"Rumors Ignite"

The news spread like wildfire on social media: Ryujin and Yeji, two members of the popular K-pop group ITZY, were allegedly dating. Fans went into a frenzy, flooding the internet with speculation and fan art. The rumor was quickly picked up by entertainment news outlets, and soon the media was buzzing with the supposed romance. Ryujin and Yeji were caught off guard by the sudden attention. They had always been close as group members, but their management team had never discussed anything about a romantic relationship between them. When they met with their manager, Jiwon, she had a sly smile on her face. "Girls, I think we can turn this to our advantage," Jiwon said, leaning back in her chair. "The fans love you both, and this rumor is bringing a lot of attention to ITZY. So, I want you to...go along with it." Ryujin raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" she asked. Jiwon leaned forward. "I want you to post some photos together, drop some hints on Bubble. Make the fans think that the rumor is true. It'll create a buzz around the group and bring in more fans." Yeji frowned, unsure about the plan. But Jiwon was insistent, and eventually, they agreed to go along with it. The first photo was posted on Instagram, a casual shot of Ryujin and Yeji laughing together on a day off. The caption was innocuous, but fans quickly picked up on the supposed "couple" vibes. The comments section was flooded with congratulatory messages and fan art. As the days went by, Ryujin and Yeji continued to play along. They dropped hints on Bubble, exchanging playful messages and inside jokes. Ryujin, in particular, seemed to be enjoying herself, teasing Yeji with flirtatious comments and jokes. Yeji's feelings were more complicated. She had always thought of Ryujin as just a friend and bandmate, but lately, she had started to notice the way Ryujin's eyes sparkled when she laughed, the way her hair fell in loose waves down her back. Yeji tried to brush off the feelings, telling herself that she was just being silly. Besides, she thought Ryujin was straight, and she didn't want to ruin their friendship. But as they continued to fake date, Yeji found herself getting more and more flustered around Ryujin. She tried to keep her cool, but Ryujin's teasing was starting to get to her. One night, as they were getting ready for bed in their hotel room, Ryujin sidled up close to Yeji, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Hey, girlfriend," Ryujin whispered, her breath tickling Yeji's ear. "Can't sleep?" Yeji's heart skipped a beat. She felt a rush of excitement, but she pushed it down, telling herself that Ryujin was just joking. "No, I'm fine," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant. But Ryujin's words lingered, and as they changed into their pajamas, Yeji caught Ryujin looking at her with a flirtatious smile. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension. And then, in a moment that seemed to slow down time, Ryujin leaned in, her lips inches from Yeji's. Yeji's heart was racing, and she felt herself leaning in, too... But just as their lips were about to touch, they both pulled back, laughing awkwardly. "Just kidding," Ryujin said, grinning. Yeji smiled, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, of course." But as they settled into bed, Yeji couldn't shake the feeling that something had just shifted between them. And she wondered if she was ready to pretend anymore.