The Grapevine

Chapter Two

The rumor had spread faster than Sean expected, like wildfire consuming the campus gossip mill. By the next morning, whispers followed him through every corridor. People weren't even subtle about it anymore—heads turned, voices hushed, and a few daring souls exchanged knowing smirks. The story of Sean Hunter and Eric Young as "secret lovers" had practically become folklore overnight.

But Sean had mastered the art of brushing off attention. He focused on his classes, on dissecting complex problems, and, during his breaks, on helping Hyun Jin with her latest scheme to get them out of mandatory social events.

"Please, I'm begging you," she groaned as they sat together in the cafeteria at lunch. "You have to go to this blind date with me. Just say you're my partner. It'll be just ten minutes, bub."

"Hyun Jin, you've used me as a fake boyfriend three times in the last semester alone," Sean replied, giving her a skeptical look. "People are going to start to think we're actually dating."

She shrugged, tossing a French fry into her mouth. "Better me than this imaginary relationship you've got going on with Eric Young. At least I can keep you out of the line of fire."

"Ha, ha," Sean said flatly, taking a sip of his iced coffee. "Maybe I'll just stay home and do calculus for fun."

Hyun Jin shot him a look. "I think I'll sign you up for therapy."

Their banter continued until her phone pinged with a notification. She glanced at the screen, her brow furrowing. "Uh-oh. Heads up, Romeo—speak of the devil."

Sean barely had time to process her words before he felt the buzz around the cafeteria intensify. Whispers spread through the tables, eyes darting to one corner of the room. Sean followed their gaze to see none other than Eric Young, flanked by his bandmates and closest friends, walking into the cafeteria.

Eric's appearance had a magnetic effect on people as if his presence could bend the energy of a room. He moved with an effortless confidence, hands shoved into the pockets of his worn leather jacket, his guitar case slung across his back. He laughed at something Mark said, his grin disarmingly natural, and Sean caught a glimpse of what had so many students captivated. Eric was charming, and easygoing, with a charisma that seemed almost magnetic, and extremely... hot.

"Great," Sean muttered, ducking his head, hoping to stay out of the spotlight.

Hyun Jin smirked, raising her eyebrows at him. "Oh, please. This is hilarious. How have you never noticed him before?"

Sean shrugged, focusing on his coffee. "He's popular. I don't go out of my way to follow campus celebrities."

But it didn't matter. As Eric's group moved through the cafeteria, Sean noticed something he hadn't quite realized before—the effortless way Eric held attention. Whether it was a casual hand clap on Felix's shoulder or the way he waved to people with a nod and grin, he owned his space without even trying.

As fate would have it, though, Eric's gaze wandered over to where Sean and Hyun Jin sat, their eyes locking for a brief moment, again. The intensity of Eric's gaze caught Sean off-guard, and before he could react, Eric gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. It was quick, there and gone in an instant, but it lingered in the back of Sean's mind long after.

Later that day, Sean went to the music hall to unwind. It was one of the few places on campus where he could relax, often having it to himself in the late afternoons. He enjoyed playing the piano in solitude, letting the calm notes distract him from the chaos of campus life.

Sean sat on the bench, placing his fingers on the keys as he began to play a soft, melancholic tune. His mind wandered back to the classes from earlier, replaying the professor's notes and theories, but somehow, his thoughts kept drifting back to Eric. He tried to push the image out of his mind, but it returned, stubborn and persistent, as though Eric's presence had left a mark.