As time passed, the period to prepare for final exams arrived. While attending class in preparation for the exams, we received news from the professor that struck like a bolt from the blue.
“Ah, before the finals, we’ll be doing one last assignment. Students who are taking my class for the first time might not know this, but I always assign at least one group project during the semester.”
“Ugh…!”
“…I knew it.”
At the professor’s mischievous smile, groans erupted from the freshmen. Only the students who looked like sophomores or seniors nodded as if they had reached enlightenment.
So that’s why those bastards didn’t take this class. The subtle expressions Yoo In-ho and Go Heemin had made when I said I’d be taking it came to mind.
Since I had no memory of my first year, missing the course registration correction period suddenly felt bitter.
With a resigned sigh, I scanned the room. Four people per group—so I started looking for familiar faces.
Given the school, I wasn’t worried about group members being incompetent. As long as they were diligent, I’d be satisfied.
The three who ended up gathering here were exactly that.
One was a same-year student like me who had returned as a sophomore after finishing military service. Then there was a fourth-year female senior he said he knew well. And finally, a freshman girl the senior had brought along.
After class ended, we checked our schedules and confirmed that all of us had about two free hours starting now.
That was when the fourth-year senior suggested we at least draft a simple outline.
We moved to a spacious café near campus.
The same-year guy I was somewhat close with slung an arm around my shoulder to lighten the mood.
He was also the one who’d gotten smacked on the back by me after joking around at Go Heemin’s birthday gathering not long ago.
“Hmm, I can’t believe I’m doing a project with Cha Jungwoo.”
“Cut the flattery. Just handle your own part. …Ah, I don’t mean I’m going to slack off. I’m just messing with him.”
As we traded blunt remarks, I felt someone staring at us from the side.
When I subtly checked, the freshman girl was watching us with a curious expression.
Startled by my sudden tone, she waved her hands quickly. Judging by her demeanor, she didn’t seem like the type to cause headaches over a project.
“Ah, no. Please, speak comfortably.”
“Yeah, why so formal? If we’re doing a project together, we’ll keep seeing each other. Just talk casually. And Jungwoo, I’m not worried about you. I’m worried about Lee Dongmin here.”
“Hey, why me~”
“Want to put your hand on your chest and think about it?”
I didn’t remember, but it seemed this senior wasn’t meeting me for the first time either.
The earlier moment when she teased me for not recognizing her name flashed by.
Of course, that didn’t last long—she corrected herself, saying we’d only crossed paths briefly in the department club room at the start of the semester.
“Still, it’s understandable you’d find it surprising. Jungwoo, you used to drop by the club room early this year, but then you suddenly stopped.”
“…Did I?”
I scratched my head awkwardly at her words. Come to think of it, why had that happened? I tried to sift through my hazy memories.
“Yeah. Ah, of course, I couldn’t go often either since I’m graduating this year. Guys, if my GPA tanks, I’ll have to re-enroll next semester, okay? So let’s all work hard?”
“Yes, yes~ Thank you for accepting us lowly returning students~”
After my same-year friend’s joking, we soon focused on what needed to be done. With barely two hours left, no one slacked off.
As we worked through the assignment, sipping our cooling coffee, a stranger approached our table.
Noticing the slanted shadow, I turned my head to see a woman I didn’t recognize tapping the senior on the back.
“Huh? Kim Yu-joo? Why are you here?”
“Why else? I came to drink coffee and study. Looks like you’re with people. Sorry—I got excited seeing you….”
“It’s fine….”
The senior looked surprised to see her, apparently someone she knew well. Soon enough, they were chatting playfully.
The woman tucked her long straight hair behind one ear and politely excused herself to me, my same-year friend, and the freshman.
We didn’t have much time left anyway. I nodded, saying it was fine.
“Doing a group project right before finals? Tough, especially for a fourth-year.”
“Well, we still have to do our best. I heard you’re doing external activities after the semester ends. That’s really impressive.”
The woman scratched her cheek, then glanced at her wristwatch. With her pure-looking appearance, easy smile, and relaxed attitude, she seemed like an impressive person.
“Well… it’s fine. These days, I actually enjoy coming to campus. Ah, am I talking too much? I’ll stop bothering you and head off~ Hye-young, see you later.”
“Yeah, take care.”
Saying she had things to do, she gave another greeting and left. Without thinking, I bowed my head slightly as well, watching her retreating figure.
The mood had shifted, and I was about to suggest we wrap up. That was when the freshman suddenly asked a question.
There was a strange curiosity in her face as she looked at the senior.
“Who was that? Your friend?”
“No. She’s from our college, and we got acquainted somehow. She’s pretty famous. Pretty face, good style, wealthy family—so she’s popular. As you saw, her personality’s decent too. Right, you’re a freshman, so you wouldn’t know.”
“I know her~ She’s Kim Yu-joo-sunbae, right? She’s not in our department, so calling her sunbae feels a bit odd. But since she and our sunbae here are the same age and both came back after taking leave, I guess ‘sunbae’ is simpler.”
At the senior’s explanation, my same-year friend—who had been quietly listening—spoke up. The way he rested his chin on his hand with an intrigued look didn’t seem promising.
As expected, a mischievous question popped out of him. It wasn’t malicious, but I felt uncomfortable that the conversation was drifting toward gossip about someone we barely knew.
“It’s my first time seeing her in person. She really is pretty. Well, I guess that’s why those rumors about her and that guy started. …Oops.”
He had been speaking casually, then noticed me and made a startled face. The fourth-year senior glanced at me before gesturing at him as if to say something.
Was there a problem? At this point, not hearing it would feel worse. If I didn’t know, that was one thing—but I didn’t like things being glossed over.
When I furrowed my brows as if to ask what, the senior let out a sigh and lifted her cup. Even while drinking her cold coffee, she didn’t stop glaring at my same-year friend.
Only the freshman, clueless, darted her eyes around awkwardly. The uncomfortable tension made my brow crease.
“I don’t know what it is, but if it’s like this, just tell me.”
“I told you his mouth is the problem.”
“Ah, it was a mistake, seriously. Sorry, sorry. Hey, Cha Jungwoo, I didn’t mean anything bad by it, okay? Really. I just overheard it somewhere and it slipped out. I never talked about it privately with anyone.”
“What are you even defending yourself about?”
As I asked bluntly, my friend broke out in a cold sweat. Waving both hands frantically, he tried to explain. I was already indifferent—I just wanted to hear it and get back to campus.
Seeing my lack of reaction, the senior reluctantly opened her mouth. There was clear apology in her tone.
“Jungwoo, I’m sorry. There were rumors during your freshman year that Yu-joo and Min Siheon were dating.”
“…Ah.”
“I know you’re close with him, so I’m sorry for bringing this up. We weren’t trying to badmouth him. He probably didn’t mean it that way either.”
“Ugh, I’m really sorry.”
I was stunned by the unexpected story. My same-year friend clasped his hands together and bowed his head deeply.
The senior continued slowly, looking troubled. From the way she phrased it briefly, it seemed she wanted to wrap it up.
“They’re both so good-looking that maybe even brushing past each other sparked rumors. I don’t know if it was ever official. It was just something people talked about, so it’s probably more likely false. So don’t take it to heart. It turned into us badmouthing your friend in front of you.”
“No. They’re both adults—dating’s normal. It’s just….”
“Just?”
I was simply surprised that Min Siheon had dated someone. Was it before he liked Go Heemin? …Maybe he didn’t only like men.
Of course, it might not be true. He’d carried plenty of strange rumors before. Maybe he’d gotten caught up in another nasty one.
Still, I felt oddly blank. The face of the woman who had smiled and spoken earlier floated through my mind.
And then that imagination shifted—into an image of her standing on the street, linking arms with Min Siheon, smiling beside him.
“…Ah.”
“Jungwoo? Cha Jungwoo, what are you thinking about? Damn, I feel so bad.”
“No, there’s nothing for you to apologize to me for. Both of you—just don’t talk about this to others. …Siheon, he’s sensitive. As his friend, you know I wouldn’t be thrilled about it either.”
“Y-yeah, we were careless.”
At my words, both the senior and my friend nodded. The freshman girl, unsettled by the atmosphere, looked around anxiously.
Muttering that we must’ve picked the wrong day, I gathered my things. My hands moved a little too quickly, betraying a hint of impatience.
We’d have to keep seeing each other for the project. It needed to end smoothly, but that wasn’t easy.
Forcing the corners of my lips up, I rose from my chair.
“It looks like it’s time for class. I’ll head out first. See you at our next meeting. If it’s urgent, message the group chat.”
“Okay, see you later. Sorry for making things awkward.”
“Goodbye…!”
My same-year friend rubbed his face as if everything had gone wrong and bowed his head. He apologized again to my back as I left.
“Hey, I’m really sorry!”
“Apologize to Min Siheon, not me.”
I waved briefly as I walked away, and only then did he sigh in understanding. The heavy sound seemed to pull me down with it.
I didn’t know why, but it felt like the ground beneath me had caved in. My chest felt tight, as if something were weighing on it.
***
I didn’t remember how I made it back to campus. The materials I’d stuffed roughly into my bag felt endlessly cumbersome.
I shoved my hand inside and pulled out the crumpled printouts, clutching them to my chest as I headed toward the lecture building for my next class. I should’ve been hurrying, judging by the time. But my body wouldn’t move as I wanted.
“Was I not feeling well?”
After staring at the distant building, I gave up and turned toward the path behind it. In this state, there was no point in attending class.
With hurried hands, I rummaged through my bag for my cigarette pack. The mess of belongings made it hard to find what I wanted.
Eventually, I was practically overturning my bag in frustration.
That was when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“What are you doing?”
I turned to see Kang Taeyoon leaning crookedly against something, glaring down at his phone.
