, alright. I'll admit, I can't have messy hair cramping our image."

They reached the café, and he held the door open for her as they walked inside. She ordered a coffee, and he grabbed a smoothie. They found a corner booth and sat across from each other, finally settling into a comfortable rhythm as they sipped their drinks.

"So," he started, "any regrets about our little deal?"

Sarang thought about it for a second, twirling her straw. "No regrets. I mean, it's definitely... interesting," she said, trying to hide her smirk. "You're a lot to handle, but it keeps things entertaining."

"Good. I aim to entertain," he replied with a dramatic flourish. "And just for the record, you're a lot to handle, too."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Just then, the door chimed, and a group of Jake's friends strolled in. One of them, a girl Sarang vaguely recognized from a class, spotted Jake and made a beeline for their table, her eyes lighting up in recognition.

"Jake! Hey!" she exclaimed, ignoring Sarang entirely as she leaned a bit too close to him.

She watched as the girl laughed and chatted, clearly absorbed in Jake, who answered politely but kept glancing back at Sarang with an amused look, like he knew she was watching every move. For some reason, it irritated her. The girl was practically throwing herself at him, and he just kept smiling in that casual, carefree way he had.

"So, are you guys hanging out later?" the girl asked, looking at Jake with far too much interest.

Sarang couldn't help it. "Oh yes, he's busy," she said, her tone a little sharper than intended. "We're actually heading to the library for a... group project."

The girl blinked, finally acknowledging Sarang with a slightly annoyed look. Jake stifled a grin, nodding along.

"Yep, duty calls," he said, shrugging. "You know how it is."

The girl looked between them, obviously annoyed, before forcing a smile and muttering a hasty goodbye. As soon as she was gone, Jake raised an eyebrow at Sarang.

"Library, huh?" he said, smirking.

"I just didn't want her to keep hogging the table," Sarang stammered, looking away.

"Right," he said, obviously trying not to laugh. "Well, I'm all yours, library partner."

She threw a napkin at him. "Shut up."

They both laughed, the awkwardness dissolving back into comfortable banter.