The All-Rounder || Karina X Male Reader

4. The Verdict Of The Kings And Queens

The day after my conversation with Wonyoung, I walked into school with a strange, uneasy feeling. Jihoon’s usual jokes and Daehyun’s laid-back attitude couldn’t distract me. I knew something was brewing beneath the surface, and I had a sinking suspicion it involved the Kings and Queens.

Sure enough, by lunchtime, rumors were already swirling that both groups had something planned. The Kings and Queens rarely made official statements—they didn’t have to. Their presence alone was enough to shape the narrative. But today felt different. It was as if the whole school was holding its breath, waiting to see what they’d say about this mess involving me and Jimin.

When I stepped into the cafeteria, I caught sight of the Queens first, gathered around their table like they were plotting some grand strategy. Wonyoung was at the center, her expression serious as she spoke, and beside her sat Jimin, her face unreadable. The rest of the Queens—Yuna, Chaewon, Yeji, and Yunjin—listened closely, occasionally glancing in my direction with expressions that ranged from curiosity to barely veiled annoyance.

Across the room, the Kings were huddled together in a similar fashion. Sunghoon, their unofficial leader, leaned in, nodding as he listened to something Minho was saying. Hyunjin glanced over, his gaze cool and calculating, while Yeonjun and Jaeyun exchanged quiet words.

Then, just as I started to wonder what they’d decided, both groups looked up, their eyes locking onto mine.

---

The verdict didn’t come in the form of an announcement. Instead, both groups walked over to the center of the cafeteria, drawing everyone’s attention as they positioned themselves on either side of me, creating a semi-circle that made it feel like I was on trial. The cafeteria went silent, all eyes on us.

Sunghoon cleared his throat, his gaze fixed on me. “Jaeyoung,” he said, his voice low but commanding, “we need to settle this once and for all.”

I looked around, realizing I was surrounded by the most influential people at Fourth Haven. The students who ruled the social hierarchy, the ones everyone looked up to. And right now, I was standing in their midst, caught up in a whirlwind I hadn’t asked for.

Wonyoung stepped forward, folding her arms as she eyed me critically. “You understand the position this rumor has put Jimin—and all of us—in, don’t you?”

I nodded, forcing myself to meet her gaze. “I do. But I didn’t start this rumor, and I didn’t ask for any of this.”

“True,” said Yeonjun, his voice calm but pointed. “But sometimes, it’s not about who started it. It’s about how you handle it.”

I was about to respond when Jimin spoke up, her voice breaking through the tension. “I think everyone here knows that Jaeyoung and I aren’t dating. But this rumor isn’t going to go away on its own. And ignoring it clearly hasn’t worked.”

There was a murmur of agreement among the Kings and Queens. I felt the weight of their collective judgment settling over me, like they’d already made up their minds.

“Then what do you propose we do?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

Jimin exchanged a glance with Wonyoung, who gave her a small nod. “If we’re going to control the narrative, we need to make it clear that there’s nothing going on. The rumor has to be shut down, decisively.”

Sunghoon stepped in, his expression thoughtful. “There are two options. Either you both make a public statement denying the rumor, or… you lean into it.”

“Lean into it?” I repeated, my mind racing. “You mean, act like we’re dating?”

Hyunjin smirked, clearly enjoying the tension. “Exactly. If the rumor won’t go away, why not use it? Play the role until people lose interest. The Queens stay in control, and you both come out looking unbothered.”

I glanced at Jimin, but she kept her face carefully neutral. It was like she was waiting for me to react first, to see if I’d back down.

I took a deep breath, considering my options. “And if we make a statement?” I asked, addressing the group.

Yeji leaned in, her gaze sharp. “It’ll show that you care about what people think. And in this school, caring too much is a weakness. People respect confidence, not excuses.”

The weight of her words hit me. In a world where reputation was everything, showing vulnerability was as good as showing weakness. But playing along with the rumor? That would mean giving up control of my own life, letting their rules dictate my actions.

I looked back at Jimin. “What do you think?”

She took a moment, her expression thoughtful. “Honestly? I’m used to handling rumors. But I don’t like the idea of pretending. It’s not how I want to spend my time here.”

Wonyoung interjected, glancing between us. “Then maybe there’s a middle ground. If you two aren’t interested in faking a relationship, at least show a united front. Let people see that you’re not affected by the rumors. If they see you both acting indifferent, they’ll lose interest.”

It sounded like a reasonable plan, one that allowed us to keep our independence while showing the school we weren’t bothered by the gossip. I nodded slowly, feeling a sense of relief. “Alright. I can do that.”

Jimin nodded as well, her gaze meeting mine with a hint of approval. “Then it’s settled. We’ll ignore the rumors but keep up appearances. No dramatic denials, no staged scenes. Just… keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

The Kings and Queens exchanged satisfied glances, as if this decision had restored some kind of balance to their world. They had their answer, their plan, and now, the weight of the rumors seemed to shift off them and back onto me and Jimin.

As the group began to disperse, Jimin lingered for a moment, giving me a small, almost grateful smile. “Thanks for handling this with me. I know it’s not easy.”

I returned her smile, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie. “Thanks for not making me feel like an outsider.”

She nodded, her expression softening just slightly. “Maybe that’s because you’re not.”

With that, she turned and walked back to the Queens’ table, her confidence radiating as she rejoined her friends. I watched her go, feeling an unexpected warmth in her words. Maybe, just maybe, I was finally starting to find my place here—one that I’d carved out for myself, despite the whirlwind around me.

---

The rest of the day passed smoothly, with both Jimin and me staying calm and collected, just as we’d agreed. Whenever someone threw a questioning glance our way, we responded with a casual nod or an indifferent shrug. We didn’t deny anything, but we didn’t confirm it either.

By the end of the week, the rumors had died down, replaced by new gossip about some other scandal. But in the back of my mind, I knew that this wasn’t the end. The Kings and Queens had accepted me, at least for now. But I’d only scratched the surface of their world, and I had a feeling there were still plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered.