Ha-neul stared at her palm in the practice room. ‘Again? Do I really have to do this?’ Taeo, next to her, snorted. ‘You look like you can’t even hold hands. Should I be worried about you?’ Ha-neul pouted, glaring at Taeo. ‘Excuse me, I grabbed your hand first last time!’
Today was their final rehearsal before the big collaboration stage. The stage manager had told them at least ten times: ‘Hold hands tight!’ Taeo hooked his finger around hers, grinning. ‘Come on, grip tight this time. Don’t let go.’
Suddenly, memories from their past lives crashed in. Two young people in royal robes, pretending to hate each other in an old palace courtyard. But inside, both cared too much. Ha-neul’s heart did a mini drum solo in her chest.
As the rehearsal ended, Su-jin started clapping and shouted, ‘Wow, look at that eye contact! You two sure you’re not dating?’ Ji-min chimed in, teasing, ‘Ha-neul, are you getting confessed to? Your face is tomato red!’
Ha-neul, cheeks burning, protested, ‘We are NOT! Seriously, NO WAY!’ Taeo scratched his head awkwardly. ‘Geez, can’t I just practice in peace?’
Minutes before going on stage, Ha-neul and Taeo sat quietly in the green room, heartbeats thumping like bad drummers. Ha-neul broke the silence, ‘Um… what if I act weird again when we’re up there?’ Taeo gave a half-smile. ‘Relax. You’re always weird. It’s not just the stage. It happens to me, too.’
Ha-neul felt the misunderstanding piling up. ‘Seriously, do you think people will really believe we’re, you know… a thing?’ Taeo winked. ‘If they do, maybe it’s a good thing.’
They stared in mutual confusion, hearts doing somersaults. Suddenly, Su-jin and Ji-min burst in. ‘It’s showtime! Hands together, now!’
Startled, Ha-neul and Taeo looked at each other like deer in headlights, then nervously joined hands. Who knew what disaster—or surprise—tonight’s stage would bring? Their hearts refused to calm down.