Chapter 81
“Oh, right. I think Yu-jung said she was coming today too.”
At that moment, Choi Kyung-won unexpectedly threw cold water on the situation.
Seo Yu-jung? What have you been doing all this time to only mention that now? The mood was good until now.
“Why?”
“What do you mean why? It’s not like she’s coming to a place she shouldn’t.”
“Hey. You should have said that earlier.”
“What’s the deal? Weren’t things going well between you and Yu-jung?”
Why does everyone talk as if there’s something between me and Seo Yu-jung based on their guesses? When I, the person involved, say nothing’s happening.
I was too annoyed to answer this seriously. I shook my head halfheartedly and downed the remaining alcohol in my glass, but the interrogation continued.
“No, senior. This bastard is so full of himself, he’s been avoiding all the gatherings where Yu-jung is present lately. Things must be bad if she even asked me for help.”
Then from somewhere came a teasing jeer, “How many girls are you making cry?”
I might let other things slide, but this time I felt truly wronged. I did receive messages from Seo Yu-jung, but I either forgot to reply because I was too lazy and kept putting it off, or I only gave a few perfunctory responses. Even if we’re not exactly flirting, anyone could do this much, right? Do I have to explain every little detail like this?
Shit, moreover, I haven’t even properly contacted any other girls recently. I can barely handle trying to win over Ryu Jeong-ha, and now they’re bringing up flirtations I didn’t even know existed, which is making me really annoyed.
To be honest, it’s true that Seo Yu-jung initially showed interest first, and I also showed a bit of interest back, but that’s all in the past. It’s been so long since I forgot about it.
If I had consistently attended the gatherings I used to go to, I probably would have kept running into Seo Yu-jung, but for the past few weeks, I haven’t had any chance to meet her at all.
“I heard she can’t even get in touch with you. Yu-jung is upset, you know.”
“Joo Kwon-oh ignoring a girl’s messages? What’s going on?”
“I’ve been busy writing resumes for job fairs.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Ah, I need a cigarette.
I deliberately strained my neck to avoid looking at Ryu Jeong-ha. When I should be trying to impress Ryu Jeong-ha, stories about me being involved with another girl keep popping up, which is driving me crazy.
“Just be honest. You’ve got a girlfriend, right? I’ll accept it if you admit it.”
“That’s right. Do you think it’s easy for a girl to make the first move? Unless you have a girlfriend, you shouldn’t be acting like this.”
I wished they would stop and move on to another topic, but the problem is these bastards don’t know when to quit. It seemed they wouldn’t stop unless they dug something up.
Was I that deeply involved with Seo Yu-jung? At this point, I’m starting to wonder if there’s something wrong with my memory.
“It’s suspicious how he’s not making excuses and just staying quiet.”
“Yeah, spill it quickly, spill it.”
In response to the continued pressing, I pondered for a moment and stroked my chin. Then I rolled my eyes slightly towards Ryu Jeong-ha.
Flirting, you say? Honestly, we even had amazing sex, so isn’t it at least flirting?
“Well…”
At my response, which had a subtle hint of affirmation, the eyes of the people at the table were instantly marinated in dopamine. These guys just can’t help themselves when it comes to other people’s love lives.
“Huh? Really? I didn’t see it, who is it?”
“No wonder you’ve been so quiet lately.”
“So, who is it? Someone from our department?”
“I’m not going to tell you.”
I emptied my glass, conscious of Ryu Jeong-ha sitting next to me. Unlike the others who were excited, Ryu Jeong-ha had a slightly surprised expression.
“Since when? When did this bastard… There’s nothing special in the club either, right?”
“Ah, it must be that girl he got the number from at the library last time.”
“Or maybe at the general assembly when we were drinking, the one next to…”
“Enough, it’s none of those. And I’m still in the process of pursuing her.”
“Then we invited Seo Yu-jung for nothing today. Damn. If you’re seeing someone, you should have said so earlier…”
“I said we’re not dating yet.”
“You said you’re pursuing her. Isn’t that the same thing?”
“It’s not.”
“Then?”
“The response is ambiguous.”
“Crazy. Did you confess?”
“Yeah.”
I answered, partly to hint at wanting a response to the note I wrote in the notebook. It was solely to provoke Ryu Jeong-ha.
At the mention that I had even confessed, the gathered kids went wild, banging on the table. Shin Ji-ye was also excited, her eyes wide open, repeatedly asking, “Who is it? Who is it?”
However, Ryu Jeong-ha’s reaction was cold.
His expression while drinking had clearly hardened compared to before.
Confirming this chilly response, I felt my body stiffen as I leaned back in my chair. Ah, shit. Why?
Did he dislike it being mentioned at a drinking gathering? Did it sound too playful? Does he feel like he’s being made fun of? Or is it burdensome, feeling like he’s being rushed?
“You confessed but the response is still ambiguous?”
“What kind of girl is she?”
“Seduce her by cooking for her. The girls went crazy when they saw you making stew at the MT last time.”
Fortunately, Choi Kyung-won quickly changed the subject.
“Kwon-oh oppa, are you good at cooking?”
“Ji-ye, it’s no joke. I ate the stir-fried pork he made when I went to his place, and it was good enough to sell in front of the school.”
“You pay for it next time. I don’t cook for just anyone.”
“But the funny thing about this guy is, he’s only good at Korean food. He doesn’t know anything about Western cuisine.”
Just when I thought the uncomfortable topic of confession that Ryu Jeong-ha didn’t seem to want to hear about had been safely dismissed, Choi Kyung-won started spouting unnecessary information.
“Really?”
“That’s what I’m saying. He didn’t even know how to boil pasta noodles. He’s just Korean to the bone.”
“Hey, stop it.”
I glared at Choi Kyung-won and warned him. I tried to signal with my eyes for him to shut up at this point, but the bastard started running his mouth even more excitedly.
“Usually, when you boil pasta noodles, you add salt and butter, right? To make the noodles chewy? On the last day of the joint MT, when I was boiling pasta, he was next to me asking why I was adding those things.”
Ah, has he gone crazy? Why is he saying such things?
“You’re supposed to add those things.”
“Choi Kyung-won, you crazy bastard, I said stop talking.”
Unaware that I had been boasting to Ryu Jeong-ha about knowing how to make pasta, Choi Kyung-won kept dropping bombshells without stopping.
I felt like all the alcohol that had gone down my throat was about to come back up. It had been a while since I felt this kind of tension.
“When I told him, he suddenly claimed he doesn’t like pasta. Said he’s never made it before.”
Ah. I can’t even rip that mouth apart.
“Usually, people cook Western food more often, right? Because it’s easier to make.”
“Ah, I don’t know.”
We’re screwed, damn it. I shook my head and swallowed my curses. It didn’t seem like adding any excuses here would help salvage the situation.
As I shook my head to calm the heat rushing to my face, Ryu Jeong-ha started giggling next to me. That ticklish sound made my insides itch like crazy. Ugh, shit.
“Jeong-ha. Even you think it’s funny, right? This bastard chops and boils like a chef when it comes to Korean food. But he throws a fit asking why you put butter in pasta noodles. Puhahak!”
Finding my flustered reaction amusing, Choi Kyung-won cackled with a voice thick with mockery.
While grinding my teeth and thinking I should kill him inside, I keep glancing at Ryu Jeong-ha because I like seeing him laugh. I’m glad I placed him right next to me. If I saw some other bastard laughing like that, I’d obviously be fuming inside.
I adjusted my posture to sit crookedly, then rested my chin on my hand and stole glances at the laughing Ryu Jeong-ha.
Well, it’s embarrassing, but it’s fine if Ryu Jeong-ha found it amusing. It’s much better than him having a stiff expression.
“I’ll practice and cook for you, so don’t cancel coming over to my place.”
I said, leaning my body to the side as I grinned along with Ryu Jeong-ha.
“Just look forward to it.”
“Okay.”
Ryu Jeong-ha shook his head as if to say he couldn’t be helped. Any trace of the previous uncomfortable atmosphere had long since disappeared.
From then on, it seemed the mood had lightened, and Ryu Jeong-ha spent the time with a much more relaxed expression. His responses, which had been a beat late before, now came promptly, and he blended naturally into the joking atmosphere.
It’s good that we didn’t let those perverted bastards who just spout low-level nonsense when they drink come. This light and harmless atmosphere really suited Ryu Jeong-ha.
I failed to find out Ryu Jeong-ha’s thoughts on the confession, but I didn’t mind. There’s still plenty of time. I can slowly figure out Ryu Jeong-ha’s fickle heart.
After a while, Ryu Jeong-ha seemed to be full and stopped touching the snacks in front of him. I smoothly pushed those towards Choi Kyung-won and naturally brought new snacks in front of Ryu Jeong-ha.
Then, shortly after, Ryu Jeong-ha noticed the new snacks and unconsciously started picking at them.
As I was watching this with satisfaction, someone shouted while looking at the entrance of the bar.
“Oh? Hey, Yu-jung is here.”
My head naturally turned in that direction.
“She came later than expected?”
Choi Kyung-won greeted Seo Yu-jung, who was approaching our table, as if he was glad to see her.
“I stopped by home on the way. Have you all drunk a lot?”
“Just moderately. Ah, Yu-jung. Sit here.”
My brow furrowed involuntarily at the obvious attempt to seat Seo Yu-jung next to me. While it wasn’t that Seo Yu-jung had come to a place she shouldn’t, I couldn’t help but feel unwelcome about it right now.
Soon, Seo Yu-jung looked at me, smiled, and spoke first.
“It’s been a while, Kwon-oh. Have you been well?”
“Yeah. You?”
“Me? Well, always the same. It’s hard to see your face even though we’re in the same department.”
“I know. Did your exams go well?”
“I think I did as well as I studied. How about you, Kwon-oh? I couldn’t reach you. You must have been busy.”
“Doing this and that.”
I cut off the possibility of the conversation getting longer with minimal answers. Sensing that I was deliberately being uncooperative, Seo Yu-jung also gradually spoke less.
Seeing our awkward side of the table, Choi Kyung-won belatedly made a troubled expression.
I raised my eyebrows at Choi Kyung-won, cursing him with my eyes. Why did you invite her without saying anything? Is this the time for me to be meeting women? There’s a peach right in front of me.
My skin prickled every time Ryu Jeong-ha’s gaze touched my face.
It wasn’t me. I didn’t invite her. There’s nothing between us.
I was on the verge of going crazy with my mouth itching to spout excuses. It seems he’s already misunderstood, what should I do? Should I ask him to come out for a moment and take him outside to explain? If Ryu Jeong-ha would allow it, I really wanted to do that.
Before I could come up with a solution to salvage the situation, Ryu Jeong-ha stood up from his seat. With all traces of his previous smile completely wiped away, he left the bar saying he was going to the bathroom without even looking at me.
Feeling frustrated, I abruptly stood up. As I reflexively pulled away from the table to quickly follow him, I belatedly noticed Seo Yu-jung looking up at me.
