Chapter Text
𝑂ne of my most vivid memories is of when Daeun looked at me in a strange way. We were kids, in fifth grade.
Daeun had earned a little star as a reward for good behavior, and since I was a very talkative child, I ended up making a lot of noise during class, so I didn’t receive any stars. I didn’t really care about those stupid little stars, but the way Daeun looked at me, as if she had achieved something I hadn’t, as if she were superior... it made my stomach twist.
This is my earliest memory of when our rivalry began; anything before that is just fragments, disconnected moments. In seventh grade, Daeun and I took part in an annual competition, where
the grand prize was a trip to a water park. Honestly, the prize didn’t matter much to me; what I really wanted was to win and rub it in her face. The final round of the competition came down to me and Daeun. The challenge: dodgeball. The last person to get hit would lose. We played for hours, until the organizers declared a tie. Obviously, neither Daeun nor I liked that.
A tie meant we were on the same level, and we weren’t. In eighth grade, I won; I ranked first in the class, scoring perfect grades in every subject. In ninth grade, Daeun won: her science project took first place at the school fair. In our first year of high school, I won; in the second, Daeun beat me, and now we’re in our final year.
We don’t talk much, actually, barely at all. Just a few exchanged words here and there. We’ve never said it out loud that we were in an academic competition, but we both knew. And this final year was the ultimate test: whoever won would win the game. It’s all or nothing.
𓈒𓂃⠀˖⠀🜲⠀˖⠀𓂃𓈒
I stepped onto the school campus. The day was especially beautiful; several students were spread out on the grass, others sat on benches. I scanned the area, trying to find Gomi, my best friend, but I couldn’t find her anywhere. I gave up looking, made a mental note to text her later, and headed inside.
Our school is among the top ten most prestigious in the country; it’s no exaggeration to say that the future of our nation is within these walls. Only the children of influential people study here… well, them and me. I’m not the child of some rich tycoon, but I earned a scholarship because of my grades. I’m the only scholarship student here, but contrary to what people might think, I’m not bullied, and my life here isn’t a nightmare.
Everyone treats me well and respects me. Besides, I’m the student council president, so many students come to me for advice or just to talk. As soon as I walk through the large doors leading to the main courtyard, a few people greet me, and I wave back at each of them.
I keep walking toward my locker when I spot Daeun and her new boyfriend going up the stairs. She doesn’t see me, and I stand there until they disappear from view. James Chao, also a senior, is part of the basketball and swimming teams.I don’t know much about him, but if he’s in this school, he must be rich.
I always see him walking around with four other guys, but I don’t know any of them. All I know is that Daeun walks around the halls sighing while clinging to him like a needy koala. Gomi said she seems to be in love, Gomi knows about our competition; I was kind of forced to tell her in ninth grade when I cried my eyes out after Daeun won that year, but I don’t really have an opinion about it.
Daeun has always seemed so cold and unreachable that I doubt she even has feelings. Besides, I honestly don’t know what Daeun is thinking. A boyfriend? Seriously? We’re in our final year of school, shouldn’t we be worried about our grades? Well, this might actually benefit me. That relationship could distract her from her studies, and she might slip up, letting me take first place this year and finally win this game. I let out a satisfied sigh just thinking about it. The sweet taste of victory is close, I can feel it.
Back in the classroom, I take a few notes during the teacher’s lecture about the French Revolution. I decide to sneak a glance at Daeun, who is typing something on her phone.
She’s smiling like an idiot, letting out a few little giggles. I make a face of disgust and try to focus on the lesson again… or at least I try, because a strange feeling starts to settle in my chest, and a question lingers in my mind: Why do I feel like I’m losing? I look at Daeun again, now watching as she bites her lower lip. What is she talking about? And with whom? Then a lightbulb goes off in my head. James Chao, it has to be him. She’d rather talk to a guy than pay attention in class? She was never like this, never skipped taking notes before.
This relationship really is affecting her. And the worst part… she looks happy. Which irritates me more than anything. Why do I feel like I’m being defeated? Just because she has a boyfriend and I don’t? That’s ridiculous—I could get one whenever I want. I glance around the classroom. No guy catches my attention. I let out a frustrated grunt.
Damn it… Six months pass in this torture.
Daeun’s grades haven’t dropped; they’ve stayed stable. On top of that, she seems happier than ever, which makes me more irritated than ever. I’ve never seen her this happy before; it feels like she knows something I don’t, and I hate that feeling.
I talked to Gomi about it, and she told me to just find someone. But how am I supposed to do that? It’s not that simple, and I don’t want just any guy. It has to be someone on my level, I’m not dating an idiot. The sound of footsteps pulls me out of my thoughts, and I spot Daeun running across the main courtyard. She has one hand over her mouth; I can’t see her face because her hair forms a curtain around it. Strange.
I decide to let it go for now and head toward my locker. I open it, and several papers fall out. I really need to clean it. As I start removing some clutter, a small plush toy I got at a pizzeria falls to the ground, and as I bend down to pick it up, a pair of sneakers comes into view. I lift my gaze—and well… this person has long legs—up to his face.
I freeze in place. Standing in front of me is the last person I expected to talk to me. James Chao.
“I’ll get straight to the point, I have a proposal for you,” he says, sounding slightly impatient, even though he looks as flawless as ever.His blond hair is perfectly messy in all the right places. I cross my arms and raise an eyebrow.
James must take my reaction as a cue to continue.
“So… let’s date.”
My eyes widen in shock. My throat goes dry instantly.
James starts laughing, a melodic sound I’ve never had the pleasure of hearing before.
“Okay, okay. Not like that,” he says, waving his hand as if brushing off his own words. “A fake relationship. Let’s pretend to date.”
I must look like an idiot standing there in silence, but who can blame me? I need a few minutes to process that the guy proposing a (fake) relationship to me is none other than my rival’s boyfriend.
𝑇o be continued...