By Monday, everyone at X University already knew.
"Park Jisoo—Jinu's sister—was on a date!""With that cute top student!""Maybe she used her brother's fame to get him!"
The whispers followed her everywhere.From lecture halls to cafeteria lines, her name was on everyone's lips.
Some people looked at her with curiosity.Some with admiration.But some… with jealousy.
"Don't listen to them," Minji said, slamming her milk carton down. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I know," Jisoo muttered, stirring her noodles. "But it's so annoying. I literally can't even sneeze without someone filming me."
Minji grinned. "Hey, at least sneeze glamorously. That way it trends as #CuteJisooSneeze."
"Minji, I swear to God—"
Before Jisoo could finish, someone nearby snickered loudly.A girl with perfect curls and red lipstick — one of Jinu's self-proclaimed "core fans."
"Honestly," the girl said, flipping her hair, "it's embarrassing. An idol's sister should know better than to act like some attention-hungry pig."
The word hit harder than Jisoo expected.
Minji shot up. "What did you just say?"
The girl smirked. "Oh, sorry. Did I say that out loud?"
Before things escalated, another voice interrupted.Cool, calm, and firm.
"Apologize."
Everyone turned.Kang Haneul stood there, his tray in hand, eyes sharp.
The girl blinked. "What—why would I—"
"Because what you said was cruel," Haneul continued. "And untrue. She's not some celebrity wannabe. She's the kindest person in this school."
The cafeteria fell silent.Even Jisoo's heart froze mid-beat.
The girl stuttered something under her breath, grabbed her bag, and left with a huff.
Minji whispered, "Oh my god, he just went full knight-in-shining-apron mode."
Jisoo's face was redder than kimchi stew. "I-I didn't ask him to defend me!"
Haneul smiled softly. "I know. But someone had to."
Later that evening, she sat by the Han River, the wind brushing through her bangs.Her phone buzzed again — Jinu.
Jinu: "I saw the video."Jisoo: "Of the cafeteria?"Jinu: "Yeah. Haneul's a real one."Jisoo: "He didn't have to step in…"Jinu: "He did because he cares. You're too used to fighting alone, Jisoo."
She stared at the message for a long time.Was that true?
All this time, she'd laughed off insults, played tough, and told herself she didn't care.But deep down, she had always wished someone would stand beside her.
And now, someone did.
The next morning, something strange happened.
When Jisoo opened her locker, there wasn't a hate letter.There were roses.
A whole bouquet of them — messy, imperfect, but beautiful.Tucked between them was a small note written in familiar handwriting.
"For the bravest girl I know. Keep being you." — Haneul
Her eyes stung before she could stop herself.
"Damn it," she muttered, wiping quickly. "Why am I crying over flowers?!"
Minji peeked over. "Because it's romantic, idiot."
That night, Jinu barged into her room holding his phone.
"Explain this."
He showed her a trending tweet:
"Park Jinu's sister caught receiving roses! Is this love blossoming?"
Jisoo buried her face in her pillow. "I can't live like this anymore."
Jinu laughed, sitting beside her. "You can. Because you're tougher than all of them combined."
He paused, voice gentler now."You know… I used to be jealous of you."
Jisoo peeked up, confused. "Of me?"
"Yeah. You got to live freely. Be normal. Make friends. Fall in love without a script. I envy that."
For once, she didn't have a comeback.She just smiled.
"Maybe we both have things the other wants, huh?"
Jinu nodded. "Guess so. But you've got one thing I don't."
"What's that?"
He grinned. "The guts to bridal-carry an idol in public."
She threw a pillow at him. "GET OUT!"