The next day, something strange happened.
The moment I stepped into class, Bomi quickly stood from her seat.
"H-Hanz!" she called, almost panicking.
I raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
She bit her lip, cheeks slightly red. "Can we… talk? Just the two of us?"
Everyone in the class instantly turned to look at us.
"…She called him first?"
"…are they close now?"
"…no way, impossible."
I sighed. "Let's go outside."
We walked to the quiet hallway.
Bomi kept her head down for a long moment before speaking.
"Hanz… I… need your help."
"With what?"
She clasped her book tightly. "There's a rumor about me. Something dumb but… people are saying I'm getting close to a guy from another class."
"So?"
"I want to stop the rumor."
She took a deep breath.
"So… I need you."
"…for what exactly?"
Bomi looked up at me—her eyes honest and trembling.
"Can you… pretend to be close to me? Just until the rumors die."
I froze.
This was the weirdest request I'd ever heard.
"Why me?"
There were plenty of guys more normal, more friendly, more… social than me.
Bomi answered quietly—no hesitation.
"Because… you're the only one I trust."
That froze me completely.
I didn't know if that was a good reason…
or a reason that would make my life hell.