Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Festival Day One: The Thief
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On the first day of the festival, several police cars pulled into the school grounds.
The thief, restrained by the security company's staff, was safely handed over to the police, and the security team bowed their heads politely to us—the ones who had caught him—offering their thanks.
"Thanks to you, we were able to catch the thief. We appreciate it."
All the staff members bowed deeply, and I gave an awkward smile in response.
"I'm just glad nothing worse happened. So, you've recovered all the stolen items?"
"Yes, everything was in his bag. We'll take responsibility and track down the owners to return them."
From what they said, incidents like this happened occasionally.
Not frequently, but every once in a while—though never as blatant as someone bolting right out in the open like today.
They said most were petty thieves who didn't face heavy punishment even if caught.
Of course, the middle-aged thief from just now didn't fall into that "most" category.
"And even though it didn't go all the way through, he did make a real threat, so he should definitely face some punishment."
If that had been Hyorin...
The chilling thought made it hard to focus fully on what security was saying.
Just imagining it for a second had anger boiling up inside me. I'd make sure he got punished somehow.
Snapping back to attention, I replied to the security guard.
"Please do."
"Oh, no—we should be the ones asking. We gave the police all the details we could when handing him over, but if they need any additional statements from you, would you mind?"
"No worries."
Nod.
My response brought a brighter look to the security guard's face.
"Yes, thank you."
After the security staff left, I turned toward Hyorin, who was wrapped in a blanket, and asked,
"You okay?"
"Ah, yeah...... I'm fine. You?"
"Me? I'm good. But man, that was close to a real disaster. We got lucky—otherwise......"
At my words, Hyorin let out another sigh of relief.
"Good thing. No one got hurt."
I could tell she meant it.
Her expression said it all.
"But it was way too dangerous."
"Yeah."
"You, Hyorin. We got lucky nothing happened. If the thief hadn't passed out, it could've turned into something even worse."
I wasn't just saying it.
People don't always pass out easily from a blow to the back of the head.
Our case was pure luck—nothing else to call it.
But at my words, Hyorin looked scared and said,
"You were the one in danger."
This time, though, I didn't hold back.
"Even if I'm in danger, you don't have to put yourself in it too. And what you did back there? That could've made things even more dangerous for both of us."
In situations like that, sometimes doing nothing and just watching can actually help.
Even if things went south and someone got hurt, better me alone than both of us.
"Still......"
"No. From now on, never do anything like that again. No matter what happens to me, got it?"
Despite her dissatisfied expression, Hyorin nodded without arguing further—my words carrying all my sincerity.
"Got it."
She had plenty to say, I'm sure, but we dropped the topic.
Things had turned out okay in the end, but it had been genuinely frightening.
Easing my expression, I said,
"Anyway, the signboard's trashed. What a mess."
When Hyorin had whacked the thief's head with that plank, he'd collapsed right onto the nearly finished signboard.
It shattered on impact, and the front panel cracked beyond repair.
If it had just been the paint smeared, we could've repainted it, but with the panel itself broken, reuse wasn't an option without remaking it entirely.
"Yeah. Why'd he have to fall right on the signboard?"
Hyorin looked regretful at the wreckage too, wondering how to explain this to the seniors.
Just then, people from our department's tavern booth came running up in a panic.
It was Jungeun, my classmate and Hyorin's from orientation.
"K-Kanghyeok! Hyorin!"
Looking totally spooked, he panted as he checked us over.
"You guys okay? I heard you were almost in serious danger! No injuries? You crazy? You have no idea how freaked out I got hearing about it. You sure you're really fine?"
I always thought this about him—Jungeun's just such a good guy.
Smiling at his worried face, I said,
"We're fine. No big deal."
"No big deal? Some thief was threatening you!"
"Ah, that? Hyorin took care of it—we came out unscathed."
"Thanks to Hyorin?"
Explaining the whole thing would take too long, so I just smiled and changed the subject.
"Anyway, look at the signboard we were gonna use for the festival today."
Jungeun and Hyorin both stared at the broken signboard with grim faces.
Getting threatened by a thief was one thing, but prepping for today's festival came first.
Jungeun brushed off my concern, though.
"Who cares about the signboard? We probably don't even need one. Heck, hanging up the broken one might be even better."
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
"What do you mean? You two are the signboard."
......What?
Me and Hyorin as the signboard?
At my confusion, Jungeun blinked and asked,
"How do you think I knew to come here?"
"Oh, right—how'd you even find us?"
It hadn't even been an hour since the incident.
Sure, it was a big deal, so rumors would spread, but not this fast.
To my question, Jungeun dropped the unexpected bombshell.
"There was a post on the school forum. Said two fine arts students caught a thief."
"The f-forum?"
"No names, but people figured it out. Mentioned the fine arts tavern booth area."
If it had spread that far, it made sense he'd zero in on us right away.
I hadn't expected the incident to blow up like this.
But there was a bigger issue.
"How's that got anything to do with no signboard?"
To Hyorin's question, Jungeun nodded knowingly and relayed what was flooding the forum.
"'Let's go splash some cash on those good fine arts kids who caught the thief.'"
"Sp-splash cash?"
"Yeah, they're saying get ready to get 'scolded'—with money."
"One oden stew here, please!"
"Coming right up!"
"When can we get a seat?"
"Oh, so sorry—it's packed right now. Mind waiting about ten minutes?"
"We'll take it to go! And if you need any help, we can pitch in."
"Ah! This the place where they caught the thief today?"
It was absolute chaos.
Students had come after seeing the forum, sure—but why were regular folks pouring in like this too?
As waves of customers threatened to overwhelm us, Jungeun muttered from behind in a half-dead voice.
"This must be it."
"Yeah."
"My uncle—who runs a business—always said there's a reason places boom. People see a crowd, they flock thinking it's hot."
"Your uncle's in business?"
"Yeah. But he never dreamed I'd see the kind of line he's always wanted at a school festival."
Who could've predicted this?
I sure hadn't anticipated the thief—or the customer surge because of it.
Then, from inside the kitchen, our third-year senior Ye-eun yelled at us.
"Jungeun! Kanghyeok! No time to sit around snacking on dried pollack—help serve this food!"
"Ah, yes, senior!"
At her shout, Jungeun and I rushed to the kitchen and started serving.
After wrestling with the nonstop crowd for ages...
Thud.
"Ugh, just kill me......"
"Wow...... the customers are insane."
We finally closed up a bit after 11 p.m.
Only because we'd run out of ingredients—people dispersed, promising horrifically to come back tomorrow.
Crunch.
Hyorin approached us, removing her filthy apron, and said,
"Whew, you two worked hard. So many customers."
That wrecked apron told the tale of how much food prep she'd handled.
Bitter smile on my face, I told her,
"You too—kitchen must've been brutal. You good?"
"With the seniors helping? It wasn't bad at all."
Liar.
Her hands were trembling from fatigue, but she claimed she was fine.
We'd been running around serving customers, sure, but Hyorin had been lifting heavy frying pans and pots all day.
I knew that much.
"I'll handle the kitchen tomorrow."
Jungeun, beside me, looked shocked.
"You? In the kitchen?"
"Why so surprised? Makes me self-conscious."
"You can cook?"
"Would I say it if I couldn't?"
Cooking for myself had taught me a bunch. I'd even made hobby recipes, and knife work was surprisingly fun.
If I weren't into painting, maybe I'd have gone into cooking.
"Nah. Stay out front—no need to come in."
"But you're swamped. Let me help."
"Then who's watching the front?"
"Well......"
I glanced at Jungeun, who shot me a cold glare.
"You're not seriously saying do it alone, right? That's crazy."
Crazy? Anyone hearing would misunderstand.
"No way. I mean, absolutely impossible! Two of us was killer—alone? Ugh, no. Hate it. Can't. Kill me first."
With Jungeun digging in like that, no arguing.
Just then, senior Ye-eun emerged from the kitchen, wiping damp hands.
"Kill who? And if you're dying, wait till after tomorrow's sales."
We straightened up fast at her savage words.
"Senior! Great work!"
"Senior, you too."
At "great work," she smirked.
"We all busted our asses. Good job, everyone. All thanks to you-know-who—our department's exploding in popularity."
Praise...... I think?
Bitter smile at her ambiguous words.
Rustle.
Then a group entered our tavern booth.
"Ye-eun, swamped?"
They were total strangers.
"Oh, you came."
Surprised by the sudden intrusion, we all looked questioningly at senior Ye-eun.
"Ah, everyone, say hi. These are from the industrial design department next door."
Industrial design—same building, but different majors, so we rarely crossed paths. Felt awkward.
But senior Ye-eun casually introduced us.
"These are my first-year underclassmen."
"Ooh, first-years? So you two must be the stars of today's rumor."
"Yeah. Them."
"Nice. Our department has first-years too—just in case, I brought 'em."
At "first-years," our eyes went to the back of Ye-eun's friend's group.
"Not sure if we'll see you later, but good to know faces anyway."
Stepping aside, a guy from the back came forward and introduced himself.
"Uh, hi. Bae Chang-sik, first-year industrial design."
Giving up chasing after Jungeun, who'd bolted on some phone excuse, Chang-sik sighed and sat beside me.
Then he explained what had happened that day.
"You probably don't remember, but I was there too."
"Oh, now that you mention it......"
Yeah, one of the first-years from industrial design who'd come along.
Probably why I couldn't recall Chang-sik properly—thanks to his senior's all-time epic nuisance act.
At my reaction, Chang-sik seemed to recall it too, letting out a long sigh and suddenly apologizing.
"Whew, sorry about that day—on his behalf."
The memories came flooding back vividly.
So intense that Hyorin and I had blanked on Chang-sik.
Can't blame us.
'Still so fresh.'
A memory I'd never forget, lifetime or not.
It all started with one sentence from that Chang-sik senior.
Let's combine our tavern booths tomorrow.