Chapter 48
“I was just thinking that hanging out with you, senior, is really tiring.”
“Oh? Yeah, I bet. All those guys eyeing me. You've gotta step up your game.”
Choi Yujin-senior fired back even more boldly. She clearly knew just how insanely popular she was with men.
For some reason, Han Yaseong felt a flicker of irritation rising inside him.
“It's about your ex-boyfriend, senior.”
“What? Why bring him up?”
As expected, she hated talking about her ex—her expression hardened instantly.
Han Yaseong snapped back to his senses and hurriedly changed the subject, flustered. “No, I mean... I was just curious how you two broke up.”
He'd let a moment of annoyance make him rude. He'd softened the question a bit, but Choi Yujin-senior didn't seem to notice. She smacked her lips and turned her head slightly to gaze out the window.
From that, it looked like she had no intention of answering.
Han Yaseong wasn't dying to hear it anyway. He'd only asked out of mild annoyance at her queen-like confidence. He had zero interest in ex-boyfriend stories. Hearing them would just lead to painful comparisons.
Seo Taeha. 22 years old. 196 cm tall. Ace of Hanyoung University's basketball team. Girls swoon over him. Rich. Hot as hell.
Han Yaseong. 20 years old. 173 cm tall. Average first-year at Hanyoung University. No girl appeal. Working-class. Just okay-looking.
No matter how you sliced it, he didn't measure up. The comparisons only bred defeat and self-loathing.
So why was Choi Yujin-senior, of all people, hanging out with someone like him—the total opposite of Seo Taeha?
He could even understand the glares from those guys earlier, seeing her arm linked with his. He was that outmatched.
If he stood next to Seo Taeha, a thousand girls would all flock to Seo Taeha without exception. Any girl picking him over Seo Taeha would be the weird one.
Yet here was Choi Yujin-senior, college's top kingka, dumping the ultimate catch like Seo Taeha to fool around with him. Even if it was just playing with fire, it made no sense.
Lost in those thoughts, he suddenly heard Choi Yujin-senior's voice.
“That jerk cheated on me.”
“Pardon?”
“Taeha, that bastard, cheated.”
“......”
Han Yaseong sat there, mouth agape, stunned.
Seo Taeha cheated... and that's why they broke up? Cheated on Choi Yujin-senior?
What kind of woman could make a guy cheat on her? He was dying to know who this mystery girl was.
He was about to ask for details when the waiter arrived with their pork cutlet sets, interrupting the moment.
Even as the male waiter set down the plates and left, his eyes stole glances at Choi Yujin-senior's red bikini panties. Treating Han Yaseong like her little brother or something, he'd flashed him a warm smile—probably angling for points.
Han Yaseong thought men were truly pathetic creatures. He vowed never to be like that.
But then he remembered he was doing the exact same thing with Kwon Seoha. Sitting at the back of the lecture hall during gen-ed classes, staring at her back. Anyone catching him would've thought he was pathetic.
That sparked a sad resolve: no more sneaking peeks at Kwon Seoha from now on.
“God, it pisses me off. All because of that Heekyung bitch.”
“Sorry? Who's that?”
“The slut who stole Taeha. What a fucking pain in the ass.”
She clearly despised the girl—her knife sliced viciously through the pork cutlet, irritation etched in every cut.
He had no clue who this “pain in the ass” was. But Choi Yujin-senior dropped the topic, as if even thinking about her fueled her rage.
Han Yaseong felt bad for dredging up the ex and souring her mood. To lighten things up, he shifted gears.
“Gonna hit the pool after this?”
“Yeah. Gotta swim some laps to cool off. But it's kinda lonely with everyone gone.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Oh, wait—screw this, I should call Euna.”
Choi Yujin-senior set down her fork and knife with a clink, grabbed her smartphone from the table, and dialed.
Han Yaseong quietly dug into his pork cutlet.
A moment later, the call connected, and Euna-senior's faint voice leaked from the speaker.
“Choi Yujin.”
“Yeah. Euna. Where you at?”
“In Seoul. Split from the group, heading home now.”
“Already? You left quick.”
“Yeah. Whatcha up to?”
“Eating pork cutlet.”
“With Yaseong?”
“Yep.”
A brief silence fell over the phone after Choi Yujin-senior's reply. She fidgeted like a thief caught red-handed, and Han Yaseong tensed up too, pausing mid-bite to listen.
Euna-senior's voice came through again.
“What the hell are you planning?”
“It just... happened.”
“Sigh. So when you coming back? After lunch?”
“Nah, thinking tomorrow...”
“What? Why?”
“Just... staying one more day...”
“What about Yaseong?”
“He's staying too...”
“Are you nuts?”
Her voice sharpened over the speaker. Han Yaseong sighed, feeling guilty, while Choi Yujin-senior squirmed like a scolded kid.
“Staying another day with Yaseong?”
“Yeah. But separately. Our own rooms.”
“How am I supposed to believe that? I saw exactly what you two were up to this morning...”
“Sorry. It just happened.”
“What about Taeha? You can't do this.”
“Actually... I broke up with Taeha...”
Choi Yujin-senior's voice dropped flat. No more cutesy tone for Euna-senior.
“What? Why? Weren't you two all lovey-dovey just recently?”
“Well...”
Choi Yujin-senior suddenly gestured at Han Yaseong, signaling him to give her space.
He had no choice—got up and plopped down on a sofa in the dining hall. From there, her conversation was inaudible.
She was spilling about her ex to Euna-senior, her face shifting through a rainbow of expressions.
Han Yaseong had no idea girls' chats dragged on like this. Choi Yujin-senior was glued to her phone for nearly 30 minutes straight.
Time crawled by, boredom killing him. He even considered heading back to the room.
How long had it been? Slumped on the sofa, utterly drained, when Choi Yujin-senior finally approached.
“Call's over.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. Come on, finish your food.”
He returned to his seat and ate. No energy left at all.
Looking a bit guilty, Choi Yujin-senior piled on sides for him.
“What'd Euna-senior say?”
“Eh, have fun and we'll talk tomorrow.”
“You two got more to chat about?”
“Girl, we haven't even started.”
They really had a ton to unpack. Over 30 minutes and still just warming up... Women's gossip was a force of nature.
They finished their pork cutlet sets and left the restaurant side by side.
Of course, Han Yaseong footed the bill. It wasn't too pricey, surprisingly.
But the guys' eyes lingering on Choi Yujin-senior's ass in those bikini panties grated on him. Her white shirt draped over the top half made the red bottoms pop even more—like a no-pants look, sexier and more provocative than ever.
Men couldn't help staring. And she seemed to take it in stride.
A strange jealousy bubbled up in Han Yaseong. As they climbed the stairs, confirming no one around, he grabbed her ass firmly with one hand.
“Eek!”
Choi Yujin-senior yelped in surprise, twisting her waist. She glanced around, face incredulous.
“Yaseong, did you just grab my ass?”
“Yeah.”
“Seriously? I thought some creep groped me. But why'd you do it?”
“Just... wanted to.”
He answered honestly and kept climbing.
Choi Yujin was baffled. Was that really Han Yaseong? Boldly groping her ass in a place like this...
At first, she'd thought it was a pervert and freaked. But realizing it was him? That shocked her more.
She hurried after him, probing.
“No, seriously—why grab it?”
“Told you, I wanted to. What's the big deal? Can't I?”
His defiant attitude left her speechless. It felt like some weird rebellious streak. Like a big sister with a punk-ass teenage brother—worried her good boy was going astray.
“Sigh. Need panties? Just ask. Don't steal 'em.”
“Huh?”
Now he was baffled. Panties out of nowhere?
Choi Yujin had recalled a story from a friend: her little brother, hitting puberty in middle school, snatching her panties from the laundry to sniff them. Like a ghost, he'd know when she left them and swipe them.