You're a Class of '13, Right? (3)
The Publishing Content Department was hopelessly skewed toward women. There were maybe ten guys at most in the entire department, freshmen included. It wasn't just the class of '16 newbies— the whole place was like that. With such an imbalance, they inevitably called on the men for any heavy lifting. Baek Jeong-gi seized those opportunities to cozy up to the female students. He loved the department vibe.
The few guys around tended to band together, but he stuck mostly with the girls.
'Whining's no big deal. Just butter 'em up a little.'
A bit of favoritism, and most saw him as a considerate, nice oppa. Of course, not everyone did. Being a female-dominated group, they formed cliques, so he wasn't tight with all of them. But he managed his image well enough to snag the class president spot.
"Hey, girls. What's up."
"Oh, Jeong-gi oppa. You here for the announcement?"
"Yeah. Sorted the MT groups yet?"
"Nah, still got time, so we're doing it later."
"Hm. Want me to handle it?"
"Huh? For real?"
The girls' eyes widened in pleasant surprise, like they couldn't believe he'd actually do it.
'Not a hassle at all. Works for me.'
Grouping took no time. And doing it solo let him tailor it his way— perfect. Boosted his rep too. One stone, two birds.
"I'll take care of it. You girls go ahead."
Baek Jeong-gi nodded with a friendly smile. But someone else shook her head.
"Let's just do it together, class pres. I was already working on it anyway. Split into seven groups, toss in one or two guys per. Include a couple second- and third-years too."
The speaker was vice class president Min Hye-young. Baek Jeong-gi clicked his tongue inwardly.
'What a pain.'
He wasn't close to Min Hye-young. She was stiff and rigid, with few friends to begin with. A year in, and she still called him "class pres" instead of "oppa"— that said it all.
Baek Jeong-gi kept smiling. "If you've gotten that far, you're good. I'll finish up. Didn't you say you were busy today, Hye-young?"
"...Still got a little time."
"Nah, nah. You've done plenty— I'd feel bad doing nothing. Right?"
"Yeah, Hye-young. If you hog it all, what does that make us? Ease up~."
"Hye-young's too hardworking, seriously."
With a casual nudge to the mood, the other girls subtly piled on without him saying more. They wanted to head home but hated her playing the good girl. He'd said "you girls" on purpose, giving them cover.
Baek Jeong-gi chuckled inwardly and shooed the students off. Alone in the department office, he started forming groups.
"Lemme see. Few cuties in the freshmen. Put this one and that one with me. Guys... pick some pushovers...."
Having one lackey per group made hyping things up easy. He'd scoped a freshman target already— fat, ugly, total loser vibe.
"What was his name? Oh, here. Seo Joo-hwan...?"
Baek Jeong-gi's head tilted oddly.
"Wasn't that punk from earlier Seo Joo-hwan too?"
The freshman who'd acted cocky during his classroom announcement. Same name, for sure.
"Same guy?"
Baek Jeong-gi double-checked the photo. No way it matched the face he'd seen. Well, the eyes kinda looked similar up close. But still— could someone change that much? Even after losing weight?
It wasn't just the looks throwing him off.
"What the— twenty-three and class of '13? He was a returnee?"
No way he'd expected a returning student in first semester freshmen. No wonder he didn't look twenty. Same age, huh.
Should've scanned the list properly.
"Tch. Headache. Swap the guys in my group— not this dude.... Damn. Hope he doesn't bitch about class years."
That eye contact in the classroom? Not a pushover vibe. Built like he'd worked out. Might not go down easy if pressed hard.
He'd brought up class years to coast through college easy. But this could backfire.
'Same age, so play buddy. Say it was just second-year chatter, not me.'
A little rattled, but no biggie. Returning first semester meant no connections. Class of '13 on paper, but basically a freshman.
Baek Jeong-gi shelved the worry and finished grouping. Then pulled out his phone.
"Alright. Time to grab drinks."
He messaged the freshmen girls in his group. Same group was perfect excuse— "bonding drinks on me."
'Ditching second-years now.'
He'd CC'd with cohort girls twice already. Managed the rumors fine, but pushing luck. Time for freshmen.
'Twenty's the easiest age.'
Just legal. Fresh college. Prime targets.
He fired off the texts. Pre-seeded 'em to join events, so it worked— half showed, five girls. The no-shows pissed him off, but better. Ten would've cramped things.
The girls arrived soon.
"Hi, sunbae."
Baek Jeong-gi spent time with the five, dropping department tips, chatting long-program stuff. When they got bored, bowling to amp vibes. By dinner, his usual bar.
And there at the pocha— the class of '13 returnee from the list.
He frowned reflexively, then plastered on a smile.
'Might as well say hi.'
Gotta play senior for the freshmen. If the guy kept bugging, backtalk later would do. Class of '13 or not, still a newbie.
Baek Jeong-gi bowed slightly in greeting.
*
"Hi. Seo Joo-hwan sunbae, class of '13, right?"
Seo Joo-hwan felt his face twist involuntarily.
'What the hell's this guy's deal?'
Originally, Baek Jeong-gi learned his class year days later. Maybe the quick group announcement?
'Tch. Exposed my class year for nothing.'
The freshmen behind Baek Jeong-gi stared in shock. Jeong Ha-yeon next to him too. She'd shown up late to billiards, still clueless.
Lee Seok-chan nudged his arm, whispering. "Yo, face. Smile quick."
He switched expressions fast. No point souring now.
"Hi. You're the second-year class pres, right?"
"Yeah. Sorry about earlier. Didn't realize your class year, sunbae."
Baek Jeong-gi bowed deeper, practically folding at the waist. Seo Joo-hwan blinked, speechless.
'What's with this psycho?'
Not genuine remorse. The guy only pulled rank on underclassmen.
Something up his sleeve. But gauging it calmly was tough with eyes on them.
"...Does he have to bow like that? Kinda weird."
"Is this class-year bullying?"
"He started the greeting, but still overkill."
"Class of '13? Then why freshman?"
Whispers from the freshmen behind. Seo Joo-hwan grabbed Baek Jeong-gi's shoulder to pull him up.
Squeeze.
Freeze.
'Why won't he get up?'
Baek Jeong-gi tensed, head still down. Looking bad now. Newbies and incoming customers eyed it weird.
Seo Joo-hwan gripped harder. His thick fingers dug through fabric into flesh. Thumb hooked the collarbone end.
Crunch.
"Urk..."
He yanked Baek Jeong-gi upright. Flicker of panic crossed the guy's face, mouth gaping in pained groan.
"Aigoo. Why so rough, hoobae?"
Seo Joo-hwan eased off quick, cutting him off. Then bowed slightly, offering a hand.
"I'm just class of '13 on paper— total freshman, know nothing. Fill me in, Jeong-gi."
"...Sure, sunbae."
Baek Jeong-gi shook with reluctance. Seo Joo-hwan gripped and squeezed.
Grip strength beat his bench press. Crunch.
Baek Jeong-gi's hold was weaker than expected. Big hand crushed, knuckles shifting.
"Eek."
"You okay, hoobae?"
"N-no. Uh, hand now...."
"Oops. Got carried away shaking."
Seo Joo-hwan grinned, releasing. Inwardly cursing.
'This bastard. Don't start shit on first meet.'
Reflex move without thinking, but now? Absurd. Even tough PE majors didn't pull this outside.
Bad for drama. Baek Jeong-gi forced a smile.
"S-sunbae. Join us for drinks?"
"Huh? Uh, well...."
Seo Joo-hwan actually flustered now. Gave as good as got, yet dinner invite? Another scheme?
Saved by the pocha part-timer.
"Customers? All together? One middle room left— what's it gonna be? Others waiting, decide quick."
Perfect. Seo Joo-hwan jumped in. "Middle room open? We're heading there. Catch you friends next time."
"Enjoy your meal."
"See ya tomorrow~."
He bowed quick; Lee Seok-chan and Jeong Ha-yeon followed fast. Neither wanted Baek Jeong-gi time.
Jang Deok-hoon belatedly bowed too, folding his massive frame at ninety.
"See you tomorrow, Baek Jeong-gi sunbae!"
Baek Jeong-gi's flustered voice trailed from behind.
*
Out of the pocha. Jeong Ha-yeon tapped Seo Joo-hwan's shoulder.
"You're class of '13?"
"Uh, technically...?"
"Just call you by name then? Treat you like sunbae?"
"Eww, no. Call me normal. Begging you."
She giggled, nodding. Then frowned.
"Ugh, why'd we run into him here."
"Baek Jeong-gi?"
"Yeah. Don't like him. Especially his eyes."
Lee Seok-chan chimed in. "Pfft. Scanning girls like prey?"
"You knew?"
"Think I wouldn't notice?"
"Then why not... "
"What? He's sunbae— fight him? Shh, wasn't me!"
Lee Seok-chan shadowboxed air. Jeong Ha-yeon tsked, frowning. Knew no choice, so just pouted.
Jang Deok-hoon still clueless. This earnest otaku bear hadn't meant to troll Baek Jeong-gi.
"Oh, where to now? Starving."
Jeong Ha-yeon clutched her belly, scowling hungrily.
Seo Joo-hwan said, "I got a spot. Let's go."
"You know a place? Oh, right— you live here."
Seo Joo-hwan blinked at Jeong Ha-yeon. "Did I say I lived here?"
"Huh? Oh, uh— ! You're room-sharing, right? Figured."
"?"
"You look it. Total room-share vibe!"
"How's that a look..."
"Hungry. Hurry!"
She shoved his back. He shrugged and led.
[Crow Pocha]
Decent food, fair prices. In his future knowledge, these three became regulars here. He'd seen them often.
Seo Joo-hwan ordered sides. "Drinks?"
"Fresha for me. Wanna mix some somaek."
Jeong Ha-yeon skipped fruity soju— drinker vibes.
Drinks and sides arrived. Glasses clinked.
"Cheers."
"Cheers!"
They downed booze, chattered nonstop. Mostly upcoming MT talk. Personal bits trickled after heavy pours.
"Middle school friends? Same school?"
"Sixteen, technically. Not same school— just happened."
Jeong Ha-yeon trailed off awkwardly. Dated maybe? Lee Seok-chan chuckled.
"My girlfriend back then went there, friends with her. That's how."
"Yeah. Joo-hwan, you're empty. Speak up."
"Whoa? Overflow."
Glasses clashed nonstop. Three-plus hours, but sides balanced— no one blackout.
"Hyuungnim~ Why so laaate!"
Wrong. Back from smokes with Lee Seok-chan, Jang Deok-hoon sprawled. Shake him— bear hug incoming.
"Hyuuung! Respect you so muuuch!"
"Crazy ass, snap out. Met today— respect what?!"
"No age rank, handsome, billiards pro quick... Take me as dongsaeng. Or this hand stays."
"That's Seok-chan's— grip away."
"Wooah! Fate-chan! Here for me?!"
"Shit. What's he saying? Why this drunk side! Joo-hwan, peel him!"
Seo Joo-hwan sacrificed Lee Seok-chan, dodging. Signaled Jeong Ha-yeon. She nodded, wobbling up.
He patted Lee Seok-chan, slipped out.
"Hang in, Seok-chan. I got the bill."
"Joo-hwan, wait. Whoa, tipsy. Seok-chan, suffer. Maknae's job."
"Who maknae?!"
"You, you. Skip Deok-hoon, you're it."
"Hey!"
"Call me noona. Special pass today."
Jeong Ha-yeon stuck tongue out bratty.
"Bill, please."
Seo Joo-hwan paid. Jeong Ha-yeon insisted split, but he convinced her— escape first.
"Hey! Seo Joo-hwan! Jeong Ha-yeon!"
Something from behind? Nah, imagination. Probably.