The headline hit before her second sip of coffee.
"Power Couple or PR Puppets? Ava Lee and Ryan Kim's 'Engagement' Timeline Under Fire."
Ava stared at the screen.
Leaked photos. Out-of-context clips. A suspiciously well-edited compilation of her and Seo-jun in slow motion, underscored by melancholic pansori.
Ryan leaned over her shoulder, chewing on a granola bar like the internet hadn't just caught fire.
"Wow. They really used that photo with the fan. I looked great in that hanbok."
"Ryan."
He offered her the bar. "Bite? It's almond."
Ava glared. "We're being accused of faking our entire relationship and you're offering me almonds?"
He shrugged. "You're prettier when you're not hangry."
"Do you even care?"
"Of course I care," he said, now serious. "But I care more about what we know. You and me? We're real."
"But to them, I'm just... performing."
Ryan sat beside her, voice soft. "Ava. Since when did you let public opinion define your truth?"
