Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: My Childhood Friend Seems to Have Regressed
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"Attendance: Three absences equals an F grade..."
The professor we met for the first time wasn't some stunning beauty of a female instructor, unfortunately. Instead, it was a dignified-looking guy who radiated "I'm the professor" vibes from a mile away.
What a shame(?)
I propped my chin on my desk, imagining the meltdown Seo-ah would have if she heard that thought, and tuned into the lecture.
The first lecture of my highly anticipated college life—a mix of nerves and excitement—turned out exactly as expected: an OT-style rundown of how classes would proceed from here on out.
Still, it's the first lecture. Gotta focus.
—Or so I'd thought five minutes ago.
The explanation dragged on just a bit too long, and suddenly my eyelids were growing heavy, my body slumping like it had a mind of its own. This wasn't a good sign.
...Isn't today shaping up fine already? No need to go all out on day one.
Tomorrow's Jun-woo can handle the heavy lifting, right?
"Yawn..."
I racked my brain with excuses, stifling a yawn that threatened to escape.
Wiping the tears pricking at the corners of my eyes, I casually glanced right. There was Seo-ah, notebook open on her desk, tapping a ballpoint pen against her lips as she focused intently.
"Mm..."
Her pursed lips and concentrated expression were adorable, but also kind of awe-inspiring.
— ...Aren't you bored?
How could she concentrate that hard on day one?
A quick scan around showed no one else even close. As the professor's words droned on, everyone twisted like pretzels, slyly pulling out their phones. But not Seo-ah—no sign of it from her.
—Seo-ah, you're my only hope.
Trusting her to absorb it all for both of us, I decided to follow the crowd.
I snuck out my phone and fired up the Every Town university community app. Our lecture hall wasn't alone in this; posts were flooding in at a record pace. Were they all just glued to this? How was it updating so fast?
Titles everywhere screamed SOS: "Save me," "Wanna go home," "So boring."
They started as cries for help, but the latest one—"Can we go home if we take down the prof????"—showed things darkening fast.
Feeling that familiar camaraderie of exam-eve study quitters on SNS, I chuckled while scrolling through the crap posts. Tucked between them were a few gems.
📰 Breaking News Anon74: Dropping some tips for you freshman crybabies. Memorize if you don't know. 1. Multiple absences = F. Think high school where teachers warn you? Nope. Miss a few and you're ghosted with an F. Study optional, but show up. 2. Bathroom break? Raise your hand and ask, damn it. How's the prof supposed to know if you're ditching? Kids these days... 3. Get on good terms with the TAs. They grade your exams, not the prof. How do I know? Wish I didn't, fuck... 4. Club activities... 💬 Comments — Anon2 Tips goated lololol — Anon74 lmao shut your mouth, you can tell you're not a freshman from the anon number. — Anon541 Thanks for the tips, sunbae! — Anon74 lmao sure thing — Anon43 Trash newb lol — Anon74 Shut it Ooh, nice.
I committed the tips listed out in the post to memory.
At first, I thought it was bait from the comments, but the prof had just mentioned the three-absence F rule, so not all of it could be BS. Some had to be legit.
Hunting for more pearls amid the crap, another post caught my eye.
📰 Breaking News Anon69: Class of '25 girls? Business dept takes the crown, no cap. Heard rumors about the newbies this morning, rushed over, and yeah business dept hsy ssrl gl?? Those three are just lol. Even from afar, "Oh, that's them." I'm eng major, stuck with dicks and machines, hate business bros/world lol Gonna off myself gg 💬 Comments — Anon35 Don't hype the freshmen so much; they'll feel pressured if they see this; — Anon69 Bet a bolt you'll freak like me if you see them. — Anon35 Eng major as expected, taking the bet fuck — Anon35 Omg went to check and yeah hype conceded; — Anon41 Fuck anon35 flip-flopping got me curious too fuck — Anon28 Dunno names but heard rumors from OT that these three business freshmen are crazy pretty, guess it's true lol — Anon35 All three pretty but one on another level?? — Anon28 That much? — Anon35 That much. — Anon28 So firm; pumpkin firm; — Anon41 Can't hold back. Going to see fuck — Anon89 Report back — Anon92 Report back 2 — Anon114 Report back 3 —What the hell is this?
...No way this is about Seo-ah, Sae-rom, and A-rin? Seo-ah's on another level, sure.
They're pretty, yeah, but that much? The thought flashed through my mind, but maybe my standards were skewed from years with Seo-ah. Having a hot girlfriend is tough (lol).
Never imagined clicking a post out of curiosity about our business dept topping the list would show familiar initials.
Not just me getting pulled in—the views and comments were climbing in real-time.
Anon35's "next-level" had to be Seo-ah, and after 14 years, first-timers buzzing about her looks wasn't new. I'd half-expected it, so no shock.
Still, it didn't sit right.
Joy that my girlfriend was stunning enough to trend on day one in a massive community...
Versus disgust at other guys ogling and rating her.
I was stuck in an emotional tug-of-war.
Part of me wanted to scream it out.
Han Seo-ah's my girlfriend—hands off, eyes off. She's mine.
Mine to gaze at, touch, cherish. Only mine.
That's Han Seo-ah.
But I'd already scrapped with Puffer—our senior—and any more bad vibes online would mess up not just my college life, but hers too. Obvious as day.
So, I mixed a tiny sliver of truth with my feelings and posted.
— Anon430 hsy has a bf? Profile pic in group chat screams it. ...Doesn't look obvious, right?
They're adults; they'll get it. I mashed the send button.
"Phew..."
Sighing softly, I set my phone down.
Leaning back, I glanced around. Eyes that had been glued to phones now flicked our way.
...They all saw it.
The post had hit recommendations. Were those three initials us? Curious stares probed from all sides.
As another sigh built up from the blatant gawking—
[Something wrong, Junu-ya?]
A rustle, and a neat note slid into view in front of me.
You're too pretty, that's the problem.
The words popped into my head unbidden at her note, making me chuckle in disbelief at myself.
Yeah. Just that she was too pretty—a happy problem.
Nothing more.
Happiness doubles when shared, but this had a dash of worry.
Plus-minus zero. No need to burden her; I'd bury it deep.
[Lecture's too boring]
Under her neat script, my crooked scrawl. I slid the notebook back. Instantly: [Focus!]
What I needed right now...
[Puffer in the back corner?]
[Puffer...?]
Puffer gives generously, so I sold him out without mercy.
Seo-ah took the notebook, pondered with a tilt of her head, then started drawing.
A cute pufferfish with a tiny bubble, mouth agape. I snorted despite myself.
Seo-ah—way smarter than me—couldn't have forgotten Puffer.
This was her adorable signal to drop the topic. Good thing I had that much sense.
[Nah. And someone's focusing for me, thankfully]
[Just words?]
[Huh?]
Perplexed, I turned. There she was, beaming at me.
[Just words of thanks, Junu-ya?]
Hinting for dense me, maybe.
Under the desk, a snowy hand swayed like a fox wagging its tail.
Enchanted, I reached with my right hand, gently grasping hers. Our fingers intertwined, and a satisfied "hmph" tickled my ear.
[No way]
My handwriting was already messy, but left-handed? It wobbled wildly.
Still, her eyes crinkled more at my note.
[♥]
Price for skipping lecture: one hand sacrificed to the fox.
Satisfying deal for fox and me—no complaints. A happy trade under the desk.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As the lecture wound down, maybe from chugging too much water that morning...
Little time left, but I couldn't hold it.
"...Professor?"
Cautiously raising my left arm, I called out. The prof, mid-exam explanation, looked at me quizzically.
"Something wrong, student?"
"C-Can I go to the bathroom?"
"...Bathroom?"
His face twisted in confusion, like he'd heard something outrageous. Murmurs of admiration(?) rippled around. Something felt off.
Even what sounded like uproarious laughter from the back corner.
—No way. Please, no.
Asking to use the bathroom is "common sense," right?
Cold sweat drenched my back, beads forming on my forehead, ears ringing.
"Uh... student, what's your name?"
Choi Young-chul.
Ha Shi-woo.
Yang Jun-hyuk.
His question triggered Puffer's name first, then the two up front stifling laughs—
".........Lee Jun-woo, sir."
Sadly, my own name from 20 years together slipped out.
"Mm, well... Lee Jun-woo-ssi. Thanks for asking, but next time just go. No need. Go on."
"..............................Yes, thank you."
Ah.
Withdraw.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Anon74, you bastard.
Should've caught on when others laughed at his comments.
He'd slyly mixed lies with truths. On the way back from the bathroom, rage boiling, I checked the post—comments overflowed with victims' curses.
To Anon74 and seniors, though? Just fuel—lol replies everywhere. But they had to curse.
Me too—
— Anon430 Anon74 if I catch you you're dead, you fucker. — Anon74 ~Catch me and die lololol Fuck you.
Grumbling, I finished up and reached the lecture hall door.
After that fiasco, going back in... took guts. My hand shook on the door.
Deep breath. Opened it. Relief—the lecture was wrapping; prof and kids packing up.
—Now's the time.
Before eyes turned, I bolted to my seat to grab my stuff—
"Eek...!"
Seo-ah, glued to her phone screen, startled at me and hid it quick.
"J-Junu-ya, you're back?"
"Y-Yeah. Whatcha looking at?"
"N-Nothing. Let's go eat. I'm starving, right?"
"Uh, yeah...?"
Something felt fishy, but everyone was leaving, so I packed—then my pocket buzzed.
Phone out: Every Town reply alert.
— Anon430 hsy has a bf? Profile pic in group chat screams it. ⭐ Top Comment — Anon435 Super handsome strong bf!! Everyone be careful!! Reply: 30 seconds ago.
The lingering unease? Gone.
Replaced by love and apologies for Anon435.