The fake dating trope has stood the test of time as a plot device notorious for causing endless conflict and misunderstandings. While this angle has been done many times over, webtoons have been offering a fresh and exciting take on fake dating.
It is a risky practice that typically originates from lies and deceit, but can also lead to honest and genuine emotions in romance stories. Despite the risks and consequences of getting caught, each couple decides to engage in this charade for their own personal reasons. Here's how these popular romance webtoons are providing a refreshing twist on the classic fake dating trope.
Seasons of Blossom
In Seasons of Blossom, an unexpected friend group forms when their conflicting romantic interests complicate their relationships. It stars Bomi, a popular girl who has a crush on the most popular guy at school, Jaemin. Both have mutual feelings for one another, and everyone in school gossips about how they'll become a legitimate couple any day. Everything seems perfect until Bomi finds out her best friend, Seonhui, has had a crush on Jaemin since they were kids. Not wanting to hurt Seonhui, Bomi denies having a crush on Jaemin and suddenly gets into a fake relationship with Jinyeong Choi, their antisocial and brutally honest classmate.
While fake dating is often used to avoid an unwanted relationship, Seasons of Blossom uses it to help Bomi avoid the boy she has a mutual crush on. This spins the initial plot from a seemingly neat and perfect romance into a complex and messy story. Not only does Bomi's sudden relationship surprise and hurt Jaemin, but Seonhui is also angered by the new development, suspecting it's all a façade created to spare her one-sided feelings for Jaemin. Bomi and Jinyeong's relationship is incredibly suspicious to their classmates because the pair barely know one another and come from opposite ends of the social ladder, but true love starts to blossom between the fake couple.
There's Love Hidden in Lies
There's Love Hidden in Lies centers around fake dating and the web of lies people can spin. One deceit leads to another, soon creating a domino effect. In this series, Natsume has a crush on her childhood best friend Yuuki, who claims she acts like a mom. Having liked him for ten years, Natsume wants Yuuki to see her as a girl capable of romance. This is why she quickly agrees when Chikage, the most popular and attractive guy in their class, proposes to get into a fake relationship to make both of their real crushes jealous. There's only one problem -- Natsume is terrible at lying.
Natsume's blunders and inability to deceive offers comedic relief throughout the series. While Chikage is a master of deception and uses smooth moves to convince everyone they're in love, Natsume threatens to expose the truth through several slips of the tongue. Her honesty and awkwardness come to the dismay of Chikage, who's soon convinced she will ruin their plan. The ability to lie is not typically the focus of fake dating plots, but There's Love Hidden in Lies reveals how this trope can go terribly wrong when in the 'right' hands.
To Love Your Enemy
While many couples decide to get into a fake relationship without genuine feelings for one another, they don't typically do so when they're known enemies. In To Love Your Enemy, Yeonhee and Yikyung do just that, putting aside their negative sentiment toward one another to deceive their classmates. The plot initially plays on a lot of ironies, wherein their classmates mistake their hate for each other for love. Given their close proximity and frequent fights, rumors spread that they're secretly in a relationship despite actually being enemies.
The widespread rumors get so out of hand that Yikyung's father, who owns a business conglomerate, hears the rumors and opposes their relationship by setting up an arranged marriage for Yikyung. Desperate to oppose his father, he turns toward his former enemy for help and Yeonhee agrees since it'll prevent all the guys from asking her out. While its plot is unconventional, To Love Your Enemy brings together both the beloved fake dating and enemies-to-lovers tropes all in one story.
She Would Never Know
In She Would Never Know, Songa gets into a fake office relationship with her junior marketer when her real relationship with her boss, Mr. Lee, comes to an abrupt end after learning he's secretly engaged to another woman. Retaliating against his betrayal, Songa breaks up with Mr. Lee and he relentlessly tries to win her back. Songa and the junior marketer Hyeonseung tell him they're in a relationship to discourage his continued advances, but Mr. Lee instead abuses his managerial power to keep the fake couple apart.
While fake dating to avoid another person is common, it doesn't typically occur in an office setting with professional power dynamics at stake. This webtoon comes with a one-sided love plot device, where Songa agrees to the fake relationship despite knowing Hyeonseung has genuine feelings for her. As she spends more time with Hyeonseung under false pretenses, she grows fonder of him and gives their fake relationship room to grow. However, everything threatens to change when Mr. Lee asks Songa to move to Europe with him to lead a new company division.
