Involuntary Romance

For as long as he can remember, Baekya has been the steadfast anchor for his childhood friend, Jichan—a perpetual magnet for romantic disaster. Time and again, Jichan stumbles from one broken relationship to the next, and time and again, Baekya is there to piece him back together, offering comfort and a listening ear. It is an exhausting but unspoken duty that Baekya has long accepted. However, their familiar routine shatters when the school's most captivating heartthrob, Lee Hyeon, crosses their path during one of Jichan's usual meltdowns. Baekya knows Hyeon by reputation alone: a trail of brief, scorching flings and a notorious "bad boy" image. Sensing imminent catastrophe, Baekya tries to steer Jichan away, but his friend falls hopelessly, irreversibly in love at first sight. Desperate to get close to his new obsession, Jichan boldly tasks Baekya with the ultimate favor—befriend Lee Hyeon and orchestrate a setup. Reluctantly swallowing his reservations, Baekya throws himself into the charade, awkwardly inserting himself into Hyeon’s orbit. The scheme feels shaky but manageable, until Hyeon turns the tables entirely. Cornering Baekya with an amused smirk, he delivers a startling accusation: "Don't you think you're making it too obvious? I know you like me, but don't you think you can stop now?"