The All-Rounder || Karina X Male Reader

3. The Gossip

The following Monday, I walked onto campus feeling more or less like my usual self. Locked/In had killed it at the gala, and we’d managed to hold our own with the Kings and Queens at the afterparty. I was feeling good, like we’d finally earned a place for ourselves.

That feeling lasted until I got to my first class.

From the moment I stepped into the lecture hall, it was like everyone was whispering. People glanced at me, then quickly looked away, covering smirks and giggles. I heard someone mutter my name, but the rest of their sentence got swallowed in whispers.

I ignored it at first, assuming they were still talking about our performance. But as the morning dragged on, the attention didn’t let up. In fact, it got worse.

By lunchtime, even my own friends were giving me looks.

“Dude, did you hear?” Jihoon asked, dropping his tray on the table with a grin. “Everyone’s saying you and Jimin are dating.”

I froze, my sandwich halfway to my mouth. “What?”

He laughed, leaning back in his chair like this was the best news he’d heard all year. “Yeah, you and Jimin. They’re saying you two are the school’s new ‘it’ couple. Everyone saw you talking to her at the gala, and then there was that whole mysterious vibe thing you two had going at the afterparty. Honestly, man, I can see why they’d think that.”

I dropped my sandwich, struggling to process. “Jihoon, that’s insane. I talked to her twice. She’s probably forgotten I even exist by now.”

“Tell that to the rest of the school,” Jihoon said, waggling his eyebrows. “They’re obsessed with the idea of you two together. Apparently, someone saw you guys sharing ‘a private moment’ during the afterparty.”

“A private moment? She was barely talking to me,” I muttered, my mind racing. My heart pounded, more from the absurdity of it all than anything else. But somewhere, deep down, the idea made me feel a strange mix of dread and… something else I couldn’t quite name.

Just then, Sangho and Daehyun joined us, looking equally entertained.

“Did you really go and bag a Queen without telling us, Jaeyoung?” Daehyun joked, elbowing me.

“Funny,” I said flatly. “I’m not ‘dating’ her. This whole rumor is insane.”

Sangho shrugged. “Hey, people love a scandal. Especially when it involves a Queen. They’re practically royalty here. Maybe it’s a compliment?”

“Or a disaster waiting to happen,” I muttered. But as much as I wanted to laugh it off, I knew better. The Queens weren’t just popular; they were untouchable. People didn’t spread rumors about them lightly. If this got back to Jimin, things could get seriously awkward.

---

My worst fears were confirmed that afternoon. As I headed to my locker, I spotted Jimin walking toward me, flanked by Wonyoung and Yuna. They stopped a few feet away, giving me identical looks of cool appraisal. It was like facing a firing squad, except they were armed with judgment instead of weapons.

“So,” Jimin said, crossing her arms, “apparently, we’re dating?”

Her tone was even, but there was a sharpness in her gaze that made it clear this wasn’t a friendly chat.

I swallowed, feeling my face heat up. “Look, I don’t know how this rumor started, but it’s not true. I’m as confused as you are.”

Yuna snorted, raising an eyebrow. “Confused? Or maybe secretly thrilled?”