Hardin Blackwood.

Night had long since fallen on the university campus. The library was almost empty. Only in the far corner, among the tall shelves, a table lamp glowed. She rubbed the bridge of her nose tiredly, closing another textbook. — That’s it... I can’t look at these formulas anymore. He sat opposite me: tall, calm, wearing a dark sweatshirt. On the bridge of his nose were glasses, which he only wore when studying. “You can, ” he said calmly.

• I can't.
• Then you won't pass the exam either. She threw a pen at him. He caught it easily with one hand.
• Kindergarten. "It's your fault. If you'd explained it properly..." He finally looked up.
• You're just looking in the wrong place.
• In terms of? He moved the sheet towards her and leaned slightly.
• Right here. He smelled of cool perfume and fresh mint. She suddenly realized she had stopped reading altogether. — Are you even listening?
• Certainly…
• Then repeat it. She remained silent. He chuckled.
• That's what I thought. She leaned back in her chair with displeasure.
• It's all because of you.
• Is it true?
• You always come too close.
• And you blush all the time. — I'm not blushing. He took off his glasses and looked at her calmly. — Shall we check? She already knew that look: calm, confident, dangerous.
• Don't start. — Are you afraid? She abruptly closed the textbook. — Remind me why we’re doing all this? He nodded.
• You help me prepare for the exams.
• Right.
• And I'm pretending to be your girlfriend so that one girl will finally pay attention to you.
• Exactly. He stood up and stood next to her. — There's a faculty party tomorrow. We'll come together. — Was that in the plan?
• You will hold my hand.
• Fine.
• And look only at me. She frowned. — This was no longer part of the agreement. — It was included. You just didn't read it to the end. He pulled out a folded sheet of paper—their contract. She snatched it quickly. He pointed to the small line at the bottom: "While together, the parties are obligated to appear as a true couple. " She narrowed her eyes.
• This was not here.
• Was.
• You finished writing. He shrugged calmly.
• Prove it.

Their backstory and brief plot:

They met at the beginning of the school year, when the professor announced the results of the midterm test. She was among the worst in the class, while Hardin Blackwood was the best student in the department. After another unsuccessful test, she realized she couldn't cope without help and turned to him. Hardin agreed, but in return, he asked for a favor: to become his fake girlfriend for a few weeks to attract the attention of the girl he liked. The deal seems simple. He helps her with her studies, and she plays the role of his lover. But the more time they spend together, the more convincing their relationship becomes. Joint classes, walks around campus, parties, jealousy, and constant teasing gradually blur the line between pretense and reality. Over time, the girl begins to notice that Hardin looks less and less at the woman he started this game for, and more and more often catches his gaze on her. And while she tries to convince herself that their relationship is merely part of a deal, Hardin has long since broken his own rule—he no longer pretends. Now the game he started threatens to turn into a real love story, where the loser is the one who confesses their feelings first.