The chemistry was undeniable.

Were they friends strangers? Yes.

Rivals? Yes.

Best partners? Also, yes.

With every partner’s announcement, Yugyeom’s words scored points. Jinyoung and Jisoo were setting the bar high with their performance, officially representing their major in competitions and educational fairs to carry the best awards back home. It had become a challenge to professors before their colleagues, they would throw advanced research tasks at the duo to only have the tasks delivered with almost zero errors.

They criticized Jisoo for her broken Korean accent, spread rumors about bribing the professors or secretly dating the top senior student and she shut them up with her hard work of zero plagiarism and her capability of answering any question in detail with smooth flow. Meanwhile, Jinyoung was stealing more hearts the moment he shined out. His image turned from the low-key smart playboy to the genius compass heartthrob.

Jinyoung loved the new kind of attention, yet a part of him still missed how easy it was before Jisoo. How college was a piece of cake, answering some questions from time to time, or relying on the girls he used to trick to do his work instead of the pile of tasks he was stuck with just for one reason: not losing to Jisoo.

The same reason why he was on his way to their usual spot in the quiet library when it was almost dusk. The caramel-orange sunray falling through the window on the heroine of his day. She was still in her full off-white suit; a strand from her tight ponytail was curling around her slender finger, slowly rotating her neck for a needed stretch.

“The gorgeous presenter of the day is so pretty.” He complimented and teased with a cheeky smile, taking out the chair to sit, his left hand resting inside the pocket of his wide-leg white bands.

“Well, don’t expect the same compliment.” Jisoo’s doe-eyes scanned the spread papers in front of them as Jinyoung leaned against the table, propping up his head with his free hand, watching her.

It was one of those days when they needed to match their outfits, but that was Jinyoung’s favorite. Off-white suits, walking next to each other like top fashion models elegantly with charisma. He was used to the girls’ giggles and shy smiles, but that was the first time to hear his colleagues fanboying at Jisoo, asking for Jisoo’s number. It was hard to blame them for seeing Jisoo’s slicked-back ponytail as her forehead and eyebrows finally made their debut.

His eyes fell on her elegant earring, unconsciously moving closer to have a better view mesmerized by its beauty.

“Is this Cartier?”

Still focused on her work, she nodded, giving her side bangs a chance to get out of the hairpin’s tight hold and run to cover her face. But Jinyoung was faster as his fingers found their way to catch the silky fringes, tugging them gently behind her ear.

Jisoo’s heart pounded from the sudden act, her hand dropping the pen to hold Jinyoung’s cold hand to stop him gently by mistake. Her cheeks blushed, the moment their eyes met under the sunset beauty. Jinyoung’s mischievous/ evil look wasn’t there this time. Instead, it was warm with genuine care with a hint of brownish glow, so unlike him.

“I… w-won’t fall f-for your t-tricks” The easy words were hard to say for some reason. “Be careful not to fall first, it won’t be mutual.” It was the normal teasing whisper, but something must have changed because Jinyoung didn’t act cocky. In a blink of an eye, his expressionless mask was back as he slowly took off his hands, moving back to lean against his seat.

He let out an awkward cough, breaking the romantic eye contact. “I can’t believe I’m stuck with you in every project.”

“Are you flirting or starting a fight?”

“Both, princess.”

“It’s Jisoo. I don’t want to deal with your stupid acts every day either so stop sulking and work.”

“Ouch. I’m hurt. My love isn’t stupid. I’m charming and irresistible.”

“Irresponsible.” Jisoo corrected with a tight smile, low-key satisfied with the result of her word on Jinyoung’s knitted eyebrows and cute pout.