Chapter 52: Hospital Visit
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 52: Hospital Visit
The midterm period came to an end.
Without a moment's rest, the festival season began immediately. Unlike the dreary atmosphere of the exam period, the campus was bustling with a newfound vitality.
Usually, on Mondays, people would drag themselves around like limp noodles, but today was different.
Seeing the festival banners and the tents being set up on the sports field made it truly feel like the festivities were starting.
Rumors were flying around about which rappers or singers were coming, but...
‘This is going to be a pain.’
I was somewhat cynical about the whole festival thing.
Part of it was because I’d heard that freshmen were practically forced to participate.
Anyway, since it was Monday, I figured I didn't have anyone to meet. I planned to just breeze through my lectures and head straight home.
But then, a notice popped up in the English Literature group chat.
It was exactly when my last class ended, but I really didn't want to go. I immediately sent a private message to Choi I-seo.
“Whoa, what?”
To be honest, I only messaged her to mess around; I didn't think she’d actually let me off the hook.
I guess it pays to be on good terms with the Class Rep.
Since I didn't have to waste my time on something tedious, I hummed to myself as I headed to my lecture.
*
“Ah, why did I do that?”
Lecture Hall 1.
Choi I-seo was sitting in the front row, letting out deep sighs for no reason.
Except for those with truly unavoidable circumstances, almost all the English Literature freshmen were present.
Since it was their first festival since entering university, everyone seemed excited, and the attendance rate was remarkably high.
The 2nd-year Class Representative and one of the professors were supposed to arrive soon to give a briefing.
‘Maybe I should have just told him to come.’
Choi I-seo was currently regretting letting Kim Woo-jin skip.
The superficial reason was that his reputation in the department was already at rock bottom, so she worried he might cause trouble if he showed up.
‘But still...!’
She had confessed to him just yesterday, so seeing his face was something she both looked forward to and dreaded.
That’s why, when Kim Woo-jin messaged her, she had impulsively chosen the easier path for the moment.
But now that she couldn't see him, she felt a bit slighted. She was also starting to resent how Kim Woo-jin could act so nonchalant in his messages.
‘Is he really that unfazed?’
She was certain she had confessed her feelings, so why was he acting exactly the same as usual?
Her head was a mess of conflicting thoughts when Ahn Hyun-ho, the Vice Representative sitting next to her, called out.
“I-seo, when is the professor coming?”
“They’ll be here soon.”
“...Is something bothering you?”
Choi I-seo glanced at Ahn Hyun-ho. Come to think of it, he used to make it very obvious that he liked her, but lately, he seemed to have toned it down.
It had started after the incident at the pork cutlet place, when Kim Woo-jin mentioned a fake confession and I-seo said she wasn't interested in dating anyone.
‘Did he give up? Or is he just hiding it?’
If he gave up, she was grateful; if he was hiding it, she wanted to learn how.
“No, it’s just the festival stuff.”
“Did you hear which celebrities are coming this time?”
“I’m not really sure about that.”
She gave brief answers to Ahn Hyun-ho as he continued to make small talk.
“I-seo.”
Seo Ye-rin approached quietly.
I-seo wondered why she had suddenly come over, as she had been chatting with another group of friends.
After a quick glance around, Seo Ye-rin whispered, “Where’s Woo-jin?”
“Oh, he said he couldn't make it today.”
“I see.”
I-seo expected her to say more, but she just scurried back. As I-seo watched her go with a bewildered expression, another person emerged from that same group.
It was Yoo Ah-rin, looking bored.
“Why isn't he here?”
There was no need to ask who "he" was, so I-seo answered bluntly.
“Why don't you contact him yourself?”
“I am, but he’s not picking up.”
“He said he’s sick.”
Ah-rin’s face immediately crumpled into a scowl.
“It’s obviously a lie. You actually fell for that?”
“How do you know it’s a lie?”
“Pfft, you know it’s a lie too.”
“...”
“You only let him skip because of what happened yesterday.”
“Did you come over here just to pick a fight?”
The two glared at each other.
There was a brief moment of tension, but the professor and the 2nd-year Class Rep entered the room right then, forcing Yoo Ah-rin to click her tongue and return to her seat.
“Were you guys just talking about Kim Woo-jin?”
Ahn Hyun-ho, who had witnessed the whole thing, asked in bewilderment. Choi I-seo could only look away, pretending she hadn't heard him.
*
“Huff!”
I’ve picked up a new hobby recently.
— Going down! Slowly! Hold your breath!
“Whew!”
It was working out while watching Neutube. It was a hobby Choi I-seo would have praised me for, and she was largely responsible for it.
She had recommended a fitness Neutuber while we were eating together last time, and I ended up really liking the channel.
The guy was funny, and he taught a variety of exercises, so it never got boring.
Plus, it brought some much-needed vitality to my life, which usually consisted of nothing but gaming or lounging around the house.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang while I was in the middle of a sweat-drenched set. I wasn't expecting anyone, but I went to open the door anyway.
“Hey...”
Standing there was Choi I-seo, her hands shoved deep into her pockets as if trying to hide her embarrassment.
“Huh?”
Her sudden appearance caught me off guard. In her hand was a white plastic bag containing food ingredients and medicine from a pharmacy.
“You said you were sick.”
“...You actually believed that?”
“Whatever! Just let me in! Someone might see!”
Choi I-seo pushed past me and invaded my room. I never imagined she’d act like this—she was acting more like Yoo Ah-rin—and it left me quite flustered.
“It smells like sweat.”
She scanned the room and looked at me inquisitively. Since I’d been working out until a moment ago, the smell of sweat must have lingered in the air.
“Oh, I was just exercising.”
I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit embarrassed by the smell. Choi I-seo looked at me with wide eyes, then gave a small smile.
“I like the way your sweat smells.”
“...?!”
What was that supposed to mean?
But seeing as she didn't look embarrassed, she probably just meant she liked that I was exercising.
“Keep going if you’re not done. I’ll make you something to eat.”
“You’re going to cook?”
I wondered why she was suddenly doing this, but then she lifted the bag she’d brought.
“We decided to run a pub for the festival. I’m going to show you a rough idea of what we’re making.”
“Why me...?”
“Because you’re the one who has to make it.”
“I’m on the kitchen team?!”
It seemed that by skipping the meeting, I’d been stuck in the pub’s kitchen. I wanted to protest, but Choi I-seo answered with a sigh.
“Of course. Did you want to do the serving?”
“Well, no.”
Being stuck in the kitchen opening cans suited me much better than having to deal with people as a server.
“We’re expecting a lot of business this time, so you need to know the menu well. It’s going to be busy.”
Expecting a lot of business?
I thought about it for a second, then nodded as I realized why.
“Ah, because of you and Seo Ye-rin?”
“...Not me.”
With the university’s famous goddess, Seo Ye-rin, serving, people were bound to flock there. Since the spotlight would be on her, Choi I-seo was relatively less known, but the crowd drawn by Ye-rin would naturally notice I-seo as well.
“Anyway, just look over the menu. It’s not finalized, but you’re on the kitchen team, so you’ll need to participate in the meetings.”
“Wow, what a drag.”
I genuinely didn't want to do it.
Choi I-seo chuckled at my reaction and headed straight for the kitchen area.
Though calling it a "kitchen" was a stretch, since it was a studio apartment and everything was in the same space.
“I’m going to use your pan and oil, okay?”
“Go ahead. Can I go wash up?”
“Sure.”
I grabbed some underwear and a change of clothes and headed to the bathroom. I stole a glance at Choi I-seo on the way.
Seeing her wearing an apron and laying out ingredients to prepare food gave me a strange feeling.
‘Tsk.’
I felt pathetic for thinking it, but I went in to shower anyway. The reason I felt pathetic was that I actually didn't mind the sight of her there or the way we were spending this time together.
After my ex-girlfriend, Oh Yun-ji, I didn't want to let any more women into my place.
But seeing her like that made me feel complicated.
‘I should use cold water.’
I showered with cold water to clear my head. By the time I came out, the table was already set.
It was mostly just bar snacks like stir-fried sausages and vegetables or corn cheese, but still.
Since they were items that needed to be served quickly, she must have finished them while I was washing up.
“Try it. You need to know the taste so you can give your opinion during the kitchen team meeting.”
“I don't really plan on giving any opinions.”
“Just eat.”
I sat at the table and tried the dishes one by one. I wanted to say it was amazing, but it was just... average.
“It’s average.”
When I said that, Choi I-seo puffed out her cheeks and gave my shoulder a playful nudge.
The fact that even these small actions felt cute made me realize that I had opened up to her more than I thought.
“I-seo.”
I put down my chopsticks and spoke up. I had planned to tell her tomorrow, but since she had come over, the timing wasn't bad.
“I don't have any intention of being in a CC relationship anymore.”
Saying things like "I appreciate your feelings" or "You'll find someone better" is meaningless and only drags out the pain.
I decided to be quick and concise.
I told her the truth.
“I got burned too badly by Oh Yun-ji. So I’m not really looking to date anyone.”
Choi I-seo stared at me. She didn't seem particularly shaken, as if she had expected this answer.
Instead, she rested her chin on her hand and asked, “If I told you to touch my breasts right now, would you?”
“Yeah.”
“...”
Was that too vulgar?
But honestly, what man would refuse if a woman offered?
“Wait! It’s like an instinct! Who would say no to that?!”
“Sigh.”
Choi I-seo let out a long sigh.
Then, she gave a small laugh and replied, “I’m not looking to date right away either. I was thinking more like next year.”
“Oh, really?”
Come to think of it, she had said something similar yesterday.
“By then, my feelings for you might have cooled down, right?”
“True. You never know with people’s hearts.”
I certainly didn't expect that I’d feel this way about Oh Yun-ji in the second semester after liking her so much in the first.
“So for now, let’s just be friends. Let’s get to know each other as friends and see. We did get close pretty fast for us to start dating right away.”
“Yeah, that’s smart.”
My heart felt a bit lighter.
At least it meant my relationship with Choi I-seo wouldn't change drastically from what it was now.
She was one of my few friends in the department; I didn't want to lose her.
“But what about the breasts?”
Since the mood had lightened, I asked with a playful grin. Choi I-seo moved to the seat next to me.
Then, she slightly pushed her chest forward.
“Here.”
“...!”
The curves were right in front of me.
Because she exercised, her chest was firm, elastic, and beautifully shaped.
Meanwhile, my brain was working at high speed.
‘She didn't say I had to use only one hand.’
Knowing her personality, she’d probably tell me to let go the moment I touched her.
I decided to go for a "2x event" and grab with both hands before letting go. I reached out with both hands, but...
Grip.
Choi I-seo interlaced her fingers with mine.
Seeing my face fill with disappointment, she smirked.
“Not yet.”
Not yet?
Does that mean later is okay?
Just as a spark of hope flared up...
Choi I-seo’s face drew closer to mine.
I didn't even have time to react.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Hey, you jerk! I know you’re faking it!”
The sound of Yoo Ah-rin’s voice pounding on the door froze us both in place.
Our breaths mingled, our noses almost touching.
A brief silence followed, but...
“How many of my texts are you going to ignore?! Get out here right now!”
Ah-rin kept shouting. I gave an awkward laugh, trying to act like nothing happened, and tried to pull back.
“I’ll go open the door.”
I tried to unlace my fingers and stand up.
But then, she grabbed both of my shoulders and forced me back down. My center of gravity shifted, and I fell backward for a moment.
Choi I-seo, who had climbed on top of me, leaned in and kissed me.