Chapter 26
The first rule of dating someone in the same college?
Never underestimate how fast gossip travels.
By the time the annual festival rolled around, I was convinced at least half the campus knew something about me and Soo-min — even though we'd said nothing.
Okay, maybe the fact that we kept smiling at each other in class didn't help. Or that she brought me coffee every morning. Or that she somehow knew my schedule better than I did.
Still, we weren't that obvious… right?
---
Festival Morning
The campus looked completely different that morning.
Colorful banners, food stalls, students running around with paint on their shirts. The air smelled like cotton candy and grilled meat.
Yura bounced beside me, her hair tied in two messy buns. "This is the best day of the year! Free food and chaos!"
"Free food, yes. Chaos, no," I muttered, adjusting my art club volunteer badge.
"Boring," she teased, nudging me. "Where's Soo-min, by the way? Haven't seen her all morning."
"Probably with the student council," I said too quickly. "They're managing the event schedule."
"Uh-huh." Yura squinted at me. "You said that way too fast."
I avoided her gaze. "I just know things."
"Right," she said, drawing out the word. "Because you definitely didn't text her already."
I turned away. "Can we go set up the booth now?"
Her grin said everything.
---
At the Art Booth
Our club's stall was a hit — portraits, sketches, and quick caricatures.
Mirae handled the camera, Hye-jin ran the crowd control like a general, and I sat behind the easel sketching non-stop.
Every few minutes, someone stopped to compliment the art or ask for a drawing. I smiled, my pencil moving on instinct, but my thoughts kept drifting.
To her.
I'd been seeing Soo-min across the campus all day — managing the stage, checking schedules, talking to volunteers. She looked effortlessly composed in her white shirt and lanyard, sleeves rolled up, hair tied loosely.
At one point, our eyes met from across the courtyard. She smiled — not the polite kind, but the one only I knew — soft, teasing, private.
My hand slipped, and the caricature I was drawing ended up with an extra-long nose.
"Eun-ji, focus!" Hye-jin barked.
"Right, sorry!"
Yura leaned over, whispering, "You're hopeless."
"Shut up."
---
The "Coincidence"
Around lunchtime, Mirae announced, "We need more sketch paper. We're out."
Before I could volunteer, Yura smirked. "Oh no, that means someone has to run to the admin tent."
I narrowed my eyes. "Why are you smiling like that?"
"Because guess who's there?" she said in a sing-song voice.
I glared. "Yura—"
But it was too late. Hye-jin shoved a clipboard into my hands. "Go before we lose customers."
I sighed and walked off, trying to ignore Yura's knowing grin.
---
At the Admin Tent
The tent buzzed with activity — students carrying boxes, checking lists, laughter everywhere. And right in the center of it all was Soo-min, headphones slung around her neck, barking orders like the competent chaos-queen she was.
When she saw me, her face softened instantly. "Hey, you're here."
I lifted the clipboard. "Paper run."
She nodded, walking closer. "You okay? You look tired."
"I'm fine. You?"
"Running on caffeine and chaos."
She reached out, brushing a bit of charcoal off my cheek with her thumb. The touch was light, casual— too casual— but my heartbeat went wild anyway.
"Careful," I muttered. "We're in public."
Her lips quirked. "Relax. No one's watching."
"Someone's always watching," I hissed.
She laughed quietly. "Then let them. It's not a crime to care about you."
I blinked, too stunned to reply.
She handed me a bundle of paper. "Here. Try to take a break later, okay?"
I nodded, still dazed, and turned to leave— only to run straight into Yura.
"Fancy seeing you here," she said, crossing her arms. "Paper run, huh?"
"Yura!" I squeaked.
Soo-min, traitor that she was, just smiled sweetly. "Hi, Yura."
"Hi," Yura said suspiciously. "You two seem… close."
"Teamwork," Soo-min replied smoothly.
"Uh-huh," Yura said again, eyes narrowing like a detective. "Teamwork."
I grabbed Yura's wrist. "Let's go."
---
Afternoon Events
By the time the stage performances started, the courtyard was packed.
I sat with Yura, Hye-jin, and Mirae near the front row, eating cotton candy that Yura had "definitely not stolen" from a kid's stand.
Soo-min was on stage, announcing the next event. Her voice carried clearly over the speakers, confident and steady. I watched her, heart swelling with something soft and stupid.
"She's really good at this," Mirae said.
"Yeah," I murmured, not realizing I'd said it out loud.
Yura caught it instantly. "She, huh?"
"Shut up."
Hye-jin looked between us. "Wait— what's going on?"
"Nothing!" I said too fast.
"Suspicious," Mirae murmured, smiling faintly.
I buried my face in my cotton candy. "Can we please just watch the show?"
---
The Rain Returns
By late afternoon, clouds began gathering.
Thunder rumbled once in the distance. Everyone groaned.
"Not again," Hye-jin said. "Why does every major event end with rain?"
Students rushed to cover the stalls, laughter and chaos mixing with the first drops of drizzle.
I was helping Mirae move the art boards when I felt a hand close around mine.
Soo-min.
Her hair was slightly damp, and she was smiling despite the rain.
"Come on," she said. "We'll get soaked."
She pulled me under one of the stage canopies. The noise outside faded slightly, replaced by the rhythmic patter of rain.
For a moment, it felt like déjà vu — the same soft downpour, the same warmth between us.
"You're going to get sick," I said.
"So are you."
"Then let's both get sick."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop smiling. "You're ridiculous."
"And you like me anyway."
She brushed a strand of wet hair from my face, her touch so gentle it made my chest tighten.
Before I could respond, someone called out, "SOO-MIN! WE SEE YOU!"
It was Yura — of course it was Yura — standing at the edge of the canopy with Mirae and Hye-jin, grinning like she'd just uncovered a scandal.
I jumped back instantly. "It's not what it looks like!"
"Oh really?" Hye-jin said, raising a brow.
Mirae just smiled quietly. "You two look cute together."
Soo-min chuckled under her breath. "Well, guess the secret's out."
Yura gasped dramatically. "You admit it?!"
Soo-min slipped her arm around my shoulders before I could stop her. "Yeah. I think I do."
My jaw dropped. "Soo-min!"
She leaned close, whispering, "Too late to deny it now."
Yura squealed like she was watching a live drama.
Mirae laughed softly.
Even Hye-jin cracked a smile.
And me?
I just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
But beneath the embarrassment, there was something else too—
Relief. Warm, dizzying relief.
---
Evening Lights
By the time the rain stopped, the festival lights came back on, glittering against the damp pavement.
Our friends teased us all the way back to the dorms, but their laughter felt lighter than ever.
When it was just me and Soo-min at the gate, I finally exhaled.
"Well," I said, "so much for keeping it quiet."
She grinned. "You didn't really think we could hide this, did you?"
"I hoped."
"Eun-ji," she said softly, taking my hand again, "I don't mind people knowing. I just want to be able to look at you without pretending it means nothing."
I looked up at her, heart thudding in that now-familiar rhythm. "You're dangerous, you know that?"
She smiled, eyes crinkling. "Only to you."
And before I could think of a response, she kissed the back of my hand— quick, soft, impossible to misread.
The streetlights glowed gold, and somewhere behind us, Yura's voice rang out, "I SAW THAT!"
I groaned. "She's never going to let this go."
"Good," Soo-min said, still smiling. "Now the whole world can know."
And somehow, that didn't sound scary at all.