Rumors Begin to Bloom
591 Words
The next morning, Kang Ji-ah arrived at school earlier than usual.
The cool spring breeze carried the sweet scent of cherry blossoms through the empty campus. She smiled as she admired the pink petals scattered across the pathway.
For a moment, everything felt peaceful.
"Good morning."
The deep voice behind her made her stop.
She turned around.
Han Seo-jun stood a few steps away, carrying a basketball under one arm.
Ji-ah blinked in surprise.
"Good morning."
"You always come this early?"
She nodded.
"It's quieter."
Seo-jun glanced around the empty courtyard.
"I like it too."
An awkward silence settled between them.
Ji-ah wasn't sure what to say.
Fortunately, Seo-jun broke the silence first.
"Thank you."
She frowned.
"For what?"
"For treating me like a normal person."
Ji-ah tilted her head.
"You are a normal person."
He laughed softly.
"You'd be surprised how rare that is."
Before Ji-ah could respond, the school bell rang.
"We should go," she said.
"After you."
By lunchtime, the entire school had a new topic to discuss.
The school gossip page had uploaded a blurry photo.
It showed Seo-jun and Ji-ah walking into school together that morning.
The caption read:
"Han Seo-jun's New Girlfriend?"
Within minutes, hundreds of students had shared it.
Comments flooded in.
"Who is she?"
"She's not even pretty."
"She must be using him."
"I heard she's poor."
"She doesn't deserve him."
Ji-ah had no idea.
Until Ha-neul burst into the classroom holding her phone.
"Ji-ah!"
"What happened?"
Ha-neul showed her the screen.
Ji-ah's smile faded.
"What...?"
"I told you people here love gossip."
Ji-ah sighed.
"It's ridiculous."
She reached for her phone to ignore it.
Just then...
Seo-jun walked into the classroom.
He immediately noticed the uncomfortable atmosphere.
"What happened?"
No one answered.
Instead, several students secretly watched his reaction.
Ha-neul hesitated before showing him the photo.
Seo-jun looked at it for only a second.
Then he calmly took out his own phone.
A few taps later...
The post disappeared.
Everyone stared.
"You deleted it?" Ha-neul asked.
"I reported it."
He looked around the classroom.
"My private life isn't entertainment."
The room fell silent.
Ji-ah looked at him, surprised.
He hadn't defended himself.
He had defended her.
For the first time...
She wondered if everyone had judged him too quickly.
Meanwhile...
Inside the student council room...
Choi Min-seo slammed her phone onto the desk.
"Why did he defend her?"
Her best friend looked nervous.
"It's probably nothing."
"Nothing?"
Min-seo laughed bitterly.
"I've known Seo-jun since we were children."
"He has never defended a girl."
Her eyes darkened.
"I won't let some scholarship student steal what belongs to me."
That afternoon...
Basketball practice filled the gymnasium with cheers.
Ji-ah stayed behind to organize books in the library.
As she reached for a novel on the top shelf, a book suddenly slipped.
She gasped.
Before it could hit the floor...
Someone caught it.
"You really should stop dropping things."
Ji-ah looked up.
Seo-jun stood beside her, smiling.
She couldn't help but laugh.
"That's twice now."
He handed her the book.
"Maybe you're just waiting for me to catch them."
Her cheeks turned pink.
"I think you're giving yourself too much credit."
Seo-jun laughed—a genuine laugh that echoed through the quiet library.
Hidden behind one of the bookshelves...
A phone camera flashed.
Click.
Someone had secretly taken another picture.
The mysterious person quickly sent it to an unknown number.
A reply came almost instantly.
Keep watching them. Don't lose sight of the girl.
The sender deleted the message...
And quietly disappeared from the library.
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