Hyunmi had thought these feelings were the result of some temporary confusion that would pass over time. However, a week had gone by, and none of the feelings had subdued. They may have worsened instead.    For example, she had unconsciously begun to wake up extra early to curl her hair. She logically reasoned with herself that she simply wanted to try a different hairstyle, but who was she trying to kid? Everytime she curled her hair, she kept thinking of Woohyun’s compliment of how it fit her and how he liked it.    She blamed it all on the mock date. The sweet moment with Woohyun must’ve deluded her into thinking she might like him when in fact he was naturally charming. He could win anyone over. Or maybe she was desperate to have a boyfriend and had somehow come to believe that her best friend might be a viable option.   “I don’t like him,” she declared to her own reflection, putting down the curling iron. And yet, she inspected the waves in her hair and deemed them good enough for Woohyun’s liking.   This really had to stop.   ***   “Is today’s concept country bumpkin style or something?” Kibum asked first things first when he and Woohyun entered the classroom together. They both looked at Hyunmi who at the last minute decided to style her hair into two braids instead.   “Is your permanent concept being an arrogant narcissist or something?” Hyunmi snapped back, which made Kibum snort.   “That’s pretty spot on, actually,” he admitted. “But seriously, what has gotten into you? That hairstyle is outdated by like two decades ago.”   Hyunmi couldn’t help but pout, hating how Kibum’s commentary about her looks affected her in more ways than she wanted to. It wasn’t that she cared for his opinions, but he was still her fashion guru for a reason. Plus, Woohyun hadn’t said anything. Should she have gone with the usual curls despite knowing she would be doing it for his sake?   “You say it as if it’s a bad thing,” Woohyun finally spoke up, setting his bag down on his desk. “I think it looks good.”   Kibum rolled his eyes. “You think anything looks good on her, anyway.”   “You’re not wrong,” Woohyun coolly admitted, taking his seat. He let his gaze linger on her hair for another second before flashing her a charming grin.   Crap. Hyunmi felt that problematic thudding of her heart again. At this rate, she might end up braiding her hair for the rest of the year even at the expense of Kibum’s insults.   “Eih! It’s the Asian Pippi Longstocking!” Sungyeol greeted as soon as he entered the class, pointing directly at Hyunmi’s hair. Both he and Kibum started to laugh at the resemblance.   Never mind. Woohyun’s compliment could not overpower their teasing. Hyunmi glared the two boys down as she untied the rubber band from her braid.   “Didn’t think you’d care for their opinions that much,” Woohyun said, of course focusing on her rather than joining the other two who thought of other nicknames for her.   “I don’t, but they’re being annoying,” Hyunmi said, smoothing the braids out into loose curls.   “When are they not?” Woohyun stated, which made her laugh. “Let me help.”   “With this?” Hyunmi held the other braid in her hair. She was ready to reject him, but Woohyun had already leaned over her desk to take the hair tie out. His face was too close to her, which he paid no attention to when his focus was on her hair. He then combed his fingers through, smoothing out the rest of her curls. When his fingers occasionally brushed the side of her neck, she inhaled sharply.   This wasn’t the first time he had played with her hair, but her reaction was completely different. It never used to bother her. She had always let him do his thing while she proceeded with something else. But now, it was as if her every sense were heightened to his touch, his proximity, his actions, his words, his everything.   “Kibum was right about one thing though,” Woohyun began, absentmindedly stretching out the tie between his fingers.   “That I look like an outdated country bumpkin?”   Woohyun scoffed and shook his head. “That I think everything looks good on you anyway.”   As Hyunmi felt a blush creep on her face, Woohyun had thankfully averted his gaze from her to focus on his friends instead. How could he calmly say things that caused a whirlwind of emotions in her? In fact, hadn’t he always made such remarks to her? Hyunmi could barely recall the past now that his every word made her heart spiral out of control.   She had to take drastic measures to prove she wasn’t falling for her best friend. She needed an escape.   ***   The perfect escape came in the form of Sungyeol and Miyu arguing in the hallway after classes were over. Hyunmi was heading out when she caught the two in an interesting argument.   “Why would you agree on going to a group blind date?” Sungyeol bellowed, the annoyance clear in his voice.   “I agreed to it before we started dating,” Miyu reasoned. “Don’t worry. I won’t fall for any of the guys there.”   “No! I wouldn’t want you to even breathe the same air as them,” Sungyeol argued.   Hyunmi quickly put a hand to to stop herself from snorting a laugh. She never imagined Sungyeol to be that kind of boyfriend. She made sure to make a mental note of his words so that she could use it as blackmail against him someday.   “I’m really sorry, but I already made a promise to Ahreum. She’s scared to go alone, and she isn’t close to the other girls,” Miyu said.   “I don’t care. Find someone else to accompany her,” Sungyeol said stubbornly.   “It’s not that easy,” Miyu retaliated. “It’s not like I can find someone who’d be willing to take my place at the last minute.”   Hyunmi gasped, knowing this was her cue to enter the scene. “I’ll go!”   The couple turned to the unexpected intruder, even more surprised when they realized it was Hyunmi.   “Why would you need to go to a group blind date?” Sungyeol asked.   “Cause unlike your girlfriend, I’m not dating anyone,” Hyunmi answered. Plus, she was intent on proving that she was not attracted to her best friend. Maybe she could find a nice guy from this group date.   “Great! Problem solved. I’ll tell Ahreum about it,” Miyu was about to pick up her phone when Sungyeol stopped her by her wrist.   “Hold on. Though I don’t want you to go, I don’t think Hyunmi should either.” Sungyeol now turned to Hyunmi with the dilemma written over his face. “Woohyun wouldn’t approve of this.”   “I don’t need his approval to go,” Hyunmi said. Though, on second thought, if Woohyun were to march in and forbid her from going, she would obey him in a heartbeat. She shook those thoughts away immediately. “Besides, he doesn’t need to know about this.”   “I don’t know,” Sungyeol hummed. “Miyu can just call in sick.”   “Ahreum can’t go alone,” Miyu quickly said.   “Then she can call in sick too,” Sungyeol said sternly.   “Come on, you already found a girlfriend. Why can’t I find one too?” Hyunmi asked.   “Cause you’re not into girls,” Sungyeol answered in a matter of fact way, which earned a glare from both girls. “Fine. You can do what you want. But I’m not gonna be responsible if Woohyun gets mad at you.”   “He has no reason to be mad,” Hyunmi mumbled to herself before Miyu came over and texted her all the details needed for tonight’s meeting.   This was the perfect escape she needed to get her mind off of Woohyun. She was going to prove to herself and everyone that she had no feelings for him.   ***   It was the very first time Hyunmi had ever attended these kind of gatherings, and she was pretty sure it would be her last one too. In comics and dramas the meeting would happen at some proper dining places, not at a private karaoke room where nearly everyone but her and Ahreum smoked. A cloud of smoke