Jiho had survived a lot this week—public humiliation, emotional whiplash, and the terrifying realization that his fake boyfriend might actually be enjoying this entire ordeal.
But nothing could have prepared him for what happened the next morning.
As he opened his locker, a voice purred behind him.
"Still thinking about the kiss?"
Jiho choked on air, slamming the locker door shut as if it could somehow erase Kang Minjae's face from his vision. "Aish! Y-You—jinjja (really)! Shut up!"
Minjae leaned casually against the neighboring locker, his smile practically criminal. "Come on, Jiho-ya. Your ears are turning red again."
"Aniya (no)! They are not!"
"They are," Minjae said smugly, leaning in close enough for Jiho to smell his stupid expensive cologne. "Want me to check?"
Jiho backed up like Minjae was a virus. "Michyeosseo (are you crazy)?You need help. Go flirt with someone else!"
"I would," Minjae shrugged, "but apparently, I already have a boyfriend."
"Fake Boyfriend."
"Still counts," he winked.
Jiho could feel the ground cracking beneath him. "Wae (why) do you enjoy ruining my life?!"
"Because your reactions are cute" Minjae said without hesitation.
Jiho was about to combust when Minjae suddenly straightened and asked, "By the way, do you have time this weekend?"
"Wae (why)?"
"I'm taking you out."
Jiho blinked. "Out? Like... on a date?"
Minjae's grin widened. "obviously."
Jiho froze. "Stop. We don't need to go that far for this act."
Minjae shrugged, already pulling out his phone. "too late. I booked two tickets for that horror movie you said you wanted to see."
Jiho gawked. "I never said that."
Minjae looked up, unbothered. "Well, now you do."
Jiho stared at him, mouth open. "Do you even know how fake dating works?!"
Minjae tucked his phone away, stepping closer. "You keep saying it's fake, but you're still blushing every time I get near."
Jiho's brain short-circuited. "I hate you so much."
Minjae smirked, leaning in just a bit. "You say that, but come on… you can't really hate the guy who makes your heart race like this."
---
By the time Saturday rolled around, Jiho had convinced himself it would be a disaster.
He was wrong.
It was so much worse.
Minjae had shown up to their fake date looking like he'd walked out of a K-drama—oversized hoodie, messy hair, silver chain glinting under the streetlights. Jiho had tried to ignore it. Tried to act cool. But then Minjae held his hand as they crossed the street, and Jiho's brain completely was shocked.
"Relax," Minjae whispered. "it's for appearances."
"who's watching us? That cat?!" Jiho hissed, glaring at a stray tabby near the vending machine.
Minjae just laughed. "stop being cute."
"I'M NOT CUTE!"
The movie theater was crowded, noisy, and filled with couples. Jiho wanted to melt into the floor.
Things only got worse when they sat down and Minjae stretched, casually draping his arm behind Jiho's seat.
Jiho flinched. "stop it. Touch me and die."
Minjae smiled. "You say that, but you still haven't moved away."
Jiho gritted his teeth. He was going to survive this. He was going to—
A jumpscare hit. Jiho screamed. Loudly.
The couple two rows ahead turned around. Minjae was shaking with silent laughter.
"don't say a word," Jiho growled, trying to hide behind his popcorn.
Minjae leaned in again. "So... wanna kiss again?"
Jiho almost threw the popcorn at his face.
---
After the movie, they walked in silence. Jiho's heart was still recovering from both the ghosts on screen and the real one beside him.
He didn't expect what came next.
"Jiho-ya!" A voice called sweetly, but the tone made his stomach drop.
Turning around, he saw her.
Shin Hyejin.
Perfect uniform. Perfect hair. Perfect smirk.
She walked up like she owned the street, her eyes briefly flicking to Minjae before landing on Jiho with faux concern.
"Gwaenchana(are you okay)?" she asked, voice syrupy and fake. "You look a little pale. Too much excitement with your boyfriend, maybe?"
Jiho stiffened. "Nan gwaenchana (I'm fine)."
"really?" Her smile widened. "Just making sure. After all, wouldn't want you getting too ahead of yourself.
You know Minjae-oppa has...standards."
Jiho clenched his jaw, but Minjae stepped in before he could respond.
"Hyejin," Minjae said coolly, slipping his arm around Jiho's shoulders, "Don't worry. Jiho's exactly my type."
Jiho choked on air again.
Hyejin's expression cracked—just for a second. Then she tilted her head sweetly. "Jinjja (really)? Well, tastes do change, I guess."
She turned to Jiho, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"be careful, okay? Some things that look good at first..." Her smile sharpened. "Turn out to be a complete mess."
With a final, sugary wave, she sauntered off.
Jiho stood frozen.
Minjae didn't move either.
"She's gonna kill me," Jiho whispered.
"Aniya(no)," Minjae said, voice a little too light. "You've got me."
Jiho blinked at him.
Minjae smiled.
And for once... it didn't feel like a joke.
---
That night, as Jiho collapsed onto his bed, his phone buzzed with a text from Minjae.
Minjae: Next time, we should try the arcade.
Jiho stared at the message, unsure how to respond. Next time? Was there going to be a next time?
He was about to type something—anything—when he remembered the way Minjae had looked at him after Hyejin left. It wasn't the usual teasing. It was something...different.
With a groan, he buried his face in his pillow. This was getting too complicated.
Monday morning came too quickly. Jiho dragged himself to school, his mind still replaying Saturday's events. He was so distracted he almost missed it—the small folded paper that fluttered to the ground when he opened his locker.
Frowning, he picked it up and unfolded it.
His blood ran cold.
In careful, deliberate handwriting, the note read: "Stay away from Kang Minjae. This is your first warning."
---