Freshman Wa Sol
This is still the story from when I was a freshman.
The time when I was still so young and weak. If I had Gachi by my side back then, things might have been different.
Of course, there's no point in even considering such a hypothesis.
Because at that time, I... didn't know what Gachi was.
A morning that woke me up with a slightly pounding heart. Thanks to the light shining through the window, the dorm room I first slept in yesterday came into view.
Looking at the dorm clock, there was still time until class, but with a trembling heart, I got up without realizing it.
"Still not used to sleeping in a place like this."
My roommate Yun-a was still in dreamland. Thinking about it, she must have slept really fast yesterday too.
'Must be the type that gets used to the surroundings quickly. A little envious.'
Thinking that, I went into the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, I saw my figure with my hair down to my chest.
Thinking about when I'd have to tie that long hair up again felt quite bothersome.
"Haa, I want to cut my hair a bit shorter."
If I had grown it because I wanted to, it would have been loved, but since it was grown against my will, I didn't like it much.
Moreover, I had always preferred short hair over these cumbersome long ones.
...I had no confidence that it would suit me. After all, it was said that women with short hair that suit them are few in number. It might not suit me.
Actually, because of that fear, there are times when I don't cut it.
"Well, first, I'll wash up quietly so Yun-a doesn't wake up."
Of course, even if I was quiet, turning on the shower would make noise, so eventually Yun-a would wake up, but seeing Yun-a give a thumbs up saying it was the perfect morning call made me laugh involuntarily. Hehe.
"Yawn, Wa Sol, you wake up really fast. Are you always this diligent?"
"Uh-huh, it's because I'm not used to the dorm bed yet."
Wa Sol and I finished simple preparations and went to eat breakfast together. There were still about 40 minutes until class, so we were going to eat leisurely, but...
"Hey, was it Wa Sol? Can I sit here?"
"Do you remember me? We were at the adjacent table at the after-party."
More people remembered me among the underclassmen than I thought, so I couldn't eat leisurely. They kept talking to me, so I couldn't eat properly.
No, how was I supposed to remember the people at the adjacent table in the first place...
"Mmm... Oh, Wa Sol, this is delicious. Try it."
"Yun-a, thank you."
"Well, it's not that much."
No, thank you for being here beside me. Honestly, if you weren't there, I might have choked before finishing my meal.
In the end, to avoid the guys who kept talking to me, I talked only with Yun-a, and after somehow finishing the meal, we left the dorm first, using the excuse that we had somewhere to go.
Some people followed us, but Yun-a told them not to tag along since they were going out with the girls, and drove them away.
Nice...
"Haa, being with you is never boring."
"Sorry..."
"It's not like I have anything to apologize for. More importantly, is there anyone among them that interests you?"
Interests someone?
Hmm... The people I saw just now were probably mostly handsome guys. They groomed themselves well, had flashy appearances and strong self-assertion.
Those are all things I dislike.
To some extent grooming is good, but why do they try to make themselves look so flashy? If they have themselves, they can just stay quiet and their value will show, but why do they raise themselves like that and speak.
I have no idea.
"No, not at all. I just find everyone uncomfortable."
"Yeah, I think those kinds of people are a waste on Wa Sol too."
No, I didn't really think that...
To clear up the misunderstanding that Yun-a seemed to be talking about someone with high standards, but since Yun-a had found someone, I decided to let it go.
"Hey, over there, it's in season."
While heading to the department building, Yun-a pointed at the male student walking right in front and said. I looked over and saw Hwang Je-cheol, the guy I had become somewhat close with at the freshman welcome party.
"Ah, really. Should I greet him?"
"Je-cheol won't mind?"
Honestly, it's not comfortable, but since he didn't talk to me annoyingly like those people, it's better than nothing.
"He's a bit better. Je-cheol is pretty calm."
"Yeah, I guess you could say he's taciturn. Looks boring."
"That point I like."
It's better to have no words. Being with someone is more fun than constantly being talked to.
"Hi, Je-cheol."
"Hello."
Je-cheol turned around when he heard our greetings.
He looked at Yun-a, then at me... for a while, then greeted us.
"...Yeah. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Yeah, what."
"...Wa Sol?"
"Eh? Ah.. me too."
"Glad to hear it."
With that, Je-cheol smiled faintly while looking at me.
...Did I say something funny?
"Hey, let's go fast. I was too relaxed."
At Yun-a's words, looking at the time, it was clearly much tighter than I thought.
"Uh, yeah. Let's go, Je-cheol."
"Yeah."
After exchanging greetings, since it was strange to go separately, the three of us headed to the classroom together.
"Hey? Je-cheol... and Wa Sol?"
"...Tsk."
When we entered the classroom at the same time, the people inside showed slightly surprised expressions, but I didn't know why.
After that, after finding an empty seat and sitting down, many people talked to me (especially the guys...).
It was annoying and uncomfortable, but thanks to Je-cheol acting as a buffer this time, it was better than before.
Thanks, Je-cheol...
"Hey, more importantly, the professor came in. Get to your seats quickly."
Yun-a, who saw a female professor enter, drove away the clustered male students nearby. Fortunately, the students who came to this school were diligent in their studies, so they obediently backed off thanks to the professor.
Unlike me, who was forced to study half-heartedly and now has no interest in academics...
Ah, I don't want to study... Can I graduate? Suddenly worried.
"I am Yu Eun-yeong. First, today is also my first class, and I drank a lot of alcohol yesterday so my head hurts. So I plan to end it in 5 minutes."
Seeing that professor, I felt a bit less worried.
Looking at how free she is, she probably gives some points or something.
"Everyone, lateness is only tolerated once. Of course, it's not just letting it slide. If you come in late and say loudly 'Sorry!' it forgives you."
The sound of other students laughing spread through the classroom. She must be a person with a cheerful nature without displeasure.
Probably that behavior is not to approach the students, but the original appearance of Professor Yu Eun-yeong.
As evidence, I didn't feel uncomfortable with that person.
"Ah, and since consultation period is until next week, if anyone wants to consult with me, please let me know."
This consultation class was a type where you get 0.5 credits by consulting with the professor each semester.
Of course, since you had to register for it, there were people who couldn't take it, but luckily I managed to register and receive the consultation. (By the way, it was already gone when Gachi entered.)
"You can say it now. Only those who fell in love at first sight with me, raise your hands."
Pfft. I couldn't help but laugh. What a fun professor. But I often see her scratching the back of her neck. Habit?
By the way, with a professor like this, I could take the consultation. Especially since the other professors are all male.
...Should I muster some courage.
"Oh, I didn't expect there to be a real one. Name...?"
Seeing me timidly raise my hand, Professor Yu Eun-yeong looked surprised and happy, asking me. At that moment, all students' gazes focused on me, and I froze...
"Th-that... Wa Sol, is it?"
"Eh? Ah, Wa Sol? It's here. If possible, from next time, can you call me by my name too?"
I was so nervous I just said my name. But since Professor Yu Eun-yeong saw my student ID and immediately found my name, she didn't ask again.
"Well then, Wa Sol, come with me right now. Knock the nail in the coffin. Then, dismissed!"
The class ended in less than 5 minutes. What now, I was supposed to go to the cafe with Yun-a.
"Ah, I'll go first and wait. Come slowly."
"Yeah, thank you."
"...Can I go too?"
At that time, Je-cheol asked Yun-a. Where are you going?
"Cafe? Hmm... We're going to have a girls' conversation."
So, going to the cafe together. But Yun-a wasn't particularly trying to have serious conversation with me... Ah, is she being considerate to me.
...Well, if it's Je-cheol, it should be fine.
"I'm fine. What about Yun-a?"
"What? ...If Wa Sol is fine, then I'm okay too..."
What? Why is she hesitating.
"Then we'll wait at the cafe first."
Je-cheol, with a taciturn face, spoke in a deep voice, and when he and Yun-a stood up from their seats, I waved and greeted them. Then I followed the gesture of Professor Yu Eun-yeong and left the classroom.
***
After Wa Sol went to consult with Professor Yu Eun-yeong, I headed to the cafe with Je-cheol.
During that time, we... didn't exchange even a single word.
We arrived at the cafe, the destination, so quietly, ordered coffee, and sat in an empty seat. After that, quite some time passed, but there was still no conversation between us.
I knew the reason.
After all, the reason this guy suggested going to the cafe together wasn't here.
"Since you're asking, are you interested in Wa Sol?"
"Yeah."
A short, concise answer. Je-cheol is taciturn, but he told me his honest feelings.
"I thought so. To tell you in advance, Wa Sol not distancing herself from you is because you don't make a move on her openly. It's not because of any special feelings."
I hadn't hugged Wa Sol for long yet, but I had already figured out a bit about the human Wa Sol.
Of course she's pretty, pure, kind... weak woman. Guys who approached Wa Sol lightly didn't sit well with me. It was as if they thought Wa Sol was an easy woman.
"So, I'm planning to approach slowly."
That's why I wasn't particularly wary of this guy Je-cheol. Because this guy wasn't approaching Wa Sol lightly. However, that's a different issue from recognizing this guy.
"Well, even if so, it probably won't mean anything."
"What meaning?"
Je-cheol's question had quite some emotion. Hearing that, I laughed lightly and answered.
"You and Wa Sol don't match at all."
"Why?"
"Wa Sol, to my eyes, suits a somewhat indecisive and frustrating man."
In my thinking, Wa Sol suited a man who would be led by Wa Sol rather than lead her. Yeah, to put it bluntly, a younger man would suit better. Ideally, I wanted Wa Sol to confess first.
Because then we could gradually narrow the distance and walk side by side.
"A man who only leads Wa Sol, if you meet him, the distance won't narrow, and you'll both suffer. Wa Sol clearly... doesn't like to be close to such a man."
"It's none of your business."
"That's why I'm not blocking you."
Of course, if Je-cheol suddenly accelerated and tried to force narrow the distance with Wa Sol, I'd stop him, but otherwise, I'd just leave them alone.
But even this attitude of mine, Je-cheol seemed annoyed and countered with a slightly sharp voice.
"First, let me say this. Such men can never date Wa Sol."
Indeed, if it's an indecisive and frustrating man, it's hard to get close to a woman he likes. Then, in the end, he couldn't connect with Wa Sol either.
"How many men do you think are aiming for Wa Sol? Such men can't even come near Wa Sol."
"Oh oh, why so many words. You really like her, huh?"
"..."
"Joke. I was teasing~ Hmm... I see. If there is such a man... then it's up to fate."
"Fate?"
Fate. Something that happens not by someone's intention but unintentionally. It can't be achieved by effort.
But...
"Yeah. A foolish man who doesn't notice his own feelings keeps meeting Wa Sol by chance. Then, Wa Sol won't feel rejection towards that person? Moreover, if that person is Wa Sol's type, it's perfect."
As I spoke, Je-cheol slammed the coffee cup he was holding down hard.
There are no empty words like this empty words.
I thought.
"Then, in the end, if there's no fate, I can never date Wa Sol? It's not something that can be done with effort. If you're going to make a pun, I won't listen anymore."
Je-cheol's appearance is not bad at all. Despite no grooming, he has a clean and neat face, so other female underclassmen are probably secretly aiming at him too.
But for him, there's something lacking to connect with Wa Sol.
"It could be a pun too. But, if I can't meet like that... then it's just saying that it's not fate?"
I am quite a romanticist, unlike my actions. Even now, I believe in the white horse prince. Wa Sol was the princess to me.
That's why I believe. That there will be someone who approaches Wa Sol like fate someday.
We meet even if we don't intend to, become aware even if we don't notice.
A man who can make Wa Sol smile.
That kind of person truly suits Wa Sol.
"If it's such a destined partner, they will surely... be able to stay by Wa Sol's side."
Only 3 days since we met. Even so, I, who had come to like Wa Sol too much, sincerely prayed that my friend could have such a miraculous love.