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Jungwon sat on the edge of the practice room floor, absently stretching as he scrolled through his phone. A casual message from Sunoo earlier in the day had tipped him off: "Heard Jay went home for the break. Maybe you'll get some peace and quiet now?"

At first, Jungwon had smirked at the thought of a Jay-free campus. He should've been relieved. No annoying run-ins or sly remarks to throw him off his routine. But as the day dragged on, the practice room felt quieter, the cafeteria seemed emptier, and the usual bustling energy of campus life felt... duller.

He frowned, shaking his head. Why would I miss him? He's trouble, remember?

Jungwon tried to refocus on his dance routine, but his movements felt sluggish. No matter how much he stretched or adjusted the choreography, his thoughts kept drifting back to Jay.

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The next morning, the campus buzzed with excitement, whispers spreading like wildfire. Jungwon didn't pay much attention until he overheard a snippet of conversation between two students as he passed them on the quad.

"Did you hear? Jay Park's dad is arranging a marriage for him!"

"Yeah, with Jennie Kim. Can you imagine? She's like, the face of Chanel!"

Jungwon stopped in his tracks, his grip tightening on the strap of his backpack. Jennie Kim? He vaguely remembered seeing her face on magazine covers. She was stunning, of course, and the kind of person who seemed untouchable.

"Perfect match, don't you think?" one of the students said. "Jay's rich, she's famous—it's like a power couple made in heaven."

Jungwon clenched his jaw and walked away quickly, their voices fading into the background. His chest felt tight, and he couldn't quite place why. Was it irritation? Frustration? Jealousy?

Why do I even care? It's not like I'm involved with him.

But the thought of Jay with someone else—someone so perfect and polished—made Jungwon's stomach churn. He tried to brush it off, telling himself it didn't matter, but the image of Jay standing beside Jennie Kim lingered in his mind.

Later that afternoon, Jungwon found himself seated with Sunoo at their usual table in the student lounge. Sunoo was scrolling through his phone, his eyes lighting up.

"Jungwon, did you see this?!" Sunoo shoved his phone in Jungwon's face, showing a blurry picture of Jay and Jennie Kim together at some high-profile event.

Jungwon leaned back, his face carefully neutral. "So what? It's just a picture."

Sunoo raised an eyebrow. "Just a picture? Everyone's talking about it! And you're telling me you're not even a little curious?"

"Why would I be?" Jungwon muttered, focusing on the coffee cup in his hands.

Sunoo smirked knowingly. "You're jealous."

"I'm not!" Jungwon snapped, but the pink tint creeping up his neck betrayed him.

Sunoo chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Sure, keep telling yourself that. But if you ask me, you're way more bothered by this than you're letting on."

Jungwon stayed silent, his grip on the cup tightening. Sunoo's words lingered in the air, making him question his own feelings.

Maybe I am jealous... but why?

No matter how hard he tried to shake it, the thought of Jay and Jennie together stung more than it should have.

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Jay stepped out of his car, adjusting the strap of his duffel bag as he took in the familiar sights of Dreamnote University. The crisp air and bustling energy of campus were a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere of his family estate.

The few days back home had been exhausting. His father's rigid expectations, the endless formalities, and worst of all—the charity gala where he'd been forced to pose for photos with Jennie Kim.

Jennie, to her credit, had laughed off the rumors, rolling her eyes at the incessant questions about their supposed engagement. "They're acting like we're starring in some K-drama," she'd joked, sipping her champagne.

"You mean you're not ready to marry into the Park empire?" Jay had teased back.

Jennie had smirked, pointing discreetly to her boyfriend chatting across the room. "Sorry, Jay. I think he might have a problem with that."

Jay had appreciated her humor, but the moment the pictures hit the internet, the speculation began. He'd barely managed to escape the questions from his family before hopping on the first flight back to campus.

Now, as he made his way to class, he hoped for some semblance of normalcy.

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"Jay!" a voice called as he stepped into the lecture hall.

He barely had time to settle into his seat before a group of classmates swarmed him, their eyes wide with curiosity.

"Is it true?" one of them blurted out.

"True about what?" Jay asked, feigning ignorance as he opened his notebook.

"You and Jennie Kim!" another chimed in. "Are you two getting married?"

Jay let out a dramatic sigh, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, come on. Do you really think I'd be here if I were about to marry Jennie Kim?"

"Well, there are pictures of you two together," someone pointed out, showing him their phone.

Jay glanced at the screen, recognizing one of the many photos taken at the gala. "Yeah, because it was an event, and we're old friends. That's all there is to it."

"But your family is involved with hers, right?"

"Sure," Jay admitted, his tone light. "But Jennie has a boyfriend, and trust me, she's not interested in me. Let's drop it, okay?"

The crowd reluctantly dispersed, though Jay could still feel their eyes on him as he turned his attention to the professor.

By the time class ended, Jay was exhausted, not from the lecture but from fielding the same question over and over again. As he stepped out into the hallway, he spotted Jake leaning against the wall, his arms crossed.

Jake grinned. "Rough day?"

"You have no idea," Jay muttered, running a hand through his hair.

"Let me guess—Jennie Kim?"

Jay groaned. "If I hear her name one more time, I might lose it. People are acting like I proposed to her in front of a crowd or something."

Jake chuckled, clapping a hand on Jay's shoulder. "Welcome back to campus, where rumors never die. Come on, let's grab a coffee before you implode."

As they walked toward the café, Jay couldn't help but wonder if someone else on campus had heard the rumors—and what they might think of him now.

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