Chapter 409: Old Memories
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 409: Old Memories
“What classes do you have today?”
It was the same dining table as last night’s dinner. At Yun-ji’s question, I paused as I was about to put a piece of rolled omelet into my mouth and rested it on my rice bowl instead.
“I have one in the afternoon. I’m off tomorrow.”
Tomorrow was Friday, so I had no classes.
I finally popped the rolled omelet into my mouth.
It was the first time I’d ever felt wary of a rolled omelet. It was so delicious I was worried I might become addicted to it.
“You’re a sophomore, but you’re not taking many credits?”
At the question from Senior Ju-hee, who had already showered and joined us, I gave a light nod.
“Yeah. I figured I’d be heading off to the military soon anyway, so I kept my schedule pretty light when I registered.”
“Won’t it be harder after you’re discharged?”
“I’ll worry about that when the time comes. More importantly, stop eating two pieces of rolled omelet at once.”
“...You should try chewing before you swallow, Woo-jin. You’re practically inhaling them.”
I couldn't help it; they were just too good.
“I can always make more, so just eat.”
Perhaps she liked seeing me eat with such gusto, but Yun-ji seemed unusually generous today.
Was this some kind of new concept she was trying out?
Vrrr! Vrrr! Vrrr!
In the middle of breakfast, my phone started vibrating.
I pulled it out of my pocket to check; Choi I-seo’s name was on the screen.
“....”
Was I doing something wrong right now?
I hadn't actually done anything, yet I felt a strange sense of guilt.
“Ahem.”
I stood up and walked into the living room to answer the call.
“Hello?”
— Woo-jin, are you awake?
“Uh, yeah. I just got up.”
— That’s good. I made some side dishes for you. I’m almost there, so just wait for me.
“Huh? You’re coming over now?”
— Yeah. You spent all your money buying that weird stuff, so you must be short on grocery money. I made plenty, so it should last you a while.
“....”
What should I do?
I stole a glance behind me.
The three of them were still in the middle of their meal.
I didn't think they’d leave even if I asked them to, and I wasn't even sure if I had the right to ask that in the first place.
If that was the case, then it was better to just be honest.
“Uh, I-seo? Actually, I’m eating breakfast right now.”
— Really? You’re eating earlier than usual.
“No, well, you see...”
It was better to explain beforehand.
I explained what had happened to me today, pouring as much "wronged innocence" into my voice as possible. I-seo hesitated for a moment before speaking.
— Let’s just talk when I get there.
Then she hung up.
“....”
I couldn't tell if she was angry or not.
With a pounding heart, I returned to the table and informed them that Choi I-seo would be arriving soon.
“Side dishes? Tell her to come join us.”
“Does I-seo not have morning classes today either?”
“I-seo really seems like the perfect wife material. You better treat her well, Woo-jin.”
“....”
How could they all be so shameless?
While everyone else finished their meal, I just stood there awkwardly, waiting for Choi I-seo.
They told me I was being distracting and to just sit down and eat, but I wasn't in the mood.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell sounded unusually loud.
I rushed to the door and opened it to find Choi I-seo standing there, carrying a heavy bag filled with containers of side dishes.
“I-seo! You’re here! I was waiting for you!”
I greeted her with a bright smile, but I-seo didn't give much of a reaction.
She handed me the bag and walked inside, her eyes landing on the three people sitting at the dining table.
“Sigh.”
A short sigh escaped her lips.
The air grew prickly at that sigh, which seemed to carry many meanings.
“W-well, that was a great meal.”
“Ahem, I should get going to school.”
Choi Jin-ah and Senior Ju-hee quickly stood up. They had acted like it was no big deal earlier, but now that they were actually facing I-seo, they seemed to feel self-conscious.
“Come and eat.”
Oh Yun-ji, as indifferent as before, invited Choi I-seo to join the meal.
I-seo sat down in one of the vacated seats.
I put the side dishes in the fridge and scurried over to sit beside her.
“...!”
After taking a bite of the food, I-seo’s eyes widened. She turned her head slightly toward me and asked, “Who made this?”
“I did.”
The answer came from across the table.
Oh Yun-ji raised her hand as if she’d been waiting for the question and gave a smirk.
“It’s good, right?”
I-seo couldn't give a proper answer to Yun-ji’s follow-up question, only letting out a noncommittal sound.
Naturally, I kept my mouth shut and just focused on eating.
If I said anything now, I’d not only be caught in the crossfire but likely get a lecture from I-seo as well.
To be perfectly objective...
Oh Yun-ji was the better cook.
It wasn't surprising, considering she’d basically been living on her own since she was young.
Moreover, since Yun-ji had lived with me, she had analyzed my tastes quite thoroughly, so her cooking was perfectly tailored to my palate.
I-seo had made me side dishes and food before, but she hadn't delved quite that deep into it.
“It... is good.”
Choi I-seo admitted honestly.
Why did it feel like I could see a strange sense of defeat weighing down on her shoulders?
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen I-seo like this.’
With people like Seo Ye-rin or Yoo Ah-rin, the vibe was so different that they’d never really competed like this.
It seemed she felt a sense of crisis.
I wondered if I should offer her some comfort, but...
‘Would that be the right move?’
Choi I-seo herself was acknowledging that the other person was a better cook.
And honestly, I wasn't even sure what they were competing over in the first place.
“I-seo, you have afternoon classes, right?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
“Then let’s head out together. I’ll go wash up real quick.”
“Head out? Where?”
“We can study outside, or just hang out for a bit before class.”
“...Okay, sure.”
I got up first, went into the bathroom, and washed up.
Since I’d already brought my own toiletries over, I was able to finish quickly.
“Phew.”
A hot shower really hit the spot.
As I came out drying my hair with a towel, Oh Yun-ji was waiting for me with her arms crossed.
“My, aren't you just the devoted boyfriend?”
“You’re one to talk. Don’t try to compete with her over weird things.”
“Did I compete? I just made some delicious side dishes.”
“Sigh, whatever. We’re heading out. Are you going to stay here?”
“No, I should leave if you’re not here. Ju-hee Unni and Jin-ah already left.”
“....”
The comment about leaving because I wasn't there was a bit bothersome, but I didn't feel like arguing about it.
I walked past Oh Yun-ji to dry my hair with the hairdryer, but she kept following me.
“I want to go hang out too.”
“Are you crazy? We’re going on a date.”
“We used to go on dates all the time.”
“You—sigh, why are you being like this, Yun-ji?”
At my words, Yun-ji punched me in the chest, pouted, and said, “I don’t know. I guess I’m jealous.”
“....”
“Have a good time. I assume you’ll eat lunch out. What do you want for dinner?”
“We’re eating dinner out too. And even if we eat here, I’m going to eat the side dishes I-seo made.”
“...Were you always this good at drawing a line?”
Oh Yun-ji asked with a look of genuine curiosity.
I couldn't help but let out a chuckle at her dazed expression as I answered.
“Yeah, I was always like this.”
“Hmm, I guess I really didn't trust you enough back then.”
“Hey. Back then, it wasn't that you didn't trust me; you refused to believe me. You didn't even pretend to trust me, so what are you—”
“Oh, really? And what about you? You said I couldn't even go out for drinks with my high school friends? Even after I told you several times it was only girls?”
“That’s different. That was because I saw you getting hunted at a bar when I wasn't there.”
“Is that so? So you followed me in secret to keep watch—ah, did you know I-seo was there back then too?”
“...I didn't know that.”
Back then, I only had eyes for Oh Yun-ji.
Smack!
“Agh!”
Suddenly, a stinging palm slapped me across the back.
The sudden pain made me bolt upright while I was drying my hair. I turned around to ask what she was doing, only to find Choi I-seo standing there with her arms crossed.
“When are we leaving?”
“Ah, right... we should go now.”
“Snicker.”
A current girlfriend witnessing her boyfriend casually chatting with his ex.
It was a situation straight out of a drama.
I glared at Oh Yun-ji, who was laughing beside us, and she quickly made her escape.
Judging by the sound of the front door, she had gone back to her own place.
After about thirty minutes of getting ready, I stepped out of the house with I-seo.
“I-seo, are you mad?”
“No.”
The wind wasn't the only thing that was chilly; I-seo was too. When I tried to snuggle up to her, she shot me a sideways glance and asked quietly.
“Did you really not know?”
“Huh? Know what?”
“Sigh, I’m asking if you really didn't know I was there back then.”
“Ah.”
She was talking about the time Yun-ji went out for drinks.
To be honest, I really hadn't seen her.
I was only worried about whether some creeps would try to hit on Yun-ji.
I considered telling a white lie.
But looking into I-seo’s eyes, I felt that wouldn't be right.
“Yeah, I didn't know. But I-seo, the me from back then and the me now are different. Think of it this way: the gaze that used to be fixed on Yun-ji is now fixed on you!”
“Let’s be accurate. It’s on me, Ye-rin, and Ah-rin.”
“....”
Having said that, I-seo seemed to soften a bit as she relaxed her body and leaned slightly against me.
“I saw you back then, though.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Yeah. I saw you very clearly.”
Of course, we were in the same department and I-seo was the Class Representative, so she would have recognized me.
But the way she trailed off made me anxious.
“And? If you’d just let it go, you wouldn't remember it until now.”
“....”
She buried her face in my shoulder. That was her way of saying she wasn't going to tell me.
“Ah, why are you hiding it? What is it? Tell me.”
“I thought you were a stalker.”
“Hey...”
“Anyway, I’m going to enroll in a cooking academy.”
“Suddenly? Are you crazy?!”
I looked at Choi I-seo in shock, but she replied that she’d already made up her mind.
“I might not get better right away, but by the time you’re discharged from the military, I’ll make things much more delicious for you.”
“No, I told you there’s no need to compete over something like that. I’m not going to dump you for Yun-ji just because she’s a better cook.”
If that were the case, my girlfriend would be some professional chef by now.
“I’m doing it because I want to.”
“I just don’t like that the reason is me.”
Our conversation was running in parallel lines.
But Choi I-seo didn't back down.
“Woo-jin, I’m a person who is strict with myself.”
“Yeah, I know.”
There were few people as strict and thorough with self-management as Choi I-seo.
She was the type who could play as much as she wanted and still get top grades on her own.
“That’s partly because I work hard, but also because I like that version of myself. You call it a sense of accomplishment, right?”
“....”
“I like the feeling that I’m becoming a better person.”
Choi I-seo gently hugged me.
With her cheek pressed against my chest, she whispered with a smile.
“Loving you makes me want to keep becoming a better person.”
“....”
“So, thank you, Woo-jin.”
“Ah, seriously, Choi I-seo.”
When she put it like that...
How could I tell her not to do it?
“Fine, go learn how to cook.”
“Mm, I will.”
“In exchange, tell me. About when you saw me at the bar. Something memorable must have happened for you to remember it, right?”
“That’s—”
Pulling away from me, Choi I-seo gave a playful smile and shook her head.
“It’s a secret.”
*
Two years ago.
A pub was crowded with freshmen huddled together.
It was the time when they were finally starting to get close to their classmates.
Gathered in small groups, they gulped down beer—the taste of which they didn't quite appreciate yet—to savor the feeling of being college students.
And among them...
There was one table that stood out exceptionally.
Perhaps because it was a group of only girls, the guys in the male-dominated department were stealing glances, waiting for an opportunity.
“Min-ji, I think your brother is a bit strange.”
As Oh Yun-ji spoke while picking at some dried snacks, Jung Min-ji frowned and retorted.
“What do you know about my brother?”
Jung Min-ji’s sharp response felt almost forced.
The other girls, who were from the same high school, stole glances at Min-ji, sensing the tension.
“I’m just saying you should be careful with men. You just graduated high school; don’t get tangled up with some weirdo.”
“You just worry about keeping a leash on your own boyfriend.”
“My boyfriend is absolutely head over heels for me. I want to brag about him, but I don’t because I know you guys would hate it.”
Oh Yun-ji gave a beaming smile.
Her high school classmates were a bit surprised, as they’d never seen that expression on her face before.
Oh Yun-ji had been through a lot since high school due to her family situation.
It felt like only yesterday she was lamenting that even though she’d barely made it into college, her days would be filled with nothing but the struggle of part-time jobs.
“Yun-ji... you look much better these days.”
Choi I-seo said as she took a sip of her beer.
Thinking about how this stuff wasn't even good for her health, she quickly pulled the glass away from her lips.
“Right? I think so too. Just having one more person in my life has changed the whole world.”
“Wow, Oh Yun-ji, that’s enough!”
“You’re paying for all the beer tonight.”
The heavy atmosphere lifted as the drinking session continued.
‘I’m getting dizzy.’
Choi I-seo quietly stood up.
She followed a group of friends heading to the restroom but slipped outside alone for a moment.
She was catching her breath and enjoying the fresh air when...
“Excuse me.”
A man approached her.
‘Is he hitting on me?’
Since becoming a college student, Choi I-seo had been hit on quite frequently, so she naturally prepared to reject him.
“I’m sorry. I have a boyfriend.”
“Yes, I have a girlfriend too.”
“...Pardon?”
“I saw you’re at the same table as Yun-ji. I was wondering if you could send me a text if any other guys approach her?”
“If you’re Yun-ji’s boyfriend...”
Wasn't he Kim Woo-jin from the English Literature department?
Even though they were in the same department, Choi I-seo hadn't recognized him since she’d only recently become the Class Representative.
And Kim Woo-jin seemed to have absolutely no interest in Choi I-seo.
“I’ll give you my number, so just let me know if other guys come over.”
“Ah, okay...”
Well, as the Class Representative, she should probably have the numbers of her classmates anyway.
‘But he really doesn't know who I am.’
Look at how he doesn't have even a shred of interest.
He was even now looking past her, searching for Oh Yun-ji through the window.
After exchanging numbers, Kim Woo-jin pulled several bottles of hangover cures from his pocket.
“And please give these to them. She suffers quite a bit from hangovers the next day if she drinks.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Make sure Yun-ji gets this one.”
“....”
Look at him specifically pointing out the expensive one.
It seemed he was giving the others out as a bonus just so he wouldn't be only giving one to Yun-ji.
“Then, I’m counting on you.”
“Ah, yes.”
As she was about to head back inside, Choi I-seo suddenly felt a surge of curiosity. She stopped and turned around.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes?”
“If you say you’ll come right away if I contact you, does that mean you’re going to wait?”
“Yes, why?”
“...I think we might go for a second round.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll be waiting at a nearby PC Bang anyway.”
“You’re going to wait?”
“Yes. Yun-ji doesn't say it, but she secretly likes this kind of thing. Being picked up.”
“....”
Oh Yun-ji, who had rarely felt such warmth amidst her difficult family history.
That was why she quite liked these kinds of gestures.
The important thing was...
‘He’s just going to wait indefinitely for that?’
It was a bit of a turn-off.
“Are you a stalker?”
“I’m her boyfriend. Just please try to keep her from drinking too much if it looks like she’s overdoing it.”
He was devoted.
At the same time, Choi I-seo thought it was a bit creepy as she walked back inside.
He seemed to be trying to be considerate so his girlfriend could have fun comfortably, but...
“Yun-ji, your boyfriend told me to give you this.”
As soon as Choi I-seo sat down, she pulled out the hangover cures.
She had no intention of playing along with their strange romance.
At least, that was how Choi I-seo felt at the time.
“Your boyfriend?”
“Ugh, he followed us even though we’re just hanging out with friends?”
“I told you to keep a leash on your boyfriend.”
Criticism immediately rained down on Oh Yun-ji’s boyfriend.
However...
“Woo-jin did?!”
Oh Yun-ji jumped up in surprise.
The smile on her face was like a star.
It sparkled that much, shone that much, and therefore seemed that much more unreachable.
‘She really likes him.’
Watching Oh Yun-ji run outside, Choi I-seo sipped her beer.
Oh Yun-ji was being playfully teased for ditching her friends the moment her boyfriend arrived.
Amidst her friends’ chatter, Choi I-seo was asking herself.
A love that could make one so purely happy.
‘Could I... ever do that?’
It was probably impossible.
Because the sight of Oh Yun-ji being so happy looked almost shockingly blissful.
For the first time in her life.
It was the moment she felt a little envious of someone having a partner.
*
“I-seo.”
“Yeah?”
“I think my arm is going to sleep. I can’t feel any blood flowing.”
On the way to school.
He didn't know why she was suddenly gripping his arm so tightly, but Kim Woo-jin grumbled that his arm was going to get pulled off.
However, Choi I-seo gripped even tighter and gave a bitter smile.
“I did something I’m sorry for.”
“If you’re sorry, then let go a bit!”
“No, not that.”
“You’re not sorry for this?!”
Choi I-seo looked up at the struggling Kim Woo-jin.
Recalling the past made her feel like a bad person, but...
“I’m never letting go.”
She couldn't bring herself to loosen her grip.
Because she was finally experiencing the kind of love she had admired from afar.
‘Even if the relationship has become a bit strange.’
Even so, it meant she had finally caught the person she couldn't let go of.
“Agh! It hurts!”
She wanted to hug him even tighter, but...
She slowly let go of the pained Kim Woo-jin and made a request.
“Can you give me a kiss?”
“...Huh?”
At the sudden request, Kim Woo-jin stared at Choi I-seo blankly before leaning in to kiss her.
And then.
Smack!
“Geez, just how far are you planning to shove your tongue...!”
When she glared at him after he immediately tried to entwine their tongues, Kim Woo-jin asked dorkily.
“Didn't you mean you wanted to have sex?”
“....”
“Ah, if not, then never mind. Don’t glare at me like that, it’s scary.”