Chapter 50….
After that night, Haeju found herself thinking about Taehun more often than before.
Experience had turned her imagination into something concrete. She no longer just pictured steamy scenes—she even began to imagine the two of them dating sweetly together.
But she was a twenty-year-old freshman, and Taehun was a returning third-year senior.
At twenty, even if you promised forever, there was always the uneasy feeling that a relationship might someday end.
Besides, she wasn’t exactly known for her luck—if anything, she was practically an icon of misfortune, with bad luck clinging to her from every direction.
For someone like her to get involved with Jung Taehun, the biggest “risk” in the College of Business, was like a moth knowingly flying into a flame.
Even now, she was afraid to imagine a life without him. If she grew to like him even more and he later left… would her days ever return to normal?
And even if her own misfortune was one thing, she worried that it might spread to Taehun.
How terrible would it be if the person she liked became unhappy because of her?
“…Ha.”
Haeju drained her soju glass in one go and let out a quiet sigh as she secretly poured herself another in the corner.
The realistic gap between their circumstances also weighed on her heart.
Without her parents’ support, Haeju had to rely on scholarships and part-time jobs just to take care of herself. Taehun, on the other hand, was the son of a famous conglomerate chairman, living comfortably in a spacious home and driving imported cars as if it were only natural.
In the face of such differences, could the two of them really have a proper relationship?
On top of that, there were always women around Jung Taehun.
He was known for having dated many times—and equally famous for those relationships never lasting past one hundred days.
That meant starting a relationship with him might be easy, but keeping his feelings for long was another matter entirely.
Even if she did end up dating him, Haeju feared he might quickly grow tired of her, just like he had with others.
They had already spent a night together. Maybe the moment when his interest would fade was already approaching.
Being with Jung Taehun right now made her so happy that it actually made her anxious.
What if this happiness suddenly ended one day?
Jung Taehun was simply too great a stroke of luck for someone like her.
Senior Boyoung spoke up.
“Right. So I told Business that our department’s group date members are already set, so they should hurry up and match the numbers on their side.”
“Oh? Who’s going?”
“Haeju, Jimin, Seryeong, and Yoonji. All four of you are single, right?”
At Boyoung’s call, the four freshmen looked up.
“Yes! All four of us don’t have boyfriends!”
Seryeong, who loved gossip and drinking, answered brightly while holding her somaek glass.
“Then let’s send our four pretty girls.”
Haeju stared at Boyoung in surprise.
A group date?
It was true she wasn’t officially dating Taehun yet, but still… what they had was practically the same as being together.
In a situation like this, going to a group blind date while having someone in mind felt wrong.
Haeju stood up and approached Boyoung, whispering carefully.
“Um… sunbae. There’s someone things are going well with for me right now. So I don’t think I can go to something like that.”
“Really? But you’re not officially dating yet, right? Then just go and have fun. People with partners go to group dates all the time.”
“…Huh? That’s okay?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. And someone specifically asked for you to be included. Do this senior a favor and just stop by for a bit. I already sent the member list.”
At Boyoung’s request, Haeju hesitated before speaking again.
“Then… would it be okay if I ask the other person first?”
“What, your almost-boyfriend? It might be a bit awkward to ask when you’re not even officially dating yet… But sure. You’re the one involved, so do what makes you comfortable.”
“Thank you.”
Haeju greeted her brightly and left the barbecue area.
Since it was by the sea, the night air was still chilly.
She zipped her hoodie all the way up and pulled the hood over her head.
Then, walking deeper into the darkened glamping site, she took out her phone.
Just as she found a relatively quiet spot and was about to press the call button while looking toward the distant Business Department barbecue—
Someone came out from their barbecue area.
A tall man paused as he was about to enter the nearby Media and Communications barbecue area.
Then he turned his head toward her in the distance. The moment their eyes met, he pivoted his body and started toward her.
Jung Taehun was dressed in a loose white T-shirt, a windbreaker, and black training pants.
Even in an outfit that made him look like some idle guy wandering the neighborhood, he still carried an undeniable presence.
Maybe it was his broad frame and fit body—or maybe even his casually worn slippers were expensive.
His approaching steps were urgent.
“Seo Haeju.”
The voice calling her name was low and threatening.
In an instant he was standing in front of her, eyes flashing dangerously. He looked very angry.
“Ah—I was just about to call you…”
“Junior, I just heard something interesting. Apparently my almost-girlfriend is going to a group date?”
“Ah, well, that’s…”
Just then, voices drifted from the Media and Communications barbecue area.
“Did Haeju go in?”
“Huh? She went out earlier. Didn’t she come back?”
Taehun shot an irritated look toward the barbecue area, then wrapped an arm around Haeju’s shoulders, shielding her with his body.
Then he pulled her toward a nearby empty glamping tent.
“Let’s talk inside.”
Haeju obediently followed him.
* * *
The barbecue area still buzzed under bright lights with laughter and clinking glasses, but the glamping tent they entered was dark and quiet.
Though it looked like a tent from the outside, the interior was closer to a regular room.
Turning on his phone flashlight, Taehun crossed the wooden terrace and casually opened the door.
He slipped off his shoes and stepped inside, and Haeju quickly followed behind him.
The wall with the entrance was made entirely of glass, giving a wide, open view. Without the curtains drawn, the interior was clearly visible from outside.
At the very back was a door leading to the bathroom, with a bed frame placed in front of it.
Near the entrance were a wardrobe and small kitchen; on the opposite side sat a sofa and table. There were curtains on the window above the sofa as well.
Click.
When Taehun turned on the lights, Haeju jumped in surprise and looked at him.
“How did you turn the lights on?”
“I have the master key. The resort owner asked me to look around when I had time and leave a review.”
“Turn it off quickly.”
As Haeju, looking anxious, reached to remove the key, Taehun raised one eyebrow crookedly.
“Why? Don’t even want to see my face?”
“People might notice.”
At her words, Jung Taehun grumbled, clearly displeased.
“Oh, right. We’re supposed to be strangers. I thought when you said to be careful in front of others, you meant no skinship. I didn’t realize you meant we should act like complete strangers. Am I that embarrassing to you? You looked ready to link arms with Lee Hyunwoo earlier.”
It seemed he was upset about how she had pretended not to know him in the hallway while picking up the ping-pong ball.
Haeju answered with a troubled expression.
“The situation was awkward. How was I supposed to acknowledge you there? And what do you mean, linking arms with Sunbae Hyunwoo? Are you seriously saying that just because I grabbed his clothes to hurry him along?”
“Yeah.”
His firm, confident reply left Haeju speechless.
