Chapter 54
*
As soon as the exams ended, I received a message from Shin Ji-ye. She had asked specifically about the exact date and time my last exam would end before, so I had been expecting her to contact me around this time.
Ji-ye had initiated several invitations to go eat together before. Each time, I had avoided making plans by giving various excuses.
Considering that she asked about my exam schedule and then suggested meeting today, it seemed it would be difficult to avoid with a suitable excuse this time.
I didn’t know what to do if she actually confessed. I had received confessions from a few girls who said they liked me before, but it was always difficult to reject them without hurting their feelings.
Even saying the same words, each person reacted differently when rejected.
I headed towards the on-campus cafe where I was supposed to meet Ji-ye, and sent a KakaoTalk message to Kwon-oh. It was our rule to always inform each other when meeting a girl.
[Me: Going to meet Ji-ye now]
[Me: I’ll message you when we’re done talking]
Ji-ye had already arrived at the cafe. Perhaps because exams were over, the seats that had been full of studying students until yesterday were now empty.
“Ji-ye, did your exams go well?”
“Oppa. You’re early? The exams were… just okay. How about you?”
“Mine too… just okay.”
A moment of silence fell with the sad reflection on exams. It seemed I had chosen the wrong topic to start with.
“I’ll go order a drink and be back.”
“Ah, okay. Take your time.”
Since Ji-ye had already ordered and was drinking her coffee, I picked up an iced Americano and returned to the table.
“I heard you were really stressed because of your painting. I think it was Kwon-oh oppa or Kyung-won oppa who said that…”
“Ah. But I managed to revise it well, so it’s a bit better now.”
“That’s good.”
“…”
“…”
Another awkward silence fell.
“So… what did you want to talk about?”
Unable to bear the atmosphere, I spoke first. At the same time, several KakaoTalk messages came in succession.
I quickly checked my phone while the other person was carefully choosing their words.
[Kwon-oh: What? Shit]
[Kwon-oh: Where?]
[Kwon-oh: Are you meeting alone]
[Kwon-oh: ???]
[Kwon-oh: What are you going to talk about]
[Kwon-oh: Jeong-ha]
[Kwon-oh: Ryu Jeong-ha]
“Jeong-ha oppa.”
I wanted to reply, but Ji-ye had started to speak with difficulty.
I had no choice but to put my phone back in my pocket and nod.
“I, you probably had no idea because I didn’t show it well, but…”
“…”
“Actually, the reason I asked to see you today is… well.”
Ji-ye swallowed dryly.
“I like you, oppa.”
“Ah.”
“…That’s why I called you. Are you, are you surprised?”
No. My first thought was, “As expected.”
Even though what I had vaguely expected all along had come true, I couldn’t open my mouth hastily.
“I’m not asking for an answer right away… I, I just wanted to say it. That I like you, Jeong-ha oppa.”
“I… see.”
I moved my lips several times. Ji-ye, who usually chattered energetically, was now staring intently at the table with a red face.
It was clear at a glance that Ji-ye was also at a loss, wandering just like me.
“Uh, um. I’m really grateful that you like me.”
“…”
“I’m not sure what to say… but I have someone I like right now…”
“Ah.”
“So it would be difficult for me to accept your feelings.”
I wanted to reject her as honestly and politely as possible. Hoping my intention would reach Ji-ye.
“I’m sorry.”
After a brief silence, Ji-ye spoke with an awkward smile.
“…It’s okay. Somehow I thought I’d be rejected. You weren’t interested in me at all from the beginning.”
“I, I was? Like that?”
“It just felt like there was no romantic interest. All my friends told me not to confess…”
Ji-ye’s eyes reddened slightly. I fidgeted in my seat and offered her the napkin in front of me.
“Don’t cry, Ji-ye.”
“I’m not crying. Thank you for being honest.”
Ji-ye quickly smiled sheepishly. Her expression was brighter than I had worried it would be.
“But who is the person you like? Someone from our department?”
“Huh? Ah, um…”
As I was about to answer, something heavy pressed down on my crown.
“Jeong-ha? What are you doing here?”
A familiar voice was heard very close. Startled, I turned my head to find Kwon-oh standing behind me, resting his chin on top of my head and pressing down gently.
“Ji-ye’s here too?”
Kwon-oh finally lifted his chin when I turned my head sharply. He smiled, looking back and forth between me and Ji-ye.
“Kwon-oh oppa… What brings you here?”
“I’m here to write my self-introduction. I’ve been in the library so much lately, I can’t concentrate anymore.”
Kwon-oh answered, waving the paper in his hand.
“Isn’t that a school promotional flyer?”
As Ji-ye sharply pointed out, what Kwon-oh was holding wasn’t a notebook or self-introduction printout, but a school promotional flyer from the cafe entrance.
“Ah. Is that so? I must have grabbed the wrong thing in my rush to leave.”
Kwon-oh answered shamelessly and sat down next to me.
“What were you two doing?”
“What were you doing that you’re so out of breath?”
I asked, looking him up and down in bewilderment. He had been breathing roughly, his chest heaving noticeably.
“I just came from exercising. What kind of exercise, you ask.”
“…What was it?”
“Sprinting at full speed.”
Kwon-oh grinned, staring directly at me. His eyes seemed to ask why I hadn’t replied to his messages.
I avoided his gaze, inwardly making excuses that I hadn’t had a chance to reply.
“Anyway, I just happened to come into the cafe after exercising and saw you two. What were you talking about that looked so serious?”
“Just, this and that. Exams and… Oh, oppa, did your exams go well?”
“Not too bad, I guess? How about you two?”
“Mine were not great…”
“Mine too. Anyway… I think I should get going now.”
“Already?”
I asked in surprise as Ji-ye hurriedly gathered her things.
“I have somewhere to be later.”
“No, but if you leave like this…”
“See you next time, oppa. This semester was really fun. Have a good break.”
Ji-ye left the cafe without looking back, as if fleeing. I didn’t try to stop her, thinking I would have wanted to run away too if I were in her position.
I wondered if Ji-ye would have been less hurt if I had spoken better, even though it was still a rejection. I felt somewhat sorry for concluding the conversation so abruptly.
As she had said, the semester had been enjoyable thanks to the group members I met in the liberal arts class, so it was rather bitter that the situation had ended up like this.
I offered my coffee to Kwon-oh sitting next to me.
“How did you know to come here?”
“How do you think I came? Ignoring your boyfriend’s KakaoTalk at such an important moment?”
Kwon-oh pressed, crunching the ice in my Americano. Whether he had searched the entire school, intense heat was radiating from his body.
Feeling sorry for making him run around campus in this summer weather, I made excuses while watching Kwon-oh’s reactions.
“No, I was going to reply, but the timing wasn’t right…”
“What were you doing alone with a girl that you couldn’t find the timing to reply, huh?”
“…”
“Tell me quickly.”
“I’m really sorry. I couldn’t suddenly interrupt the conversation.”
Although I knew Kwon-oh wasn’t seriously angry, the beads of sweat on his forehead stirred my guilt. I playfully poked his thigh with my hand.
But then I carefully looked around, wary of anyone seeing. Even though it was just a playful touch under the table, my heart was pounding.
“Ji-ye confessed, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“What did you say?”
“I rejected her.”
“Are you sure you did it properly?”
“Of course.”
“Well. I’ll believe you.”
“Thanks, Kwon-oh.”
Only then could I smile with ease. As I laughed, making a “hehe” sound, Kwon-oh stared intently at my face and poured the remaining coffee and ice into his mouth, crunching it.
After a while, Kwon-oh seemed to have finally cooled down. He put down the cup and rested his chin on his hand, facing me.
“What do you want to do during the break? Should we go somewhere? Like a cool trip to the beach…”
“Ah. Right. About that, I need to work part-time during the break, so a trip might be difficult.”
I informed Kwon-oh of my situation before he could make specific plans.
“Part-time job? Suddenly?”
“My parents said they won’t give me allowance during the break.”
“Really? Then can’t I give it to you?”
Kwon-oh said, as if wondering why that was a problem.
“Allowance?”
“Yeah. We’ll be seeing each other every day anyway, during the day and night.”
“…I don’t think that’s right. Why should you give me an allowance?”
“It could be like that.”
Kwon-oh tilted his head slightly, resting his chin on his palm, and mouthed the words:
‘We’re dating, after all.’
