✦ THE WHAT-IF OF IT ALL

IT GIRL'S NEW MAN?
by 𝒈𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒑 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 - NOV 1 11:00 AM

𝒈𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒑 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 here! Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Seoul's elite! This year's Halloween party was more tricks than treats because it looks like someone's mask couldn't quite hide their dirty little secret. According to one of my most trusted insiders, our favorite it girl was spotted cozying up arm-in-arm with a mystery man at none other than Velvet Espresso in Gangnam. Who is he, you ask? Just a college student... allegedly.

Surprised? I'm not. HYUNJOO's track record has always been a little chaotic. But the real question is — does Mr. College know she's still rocking a high school uniform?

This isn't her first little age-blurred romance, and something tells me it won't be her last. But who am I to judge? After all, love is blind... though the law isn't. So here's a tip for you, mystery man: getting tangled up with HYUNJOO is just asking for trouble. You know you love me!

xoxo gossip girl 💋

『 NOV 1 - 10:46 AM
THE DAY AFTER THE HALLOWEEN PARTY
204 DAYS TILL GRADUATION 』

𝐎𝐇 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐘'𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 us we did something stupid last night. The feeling of a pounding sensation in your head, each throb like a hammer against your skull. The bitter tase of alcohol and vomit lingers from the night before, and the nausea sits in your stomach ready to strike at any second.

The unfamiliar wallpaper swirls in dizzying patterns, mocking you with its cheerfulness. The bed beneath you is too soft, too foreign, the sheets tangled around your limbs as if they've been wrestling with your guilt all night.

And then there's the foggy realization that this isn't your room.

Hangovers. The worst kind of déjà vu, a physical manifestation of poor decisions, and the all-too-familiar promise to yourself: Never again. You swear you'll never touch another drop of alcohol.

But deep down, you know it's a lie. Next weekend, the cycle will repeat and another load of regret will be added to the pile.

Although SAENG did not wake up in her room, she recognized the dark blue wallpaper that covered the walls and the bed beneath her, though not hers, cradled her with a surprising sense of comfort.

She blinked away the lingering haze of sleep, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. Across the room, the outline of a black leather couch came into focus, and there, sprawled out in a deep sleep, was a figure she couldn't quite make out.

Curiosity gnawed at her, and despite the ache in her head, SAENG reluctantly pushed herself out of bed. To her surprise, a flicker of energy still remained, helping her forward.  Finally, she stood at the foot of the couch, her breath catching as she gazed down at the sleeping figure.

He lay there shirtless, the evidence plain to see. A throw blanket was draped over him, doing little to cover his tall frame. At 5'10", he looked almost comically uncomfortable, limbs awkwardly bent to fit on the couch. He had traded his Halloween costume for a pair of sweatpants, but the remnants of the night lingered on his face.

A small, almost subconscious smile tugged at the corners of SAENG's lips as she stood there, quietly observing him. There was something endearing about the way he slept so peacefully, completely oblivious to the chaos of the night before.

Suddenly, his eyes flickered open, locking directly onto hers with startling intensity. The suddenness of it caught them both off guard, and before she could react, he bolted upright.

"What the hell, JENO!" She shouted as she took a step back, the unexpected intensity of the moment catching her off guard.

For the first time, a soft pink blush crept across SAENG's cheeks as her gaze shifted from his eyes to his bare chest. The moment stretched out, the air between them thick with an unspoken tension.

The realization hit them both at the same time, and JENO's face mirrored her reaction, flushing the same rosy shade as hers.

"SAENG!" JENO blurted out, his voice a mix of panic and embarrassment as he grabbed his collared shirt from the coffee table. He fumbled with the buttons, hurriedly trying to cover himself. "Sorry," he muttered, his face still flushed.

A strange sound, halfway between a cough and a laugh, escaped SAENG's lips. "I've seen you shirtless before, JENO. Calm down," she said, trying to diffuse the awkwardness with a playful tone, though the blush on her cheeks lingered.

"Whatever," he replied, shaking his head at the situation, though a hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

"I'm just teasing," she laughed, dropping down onto the couch beside him. "You should have seen your face."

JENO couldn't help but smile, the tension melting away. He playfully pushed her off him, the familiar banter between them restoring their usual dynamic.

There was a moment of silence. SAENG felt a swirl of emotions—confusion, embarrassment, and something else she couldn't quite place—settling heavily in her chest.

"About last night?" She finally ventured, her voice barely above a whisper.

JENO turned to face her, and for the first time, SAENG couldn't decipher him. His usually expressive face was now a blank canvas, lacking of the familiar cues she relied on. His eyes were inscrutable, his lips set in a neutral line, leaving her to grapple with the uncertainty of his feelings.

"Do you not remember?" he asked, his brows knitting together in concern, the tension evident in his tone.

"Not really, what happened?" SAENG confessed.

『 OCT 31 - 8:26 PM
THE HALLOWEEN PARTY
205 DAYS TILL GRADUATION 』

"Isn't this the third time she's yelled at that poor man?" SAN drawled, his lanky frame propped against the hallway wall, one ankle lazily crossed over the other.

"Yeah," FELIX muttered, arms folded tightly across his chest as he stood beside him, their eyes fixed on the unfolding chaos in the banquet room. "How perfect does a charcuterie board really need to be? It's just cheese."

SAN snorted, the sound just loud enough to carry. His laughter faded abruptly when VANGIE's sharp gaze snapped in their direction. Her heels clicked against the tiled floor as she marched toward them, the tension radiating off her in waves.

"When I said you two could come early, I meant to help," she snapped, gesturing at their idle stances. "Not lean against walls like decorative plants."

"But who's going to make sure the walls hold up tonight?" SAN quipped with a sly grin, straightening up ever so slightly.

VANGIE's glare could have melted steel however, her attention faced towards back to the caterers who brought something she didn't enjoy.

"What is that supposed to be?" she muttered, voice clipped with disgust. Without waiting for an answer, she turned on her heel, her boots clicking against the marble floor as she walked off.

"I hate to be that man." SOOJIN's voice chimed through the air as she popped up between the two boys. She smiled, radiating energy. "What's wrong with her?"

"VANGIE being VANGIE," FELIX replied with a small shrug, his eyes falling onto SOOJIN as he caught sight of her costume, and his breath hitched slightly.

The white corset cinched her waist, accentuating every curve with delicate precision. A matching skirt with fluttering frills, and atop her head sat a small silver tiara, nestled between two delicate white feathers. Wings—soft, white, and sewn with meticulous care—adorned the back of her top, giving her the surreal look of something divine.

"Wow," FELIX breathed out before he could stop himself.

"What are you supposed to be? A cloud?" SAN joked, leaning in to touch the feathers at the sides of her head.

His fingers had barely grazed the air when SOOJIN avoided his touch, afraid it might mess up her look. "I'm a swan, for your information," she said.

"A swan, huh?" SAN raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a mischievous smile. "Don't tell me VANGIE's going to be a swan too?" The thought made him laugh softly, already picturing it in his head.

Halloween wasn't just a holiday for the five girls—it was tradition. A sacred event.

For the public, it was the origin story, the night the world met The Avengers. The ones who turned a simple group costume into a fashion moment seen 'round the world. Their matching superhero looks graced every magazine, every blog post, even Gossip Girl's website—at the time being a gossip site and not one that usually cared for fashion.

That night marked a turning point. People didn't just want to know their drama anymore—they wanted to know them. How they dressed, how they spoke, what their world looked like. They wanted in.

And yes, there were six Avengers in the comics... meaning there were six girls in their group once many years ago.

But the sixth? That was a name best left unspoken.

A story for another time.

Since then, Halloween had become the most anticipated event of the year. Everyone watched and waited to see what the girls would wear next—and every time, they outdid themselves.

"We're not coordinating our costumes this year," SOOJIN announced casually.

FELIX blinked. "You're not?"

"Nope. V didn't want us to be easily spotted while we're out looking for Gossip Girl," she said with a smile that suggested she didn't mind the change one bit.

"Smart thinking," FELIX replied, then quickly looked away when he realized he was staring again.

"I know," came a familiar voice, smooth and full of authority.

They all turned to see VANGIE standing there, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

"Since you all have so much time to chit-chat," she continued, "you can make yourselves useful and help the guys in the back set up the decorations."

SAN tilted his head, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "So what's your costume, VANGIE?" he asked, the smirk returning to his lips.

She met his gaze with one of her own, equally playful and dangerous. "You can come up with ideas of you own while hanging up the lights."

『 OCT 31 - 10:08 PM
THE HALLOWEEN PARTY
205 DAYS TILL GRADUATION 』

One by one, the girls arrived—each making her entrance with practiced ease. And of course, true to form, SAENG was the last to show up to her own party. Fashionably late, as always.

Although their costumes weren't coordinated like in past years, there was still a common thread tying them together. Tradition. They were all dressed as animals—an unspoken agreement to stay just a little connected, even as they strayed from their usual group theme.

SOOJIN was an elegant swan, draped in white feathers and grace.

JI-EUN appeared as a delicate deer, soft brown tones and wide, glimmering eyes.

VANGIE chose to embody a fox—sharp, sleek, and cunning.

HYUNJOO went with a lamb—sweet and unassuming, with curls to match.

And finally, SAENG arrived as a pristine white cat, all charm and quiet confidence.

"How are you even late to your own party?" JAY called out, laughing over the music. For once, he had actually shown up on time—a rare thing.

SAENG looked him up and down, unimpressed. "It takes hours to look this good," she said, then raised an eyebrow at his costume. "Clearly, you wouldn't get it."

"I'm a pirate," he said with a grin, proud of it.

"Exactly," she replied with a smirk, her tone teasing. "You guys look pretty average next to us."

JENO let out a laugh while SAN threw up his hands in mock offense.

"True," HYUNJOO said, stepping in and bringing the group back on track. "But don't forget why we're really here."

Just like that, the mood shifted.

The costumes, the makeup, the party—it was all just the cover. The real reason they were here?

They were looking for Gossip Girl.

The plan was simple, thanks to VANGIE. Each of them in twos would take a different section of the house, keeping their eyes and ears open. They would plant a harmless rumor -- one that is entirely false but possibly true. With each version of the secret slightly different.

If any of those rumors show up on Gossip Girl later, they'll know who leaked it and who she might be listening to.

But they couldn't entirely rely on this.

They had also left audio recordings in high-traffic areas—especially where people are most likely to whisper secrets: bathrooms, hallways, the kitchen. Later, they'll review the audio to pick up anything suspicious.

In the mean time, each of them casually steer conversations toward Gossip Girl. They test reactions, watch for slips. They're not asking to get answers—they're watching who flinches, who deflects, who suddenly gets too quiet.

『 OCT 31 - 11:08 PM
THE HALLOWEEN PARTY
205 DAYS TILL GRADUATION 』

The hallway was dim, lit by soft pink neon signs and lamps that gave everything a dreamy glow. The music downstairs thumped beneath their feet, muffled but constant, like the heartbeat of the party.

SAENG sat on the velvet armrest of a vintage loveseat, one heel slipping off her foot as she lazily swirled the liquid in her cup.

JENO stood beside her, one shoulder leaned against the wall, red plastic cup in hand. He took a small sip and nodded toward hers.

"VANGIE didn't want us drinking, remember?"

SAENG scrunched her nose and took another slow sip. "I'm more alert when I'm drunk."

JENO gave her a look—somewhere between confused and amused—but didn't bother to argue. He was too used to her logic by now to question it.

They were just about to move when a trio of girls walked past, arms looped together and giggles trailing behind them like perfume.

"—I'm telling you, she's seeing some guy from college."

"HYUNJOO?"

"Yeah. I heard someone saw her at that cafe in Gangnam. Said the guy looked way older."

Their heels clicked away down the hallway, their laughter like the punchline to a joke only they were in on.

JENO raised an eyebrow, then looked down at SAENG. "You hear that?"

SAENG didn't even blink. "The job is done." She lifted her cup smugly. "Now we can drink."

"You've been drinking."

She grinned and poked his chest, leaning in. "Details, details."

JENO opened his mouth to say something but stopped when her expression shifted—still playful, but with a strange softness in her eyes.

"You know..." Her voice lowered slightly, almost thoughtful. "I've always wondered."

He looked at her, cautious. "Wondered what?"

She tilted her head, her ponytail brushing against her shoulder. "What it'd be like to kiss you."

JENO just looked a her.

"We've known each other since the fifth grade," she went on, sliding just a little closer. "People always assumed something must have happened between us. But nothing ever did."

She gave a breathy laugh and looked up at him. "Not once."

He didn't move. Just watched her. The hallway felt quieter now, somehow farther away from the rest of the house.

"I mean..." She was close now, her voice barely a whisper. "How weird would it be?"

Her face hovered near his. Their noses almost brushed.

Her breath smelled like cherry vodka and something sweet underneath it. JENO's heartbeat picked up as he leaned in just slightly—not kissing her, but not stopping her either.

They were barely an inch apart. SAENG's eyes flicked to his lips, then back up. Her usual teasing smirk faltered for just a second, replaced with something unsure. Her fingers grazed his sleeve, anchoring herself.

JENO's voice broke the silence—low, gentle. "Don't do anything you'll regret later."Then he leaned back slowly and draped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a side hug like nothing had happened.

SAENG froze for a second. Her cheeks were bright red now—not just from the alcohol. She blinked, then tilted her head and gave him a smirk, trying to brush it off. "Don't worry. I'll save the regrets for later, okay?"

JENO chuckled under his breath, eyes scanning the crowd at the far end of the hallway. "Whatever you say, SAENG."

『 NOV 1 - 11:00 AM
THE DAY AFTER THE HALLOWEEN PARTY
204 DAYS TILL GRADUATION 』

JENO sat casually across from her, his coffee mug held tightly between his hands. SAENG, still half-dazed from the night's events, looked at him with wide eyes.

"So... we didn't kiss?" she asked, her voice laced with something unfamiliar—something close to panic.

JENO, looked at her, calm as ever. "We didn't kiss."

She blinked, almost suspicious. "Are you sure?"

He raised a brow. "I'm sure. I was there, remember?"

SAENG exhaled like she'd been holding her breath. "Okay. Cool. Did I do anything else embarrassing?"

JENO grinned. "Besides trying to convince JI-EUN to jump in the pool with you? Nah. You were your usual self."

She let out a sheepish laugh as he passed her a warm mug of coffee. She took it with both hands and took a long sip, sighing into the steam.

"Remind me to apologize to her."

"You might want to throw in snacks," he teased.

She smiled to herself, the curve of her lips soft and thoughtful.

A part of her was relieved—thankful, even—that things weren't awkward between them after what had almost happened last night. No lingering tension, no weird silences or overthinking stares. Just... them. As always.

They were different, SAENG believed. Different than any typical boy-girl friendship. Maybe it was their history—years of growing up side by side. Or maybe it was just JENO. The way he always made things feel easy, even when they shouldn't be.

Maybe it was both.

Either way, they'd moved past it—whatever it was. And she was grateful for that.

Still...

As she took another sip of coffee, eyes on her phone but attention elsewhere, a small part of her wondered about the kiss that never happened.

And for just a second, she let herself feel it—the what-if of it all—before brushing it away like a thought that didn't belong.

"And Gossip Girl?" SAENG finally asked.

He leaned his head back against the couch. "We just have to wait and see what she posts. In the meantime, HYUNJOO and VANGIE are going through the recordings they planted."

SAENG blinked at him. "I still can't believe we actually did that."

He laughed. "That has to be illegal, right?"

"Very illegal," she said with a grin.

Just then—a ping.

Both of them snapped their heads toward their phones at the same time.

SAENG reached for hers on the armrest. JENO was already scrolling through the latest Gossip Girl post. His eyes scanned the screen quickly before he sat up straighter, his expression shifting.

"Wait..." he muttered, holding out the screen for her to see, "Is this photo real?"

She leaned in, eyes darting over the post. "I don't know. HYUNJOO never mentioned it to us."

As she was reading, the phrasing. The timing. The oddly specific detail only one person could've known.

After a beat of silence, SAENG looked up at him.

"...That's it," she said, her voice quiet but certain. "That's her."

audio_recording_10-31.hallway_

[(muffled ambient noise — music thumping faintly in the background, occasional laughter, footsteps)]

[man #1] (quiet, conflicted)
She kissed me.

[man #2] (sharp, surprised)
Did you kiss her back?

[man #1] 
What? No. I didn't kiss her back.

[man #3] (disbelief)
Why not? You've had a crush on her since the beginning of time. That was your chance!

[man #1] 
She was drunk. I—I couldn't kiss her back.

[man #2] 
So you pushed her—

[man #4] (cutting in)
You pushed her?

[man #1] 
No! I didn't push her. I just... pulled back.

[man #5] (teasing)
You pulled back, dude?

[man #1] (frustrated)
She didn't mean to kiss me, okay? She was drunk.

[man #4]
Drunk words are sober thoughts or whatever that shit is.

[man #1] 
She just looked at me, called me an idiot, and walked away. Like I said—she was drunk. I wasn't gonna take advantage of that.

[man #3] 
She wanted you, dude. You are an idiot!

[man #1] 
No. She doesn't. She was—

[man #2] (groaning)
If you say "she was drunk" one more time, I'm just gonna get drunk.

[(laughter, someone opens a can, fade out)]