Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Reunion in the Library
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“…I guess I have to, right?”
“It depends on what you think, bro.”
“Hm.”
It looked like today was the day he had to go see her.
She'd been sparse with replies these past few days, and she'd even canceled their tennis plans—something she'd never done before.
“I should go. You head back first.”
Kang Hyun waved to Yoon Chan-rim, racking his brain as hard as he could before suddenly remembering where she might be. He hurried off.
Korea University Medical School.
-What are you doing?
Kang Hyun had messaged Yoon Haneul, but with no reply, he just stared endlessly at his phone while pacing in front of the med school building.
“She must be in class…”
Aside from a few people rushing by with harried looks, the area in front of the building was deserted.
He'd heard there were exams, so she was probably buried in studying and couldn't check her messages.
‘I should ask around.’
Since they went to the same university anyway, Kang Hyun grabbed hold of a guy heading quickly toward the library.
“Excuse me.”
“Yeah?”
“Uh, do you happen to know a first-year named Yoon Haneul here…?”
“Yoon Haneul from pre-med first year?”
“Yeah? Yeah, pre-med first year, Yoon Haneul. That's right.”
The guy seemed to be her upperclassman. He gave Kang Hyun a quick once-over from head to toe, probably wondering why he was looking for her.
Then, as if recognizing who Kang Hyun was, his expression changed with an “Ah!”
“Uh, are you Kang Hyun, by any chance?”
“Yeah, but… do you know me?”
“Oh.”
He looked Kang Hyun over again with curious eyes, like he was checking out a celebrity, then replied in a much softer tone.
“The first-years are all at the library for the medical statistics exam.”
“Ah, the library? Thanks.”
Med school consisted of two years of pre-med followed by four years of main courses, collectively called pre-med.
For pre-med students, it was the preparatory phase before entering the main track—building general knowledge and foundational medicine—which was almost like a break for med students.
But that was only from the perspective of med students.
From pre-med first year all the way until entering the main courses, the workload was hellish, so most students holed up in the library to grind through it.
Especially during exam season.
Kang Hyun headed straight for the library.
Ssshh-click.
Kang Hyun stepped onto the top floor of the library.
In this reading room so quiet you couldn't even hear breathing—just the faint sound of pens rolling—he spotted Yoon Haneul's head poking up ever so slightly at a glance.
‘Come to think of it, I've never seen her studying since we got to university.’
They'd studied together until his teeth chattered back in high school, but since starting college, they'd never spent time studying together or gone anywhere just to study.
That sparked one question.
Kang Hyun was a law genius.
His major coursework in college actually felt easier, so he'd naturally cut back on study time.
Truth be told, he didn't need to study at all. He already knew everything.
So how had Yoon Haneul kept pace with him—going out, making time to hang out?
Was she a medical genius too?
The answer was right here, finally.
Peek.
Kang Hyun sidled up next to Yoon Haneul's seat and barely swallowed a gasp, freezing behind her.
Piles of coffee cups and energy drinks.
Post-it notes plastered all over her desk.
And there she was, big round glasses on, studying furiously.
She splintered her time into fragments for studying. And never let go of first place.
All while still finding time to rest and have fun.
That was Yoon Haneul's rule.
In simple terms, she'd been cramming like this behind the scenes just to hang out with Kang Hyun.
A perfectionist who seemed cold to those around her. Yet loved by all.
Warm only to Kang Hyun.
He couldn't even fathom how much effort she'd put in to become that.
Coldly speaking, Kang Hyun hadn't offered her any special comfort or worry, hadn't helped with her studies.
Even when she vented about school life or weird people stressing her out, he'd just comforted her briefly.
Looking at it this way, hadn't Kang Hyun been too indifferent toward her?
The thought pierced deep into his chest, bringing a slight lump to his throat.
Was occasionally meeting up to play, exercise, and part ways really helping her?
‘Whew…’
Kang Hyun hesitated for a moment.
Should he leave her be so as not to disturb, or call her out for a talk?
Normally, he'd just leave. He never interfered when she was doing something.
If she was studying, he'd let her study well. If playing, he'd say good job.
And when she came back, he'd join her.
But today, his feet wouldn't move.
In the end, Kang Hyun quietly approached from behind and patted her shoulder gently.
She overlaid her hand on his atop her shoulder.
“…!”
The moment her hand touched, Kang Hyun's heart started pounding like it would bring the library down.
She must have known he was there already.
Yoon Haneul was probably respecting and accommodating his personality.
When Yoon Haneul turned to look up at Kang Hyun, he gazed back at her warmly.
Their eyes met.
Then Yoon Haneul seemed to realize her disheveled state and hurriedly brushed his hand away, gesturing for him to wait outside.
But Kang Hyun could tell she looked amused—excited, even, with joy.
She was happy.
Kang Hyun waited in the hallway outside the reading room for about ten minutes.
“Why'd you come?”
She emerged and playfully tapped his arm.
It was the kind of thing she did when a bit tipsy, so yeah—she was secretly thrilled he'd come.
“Uh… thought I'd buy you coffee?”
“Good boy.”
“But seeing all those coffee cans piled up, how about juice instead? Cool with that?”
“Mhm.”
Kang Hyun's face flushed as Yoon Haneul, hands behind her back and sticking close to his side, beamed at him.
“Want me to step out for a bit? You okay?”
“Mhm.”
On the way to the cafe.
Perfect weather—not too cold, not too hot—with clear skies.
Just right for that spring-like flutter of excitement.
At the cafe, Kang Hyun bought her fresh fruit juice and packed some cookies, then they headed out together.
Every sip or two of juice, he'd break off half a cookie for her.
She munched contentedly as they walked. Her cute face finally seemed to come alive.
They strolled slowly to the prettily landscaped garden in the middle of campus, with its fountain. Naturally, they sat on an empty bench. Kang Hyun could feel passing students glancing their way.
It wasn't bad.
Seated beside Yoon Haneul, Kang Hyun broached the subject.
“I have something to tell you.”
“What?”
“Uh… I'm thinking of running for student council president this time.”
As he gauged her reaction, she burst out laughing.
“But why're you watching my face like that.”
“No, just… feels like I told you too late.”
“You did tell me late.”
“…Yeah. Right?”
“I've been all unsettled seeing you all over the news lately. But you weren't saying anything.”
“So you were mad?”
“I was worried. Thought you were suffering alone.”
So she had a lot on her mind too.
Kang Hyun fell into thought at Yoon Haneul's words.
Yeah.
It wasn't indifference.
She was the first person he wanted to tell when something happened, but theirs was an ambiguous relationship that wasn't quite that.
Unconsciously, they both knew their dynamic perfectly. That's why even when they wanted to get closer, it often didn't happen smoothly.
Especially for Kang Hyun.
Seeing her struggle and offering deep comfort, listening to her inner turmoil and sharing it—that was what he wanted most, but also what he couldn't do.
It was the same for her.
When Kang Hyun decided to run for student council president, she might have picked up on it ages ago.
Yet no word of worry or question. That wasn't indifference.
“Sorry. I'll tell you sooner from now on. It just kinda happened.”
“It's fine.”
She smiled coolly in response.
But this time, it stung Kang Hyun's heart a bit.
When could he get a little closer?
When could he confess that he liked her—just that?
There were plenty more mountains to climb beyond that, homework for Kang Hyun going forward.
“Ah, have I taken too much of your time?”
Seeing her face reminded him of the energy drink cans stacked in the library.
Realizing she'd been studying, Kang Hyun shot to his feet and nodded to her, but she stayed seated, looking up at his face.
“Don't wanna go.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, let's stay longer.”
“Alright, then.”
A quiet moment.
Whoosh.
Clear water poured from the fountain.
Just an ordinary day, but today carried a subtle, awkward atmosphere.
Yoon Haneul looked bright and cute despite emerging from hours in the library. Beautiful. He wanted nothing more than to hug her tight.
Then, she spoke.
“What'll you do for me?”
“Huh?”
“You said sorry. Penalty.”
“Ah.”
Kang Hyun couldn't meet her eyes straight and pondered briefly.
Then it hit him.
“Wanna study together after so long?”
“Study?”
“I'll help. It's better to memorize together, right? Like old times. Not into it?”
“No? I like it.”
What was this about?
Seeing color bloom on Yoon Haneul's face, Kang Hyun felt sorry again for not looking after her.
They spent quite a while together like that—a rare leisurely time—then walked side by side, slowly back.
He couldn't figure out why this time felt so fun and happy. She seemed to feel the same.
Before he knew it, they were at the library.
“Good luck.”
“Mhm.”
Kang Hyun watched her wave lightly as she went in, turning away only after glancing back at the entrance several times.
Plenty of obstacles awaited them both, but if moments like this kept coming.
And if they trusted each other, no day would ever be boring.
With that thought, Kang Hyun strode forward more vigorously.
Full-on student council election season was just around the corner.
To kick off his campaign—to take that first step—Kang Hyun had one thing he needed to handle.
“How's the speech coming?”
“No need. And there's still a month left.”
“You'll crash and burn like that. You didn't forget to submit the paperwork, right?”
“Per Article 12, Clause 1 of the Korea University Student Council Bylaws, candidates must submit the required documents within the registration period set by the Central Election Management Committee under the General Representative Council.”
“What, you memorized even that?”
“No worries.”
Kang Hyun answered the barrage of questions from the short, grass-green-haired one following behind with relaxed ease, just quickening his pace.
Tents were going up one by one in the open space in front of the main auditorium, and a banner announcing the “Dae-dong Festival” fluttered between the large trees.
Autumn had arrived—the day Korea University's modest event, the Dae-dong Festival, began.