The Proper Posture of a Married Person
"Let's go grab some food first! Of course, the seniors are treating everyone!"
Self-introductions were one thing, but after the talent show and Kim Yujeong sunbae chiming in with her MC skills here and there, it was already past 4:30 PM. We'd come straight here without eating anything, so yeah, stomachs were starting to rumble a bit. Not that it mattered much to me—I could go ages without food these days—but hey, you eat for the flavor, right?
"We'll split into four teams, roughly four seniors and four juniors each, grab some dinner, and take a break. Eat up, and I'll announce the next part in the group chat later!"
Next part? Not just splitting up after dinner? She said they'd divide us roughly, so the seniors would handle it. The '23 freshmen sat waiting, and the '22 seniors started milling around in groups of four or five, chatting people up. Makes sense—elite high schools, self-funded privates, or at least the so-called prestigious ones dominate here, so plenty of high school senior-junior connections. Since we'd all meet up again later anyway, this was probably just "eat with whoever you already know" time.
Lots of folks from my Seoul High got into Korea University, but the department's what it is, so no seniors I knew. Seniors without their own high school juniors would probably scoop us up. Sure enough, as I sat waiting, a voice rang out.
"Any of our male juniors know any seniors here?"
It hadn't been long, but that voice was already burned into my brain.
"Yes."
"None, Kim Yujeong sunbae."
I gave a short reply, and she burst out laughing at Kim Junwoo's response beside me.
"No need to be so stiff! Guys are rare in nursing anyway, and yeah, it's a bit embarrassing, but nursing departments get flak online for hazing stories. Ours is really free of that stuff!"
When university hazing comes up online, sports departments top the list. Nursing's a surprising second. First time for me, so I don't know why, but if it's true, great.
"Seriously, if you even catch a whiff of that vibe, tell me right away."
Righteous type, huh? From what I've seen, she's no bad egg. Might be a tad tiring sometimes, but no harm in getting friendly.
"I've mastered all the Gwanak eats. If you're cool with it, wanna grab dinner with us?"
Two more female seniors flanked Kim Yujeong sunbae. From their intros earlier... if memory serves, Yoo Ji-a sunbae and Kang Nayeon sunbae. Probably their usual crew. But that Yoo Ji-a sunbae feels weirdly familiar. Definitely first time meeting her, though. Huh.
"Absolutely, let's eat together!"
No reason to say no, but Kim Junwoo beat me to it with his booming yes, so I just stayed quiet. Seniors chuckled; all the embarrassment landed on me. Me, who'd peered beyond an assassin's end. Thought I had ironclad mental control, but why can't I block this guy's secondhand shame?
I bit my lip and stood. Half the room had already filed out. Four per group, so they'd grab one or two more '23s... Yup, they paused up front again. Next to Kim Yujeong sunbae: Kim Gayeong, who'd kicked off intros and talents, and Shin Chaewon, who'd been linking up with us nonstop.
"Our pretty juniors? Wanna join us?"
"That okay?"
"We'd love it!"
Kim Yujeong sunbae's word choice and delivery screamed event pro. Gotta ask her about that sometime. Shin Chaewon and Kim Gayeong know each other too? One's soft-spoken, the other's high-energy—like me and Junwoo. Chaewon's got solid comms skills from the talent show, but maybe she's the quiet type usually. Does her thing when it counts.
"You juniors pick what you wanna eat! Price doesn't matter—no need to hold back."
Seniors stepped back to chat among themselves. Four newbies left—lucky us two and Chaewon had chatted a bit, and Gayeong seemed outgoing.
"Anything you wanna eat?"
"Anything but grilled meat's fine for me."
"Same—I eat whatever. You two pick."
Stomach's growling, but grilled meat felt too early. Dumped it on them. If they said "whatever's fine," we'd spiral into menu hell. But nah.
"Omelette rice then? If no one's against it."
Chaewon had backbone. Way better than vague "whatever" types who veto later. Easier to hang with.
"Love omelette rice."
"Sounds good."
"Omelette rice it is~."
Parents make it at home sometimes—always hits. Haven't had it out since forever, maybe some old diner.
"Ooh, omelette rice rocks! There's a killer specialist nearby. Let's go there?"
Kim Yujeong sunbae popped in out of nowhere. No objections—we all stood and headed out.
We'd talked, but everyone was still basically strangers. Three seniors ahead, our two peers, us two lagging a bit as we walked.
Side-eye from beside me. Time for the explanation.
"What anime you been binging? I was legit scared shitless."
Strangers might chalk my talent show flip to some hobby. But Junwoo knows me: bed-bound anime/game otaku. No prior magic tricks. Good he knows I'm a hardcore one—easy excuse.
"Binged some munchkin stuff on break, mid-2 vibes hit back. Tried old practice moves."
Still skeptical look.
"Hm... okay, whatever. But talent show or not, you're not the attention-grab type. Something up for real?"
Sharper than he looks.
"Just hyped for college life, y'know."
Hated half-lying, but had to pivot. Junwoo stayed dubious but dropped it. Long walk to the omelette spot—campus behind us, no stop in sight.
"You two been friends ten years?"
"Yeah. Elementary school."
Shin Chaewon and Kim Gayeong slowed to join us. Gayeong started it. Probably same high school.
"You two from the same high school?"
"Yup. Met freshman year, same class after that. Got close. Both nursing-bound."
Junwoo and Gayeong carried the chat; other two just nodded. Felt relatable.
"We'll see each other tons anyway—banmal from now?"
"Yeah, let's drop it." "Drop it."
Both straightforward—bam, casual in seconds. Fine by me.
"But I was shocked. He was more."
...About me. Quick explain.
"Old training stint. But first backflip I've seen live. In those clothes too."
"She was our school's gymnastics ace. National medals. Scouts galore—turned 'em all down for fun."
"...Ruthless."
"Chaewon's got that edge. 'Gymnastics hope of Korea!' they begged, pants-grabbing. Stone cold."
"Why paint me villain, Gayeong?"
Short time, but both solid. Eased me up too. Chat flowed merry among the four till Gayeong's bomb.
"You guys got GFs?"
Classic college freshman topic one: romance.
"Nah. Same for him."
Junwoo spoke for me. True, no GF. But correction time.
Worlds apart or not, it's been days since Seol-ah and I split? Married man’s gotta take a firm stance on women. Respect to spouse—and any hypothetical admirers.
"No GF, but I am married."
Three jaws dropped. Long silence. Not joking, but their shock reminded me teasing Seol-ah—hilarious.