Rays of bright summer sun fell into the room and on Sunggyu, giving his dark-brown hair a reddish glow. His ear piercings glimmered, too, as he looked down at his phone, expression blank. He was wearing a leather jacket, but didn't seem to be sweating or to even feel hot at all. He looked even cooler than usual, Eunji concluded with a sigh.

"Yah, don't stare too much," Bomi hissed at her, making Eunji snap out of her daze. "He's going to notice us."

"What are you talking about?" Eunji hissed back. "He hasn't looked up from his phone even once. He probably didn't even see us standing here–"

"Well, still–try not to make it too obvious, will you," Bomi said. Eunji thought she was just jealous. From where she was standing, she had a much better view of Sunggyu than Bomi, who had to stand on her toes and peer over Eunji's shoulder just to get a glimpse of him.

"If someone is going to get us busted it's going to be you with that loud- voice of yours," Eunji hissed in retaliation. Bomi just didn't know how not to be loud, even when she was whispering; it was a miracle Sunggyu hadn't looked in their direction yet. They would have had to leave then, and Eunji really did not want to waste such a rare chance to look at Sunggyu as long as she liked, and from such close quarters, too.

It had felt like a of luck when she and Bomi had run into Sunggyu downtown, earlier. They had followed him all the way here, of course–it was too good a chance not to–although neither of them had quite worked out what he was doing here in the first place, what he was waiting for. Why would he willingly come to school on such a stiflingly hot summer day?

Eunji couldn't think of a single good reason.

Suddenly, the door to the examination room opened and a swarm of students came out, filling the previously quiet hall with chatter. Eunji was reminded that today was re-sits day. But Sunggyu was one of the best students at school–there was no way he would have to retake anything, right?

"Hyung!"

A guy–bright red hair and ridiculously long legs–suddenly walked right past them, heading towards where Sunggyu was standing.

Sunggyu finally looked up from his phone. Upon seeing the tall guy, he smiled.

Eunji's heart stopped for a second.

She gaped.

She'd seen Sunggyu smile before, of course, but never liked this, not once in her long months of fangirling–a smile so warm, so bright, so–

She itched to reach for her phone and steal a picture. She didn't even care if Sunggyu saw her; she needed to capture this moment, to pass it down to the future generations. It would be a waste not to.

Who the hell was this guy?

"No, not him again," Bomi groaned.

Eunji looked at her. "You know him?"

"Sort of. He's always around Sunggyu these days–it's like they're joined to the hip. His name's Sung-something." She sighed. "Pretty sure they're dating, too."

Eunji felt her stomach drop. "D-dating? What makes you say that?"

"Isn't it obvious? Why else would he come all the way to school just to see him today, of all days, when it's hot as hell–"

"Well, maybe they're close friends–"

"No friend would do that. I mean, just look at them."

Eunji did, turning around to stare quite obviously–not that there was any danger of Sunggyu noticing, not with how he was gazing up at the tall guy, as if he were completely engrossed in him. If she strained her ears, Eunji could just about hear what they were saying, too.

"How did it go? Was it too difficult?"

"It was OK, I guess–"

"Did you remember the formula? The one we talked about?"

"Yeah, yeah, I–"

"What about the–"

"Hyung, can you stop it? I said it was OK!"

"I'm just worried, that's all. We need you to pass this test, or–"

"I am going to pass. Don't underestimate me–I can be quite clever when I want to be."

"I know." That smile was back, all dimples and squishy cheeks and sparkling eyes, making Eunji feel weak in the knees. "I know you are–when you want to be."

"You're making that sound like a jab rather than a compliment."

Sunggyu said something in reply, laughing–Eunji didn't quite catch what, but she didn't miss the way he reached out to touch Tall Guy's arm–nothing much, just a brush of fingers really, but the way he did it felt so intimate, Eunji couldn't help but gulp at the sight.

"See? Told you," Bomi whispered next to her. "They're always like that. 100% sure they're dating."

"I… I don't know what you are talking about," Eunji said. "They're not even doing anything–"

"It's not about what they're doing, but how they're doing it," Bomi said confidently. She was the ultimate Sunggyu expert: captain of his official fanclub, she'd been part of his following for years now, the one who had introduced Eunji to the joys of worshipping Sunggyu in the first place. She was even famous among Sunggyu's fangirls for having this used fabric tissue–which she kept religiously locked in a small jewel box in her room–that she claimed had been used by Sunggyu once, although Eunji had always had her doubts. If she knew Bomi, she had most likely blown her nose into it herself. "Not that you would believe it even if they started making out in front of you."

"Well, why are you so eager to think they're dating? I though that you, of all people–"

"I'm not eager," Bomi said, "I'm quite heartbroken, really. But I have to face reality: it was inevitable that Sunggyu oppa would start dating sooner or later. I'm quite content with looking at him and enjoying his existence from afar. It's more than I can ask for. And anyway, I can always re-read that story Naeun wrote for me where Sunggyu oppa and I get married and have six kids–Oh my god they're coming this way!"

Eunji's heart jumped in her chest. She quickly reached out for her phone and started typing furiously, looking fixedly at it as if she were in a serious, intense Kakao conversation with someone. Next to her, Bomi was doing the same; it was their cover-up plan should Sunggyu ever notice their presence. She could hear him and Tall Guy walking towards them, the sound of their voices getting clearer and clearer as they approached.

"Is this iced coffee all I get for my hard work? You said–no, you promised you would take me out for ice-cream–"

"I only said I would do that if you passed."

"Well then, since I'm definitely going to pass we can just go now–"

"I'm not buying you anything until I see your pass mark, on paper. You should be grateful I got you that coffee."

"Woah, when did you become so stingy? It's just ice-cream, seriously–"

"Then why don't you get it yourself?"

"But that's no fun! If hyung is paying I can get the special cone with ten flavours in it!"

"You're always going on about that cone, but I swear I've never seen you eat it all. The last time I had to finish yours–I almost got an indigestion–"

"You really don't get it hyung, do you? The special cone is not about finishing it, it's about the challenge, the–"

And then they were right beside them, and Eunji couldn't help but steal a glance–only a peek, she told herself, it won't hurt–but when she did, she looked right into Sunggyu's eyes.

She froze.

"For your information," Sunggyu said as he walked past, looking straight at Eunji and Bomi, "He is my boyfriend."