You're Pretty
Na-eun Jeong's June mock exam was finally over, and with a bit of time passing, universities were starting to wrap up the semester one by one.
Proof of that? This.
"Aigoo, Tutor Seonwoo. How's our little Na-eun doing~?"
Seung-min Jeong was back home, putting on this ridiculously over-the-top performance as a helicopter parent.
"Better than you."
"If she's not better than me, she should just quit studying."
"Oppa, just get out... of my room."
Seung-min was the kind of guy who could almost make even the sweet, kind Na-eun spit out something harsh. He was impressive in all the wrong ways.
Anyway, with the season upon us, I had to get my own preparations in order.
"Guess I should start getting ready to reenroll..."
Reenrollment prep—just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.
But I couldn't avoid it. I'd twisted every arm possible last semester, using my army discharge right after first semester to buy myself a half-year break. But that excuse wouldn't fly anymore. It was time to actually go back.
With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and logged into Jinhan University's integrated info system.
Slowly, I began the reenrollment application.
Some time passed, and I finally finished submitting everything. Approval would come in 2-3 days, they said—just check then. But man, my mood was all over the place.
Reenrolling. Me, reenrolling already.
I wanted to savor this freedom a little longer. Hold onto this happiness just a bit more.
But no dice. It was like spilled water—done and irreversible.
"Haaaaah..."
Thinking about reenrolling left me feeling all queasy. Crammed into those tiny lecture halls, force-feeding my brain with mountains of knowledge too vast to even comprehend... it made me want to hurl.
Still, I had to push through. Good grades meant a shot at a decent job.
Honestly, even landing a good job was a long shot. Jinhan University was solid, sure, but not quite S-tier—more like A+ at best.
You had to be top of the heap here just to knock on a big corp's door.
That realization made me want to enjoy the now even more.
Savor every moment, soak up this leisure while it lasts.
Times like these might never come again.
With those thoughts, I grabbed my bag.
First things first—time to tutor Na-eun today.
*
"Oppa, you're here...!"
"Morning, cutie~"
"Yo, Seonwoo Lee. You made it."
"Yeah, your boy's here."
Na-eun, dressed as pretty as ever, and Seung-min scratching his belly like a slob—they were night and day.
"Oppa, you're embarrassing me. At least put on proper clothes."
"Hey now, dropouts are supposed to look like this. Seonwoo's only dressing up 'cause he's coming to work here. Bet he'd be slobbing out at home too."
He had a point, but it still rubbed me the wrong way.
Maybe Na-eun picked up on my mood, because she grabbed her bag and came right over.
"Oppa, let's study out today."
"Out? Where to?"
"A cafe... maybe?"
"Cafe... you think that'll work?"
Cafes generally hated study grinders like us. We hog seats for hours on a single drink.
Plus, you end up feeling eyes on you, which kills focus.
Like she read my mind, Na-eun chimed in.
"Oppa, it'll be fine. I know a good spot."
"A good one?"
"Yeah! Just follow me!"
As she slipped on her shoes, Seung-min tossed out a warning—not quite a warning, but close.
"Hey, Na-eun Jeong. No causing a scene at the cafe."
An oddly specific warning.
Na-eun shot him a glare, whipped her head away, and stormed out first.
I watched her go, then waved at Seung-min and followed.
In the elevator down, Na-eun started venting—not quite venting, but close—about her brother.
"Sorry, Seonwoo oppa. My brother's always... y'know... like that...?"
Scratch that—it was more like a mom apologizing for her unruly son.
Or was that what made it even more cutting? Treating Seung-min like some hopeless little brother she couldn't rein in.
But I wasn't about to argue. Even as his friend, Seung-min was a handful.
The guy's got the build, the brains, but he chooses not to use them—exhausting. Yet when he's teasing or pranking, that brain kicks into overdrive, and good luck keeping up.
Look at him today: saunters out scratching his gut, acts all casual toward me, then ribs Na-eun to his heart's content.
Calculated to the last detail, that punk.
I offered some sympathy to Na-eun, who'd suffer his antics forever.
"It's cool... You must be exhausted dealing with him."
"Ahaha..."
Her awkward laugh carried real fatigue.
To shake it off, I tossed her another question.
"Na-eun, where were you thinking of studying?"
"Oh...! Well..."
She showed me a cafe on her phone.
I knew the place. Super popular, but pricey—way more than a cheapo study spot.
"...Here?"
"Yep. Lots of study folks use it."
"We won't get kicked out...?"
"Nah, their whole vibe is charging premium for long-stay customers. Aimed at grinders and remote workers."
Na-eun rattled off cafe intel like a pro. Even I, a regular cafe guy, learned new stuff.
"Ooh, gotcha."
"That's how it is!"
She nodded proudly and took the lead toward the cafe.
I called after her, catching up.
"Na-eun~ Wait up~"
"Okay~"
She stopped, beaming, waiting for me.
*
Just like Na-eun said, the cafe was packed with study peeps. Uncannily so.
We snagged a comfy second-floor spot and set up.
Then headed down to order drinks and snacks.
"We should get some food out of courtesy, right?"
"Um... coffee's already pricey..."
"Think of it as seat rental fee—makes it easier, yeah?"
"Still..."
"Pick whatever you want. My treat."
Na-eun pondered, then whispered a cute threat.
"You mean it...? Like, anything I want...?"
She said that, but settled for a cinnamon roll and chocolate cake. With two drinks, it came to 16,000 won—but totally worth it.
I tutored three times a week, and even though it was for a friend's sister, her parents paid generously. Investing this much in Na-eun was the least I could do.
Back upstairs, we chatted lightly while waiting for our order.
"Na-eun, how'd you find this place?"
"A friend albs at another branch. Comes up in convo."
A 19-year-old already working part-time? Impressively diligent.
Hell, she might be more on it than me. Maybe I should learn from her.
Then a question popped up.
"Hey, Na-eun, one thing I'm curious about."
"What?"
"You gonna get a part-time gig in college?"
"Probably? Might not seem like me, but I wanna try cafe work."
I answered instantly.
"Suits you perfect."
"Really?"
Obviously. A pretty girl working cafe? Lines out the door.
Na-eun fit that bill to a T.
"Might even snag higher hourly."
"Think so?"
"Duh, you're pretty."
"...Huh?"
Na-eun blinked, flustered.
Staring straight at me, she asked so slowly.
"...Am I really pretty?"
"How many times I gotta say it...?"
"Still... y'know..."
She twirled her hair bashfully.
Adorable. I told her again.
"Na-eun, you're pretty. For real."
Yeah, she really was.
If she were an adult, if I weren't nursing heartbreak, if she weren't my friend's little sis from way back...
She was that pretty—enough to spark real feelings.
"...I'll grab the snacks, Na-eun."
"N-no, I'll get 'em...!"
She bolted downstairs before I could finish.
Even that was cute. Pretty.
* * *
I couldn't focus on studying all day.
Seonwoo oppa calling me pretty wasn't the first time.
But today... it felt different. More sincere, maybe?
All my efforts weren't wasted—I felt it deep down, and it made me happy.
Today too: I aimed for that "effortlessly cute" look, pondering how to seem even prettier to him.
Seemed like it worked, like I'd edged into his heart a tiny bit. Pure bliss.
To make that happiness complete, I'd study harder, get into Jinhan University...
...but cut me some slack for today.
How could anyone stay calm after hearing that from him?