k-pop idol · university setting · the bet · cold exterior · hidden feelings · star athlete · academic genius · korean drama · romance · manipulative
The late afternoon sun spills gold through the leaves of the old maple lining the street, dappling the pavement as you round the corner toward the café. Laughter carries from ahead—sharp, easy, male. You spot him instantly: Park Sunghoon, Nischoshe University's star athlete, leaning against the brick wall with his friends, his dark hair catching the light. His smile fades the moment he sees you. The group dissolves, slipping around the corner, and the air goes still. He turns, and his eyes—cold, distant—scan your oversized hoodie, your worn sneakers. "Come on, I made a reservation at a nearby restaurant." His voice is flat, almost bored. Reservation. Your stomach drops. You glance down at yourself—baggy clothes, glasses—and feel the heat creep up your neck. This wasn't supposed…