Motivation (2)
I arrived at Jinhan University with Na-eun in tow. The moment she laid eyes on the main gate, her mouth fell open wide.
"The gate is huge..."
"It is huge. Super huge."
I bet if you added up the sizes of every elementary, middle, and high school Na-eun had ever attended, it still wouldn't come close to a tenth of our campus.
"Let's head inside."
"Okay, but..."
"But?"
"Is it okay for outsiders to just walk in...?"
Outsiders just walking in? There was only one answer to that.
"Probably not?"
"Huh...?"
"Yeah, probably not. Most likely."
It probably wasn't allowed. Especially not outsiders entering the buildings—if you dug through the school rules, there'd definitely be something banning it outright.
"...You sure this is fine?"
"It's fine, it's fine. Sure, if you check the rules, there might be something about no outsiders, but honestly, who follows that stuff these days?"
I really believed that. School rules were made to be followed in theory, but most of them were dead letters. Unless someone was causing serious damage to the school or harming its members, the administration wouldn't bat an eye.
And besides...
"You'll get in next year anyway, right? If anyone asks, we can just say it's a preview visit for the school you're enrolling in."
Na-eun was coming to this school. Honestly, I'd love it if she aimed higher than Jinhan University. Sure, it'd bruise my pride a little if my student outdid me, but the joy would outweigh that by far. After all, it'd be because of my teaching that she got there. No bruised ego could stand up to that kind of pride.
Still, since Na-eun wanted to come here, I'd welcome her with open arms.
Anyway, that wasn't the point right now.
"Let's go in."
"Ah... Okay...!"
Right now, showing Na-eun around our school was more important.
But there was something even more important than that.
What was it? Guess.
"Huff... huff... Oppa... how much... farther...?"
Most universities were built on hills, so you had to climb. Na-eun was huffing and puffing her way up right now. In other words, for low-stamina Na-eun Jeong, Jinhan University was the worst possible matchup.
"How much farther, you think...?"
"Oppa...?"
"...Kidding. We're almost there."
About five minutes of steady climbing later, the buildings came into view. Na-eun let out a little gasp at the sight.
"Whoa... they're massive..."
"Right? Super massive. And there are even more behind those ones."
"Whoaaaa..."
Na-eun's reaction was just too adorable. And hilarious at the same time. She must have known universities had campuses way bigger than any elementary, middle, or high school combined. But seeing it in person made all that knowledge fly out the window.
"So... um... where to next?"
"Hmm~ Depends on what department you want to go into, Na-eun."
"Department?"
"Yeah, department. Which one are you thinking?"
"Well... um... that is... uh... you know..."
Na-eun started stammering. Why the sudden stutter? I waited patiently...
"...Nursing. I want to go to Nursing."
Totally unexpected department. Nursing? Na-eun? This was out of left field. I'd pictured her in something like counseling or psychology, but nursing?
"Nursing... Nursing, huh..."
"Yeah, the scores are about the same level as what we're targeting..."
"True, it won't be much different from our benchmark."
In reality, there wasn't a huge score gap for nursing. If anything, it might even play to Na-eun's strengths.
"But why nurs—"
The moment I saw her glancing at me nervously, I tilted my head and flipped the question back.
"Why the side-eye?"
"It's just... uh... Do you... think so too...?"
"Think what?"
"That I don't fit with nursing..."
I shook my head firmly at that.
"No, you fit perfectly."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. Perfect fit."
The reason was simple. Na-eun was tougher than I'd given her credit for. She kept promises to the minute, put insane effort into everything, had great focus and adaptability. Plus, her resolve was rock-solid. Someone that diligent couldn't have a weak core. Nursing required strong mental fortitude—especially with its notorious hazing culture. I figured Na-eun could handle it. And even if she couldn't and switched paths later, she'd land on her feet.
All in all, she seemed like a natural for nursing.
"Hehe... Thanks..."
"Who said you didn't fit?"
"You and... Mom..."
Seung-min, okay, but Auntie said that too? Did Na-eun have sides I hadn't seen? As I pondered that, she dropped another bombshell.
"She said I have this tomboyish, rowdy vibe... that it doesn't match something calm like nursing..."
"Auntie said that?"
"Yeah..."
The Na-eun I'd seen didn't have that side. Sure, she was a bit cheeky sometimes, but it was just cute playfulness. Was she putting on an act around me? Nah, no way. She was my best friend’s little sister—I'd known her since she was a total kid. Practically childhood friends. Why bother with pretense?
"Anyway, let's head deeper in. Hungry? Let's grab something inside."
"Okay... But oppa, it's Saturday. Is the cafeteria open?"
"Nah, cafeteria's closed today."
"Huh...?"
I chuckled at her flustered face and beckoned her along. She scurried after me as I led her to the most popular eatery on campus.
Where? You ask.
"...Mom's Chicken?"
"The top spot on campus."
"This is inside the school...?"
"Run by an alum. As a senior, they stay open every day except Sundays, serve bigger portions than outside, remember regulars' names. Super popular."
"Whoa..."
As Na-eun marveled, I pulled her inside. It opened at 9 a.m., and already the sizzle of frying chicken filled the air. I headed to the kiosk.
"Same as outside—pick what you want."
"Okay...! Hmm... Then..."
Na-eun pondered her choices, settling on a burger set. As I watched her calmly, an unexpected voice chimed in.
"Oh, who’s this? The soldier boy?"
So familiar. I turned to see a woman with short, chin-length hair.
"Whoa~ Seonwoo Lee, long time no see?"
"Hey, noona."
Jin-sol Yoo, who'd entered the same year as me. She'd retaken the entrance exam to get into Jinhan and was popular for her straightforward personality. But wasn't she supposed to have graduated? Why was she still around?
"Yeah, yeah. And who's this...?"
"A student I'm tutoring."
"High schooler?"
"Yup."
"Oho... Bringing a high schooler onto campus?"
"She's coming to Jinhan next year."
I slipped in a question to the chuckling Jin-sol noona.
"Noona, why're you still here? Graduated, right?"
"...Grad school."
"Oof, slave life suits you."
"Shut it."
I waved with a grin and turned back to Na-eun.
"Na-eun, all picked?"
"Ah... uh... Y-yeah..."
Na-eun nodded shyly at Jin-sol noona before showing me her order. She'd finished while we chatted.
"Cool, my turn."
I grabbed my usual burger set, paid, and we headed to a corner table.
But... something was off with Na-eun. Way shyer than usual, shrinking in on herself.
Walking campus with Seonwoo oppa was absolute bliss. The warm weather, cool breeze, even the uphill climbs—everything felt amazing with those views.
The chicken burger franchise he picked threw me for a loop, but even that was fun.
But then...
"Oh, who’s this? The soldier boy?"
...some woman talked to Seonwoo oppa.
Average build, refreshing older-sister vibe in looks and voice.
...Why was she talking to him? So casually, too.
I'd figured handsome Seonwoo oppa would be popular with girls. But I hadn't expected some woman to approach him the second we hit campus on a weekend.
Might be overthinking, but what if that unnie liked him? What if she confessed once he reenrolled?
No. Absolutely not.
This chance I'd waited so long for—I couldn't let it slip away.
Right. So... I'll carve out a place in his heart.
I'm prettier, and I can stick by him longer. Totally doable.
No way I'll let anyone take him.
Seonwoo oppa is mine.