Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Our First Meeting
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That day, I probably fled home just like that.
And we met again at the professor's first class after the semester began.
*Swish.*
"Ah, seriously..."
Before stepping into the lecture hall, I kept scanning my surroundings.
Just in case that friend who had helped me during orientation was there.
Come to think of it, I never even asked her name.
But in that situation, did I really have the luxury to ask?
I'd blurted out that her face looked like a painting before I could even get her name.
*Chin rest.*
Memories of that day would pop into my head whenever they were just starting to fade.
God, my face still burned thinking about it.
*Swish.*
"Seems like she's not here, at least."
Freshmen basically took all the same classes.
Since applying for courses was all new to us, the school handled everything uniformly.
That meant I'd inevitably end up in class with her.
But after what happened, there was no way I could sit right next to her.
"Let's head to the back."
Just in case she spotted me.
I took a seat in the farthest, most secluded corner of the lecture hall.
Then I built a wall with my bag and buried my face.
Ten minutes until class started.
I'd stayed up late painting the night before, so I was exhausted anyway.
Like that, I hunkered down in the deepest corner and fell fast asleep.
......
......
When I woke up, a chill shot down my spine.
*Gulp.*
The lecture hall was dead silent.
"Am I dreaming or something?"
I lifted my head, and all I saw was an empty room.
Puzzled by the missing students, I turned around—and that's when it happened.
"You're awake."
"Eek!"
It was her!
She was sitting right next to me, propping her chin on her hand, staring straight at me.
*Thump! Thump!*
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
In that moment, only one thought crossed my mind.
"A d-dream?"
"Yeah, it's a dream."
"Phew, thank goodness."
She let out a hollow chuckle at my response.
"Ha! You don't actually think it's a dream, do you?"
"Then this is real?"
The room had been packed with students right before I dozed off.
But when I woke up, everyone was gone, and here I was facing the one person I didn't want to see. No way that wasn't a dream.
"Sigh, I noticed it when you bolted that day too, but you're really something else."
S-something else?
She explained with a helpless shrug.
"First day of class, the prof just gave a quick rundown on school life. Then the freshmen all went on a tour with the TA."
My expression darkened even more at her words.
"W-wait, then you..."
"Me?"
She nodded.
"The prof said there was this weird guy sleeping through the first day and asked if someone could stick around to give him the basics. Guess who that someone was."
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"The prof said not to."
"......"
Man, I got the strong feeling I'd already rubbed the professor the wrong way on day one.
Oblivious to my turmoil, she kept talking.
"But hey, why'd you run off that day? Was it because I said your face looked like a painting? Were you embarrassed?"
*Swish.*
No way could I admit that.
Afraid staying longer would mess up my whole college life, I grabbed my bag to leave.
"Hey, trying to run again?"
I decided not to answer.
If I got dragged into more chit-chat, the same awkwardness from before might repeat, and I'd be in deep trouble.
But she wasn't letting me go that easily.
*Thud.*
"W-what are you doing?"
Corner seat in the lecture hall.
The long, straight desks meant I had to pass her spot to get out.
But she blocked the chair completely with her body.
"Not getting away so easy this time."
"......"
Why was she doing this?
Why was she tormenting me like this?
She planted herself like she had no intention of budging, blocking the exit tight. I had no choice but to set my bag down.
Frowning, I asked,
"Okay, what the hell is your problem with me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you messing with me like this?"
Her eyes went wide at that.
"What are you talking about? I'm not messing with you. I just..."
"No, this is messing with me—holding onto someone who wants to leave... Look at you right now."
I pointed at how she was blocking the way, and she glanced down at herself before replying.
"I just wanted to talk to you. Sorry if it bothered you."
With that, she stood up and cleared the path.
Seeing that, I...
"Ha, jeez."
If she'd kept being stubborn, I might've brushed it off.
Didn't expect her to apologize first.
Letting out a deep sigh, I said,
"Fine, what did you wanna talk about so bad?"
Her face lit up instantly.
She plopped back down beside me and asked,
"Did you get home okay that day? You looked wrecked from all the drinking. I was actually gonna buy you some hangover meds."
"Uh..."
I'd assumed she'd lead with what I'd said that day.
But this everyday topic threw me off instead.
"Yeah... I got home fine."
"Seriously. That senior kept looking for you after you left—you should've seen me holding him back. It was chaos."
"Yeah?"
"Totally. He was yelling about putting anyone who left early without saying anything on some list."
It was all so normal.
Nothing in her words hinted at teasing me.
"Isn't it hilarious?"
She kept going.
Telling me about what happened after I left, any juicy bits, and laughing.
Staring at her like that, her face started looking like a painting again.
Something about her had this weird pull on people.
Before I knew it, I was gazing openly at her animated face.
"Again..."
I snapped out of it at her words, delivered with a smile.
"W-what?"
I averted my eyes as I replied, and she said,
"That look you gave me during orientation in the lecture hall."
My look?
What had my expression even been to make her say that?
"W-what about my expression?"
"That's why I remembered you—it was like you were looking right at me."
So what was it about my face that got that reaction?
Right then, she added,
"You looked like a total idiot right now."
"......"
*Crumple—*
She was teasing me after all.
This wasn't even the point of the conversation.
Without a word, I grabbed my bag, stood up, hopped over the desk, and bolted from the lecture hall.
I tried to find my classmates who'd left the department building to tour the campus with the TA.
But they'd vanished so far ahead, no trace left.
So, a bit early but hungry for lunch anyway, I headed to the student cafeteria for the first time.
It was quiet inside at this hour.
Perfect for a solitary meal, I thought, and ordered tonkatsu.
Maybe because it was so empty, my food arrived in under five minutes.
I sliced into the freshly fried, steaming tonkatsu and was about to take a bite when—
"Ugh, what if you just vanish like that? I looked everywhere."
*Swish.*
"Aw, come on."
How did she even know I was here?
She said she wanted tonkatsu too, rushed to buy a meal ticket, and sat down.
While waiting for her food, she took the seat across from me.
I gave her a cold look.
"What's the point of eating with an idiot like you? Go sit somewhere else."
She grinned and asked,
"Mad, huh? Didn't mean to make you angry."
"Hmph. No, seriously—how'd you know I was here?"
Still smiling, she replied,
"Figured you'd come here if it was me."
"What?"
Then, outrageously, she raised her voice.
"Hey! Don't you know you're supposed to hear Korean people out to the end?"
"What're you talking about?"
"That's what I was saying—it wasn't over yet."
She repeated what she'd said before, word for word.
"You looked like a total idiot just now. Just like me."
"Like you?"
"Yeah. That's how I remembered you—your face looked just like mine when I saw you."
What was this now?
Maybe she was teasing me indirectly because I'd reacted so strongly.
But it didn't feel like that.
So she really remembered me because we looked alike?
"That still sounds weird."
"Oh, food's here."
She dashed off, grabbed her tonkatsu bowl, and—
*Clatter.*
Planted herself firmly.
Now we were stuck eating together by accident.
I made a slightly uncomfortable face, but she didn't care at all.
She cut a piece, popped it in her mouth, and said,
"Wow, this is seriously good. I'm coming here all the time now. You gotta try it."
*Swish.*
Uncomfortable as it was, with her settled in, what could I do?
I finally speared my tonkatsu and took a bite.
*Nom nom.*
"Oh!"
"Tasty, right?"
"Yeah, honestly didn't expect much from cafeteria food."
Like she said, I'd probably be a regular.
Cheap and delicious—why not?
That's when it hit me—I'd never thanked her for that day.
If she hadn't stepped in, I'd probably have gotten plastered.
Sure, it led to that unfortunate slip-up along the way.
But I was still grateful.
"Uh, a bit late, but... thanks for covering for me with the drinks at orientation."
"Huh? What?"
"Th-thanks, I said. For orientation."
She just stared at me with an unreadable expression.
When someone's thanking you, at least say something.
Her blank stare made me feel awkward.
So I shoved my face down and crammed more tonkatsu in my mouth.
That's when she asked,
"Thanks, huh?"
"Yeah."
"If you're thankful, can you do me one favor?"
A favor? I looked up at her again.
"What favor?"
And with her next words...
"Let's be friends. Nice to meet you—I'm Hyorin. Let's get along from now on."
*Pfft.*
I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.
"At this point, we're already pretty much friends..."
And just like that, we looked at each other and smiled.
Even after the story ended, I smiled at the students still gazing at me with serious expressions.
I continued,
"I don't remember the exact day, but when I asked, that's what she said. Hyorin felt the same way the first time she saw me. We never talked about it back then, but she said I looked like a painting too."
An old first-love tale, long past.
But for Hyorin and me, at least...
It was an unforgettable memory.
"Alright! Thanks for listening to my special lecture up to now."
And with that, I wrapped up my very first special lecture.