Chapter 11
Yeonjae was leaning against a stone pillar at the main gate, staring at his phone.
Hyunoh had called him from afar, but he didn’t hear.
“Shin Yeonjae.”
Only after calling his full name did Yeonjae look up.
As always, his small face was half hidden behind thick black-rimmed glasses that looked almost like a mascot.
These days, with all kinds of vision correction surgeries everywhere, Hyunoh sometimes wondered why Yeonjae insisted on wearing glasses that greatly nerfed his looks.
Was it a declaration that he didn’t want anyone falling for him? Not that glasses could make a face like that look ordinary.
“What do you want for dinner?”
Yeonjae asked without even greeting him.
“This is kind of disappointing. Shouldn’t you greet someone when you meet them?”
“We had class together earlier. …Hello.”
“Sure.”
Hyunoh walked past him and yawned.
“Is there anywhere we can solve dinner and drinks in one go?”
They went to a jeon restaurant and ordered anchovy noodles and assorted pancakes.
It was hardly a place worthy of Yeonjae’s bold promise to treat him to something ridiculously expensive.
Without even looking at the alcohol menu, Hyunoh called out,
“Auntie, one bottle of Fresh.”
The moment Yeonjae saw the green bottle, he felt like last night’s nausea was coming back.
“You can still drink?”
“It’s already been two days. And I wasn’t even drunk that night.”
Yeonjae looked at him with admiration.
Hyunoh opened the bottle and poured Yeonjae a shot first.
Yeonjae set the glass down.
“I’ll just do the toast. I won’t drink.”
“Suit yourself.”
“You must drink well.”
“No. I just drank moderately that day. Balance is important in everything. Oh. That rhymed.”
His teasing tone eased Yeonjae’s lingering guilt.
The tense mood from earlier slowly faded.
As he stirred his noodles, Hyunoh said,
“Anyway, let’s do well from now on. I meant it when I said I’d help you.”
After a pause, Yeonjae answered,
“…Thank you.”
He meant it.
Without Hyunoh, he probably still wouldn’t have spoken to Dohan.
But the doubt still lingered.
Yeonjae needed reasons for everything. Until he understood something fully, he couldn’t let go of suspicion.
Maybe Hyunoh was just more caring than he looked.
But why me?
Dohan was popular on the university’s anonymous forum.
Just yesterday someone had posted:
<The guy in the blue check shirt in Financial Management is insanely handsomeㅠ>
There were countless girls eyeing Dohan.
Which meant Dohan could easily choose someone prettier and smarter.
So why had Hyunoh chosen him, out of all those competitors?
“Then why?”
Yeonjae asked again.
“What?”
“Why are you helping me?”
“I told you. It’s fun.”
“What if I’m crazy?”
“Crazy?”
“Yes.”
“Even better.”
“Wait, does Dohan sunbae like that type?”
“No.”
Again.
Now Yeonjae understood Hyunoh’s pattern.
Nonsense. Teasing. Light provocation.
Still, things usually turned out well when he followed Hyunoh’s lead.
Annoyed, Yeonjae grabbed the untouched soju and downed it in one shot.
Clink.
“Oh~”
Hyunoh gave him two thumbs up.
“Better than not drinking. Dohan likes girls who drink with him too.”
What?
Yeonjae immediately rummaged through his bag and pulled out his notebook and pen.
『Likes girls who drink with him.』
Hyunoh scoffed.
“After all that, you still carry that notebook?”
Right. He had promised to burn it and move everything to his phone.
As Yeonjae moved to put it away, Hyunoh added,
“Just finish writing. Since it’s out, I’ll give you more info. He doesn’t like girls who overdrink.”
Quickly, Yeonjae added in parentheses:
『Likes girls who drink with him. (No heavy drinking)』
Wait. Heavy drinking…
That’s me.
“Then what do I do?”
“What can you do? What’s done is done. Just do better from now on.”
Yeonjae nodded firmly.
“Anything else?”
“Like what?”
“…What Dohan likes.”
“Let’s see.”
Yeonjae prepared to write again.
Hyunoh leaned closer to check the notebook.
His face was suddenly very close.
Straight nose. Thin double eyelids. Sharp jawline. Pale skin.
He looked cold at first glance, but when he smiled, he turned into a playful boy.
‘He really is handsome—’
Embarrassed by that thought, Yeonjae snapped,
“W-Why are you so close?!”
“What? Did you write something about me? Swearing?”
“No!”
“Then show me.”
“No!”
Hyunoh laughed and leaned back.
“A type. Favorite sport is swimming—he hates sweating. Favorite season is winter. Sensitive to scent, doesn’t wear perfume. Probably fabric softener. Prefers whiskey. Once drank a million-won wine from his dad’s cellar and got in huge trouble. Served as KATUSA. MBTI was something like I… IYDJ? I don’t remember.”
“Wait, that’s too fast!”
“Take it lightly. You’re probably the only person who takes notes while having a crush.”
By then, the soju bottle was almost empty.
They talked about Dohan for a long time before standing up.
Still, Yeonjae had gained valuable information.
As he pulled out his wallet, Hyunoh had already handed over his card.
“Receipt?”
“Throw it away.”
“Why are you paying? I was supposed to.”
“Oh, right.”
He scratched his head.
“Send me your account. I’ll transfer it.”
“Forget it. I’ll pay. You barely ate anyway.”
Eventually, Yeonjae gave up.
“…I’ll buy next time.”
“You better make it expensive.”
“You don’t even want expensive food…”
Now that he had figured out Hyunoh’s pattern, he muttered to himself.
Somehow, he kept ending up alone with Hyunoh.
Hyunoh put a cigarette in his mouth, then paused and lowered it.
“Are you watching your behavior because of me?”
“As if.”
“Then just smoke.”
“Forget it.”
“I’ll wash my hands. Smoke while I’m gone.”
When Yeonjae came back, a girl was standing in front of Hyunoh.
Through the open window, their voices drifted inside.
“Which way is Hongik Bookstore?”
Long straight hair. White dress. About the same age.
It sounded like she was just asking directions, but the atmosphere felt oddly romantic.
Yeonjae hesitated near the door.
“Go straight and turn right. Or just head to Exit 3.”
The girl stared only at Hyunoh’s face.
“Do you live nearby? If you don’t have a girlfriend, can I get your number—”
“I have a girlfriend.”
Hyunoh cut her off before she finished.
The girl looked embarrassed and walked away.
Only then did Yeonjae step outside.
“Do you really have a girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Then why…”
“Annoying.”
That was such a Hyunoh answer that it raised no new doubts.
Still—
“You could’ve just said sorry and rejected her nicely. Why lie?”
“Better to cut off any possibility from the start. What changes if I leave room?”
“Still…”
Yeonjae muttered,
“You find so many things annoying. Then why help me? Helping me must be more annoying. And I’m a total stranger too.”
Hyunoh stared at him for a moment.
“Maybe not a stranger.”
At that exact moment, a delivery motorcycle roared past, swallowing his voice.
In fact—
Hyunoh had seen Yeonjae several times before.
