Confucian Girl's Dilemma
Yuna didn't care if other people saw her with Woohyuk. After all, she only knew a handful of people in the department anyway. She figured everyone would just think, "Oh, there's a couple."
But Kim Jaemin was different. She absolutely couldn't let him see her together with Woohyuk. That guy was so nosy about his own love life that he was equally nosy about everyone else's. Even recently, whenever he casually asked how things were going with Yuna, it sent a chill down her spine. If she ever slipped up and admitted they were dating, he would probably pester her nonstop for every single detail.
Ugh... terrifying. Just imagining it made her head spin.
And for some reason, guys like Jaemin seemed to especially enjoy hearing dating stories from total newbies like her. They said it was "pure and untainted." How depraved did his own life have to be? She didn't even want to know. It was his life, not something she needed to concern herself with.
"Have you ever contacted me first? You're always the one who reaches out first."
So she had no choice but to let go of Yuna's hand. She had tried to circle around and avoid being seen, but Jaemin's radar was too sharp. Before she knew it, they were already caught.
"Man, you cold-blooded bastard. Yuna, hey!"
Jaemin had to get in a jab at Woohyuk before he could feel satisfied. Only after that did he turn to Yuna.
"Hello, Oppa. Thanks for helping me last time."
"Yeah. If you're grateful, buy me coffee sometime."
"Sure. I'll treat you when I have time."
Last time? Had Yuna talked to Jaemin separately? Woohyuk was completely lost, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
"So why are you two coming together? Did you decide to just stick together from now on?"
Jaemin was staring at them with the sparkling eyes of a predator who had finally found his chance.
...If they got caught, it was over.
"No. We just ran into each other on the way here."
Woohyuk blurted out the excuse. He could explain everything to Yuna later. Right now, he just needed to survive this moment.
"Really? Your eyes say otherwise. Whatever, just make sure to tell me when you two start dating. I'm heading out!"
With that, Jaemin turned and walked away, presumably heading to his next class.
Phew. They hadn't been caught. He had probably sensed something between them, but Woohyuk was relieved it had ended like this. Jaemin was the clingy type; once he latched onto something, he wouldn't let go until he uncovered every detail.
"...Oppa."
The moment Jaemin disappeared, a sharp gaze landed on Woohyuk's face. Yuna was staring at her with narrowed eyes, her voice cold.
"Are you ashamed of dating me?"
Yuna asked with a visibly hurt expression. That wasn't it at all. Woohyuk hadn't expected such an extreme reaction.
"No, it's not that—"
"If it's not that, then why did you let go of my hand just now? And why did you lie?"
At Yuna's unusually icy tone, Woohyuk felt cold sweat threatening to pour down her back.
"I thought it would be annoying if he found out."
"...Why?"
She didn't know where to even begin explaining. Besides, this also involved her relationship with Jaemin.
"His personality is just like that. If he knew I was dating someone, he'd bother me nonstop."
Woohyuk gave Yuna a rough explanation about Jaemin. The exhaustion that came with maintaining human relationships was something she truly couldn't handle. She had hoped that Uni, the ultimate homebody, would understand.
"...Am I more important to you, Oppa? Or is avoiding trouble more important?"
It was the kind of line that could trigger drama-level PTSD. No matter how she answered, Woohyuk felt completely cornered. That decision had been the worst possible one. People really did make stupid mistakes sometimes. She should have just admitted they were dating.
"O-of course you're more important. Yeah."
"Then why are you hiding it from Jaemin Oppa...? I'm hurt."
"I'm sorry."
Yuna's words of disappointment made Woohyuk feel like she couldn't breathe. With her weak interpersonal skills, considering others' feelings had always been difficult for her—even when she knew her smallest actions could wound someone deeply.
"...That's really all there is, right? There's no other meaning behind it?"
Faced with Yuna's drooping eyes, Woohyuk nodded vigorously. Yuna seemed a little anxious.
"There's really no other reason. That's all it is."
She had no other thoughts whatsoever—not when she had Uni_clip's name to protect. She simply wanted to avoid Jaemin, nothing more.
"Then it's fine... Just don't do this again next time."
"Yeah... Sorry."
"I thought Oppa wanted to hide me from his friends."
Yuna spoke while looking at her with a sullen face.
"No way. If anything, I'd want to brag about you."
After all, Yuni was someone she could proudly show off anywhere. She was a girlfriend worth being proud of.
"...Still, don't brag too much either."
That must have been embarrassing too. Woohyuk really couldn't figure out Yuna's heart. As she spoke, Yuna quietly reached out and took her hand again—this time holding on tightly, as if refusing to let go.
"Should we just walk to the lecture hall like this?"
Woohyuk suggested it to lift Yuna's mood.
"It's fine in other places... but the management students are a bit..."
She had a point. If they walked in holding hands, people would probably think, "Those two are showing off again."
Dating really wasn't easy. This was the moment her lack of experience truly sank in.
[...Did he really say that?]
[Yeah. Unni, this doesn't mean anything, right?]
[Since I don't know your boyfriend well, it's hard to say anything... Hmm. How did you feel about it?]
[When I said it out loud, it just seemed like he has no tact... I don't know.]
[You two are both complete newbies at this, right? If you lack experience, that kind of thing can happen.]
[But... still, it makes me angry. And why hide the fact that we're dating from close friends?!]
[Yuna, calm down.]
[Unni, he canceled the water park plans because of work...]
[He should have at least given me a heads-up... If he suddenly says no like that, what am I supposed to do?]
[Right. That must've been really disappointing, Unni.]
[But where were you planning to go?]
[Ocean Blue Water Park. They lowered the price for peak season recently.]
[Wow~. Really? I've always wanted to go there.]
[Yuna, want the tickets? I haven't canceled the reservation yet.]
[Huh? But getting them for free feels a bit...]
[No, think of it as a gift for getting a boyfriend. Go together to celebrate starting to date.]
[Thanks. Then I'll go have fun, Unni!]
[Yeah. Play twice as much since I couldn't go. Make sure to take lots of pictures and send them to me.]
[Okay. I'll take a thousand pictures for you.]
After ending the call with that promise, Yuna's mind began racing.
...But wasn't this too soon? They hadn't even been dating that long. They hadn't gone on a single proper date since becoming a couple. Was it really okay to go to a water park already?
[Unni. But you know...]
[Yeah?]
[...We've only been dating for a short time. Isn't going to a water park too soon?]
[Huh? What's wrong with a water park?]
Did Unni seriously not see the issue? Because at a water park...
[You have to wear swimsuits. That means way too much skin showing...]
They would basically be half-naked in front of each other. If it were strangers, maybe it wouldn't matter, but since it was someone she knew, it felt even more embarrassing.
...Ugh. Just imagining it made heat rush to her face. The thought of showing Oppa—and being shown—her body in such a state... it was already making her head feel strange.
Seo-yeon snorted at her words, sounding completely exasperated.
[Yuna. Did you time-travel from the Joseon era? You're a real Confucian girl.]
No way. Did Unni really not find this embarrassing? Was the worldview of couples just this different?
That was the moment the thought crossed her mind.