Chapter 192: Spring Breeze
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 192: Spring Breeze
Anzu Coffee.
It was one of the many cafes near the university. In an era where big-name franchises were the trend, this private cafe managed to maintain a steady stream of regulars through its aesthetic interior and quality taste.
And right now, that was where I was.
I was busy carrying coffee around while wearing an apron.
It was a situation I couldn't have imagined even an hour ago, but perhaps thanks to my experience working at Gold One, I didn't find it difficult to adjust.
Most modern cafes operated on a self-service basis where customers picked up their own drinks when the buzzer went off. However, since this place wasn't very large, the staff served the drinks directly to the tables.
It’s a relief for me, actually.
I didn't know how to pull espresso shots yet. Since there was a role for someone who could simply memorize table numbers and deliver drinks, I could at least be useful.
About two or three hours passed.
As dinner time approached, the students who had been sitting and studying left to eat, and the rush of takeout orders began to dwindle.
Fortunately, the next part-timer arrived. I untied my apron and let out a long sigh.
"Whew."
"Good work today."
The manager approached me and subtly handed over an envelope.
"Here’s your pay for today."
"Oh."
I hadn't expected him to actually pay me.
The manager was in his mid-thirties with an impressive beard. He had a dignified, mature aura about him. He felt strangely different compared to the bald man I had encountered recently.
"You must have been flustered having to come in so suddenly, but you did a great job."
"Thank you."
"I’ll have a separate talk with Ju-hee."
"...Senior Ju-hee is very responsible and good at her job."
"Pardon?"
He might have found it sudden, but I felt I should at least offer an excuse for her. Her collapsing today was, quite literally, an accident.
"Of course, if you say that managing one's condition is also a personal responsibility, I have nothing to say to that. But still—"
Ding-aling!
Just then, the door swung open, and Senior Ju-hee rushed in. Her face was deathly pale, and she looked like she didn't know what to do with herself. I felt like I was seeing many new sides of her today.
"M-Manager, I'm so sorry. Woo-jin, I'm so sorry to you too."
The way she bowed deeply didn't feel like an overreaction; I could feel her genuine sincerity. The manager looked back and forth between me and Ju-hee before telling her it was alright.
*
On the way home after finishing the talk with the manager.
The surroundings had grown dark before I knew it.
Senior Ju-hee offered to buy me dinner, but I told her I was fine.
"Go back to the dorm and get some sleep. I think that would be best."
"Yeah, I should."
Seeing her face, which still looked exhausted, I was genuinely worried.
"Balancing studies and a part-time job is tough. Don't overdo it, and let me know if you need anything."
For the lectures we took together, I could always show her my notes or summarize the key points for her.
However.
"No, it's okay. You don't need to do that."
Senior Ju-hee rejected my help quite firmly. She drew a line so clearly that it made me wonder if there was a specific reason.
"..."
I couldn't push any further.
I had rejected her, and she was staying friends with me without making things difficult. Prying deeper wouldn't be good for her either.
"I'm really sorry about today, Woo-jin. I'll definitely make it up to you."
"Don't worry about it, Senior. Think of all the help I've received from you."
From group projects to the incident with President Hwang, I had always relied on Senior Ju-hee's help during major situations. I didn't need to get a free meal out of her just for covering one shift.
"..."
"..."
After that, we didn't share much conversation.
How should I put it? It felt like there was a mutual sense of distance, an unspoken agreement that we shouldn't talk more than this.
However, I could glimpse various emotions on Senior Ju-hee's face as she walked toward the dormitory. I didn't know exactly what they were, but she looked so fragile, as if she might crumble at any moment if left alone.
More than once, I almost reached out to hold her hand without thinking.
Sigh.
Every time that happened, I held back by thinking of the girls.
I wasn't the person meant to stay by Senior Ju-hee's side.
*
"Woo-jin-ah."
"What."
Exam week.
Having already finished one exam, I was studying with Seo Ye-rin at a makeshift table in front of a convenience store.
"Woo-jin-ah."
"What."
I kept my eyes on my notes while sipping on Hershey Choco Milk. If you asked why we were studying here, it was because there were no seats anywhere else.
The cafes and libraries on campus were already packed. Going to a cafe further away would make it difficult to get back in time for the next exam. As a compromise, we were studying at the convenience store for now.
"Woo-jin-aaaaah."
"I asked why you're calling me."
I heard she had an exam in an hour too; was it okay for her to be this relaxed? When I replied with a bit of irritation, Seo Ye-rin pouted and rested her chin on the table.
"I don't wanna study."
"I don't want to either."
"My mom wants me to start going to an acting academy. What should I do?"
"You should go. What's the problem?"
"Haaaah."
Seo Ye-rin let out a deep sigh as if something was bothering her. Thinking it might cheer her up if I stroked her hair, I reached out—
Slap!
"My mood isn't going to be fixed by such a measly gesture!"
She swatted my hand away instantly.
"I don't want this child's play. I want more... intimate contact!"
"I wasted my concern on you."
As I focused back on my studies, Seo Ye-rin tilted her head this way and that before asking.
"Woo-jin, if I become an actress and have to film a romance with a male actor, what are you going to do?"
"I'll think about it when the time comes."
"The time is now. I got cast in a drama."
"..."
I reflexively looked up. Seo Ye-rin, who had been staring at me, now had a serious expression.
"Not the lead, but a supporting role. They said they want me to act with a fresh, youthful vibe."
I slowly put down my pen.
"That's why Mom wants me to start the acting academy right away. Filming starts as early as May, so she wants me to practice for at least a month or two."
"..."
"She said this will be my debut work. The movie I filmed last time? It’s supposed to be released around the same time this airs, so the timing is perfect."
"I see why you can't focus on studying."
A deep sigh escaped me. It was a concern I thought was still far off, but now that it was right in front of me, I was at a loss for words.
"I guess the reason your mother wants to see me is because of this too?"
"Pro-bably?"
Her daughter was making her debut; she wouldn't want her held back by a boyfriend she met in college.
"The timing does seem perfect. I guess YS Entertainment recognized your potential."
I could tell they were putting a lot of effort into her. From the schedule to the role, they had picked a time when Seo Ye-rin would be most talked about and gave her a role that suited her as a college student.
Blocking the bright future of someone you love is a form of oppression. Furthermore, failing to view acting as a professional job is foolish.
"Don't do it."
And I was foolish.
I was also very selfish.
Seo Ye-rin stared at me blankly. I emphasized my words once more.
"I said don't do it. Don't do stuff like that with any guy who isn't me."
"But it's work?"
"Yeah, even if it's work."
"Then YS will look down on me."
"It's fine."
"I already told my mom I'd become a self-made actress."
"It's you we're talking about."
I was sorry to say it, but out of the three people I loved, Seo Ye-rin was the one I worried about the least.
"You're going to make it big no matter what."
Just look at her face. You could turn on the TV and flip through every channel, and you wouldn't find anyone with visuals like Seo Ye-rin. While tastes might differ, no one could ever call that face ugly. Plus, thinking back to when she was acting seriously, she clearly had talent.
"You can definitely make it without doing things like that. So don't worry."
It was a stubborn argument. I couldn't even list a single logical reason, and it was an incredibly selfish thing to say, but—
"Hehe!"
Seo Ye-rin beamed and immediately sat down next to me, locking her arm with mine. A soft sensation and her scent overwhelmed me aggressively.
"Kim Woo-jin, are you finally acting like a boyfriend?"
"Ahem."
"Then should I just debut without hiding that I have a boyfriend?"
"Is that even possible?"
It wasn't like a gacha game where you introduce yourself upon debut.
"I'll be doing interviews and stuff, right? I'll just say it then."
Ahem, ahem.
Seo Ye-rin cleared her throat. Suddenly, her voice shifted into a professional broadcasting tone.
"Yes, I'm so grateful to the staff, my senior actors, and the company people who worked so hard during the filming of this project. I'm also so thankful to my parents and my boyfriend."
"That sounds like an acceptance speech."
"And I have something to be congratulated for. Actually! I'm pregnant! Ho ho ho!"
"Ugh."
I felt a bit dizzy because I felt like Seo Ye-rin might actually do it. The internet would probably explode the moment she did. People would be sharing it across every community, talking about her.
Wait a second.
"You didn't actually do it, right?"
When I glanced at her and asked just in case, Seo Ye-rin gave a mischievous smile.
"Whyyy?"
What do you mean 'why'?
"If you were actually pregnant, we shouldn't be studying; we should be picking out a nickname for the baby."
"Hehehehe!"
Saying she felt great, Seo Ye-rin clung to my arm and rubbed her cheek against it. I wondered if someone who showed their emotions this clearly could even act.
"Unfortunately, it wasn't a direct hit yet."
Whispering softly, Seo Ye-rin's finger flicked and touched me there. She began to rub over my pants as if teasing me.
She didn't say anything else. We just spent time like that.
Naturally, I became hard enough to bulge against my pants, but Seo Ye-rin didn't go any further than her finger, and I didn't ask for more, choosing to focus on my studies instead.
"I have to go take my exam."
It was a bit of a shame she wasn't pregnant, but there would be plenty of opportunities.
As I focused back on my studies, Seo Ye-rin pouted again and let go of my arm. Then, she turned her body and leaned her back against my shoulder.
Seo Ye-rin stared blankly up at the parasol attached to the table.
"Woo-jin-ah."
"What."
Once again, we continued our meaningless exchange.
"Woo-jin-aaaaah."
"I asked why you're calling me."
"Hehe."
A somewhat late spring breeze blew. As if feeling it, Seo Ye-rin was smiling.