Chapter 73: Rumor

Rumors, by their very nature, are impossible to contain.

Even the most trivial matters get exaggerated when passed from mouth to mouth. The embellished rumors then reach other ears. After repeating this process, they eventually spread so widely that virtually everyone knows about them.

I believed the rumors about So-yul and me would follow exactly this pattern.

Especially since we had given off signs of dating at a school where romance was forbidden. I thought it might even reach the teachers’ ears. This would be extremely dangerous for us.

But… it wasn’t exactly like that.

It had been a full week since we began drawing suspicious glances.

Surprisingly, nothing had changed for So-yul and me.

Students from other classes or grades weren’t whispering about us. It seemed no one had tattled to the teachers either.

Throughout the entire week, our days remained virtually identical to the first semester. Were these people really so tight-lipped? It was strangely puzzling.

Well, actually, one thing had changed from before.

And what was that…

“Our So-yul. You’ve become much prettier than last semester.”

During a typically lazy break time.

I couldn’t help but tune in to a voice coming from somewhere in the classroom.

Glancing over, I saw So-yul sitting on some girl’s lap. I recognized her as an arts track girl who had been in the same group when writing up plans for the school trip.

With her large build, she was completely enveloping So-yul’s body. So-yul actually looked a bit uncomfortable. It seemed her popularity hadn’t changed from before.

Being able to hug So-yul in the middle of the classroom. Would I be able to embrace her so openly if I were a girl… I could only laugh at myself for having such envious thoughts.

Soon, So-yul, who was snugly embraced by her friend, peeked her head out.

Her slightly puffed cheeks, as if wanting to express displeasure, were tinged with red.

“Thanks for saying I’m pretty… but why so suddenly?”

“It’s not sudden at all! I’ve told you how cute you are many times before.”

“W-well, that’s true.”

Thanks to her friend’s uninhibited retort, So-yul’s cheeks turned even redder. It was typical of So-yul, who could rarely handle such directness.

So here I was, thinking how cute she was while watching So-yul.

Now that we were real lovers, my feelings for her had only grown. And this semester, it had become even harder for us to meet alone.

At this rate, there was no outlet for the welling affection inside me. I felt like my chest might burst from the pressure if I didn’t find some release, even if it meant stealing glances at her.

But suddenly, the eyes of the friend who was hugging So-yul rolled in my direction.

Startled by the unexpected gaze, I hurriedly averted my eyes, but our gazes had crossed for a moment.

Soon, a strange laughter could be heard from where So-yul was.

Then, the friend who was embracing So-yul casually tossed out a comment.

“…Did you get prettier because you found someone you like?”

“W-what?”

So-yul asked back in surprise. Her tone was filled with bewilderment.

It definitely seemed… like this had been the buildup she was going for all along.

Fortunately, our relationship hadn’t spread to other classes.

But that doesn’t mean our classmates had dropped their suspicions.

Instead, they treated it like “a fact shared only among ourselves,” to the point where situations like this open teasing would occur. That says it all.

“Just something I said. Sorry if I’m wrong. …But I’m curious why our So-yul is so flustered~”

So-yul’s friend said this with a mischievous “huhuhu” laugh.

At this probing question, So-yul’s face turned even redder. It was always cute how she reacted when being teased… but wasn’t she being too obvious?

Of course, that didn’t last long.

Soon, So-yul cleared her throat with a “khm” and hid her expression. Thanks to her acting skills, which she had honed over time, she quickly transformed into a flustered state.

Then, she shouted with all her might:

“I-I’m not flustered…!”

What an unconvincing statement.

The surrounding girls who had been quietly watching So-yul burst into laughter together, as if on cue.

They couldn’t resist her cute reaction and began patting her head or poking her cheeks. I almost thought they were playing with a doll.

Overwhelmed by the flood of physical contact, So-yul soon looked at me with eyes that begged for help.

I’m sorry, but if I helped right now, it would only make things worse…

◎

“It seems everyone thinks we’re dating now.”

That night, at the path bench where we always met.

So-yul brought this up in a somewhat grumbling voice.

“Well, we are actually dating. It makes sense that the people closest to us would notice.”

“Really? That’s strange. I’ve never once given myself away…”

What a ridiculous claim.

To be fair, it wasn’t entirely So-yul’s fault. I had also become more lax after the rumors started spreading.

During our fake relationship, I had avoided even making eye contact, saying it would be troublesome. But now that we were real lovers, we exchanged greetings daily and shared secret glances. Despite the severe consequences of getting caught, I had grown quite bold.

“Anyway, you had it rough today.”

At my casually tossed comment, So-yul responded with a bitter smile, saying, “Yeah, it is tough…”

Then she looked directly at me and asked:

“Are you okay? You don’t seem to be suffering from friends like I am.”

“Well, I’m not being told I’ve gotten prettier or being patted by friends.”

“D-don’t bring that up…”

Seemingly embarrassed by my joking remark, So-yul playfully punched me a few times. It didn’t hurt at all; rather, the contact just felt ticklish.

I smiled at that ticklish sensation and answered:

“How should I put it? They made a fuss at first, but now it’s more like they’ve just accepted it. Occasionally someone will say nonsense like ‘Wow, you two are so close, I’m jealous,’ but that’s about it.”

“Ahaha. Is getting along with me something to be jealous of?”

“Of course it is. Pretty, cute, charming, one of the best pianists, smart, a good actor, and even a nice personality. My girlfriend is unbelievably amazing… Ow ow!”

The light punches suddenly became much stronger.

Looking back, So-yul was attacking me with bright red cheeks, biting her lip hard. She was clearly incredibly embarrassed.

It seems So-yul finds compliments much harder to handle than teasing. Now that I know this clearly, I’ve decided to constantly shower her with praise.

…While I said that jokingly, this situation wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

For now, it was just a rumor circulating within our class. It didn’t seem like anyone had caught any decisive evidence either.

Even the kids who teased us probably thought, “They can’t really be dating, right? They probably just have feelings for each other.”

But how long this would remain at this level was uncertain.

For all we know, we might show up tomorrow to find a giant paper on the bulletin board exposing our relationship. Or someone might witness us talking together and solidify the rumors as truth.

If we became complacent and left things in this ambiguous state, it wouldn’t be surprising if the rumors spread at any time.

If word reached our teachers or So-yul’s mother, even these nighttime meetings might become impossible.

“Having rumors spread isn’t good,” I muttered, voicing the concern that had formed inside me. I figured So-yul probably had the same worry, so I brought it up to discuss together.

But So-yul’s response was quite unexpected.

“Really? I think it’s fine if rumors spread.”

“…Fine?”

What on earth was she talking about?

When I turned to face her and asked again, So-yul looked at me with clear, beautiful eyes and answered:

“Yes. Of course it would be difficult if my mother or teachers found out. But if it’s just circulating within our class, I welcome it.”

“Welcome it? Why?”

“It means I’m okay with it, dummy.”

At my unnecessary quibble, So-yul showed a bright smile and said:

“Our classmates aren’t the type to spread such rumors anyway. For now, there shouldn’t be any major problems. As long as we’re not caught together.”

After whispering this, So-yul leaned her body against mine.

The sweet scent wafting towards me. The warm heat seeping through where we touched. And the ticklish sensation that arose whenever So-yul moved slightly.

Thanks to this, all my concerns completely melted away. I even felt an infinite calmness rising within me.

It would be troublesome if teachers or her mother found out. But it’s okay if the rumors themselves don’t die down.

I questioned whether these two sentences could coexist. If rumors spread, eventually everyone would know. I wasn’t sure if it would remain “something only our classmates know” as So-yul hoped.

Our classmates wouldn’t spread such rumors.

So-yul had guaranteed this, but I wasn’t convinced. Wasn’t this too naive a notion? Was she viewing the world too innocently? At this rate, wouldn’t we inevitably get caught one day?

But on the other hand… I also thought there might be some truth to it.

Because So-yul’s personality never earned her any hatred. Because just watching her made people want to help. Because there were probably very few people in this world who would want to make such a lively and bright person struggle.

“Besides,” So-yul began with a small smile, pulling me from my deep thoughts.

Her slightly trembling lips parted subtly, producing a single sentence.

“I also want to brag… about having such an amazingly wonderful boyfriend.”

Whispering this, So-yul giggled “hihi.”

In an extremely playful manner, yet infinitely lovable.

What a cunning girlfriend to suddenly get revenge like this.

It made me want to counterattack, refusing to lose.

But as So-yul uttered these words, her earlobes had turned bright red.

Just this once, I decided to let it slide, simply smiling gently and caressing her cheek.