WTFUDLS 24

WTFUDLS

Chapter 24

“See you in class~.”

Ji-woo said as she packed her bag.

Han-sol asked,
“Where are you going?”

“I’m meeting Sun-ho oppa for a minute to get the IMC book.”

“Nice score. That book’s expensive.”

“Want me to ask if I can grab two more copies?”

“No, No-eul and I already bought ours last week.”

“Ah… okay. See you later.”

“Yeah.”

Ji-woo left the department lounge.
Only No-eul and Han-sol were left.

“…….”

They worked in silence.
No-eul felt self-conscious. What was Han-sol thinking? What would she think about No-eul liking Ji-woo yet trying to set her up with Jun-gi?

Han-sol probably understood No-eul’s reasons. That’s why she stayed quiet—because she thought it wasn’t something to interfere with.

Often No-eul sensed more from Han-sol’s silence than from her words.

If Han-sol had asked why, what would No-eul have said? Probably acted nonchalant. Not to deceive Han-sol, but almost by instinct—like a prey animal hiding at the faintest sound.

No-eul hid emotions from anyone, in any situation, instinctively. She even wondered if it was hormonal: like dopamine from excitement, maybe some hormone gave her a sense of safety whenever she concealed feelings—a mechanism for survival….

So when Han-sol suddenly asked,

“Wanna grab a drink later?”

No-eul felt an immediate instinct to refuse.

“…Nah, I just want to crash today.”

“…Okay. Get some rest.”

If she drank with Han-sol now, all her gloom might spill out. The more comfortable the company, the more she’d show her own mood. And Han-sol understood her so well, listened so well.

Having someone listen, understand, and comfort you is unbelievably sweet. If someone as kind as Han-sol did that, you might even squeeze out sadness you don’t really have.

But taking on someone else’s gloom is hard for anyone. Everyone already struggles with their own burdens. Few have energy to carry another’s. Han-sol included. Telling her wouldn’t solve or change anything—just tire her.

No-eul needed time alone to sort her feelings. She had to become calm and even-tempered enough to one day explain comfortably, “Here’s what I was feeling.”

That was hers alone to do.

Ji-woo met Jun-gi purely because of No-eul. No-eul wasn’t the type to ask favors. If she asked so sincerely, it must have really mattered.

Truth is, Ji-woo had long wanted to be a friend who could help No-eul. But No-eul always managed everything herself, so Ji-woo never had a chance—usually she was the one receiving help. This time, she wanted to return the favor.

Granted, the request was awkward: to meet a guy who liked her. But if No-eul brought it up despite knowing the burden, it had to be important.

—But like I said earlier, my own desire got mixed in. My desire to… keep you two to myself.

Ji-woo kept replaying No-eul’s words. Such an unexpected confession. She’d never imagined No-eul felt that way.

“Keep you to myself….”

Ji-woo quietly repeated the phrase. How could No-eul even use the word “monopolize”? Ji-woo herself had barely ever said it in her life.

Anyway….

Ji-woo had thought No-eul only cared about grades and job prep—maybe an occasional drink with friends to blow off steam. But apparently No-eul also cared about being close with pretty girls like Ji-woo or Han-sol. Sure, that’s a typical guy’s interest, but somehow Ji-woo hadn’t thought No-eul was like that.

Usually Han-sol or Ji-woo suggested meeting, and No-eul simply agreed. So Ji-woo thought No-eul was just “letting” them hang out. Yet she wanted to monopolize?

If it were Ji-woo, her feelings would have shown—on her face, in careless words: let’s just hang out, you and me. How could No-eul hide her heart so completely? Or was it all just talk to set Ji-woo up with Jun-gi?

But it hadn’t felt like a lie. No-eul’s eyes and hesitations back then didn’t look false.

So why the sudden change of heart? Things were fine as a trio. Why now push Ji-woo toward Jun-gi?

“…!”

A thought flashed in Ji-woo’s mind.

If Ji-woo and Jun-gi got together, No-eul would end up alone with Han-sol.

—I bought it with No-eul last week.

Earlier that line barely registered. But she had wondered for a second, Why did only those two buy the book last week when all three take the class?

Thinking back, No-eul had often tried to be with Han-sol alone. Ji-woo once thought she was being avoided. But it wasn’t avoidance—No-eul just wanted Han-sol’s company.

Ji-woo covered her mouth.

That also explained when No-eul and Han-sol secretly drank together and lied to her.

So No-eul… had fallen for Han-sol.

Ji-woo looked down at her arms. Like in Sherlock, suddenly every clue clicked perfectly.

Then—how oblivious had she been all this time?

They’d slipped away to drink, and instead of noticing, she’d texted, Why’d you leave me out? They wanted a cozy movie for two, and she’d insisted four of them go. She’d just assumed the trio was natural.

Could she really be this dense? She’d thought she had good instincts about this stuff—apparently not.

A sharp poke in her arm interrupted her thoughts.

Sun-ho was prodding her with the IMC book.

“What’s got you so deep in thought?”

“Huh? Oh… nothing. Thanks for the book! You just saved me a lot.”

Ji-woo smiled and thanked him, then drifted back into thought.

Right. Now she could gracefully step aside. But… would that mean she’d be on her own?
A sudden loneliness welled up.

Well… she’d hung out with plenty of people before. She could do that again. It’s not like No-eul and Han-sol would never see her.

She reassured herself.

“Back from your elective?”

When No-eul opened the lounge door, Jun-gi asked.

He sat at a desk; Ji-woo was on the sofa. No one else was there.

No-eul hesitated. She didn’t want to be in a room with both of them. But she couldn’t just leave, so she stepped in.

“Yeah.”

Ji-woo asked,
“Psychology?”

“Yeah.”

“Is it fun?”

“Mm-hmm. Super popular. I dropped a core course to fit it in.”

“Wow, must be popular.”

“Famous, even.”

No-eul sat opposite Jun-gi and opened her laptop.

Ji-woo and Jun-gi scrolled on their phones.

No-eul wondered: what was going on between them? Since that night neither had said a word. Were they flirting? It didn’t feel like that. Maybe they’d agreed to stay friends? If so, Jun-gi didn’t look upset. And if they’d decided that, he’d probably have told her—We’re just friends, sorry.

Maybe each was just interpreting things their own way—Jun-gi still making moves, Ji-woo half enjoying, half uneasy.

If No-eul asked, they’d tell her. But she didn’t want to seem interested. She wanted to look like someone with no stake in whether they worked out. She’d already meddled more than usual.

And truly, she didn’t want to care anymore. Whatever happened, it wasn’t her concern. If they dated, it didn’t steal any chance she never had. If they didn’t, it wouldn’t create one. There was never a chance, and never would be.

Of course, hearing they’d failed would bring a flicker of joy. She knew she couldn’t control that. She’d quietly savor it, then forget—just as with anyone else’s business.

Seeing Ji-woo would still sting, but time would dull it. She’d been through that before. And she hadn’t loved Ji-woo deeply anyway—just like how every boy notices the prettiest girl in class. If someone prettier came along, her attention would shift as if she’d never liked Ji-woo at all.

Thinking that actually lightened her heart, like rest after a long ordeal.

“It’s time for my elective. Ugh, what a drag.”

Jun-gi stood reluctantly.

The thought of being alone with Ji-woo crossed No-eul’s mind.

Just then Han-sol walked in.

Ji-woo got up.
“Jun-gi, you heading to the liberal arts building?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go together.”

“Where are you going?”

“Me? I… also have something there. Han-sol, see you in class later.”

Han-sol nodded.

Jun-gi and Ji-woo left.