Episode 10
Since that day, Kwon Do-hyun took it upon himself to be Yoon-seo’s guardian. After studying in the library until 11, Do-hyun would be waiting, smoking. Sometimes he silently followed her back to the dorm, and even when she told him not to come, he would inevitably show up.
In the “Musicals and Opera” class that resumed this week, she saw Kwon Do-hyun again.
Jang Seung-joo, the senior who had generously provided Yoon-seo with endless study materials, also attended the class. It was surprising that he knew Do-hyun. Looking around, Yoon-seo noticed that Do-hyun seemed to know many people everywhere.
He was the type who naturally drew crowds just by standing still, and if he was smoking, juniors would come and twist themselves to ask him to buy them a meal. After they left, he would always ask Yoon-seo:
“Try doing it like that too. Then what could I not do for you?”
Yoon-seo didn’t reply, but Do-hyun seemed pleased even by that and smiled slightly.
Was he naturally a cheerful type?
During a break in the liberal arts class, she was invited by Jang Seung-joo to join a team for a contest.
Since Yoon-seo was acting as a teaching assistant in the professor’s lab, he seemed to want to help more, knowing her situation. Because of her tight schedule, she often missed good opportunities, but sometimes hands like his were extended. Thanks to him, she could participate in external contests while still maintaining good grades.
A grateful person.
When the conversation deepened into technical jargon, Do-hyun propped his chin on his hand, pouted, and lightly tapped Yoon-seo’s toes with his big foot. He looked bored.
Even though she wasn’t interested, she insisted on attending class, and during Ji-ho oppa’s tutoring sessions, she had been punctual.
The math book she had bought for Do-hyun had sections he didn’t know either, but perhaps his pride was stung because two weeks later he solved them effortlessly. She realized he was fundamentally smart.
“Going back to the dorm?”
“No. Today we’re going out drinking.”
“At this hour? It’s 11.”
Do-hyun asked with a face that looked incredulous. Crossing his arms, he naturally hooked his finger into the strap of Yoon-seo’s bag. Lifting it up, it felt much lighter.
Even when she asked him to give it back, Do-hyun had his own way of taming Yoon-seo.
She shouldn’t get used to this comfort.
The solid wall she had built must not crumble.
Just by looking at him, Kwon Do-hyun seemed like someone who only had shallow, short-lived romances. She shouldn’t get excited by impulsive attention.
Sometimes, however, she found herself curious about love. Moments like walking to the dorm with Do-hyun supporting the weight of her bag, riding in the car smelling of him to the engineering building, his relentless approach despite her discomfort, and then his playful retreat with a smile when she said no.
Kwon Do-hyun was uncomplicated.
So she wished he wouldn’t know about her twisted inner feelings or her pathetic state. The more she dwelled on these emotions, the more her heart wavered.
“Wait a sec.”
He tilted his head, holding the phone between his shoulder and ear. Using his free left hand, he searched for something, frowning. It seemed like he was looking for a cigarette.
“I’m in the middle of something. Why?”
She couldn’t hear the other side clearly. Matching his pace, Yoon-seo shook her head at the bag, signaling it didn’t need to be carried. She was used to handling this weight. Then he flicked the strap with his finger, lifting it up and down playfully. The bag bounced behind her.
“Like a turtle. Slowpoke.”
A mischievous glint appeared in Do-hyun’s eyes.
“Seon-jung, not you. I can’t go now. Want me to switch to Tae-ju?”
Gripping the straps with both hands to stop him from teasing, Do-hyun’s eyebrows rose.
Handsome. And he used his facial muscles with such ease.
“I can’t go now. Ice cream, whatever. Use the card I gave you.”
He spent money freely. Carelessly. Could anyone borrow his card? Was it because he was wealthy, or because he saw the world as beautiful and trusted easily, or was he just thoughtless?
While pondering Kwon Do-hyun, he chuckled and hung up. Afterwards, her phone vibrated repeatedly. Expecting a call, she instead saw new message windows popping up—probably telling her to come.
“Do you give your card to anyone? Is that okay?”
“Why? Only you?”
“…No. I don’t plan to buy anything with a guy’s card. I’ll earn it myself.”
“Right. I thought so. When you charged tutoring fees, I noticed.”
“I didn’t charge it; you offered ten times more, remember?”
Do-hyun shrugged as if it didn’t matter.
“What time will you be done drinking?”
“Moderately… hmm.”
“Finish before midnight.”
“…It’s 11 now.”
During the first half of March, Yoon-seo hadn’t attended a single drinking event: freshman welcome parties, sophomore gatherings, meetings with seniors and juniors. Tonight’s gathering was for those working on the contest with Jang Seung-joo.
“I quit drinking to live properly. Can’t be helped.”
What do you mean can’t be helped?
“Come with me. Drinking with Jang Seung-joo?”
“…How did you know?”
“I’ve finished surveying your surroundings.”
Then he took out his phone and called. When the other side answered, he briefly pulled it away from his ear because it was noisy, then held it back.
“So where? I’ll bring Yoon-seo.”
“You know Seung-joo’s number too?”
Why does he know everything?
Surveying her surroundings must mean this. Knowing Do-hyun’s personality this way gave her goosebumps.
Do-hyun replied by lifting her bag up and down with his finger, signaling he also knew Seung-joo’s number.
“Did you know about today’s plans?”
This time, shaking his finger side to side meant no. Yoon-seo swayed slightly under the weight of the bag, and he chuckled.
“I’ll be quick. Bringing the turtle.”
“The turtle is me? Why me?”
“Seung-joo says you’re the turtle.”
“Call him.”
As Yoon-seo reached for the phone, Do-hyun leaned back. Even if she lifted her toes, taking the phone from him was impossible. Still, she didn’t give up. When she stretched her arm, he lost grip of the bag, and the heavy load fell with a thud.
With the bag containing textbooks and a laptop bouncing, her body swayed back and forth. Leaning toward Do-hyun to catch him, he supported her back.
Unintentionally, their upper bodies pressed close.
Thump.
At that moment, Yoon-seo didn’t notice the cool breeze, the noise of students leaving the main gate, or passing cars and shuttles.
Thump again.
Her chest sank and heart raced.
Do-hyun also froze, his hand on the area near her shoulder blades, silently looking at her while holding his phone.
When she looked up, his heated gaze slowly traced her forehead, nose, and lips.
We’re not together.
I should push him away.
Flustered, Yoon-seo blinked, and Do-hyun was the first to pull his hand away, tapping her forehead lightly.
“Gotcha.”
“…What?”
“You froze.”
Finally, Yoon-seo relaxed her shoulders. She had tensed her entire body, straining her neck. Pressing her hand behind her head where the neck and skull meet, Do-hyun stared at her.
“But Yoon-seo.”
“Yes, senior?”
“You’re unexpectedly…”
His gaze moved from her face down to her neck, slightly lower.
“Just unexpected.”
“…Disgusting.”
Yoon-seo swung the bag from her back to the front. Taking his playful words lightly, she shivered and stepped forward; Do-hyun followed, suggesting they walk together. She deliberately quickened her pace, but he caught up leisurely, even humming behind her.
No matter how fast you walk, with those short legs, you won’t get far. Even the humming was annoying.
Unexpectedly… what a surprise!
“You should carry the turtle shell on your back. Can’t see your feet otherwise.”
Yoon-seo looked under the bag. Indeed, her feet were barely visible. Passing a slope, there were stairs ahead, increasing the chance of tripping.
“If you trip trying to show off to me…”
“……”
“Whose hand will be hurt, hmm?”
Even if she got hurt, they would keep walking.
The instigator of her racing heart chuckled, taking one step ahead of her.
