By Monday morning, Y/N realized something terrifying.
She and Jay had officially become the talk of the entire school.
It started with whispers. Then came the stares. Then, the photos.
Kea came running into class waving her phone like a tabloid reporter. “Breaking news!” she declared dramatically. “Jay and Y/N seen leaving the studio together last night! Possible duet or possible date?”
Y/N buried her face in her hands. “Who even took that photo?”
Maria, ever calm, sipped her drink. “Probably someone with too much free time.”
Kea gasped again. “Look, there’s a hashtag—#CoffeeCouple.”
Y/N groaned. “I hate this school.”
“Correction,” Kea said. “You love this school. You just hate that your love life is trending.”
Y/N peeked up from her hands to see Jay walk into the room. Sunglasses on, confident as always, pretending not to notice the whispers.
Their eyes met for half a second. He grinned. “Morning, Coffee Girl.”
Half the class melted.
Kea fanned herself. “Why does he sound like a drama lead when he talks?”
Maria chuckled. “Because he knows it drives Y/N insane.”
Y/N sighed. “Mission accomplished.”
---
At lunch, the chaos got worse.
Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Jake had joined Jay at their table. Unfortunately, that table was right next to Y/N’s.
Kea whispered, “The proximity of destiny!”
“Stop narrating my life,” Y/N hissed.
Jay leaned back in his chair, smirk aimed directly at her. “Hey, partner.”
“Don’t start,” Y/N muttered without looking up.
Sunoo leaned in, curious. “So it’s true? You guys are performing together?”
Jay nodded. “Yep. She’s my duet partner.”
Kea nearly choked on her food. “Oh my gosh, he said my duet partner.”
Maria calmly pushed a napkin toward her. “Breathe, Kea.”
Sunghoon smirked. “You two actually sound really good together. We heard you practicing.”
Y/N froze. “You were listening?”
Jungwon smiled shyly. “It wasn’t on purpose… but you two harmonize really well.”
Jake added, “Yeah, it’s kind of cute. Like opposites attract.”
“Opposites collide,” Y/N corrected.
Jay laughed. “Same thing.”
---
That afternoon, during rehearsal, Y/N couldn’t focus. Her brain kept replaying every whisper, every look, every “Coffee Couple” tag floating around.
Jay noticed instantly. “You’re off today.”
“I’m fine,” she said too quickly.
He tilted his head. “You’re tense. Don’t tell me the rumors are getting to you?”
“They’re ridiculous,” Y/N snapped. “I don’t even like you.”
Jay grinned. “You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself.”
She threw him a glare sharp enough to cut glass. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Too late.” He winked.
Y/N groaned. “You’re impossible.”
Jay chuckled, picking up his guitar. “You say that a lot.”
---
After practice, they sat on the studio floor, tired but laughing after a failed attempt to record the chorus.
For the first time, the tension melted into something… comfortable.
Jay leaned his head back against the wall. “You know,” he said softly, “you’re not that bad to hang out with.”
“Wow,” Y/N said sarcastically. “I’m honored.”
“I mean it,” he said, eyes closed. “Most people just want to talk about fame or followers. You just… talk.”
Y/N blinked. That was… unexpectedly sincere.
Before she could respond, the door opened and Sunoo peeked in. “Ooooh, am I interrupting something?”
Jay opened one eye. “Yes.”
Y/N quickly stood. “No! We were just finishing up.”
Sunoo grinned mischievously. “Sure you were.”
Y/N could already imagine the rumors getting worse tomorrow.
---
Later that night, Kea flopped onto Y/N’s bed. “Tell me everything.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” Y/N said, scrolling through her phone.
Maria looked up from her notebook. “You mean except for the way you smile after every practice?”
“I do not—”
“You do,” they said in unison.
Y/N sighed, hugging a pillow. “Fine. Maybe he’s… less annoying now.”
Kea gasped dramatically. “The enemies-to-lovers arc has begun!”
Maria smiled. “Or maybe she’s realizing he’s not her type—but maybe he is.”
Y/N threw a pillow at both of them.
But when the lights went out and the room fell silent, she found herself smiling in the dark, replaying Jay’s voice in her head.
---
✨ End of Chapter 4 ✨
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