-FLASHBACK-

Despite the fiery rivalry between Jungwon and me, our classmates couldn't help but notice the tension—the kind that seemed to buzz with something more than just competition. It was as if our constant bickering had taken on a life of its own, something beyond mere rivalry.

It all started with a few teasing remarks here and there. Subtle comments made under breath about how we always seemed to end up in the same place at the same time, locked in yet another battle for supremacy. At first, I brushed it off as just background noise to our usual banter. But then the whispers grew louder.

"Did you see the way Jungwon looked at Bella during the debate? It's like he couldn't take his eyes off her!" someone said one day, the gossip spreading like wildfire.

"And Bella totally smiled when she beat him in that math test. I think she enjoys this rivalry a little too much," another added, their voice dripping with intrigue.

Before long, it wasn't just whispers. The rumors had taken on a life of their own. Posters with our names scribbled together in hearts began to appear on classroom walls. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw one that read, "BellWon: The Ultimate Power Couple!" Some students even created a ship name for us: "BellWon."

At first, we were livid. The audacity of it all! We both stormed into the classroom one morning, glaring at the chalkboard where that ridiculous proclamation was written.

I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes as I looked at Jungwon. "This is ridiculous," I said, my voice dripping with frustration.

He nodded, clearly annoyed but trying to play it cool. "Yeah, totally ridiculous. As if we'd ever—" he started, but then he stopped himself.

I glanced at him, my confusion growing. He was already looking at me, and in that moment, his eyes seemed to hold something deeper. It was a look that made my heart flutter, the kind of flutter that left me breathless and wondering.

"Jungwon, don't even think about it," I said, trying to mask the strange feelings stirring in my chest.

But as the days passed, the more our classmates teased us, the more we found ourselves oddly intrigued by the idea of "BellWon." Neither of us would admit it out loud, of course. The shipping, which was supposed to be an annoyance, began to linger in the back of our minds.

Jungwon and I might have fought over every little thing, but there was something undeniable about the way our eyes met when the classroom buzzed with "BellWon" chatter. Something about those moments made my heart race, a curious blend of irritation and excitement that I couldn't quite ignore.

I was in the middle of a heated argument with Jungwon over who should lead our group project when Minji, ever the provocateur, piped up with a mischievous grin.

"You two should just get it over with and date already," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You fight like an old married couple."

I could feel my cheeks heat up, and I spun around to give Minji a sharp retort. But as I opened my mouth, I noticed something strange about Jungwon's reaction. He wasn't rolling his eyes or smirking like usual. Instead, he seemed... thoughtful, his gaze distant as if he was considering Minji's words more seriously than anyone could have anticipated.

"Yeah, right," I finally managed to reply, my voice lacking its usual sharp edge.

"Like that's ever going to happen," I added, trying to sound dismissive, but the words felt hollow even to me.

Jungwon, still lost in thought, echoed my sentiment with a casual, "Never." Yet, there was a faint hesitation in his voice that I couldn't quite ignore. It was as if the idea, while absurd, had taken root in his mind.

The teasing didn't die down after that. Instead, it seemed to escalate, with Minji and our friends having a field day at our expense. But something had shifted. Instead of the usual sharp retorts and eye rolls, Jungwon and I found ourselves playing along—just a little.

Hyein, always one to stir the pot, sauntered up to me with a playful glint in her eyes. "Hey, Bella, Jungwon's waiting for you at the library. Date night?"

I shot back with a grin, trying to keep the mood light despite the fluttering in my chest. "Only if he admits I'm better at chemistry."

From across the room, Jungwon overheard and smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Not a chance. But maybe I'll let you win the next debate... if you're nice."

Our classmates erupted in laughter and cheers, enjoying our banter, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had shifted between us. It wasn't just playful teasing anymore; it was as if our words had begun to dance around a truth neither of us was quite ready to face.

As I glanced at Jungwon, I caught him looking at me with an expression I hadn't seen before—a mix of curiosity and something else, something deeper. I couldn't deny the flutter in my heart or the way my mind kept replaying his words. Was it possible that our playful arguments and teasing were hinting at something more?

The sun was dipping low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the track as Jungwon and I walked side by side toward the lockers. Our usual banter echoed around us, a familiar rhythm that had become a comforting soundtrack to our daily encounters.

"You know," Jungwon said, nudging me playfully with his shoulder, "if you just focused on your stride more, you might actually beat me next time."

I smirked, catching his teasing tone. "And if you weren't so distracted trying to keep up with me, you might not trip over your own feet."

Our laughter mingled, ringing out unexpectedly. The sound was light and free, a contrast to the usual intensity of our rivalry. It was like a little secret we shared, a spark of amusement in the middle of our fierce competition.

As we walked, I glanced over at him, noticing how his eyes crinkled with genuine laughter. For a split second, the rivalry seemed to melt away, replaced by something softer, almost playful.

Jungwon's gaze lingered on me, his usual competitive edge momentarily forgotten. Instead of plotting his next move to outdo me, he seemed lost in thought, contemplating something else. There was a curiosity in his eyes, a question unspoken.

"What?" I asked, catching his gaze and raising an eyebrow. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Jungwon quickly averted his eyes, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Nothing," he said, shrugging it off with a casual air.

But I wasn't fooled. There was a new warmth in the way he looked at me, something beyond our usual competitive banter. 

-THE PRESENT-

As Minji finished the last sentence, the entire room erupted into a collective squel of disbelief. My heart was racing, and I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"OH MY SERIOUSLY?!?!" Haewon's voice was a mix of shock and incredulity, causing everyone to turn their attention to Minji.

"Yes!" Minji declared triumphantly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I saw the whole eye contact thing. It was so intense!"

I was shaking my head, trying to hide my face behind my hands. Why did this always happen to me? Minji had a talent for making every embarrassing detail of my life public knowledge.

"This isn't the beginning," Minji continued, her excitement palpable. "The real thing started when—"

"Minji," I interjected, my voice trembling with a mix of desperation and mortification. "I don't think we need to go any further. Enough for today."

Minji's eyes widened in disappointment. "Why?? This is so enjoyable."

Jungwon, sitting beside me, let out an exasperated sigh. "No it's not. No one is enjoying this."

"We are!" came the enthusiastic chorus from the other hosts, their voices merging into one supportive yet disheartening rally.

I glanced around, feeling utterly defeated. Jungwon's words were a small comfort, but they did little to ease my embarrassment. I could see Minji's determination hardening as she prepared to dive back into her story, and I couldn't help but sigh, knowing that my fate was sealed.

-FLASHBACK-

As the rumors about us continued to spread like wildfire, the tension between Jungwon and me shifted into something neither of us could quite put our finger on. It was still there, but now it had a different edge—a playful, almost teasing quality that made our interactions feel less like a battle and more like a game. We had somehow transformed our rivalry into a flirtatious banter that was both thrilling and confusing.

By the time the next debate competition rolled around, our classmates were practically buzzing with excitement. Everyone was eager to see how we would square off this time. The whispers and knowing looks only added fuel to the fire, amplifying the anticipation in the room.

On the day of the competition, we found ourselves standing across from each other once again. Our eyes locked in that familiar stare, but this time, something was different. It was as if the debate had become an arena for something deeper—a feeling none of us was ready to acknowledge out loud.

The debate topic was a challenging one, requiring quick thinking and sharp arguments. I, as usual, came out strong, my voice clear and confident as I laid out my points. Jungwon, not to be outdone, followed with his own well-crafted arguments, his eyes never leaving mine. But as the debate went on, our usual intensity started to give way to a new dynamic. Instead of the usual sharp exchanges and cutting remarks, we found ourselves smiling at each other's points, almost like we were sharing an inside joke that no one else understood.

At one point, I made a particularly clever argument. Instead of jumping in to counter it immediately, Jungwon paused, a grin spreading across his face.

"I've got to admit, that was a good one, Bella," he said.

The audience murmured in surprise, not used to hearing Jungwon give me any sort of compliment. I was momentarily thrown off balance by his words, but I quickly recovered, my own smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"Thanks, Jungwon. I'm surprised you managed to keep up," I teased, my tone light and playful.

He chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "I guess you're rubbing off on me."

Our classmates exchanged glances, the shipper crowd practically swooning at the interaction. The tension in the room was palpable, but it wasn't the kind that came from a rivalry—it was something else entirely.

As the debate continued, the playfulness between us became even more evident. We started to interrupt each other not with harsh rebuttals, but with teasing remarks, each trying to outwit the other in a way that felt more like flirting than fighting.

"Are you sure about that statistic, Jungwon?" I quipped, raising an eyebrow. "I'd hate for you to get caught making a mistake in front of everyone."

Jungwon grinned, unfazed. "You're welcome to check my sources, Bells. But we both know you'd just be proving me right."

I was surprised at the nickname but couldn't help but smirk a little. I tried to play it off cool as I rolled my eyes. "In your dreams."

Our rivalry, once defined by sharp words and fierce competition, began to evolve into something softer, something that came with a smile instead of a glare. It was as though the universe decided to trade our scathing retorts for shy glances and teasing touches, and I couldn't help but find it oddly captivating.

It started with the little things. During class, when we were paired up for a project, Jungwon would make one of his trademark sarcastic comments, and instead of firing back with my usual sharpness, I would roll my eyes and give him a light shove on the arm. To my surprise, Jungwon would laugh, a sound that was warm and easy, and I found myself smiling back, a little more often than I cared to admit.

In the hallways, we would brush past each other, and what used to be a quick, tense exchange of glares turned into something more playful. Jungwon might deliberately bump my shoulder as he passed, and I would retaliate with a flick of my pencil against his back. It was a game now—a game that neither of us wanted to end.

Our classmates noticed too, especially the "BellWon" shippers, who practically lived for these moments. They would whisper excitedly every time we were seen together, giggling whenever we exchanged one of our new playful touches. It was as if everyone was in on the secret that we ourselves were only just beginning to figure out.

The real shift came during another group study session, one that both of us had reluctantly agreed to join. We sat across from each other at the large table, surrounded by our classmates, but it felt as if we were in our own little world. Jungwon was, as usual, teasing me about something—probably my obsession with color-coded notes—and I, unable to resist, reached across the table to flick his forehead.

"You should try it sometime," I said with a grin. "Maybe then you wouldn't lose track of your arguments during debates."

Jungwon caught my hand before I could pull it back, his fingers curling around mine for just a moment longer than necessary. "I don't need color-coded notes to beat you, Bells," he replied, his voice low and teasing.

I felt a strange flutter in my chest, my heart skipping a beat at the contact. But I didn't pull away. Instead, I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head slightly, my smile never wavering. "Oh? You sure about that?"

Our classmates watched with wide eyes, holding their breath as the exchange played out. The air seemed to crackle with anticipation, as if they were all waiting for the moment to become something more than just playful banter. When Jungwon finally let go of my hand, there was a moment of silence, followed by an eruption of giggles and whispers that neither of us could ignore.