A Secret Time Outside the Building
Inside the lodging where Kang Cheol-jin had stepped out.
A few second-years were chattering among themselves.
"Heo Yu-jeong, are you really interested in him?"
"Him? Cheol-jin?"
"Yeah. Earlier you said you were gonna try seducing the pretty boy, see if you could date him."
"It's not that I'm interested. I only said that because he's good-looking."
"Whoa, so you do think he's good-looking either way?"
"What about it?"
When Heo Yu-jeong tilted her head, the girl who had spoken to her shrugged as if she couldn't understand.
"No, just. It's surprising. Isn't he... not exactly good-looking? I mean, he's not bad-looking, but."
"Right. First of all, he's got a little bulk on him."
"Honestly, he's far from being good-looking."
The room was noisy with the drinking party in full swing.
They spoke in whispers among themselves, so their voices were buried.
But there are people with sharp ears everywhere.
Kim Seong-ju, who was sitting not far away, clicked his tongue.
"Those bitches have been running their mouths since earlier. Have they no sense?"
"It's pissing me off. Would it be wrong to cuss out some seniors?"
Ahn Seong-hyeon, sitting beside him, muttered in an irritated tone too. He was pretty heated—he was openly glaring at the seniors.
Kim Seong-ju patted Ahn Seong-hyeon on the back to calm him down.
"Hold it in. They're not worth dealing with."
"...I know, but I think Cheol-jin got hurt. It looked like he heard all of it."
This was Ahn Seong-hyeon, who knew Kang Cheol-jin's past. He figured the reason Kang Cheol-jin had left was because of those clueless bitches.
Still, he hadn't gone after Kang Cheol-jin because he had no face to. Right now, they were managing to treat each other like ordinary friends, but that was thanks to Kang Cheol-jin forgiving him. He had sins from the past, and showing up now to ask if he was okay felt like overstepping.
Meanwhile, Kim Seong-ju and Ahn Seong-hyeon weren't the only ones who'd heard that conversation.
Lee So-yeon, who'd been silently drinking, had her face crumple.
'They were at it like that earlier too? No wonder his expression was off.'
She'd thought he was just drunk, but there was another reason.
Lee So-yeon kept glaring at the three who were talking about Kang Cheol-jin's looks, then spat out a curse.
"Fuck."
Her voice was pretty loud. Loud enough to be heard clearly over the commotion of the drinking party.
The people around Lee So-yeon looked at her with startled eyes.
But she paid them no mind, glaring at the group of second-year girls. Because she had meant for them to hear it in the first place.
"Hey, you crazy bitches."
"Wh, what?"
"Where's this sudden cursing coming from?"
The girls who'd been cursed at frowned right back and raised their voices. But Lee So-yeon was a woman who'd been notorious as the Fighting Hen of the Digital Content Department since her first year.
"You still haven't fixed that habit? Listening to you is so ridiculous I can't even. You crazy bitches, where do you get off openly ranking a newbie's looks?"
"Wh, when did we ever? Don't slander innocent people!"
"'When did we ever,' my ass. Do we all look deaf to you? You think we won't hear just because you're whispering among yourselves?"
"Look, we didn't say he was ugly. We weren't even cursing, why are you being so sensitive? Were we talking about you?"
"Ha!"
Lee So-yeon let out a scoff. She'd been biding her time anyway. She raised a finger and pointed at the three girls one by one.
"You're not ugly, but your eyes are a little small."
"...What?"
"You're not ugly, but your nose looks a little artificial. Looks uncomfortable to breathe through."
"What are you saying! This one's real!"
"You're not ugly, but that doesn't mean you're pretty. You're far from being pretty."
"Hey! Why are you talking like that? You trying to fight?"
Lee So-yeon scoffed once more.
"What's wrong? I didn't say you were ugly. You said you don't like cursing, so I put it nicely. Aren't you being too sensitive?"
"You...."
The girls who'd been singled out looked like they had plenty to say, but couldn't bring themselves to retort. They just fumed with reddened faces.
However, emotional fights usually don't unfold logically. One girl, unable to contain her fury, let her mouth run.
"What, are you into that newbie or something? Why, trying to seduce another clueless kid for your third Campus Couple? Looks like another one's off to the military soon."
"You fucking bitch."
Lee So-yeon shot up from her seat.
"Perfect. I've been meaning to have a word with you. You're the one who spread those bullshit rumors during first year too, aren't you?"
"What, you got proof?"
"Get up, you bitch."
"What, do you wash your mouth out with a dirty rag? You've been cursing nonstop since earlier. You think you're the only one who can curse, you crazy bitch?"
Just as an all-out brawl was about to break out.
Clap clap clap clap!
A loud clapping sound rang out.
Kim Seong-ju, who had been watching the situation unfold, was clapping. Ahn Seong-hyeon clapped along too, as if feeling refreshed.
"Wow, our team leader's so cool."
"For real. I almost fell for you."
"...What's with you two? Freshmen, are you crazy?"
"Seniors are talking, where do you get off butting in?"
Two girls bristled and shouted.
At that, Kim Seong-ju raised his middle finger.
"Shut your mouths. I'm older than you all."
"S, so what. Aren't you a freshman?"
"Uh, no? You guys like playing the student ID year game that much? What year are you? I'm class of '16."
"...You're a first-year."
"Yep. First-year, that's right. But I'm also class of '16. I went straight to the military as soon as I enrolled."
"M, military?"
The three girls looked at Kim Seong-ju in surprise.
On the other hand, a few people, including Lee So-yeon, were nonchalant as if they'd already known. They were mostly people who belonged to the student council or were class reps.
Kim Seong-ju let out a dry laugh and spoke.
"Wow, I'd heard that kids who didn't go to the military are the ones who play rank games instead. I only ever heard stories about people like you during my service. This is genuinely fascinating. They actually exist?"
"...Hyung, you've done your military service? Really, class of '16?"
"Yeah. Ah, just keep talking comfortably like you were? I'm not a boomer like them."
Having said that, Kim Seong-ju poured himself some more soju and gestured for people to gather round.
"Hey guys, let's resume the drinking game. How about the Son Byung-ho Game? Penalty is going to sleep. I'll go first."
Holding up all five fingers spread wide, he said.
"Fold if you've ever evaluated someone's looks. Next, Seong-hyeon."
"Ah, is it my turn? Then, fold if you're a second-year senior. Next is Soyeon senior."
"...Fold if you're a girl."
Lee So-yeon, having folded two fingers, looked to the side. A second-year guy who met her eyes shrugged.
"Fold if you've argued with Soyeon."
The next second-year girl took her turn.
"Fold if you're not ugly, but far from being pretty~."
Everyone's eyes turned to one spot.
Kim Seong-ju tilted his head as if asking what the problem was.
"Do you need me to explain? From the way you talked, you did seem a bit stupid."
*
Faces beet red, the three girls fled the room as if running away.
Naturally, no one went after them. Even the other second-years just clicked their tongues as if completely fed up.
"So that's what that is, huh? The manual for voluntarily becoming a loner."
"Who acts like that and thinks anyone's gonna take their side, honestly."
"I was so dumbfounded I couldn't even butt in. Completely at a loss for words."
A few students badmouthed the three who'd fled.
Kim Seong-ju poured them drinks and said.
"Let's not mind those mood-killers and just drink. This is my first Membership Training, I was really looking forward to it."
"Yes, sunbae-nim."
"Ah, what's with that. Just call me hyung. I'm only class of '16 by number, I'm a first-year who doesn't know anything. In that sense, couldn't you guys tell me about good lectures or something?"
Kim Seong-ju smoothly took control of the atmosphere. Since the person who'd settled the situation was the one doing it, the other students didn't bring up the three who'd fled anymore either.
While the atmosphere turned amicable.
Lee So-yeon quietly rose from her seat. She didn't think she'd done anything wrong, but after that big verbal brawl, she felt uncomfortable staying there.
Kim Seong-ju noticed Lee So-yeon and spoke to her.
"Team leader, you going out for some fresh air?"
"...That's true, but just speak casually to me too."
"Should I? Then you speak casually again too. Why the sudden formal speech?"
"Because you revealed your student ID year."
Lee So-yeon had known Kim Seong-ju's student ID year from the start. Being the class rep and part of the student council, she'd had the chance to confirm it. The reason she'd kept quiet until now was because it seemed like Kim Seong-ju didn't want his year revealed.
Kim Seong-ju shrugged.
"I hate formal speech."
"...Fine. So why'd you call me?"
"If you're going for fresh air, could you call Cheol-jin back on your way?"
"Like I know where he is."
"You don't, right? Might take a while to find him then. Put in a little effort~."
"Jeez."
Lee So-yeon roughly nodded and left the room.
'He's a tactful guy.'
He must have known she was uncomfortable staying in the room, so he was telling her to take her time coming back. She was grateful that he'd helped clear the air in various ways. She herself lacked that kind of tact.
'Seeing as he's still not back, I guess he's outside.'
She'd wanted some fresh air anyway, as Kim Seong-ju had suggested, so this worked out perfectly.
She wrapped her coat tighter and stepped out of the building.
*
Just as I was sunk in gloom, a familiar voice rang out.
I turned around.
"...What brings you here?"
Pi Ah-reum was there.
Wearing a long padded coat, she trotted over.
"I came to see Kkang-cheol?"
"The drinking party? You were in the middle of a game."
"It got boring without you, so I came out. But now that it's night, it's cold. It's already mid-March, but it's still winter weather."
Having said that, Ah-reum grabbed my hand.
"Whoa. Your hand's super cold. Aren't you cold?"
The warmth caught in my hand was toasty.
I squeezed Ah-reum's hand for no real reason. At that, Ah-reum slightly frowned.
"That hurts."
"...Sorry."
Even as I said it, I didn't let go. Maybe because the warmth touched me, my mind felt a little calmer. Ah-reum didn't deliberately pull her hand away either, so I kept fiddling with it.
Ah-reum had a small build, so her hands were really small too. Using both my hands, I could wrap around hers completely with no gaps.
With her hand held captive, Ah-reum stared at me intently.
Maybe because she was the person I was closest to in the department. Even though we were meeting eyes wordlessly, that gaze didn't feel burdensome.
But suddenly, Ah-reum grinned.
"Why are you fiddling so much? Are you trying to seduce me?"
"...Huh? Ack!"
By the time I'd spaced out and answered, Ah-reum's other hand was already touching my crotch.
Fondle fondle.
After a few gropes over my pants.
Bulge, the front of my pants rose up.
Seeing it, Ah-reum wore a sly, lewd grin.
"Uheuheu. You held back a ton today, didn't you?"
Her laugh sounded really like an old man's. But her face was pretty, so that felt kind of charming in its own way again.
Ah-reum kept groping my package over my pants and said.
"You were super funny earlier when you were popping the balloon with Bam unnie."
"...You saw all of that?"
"Watching you stick your butt out, I almost died holding in my laughter."
"And yet you were the one hurrying me to pop it faster?"
"It was infuriating! Even when I keep asking to do it, you always say you're busy and dodge me."
Pouting her lips, Ah-reum pinched the back of my hand.
"When a pretty girl like me says let's do it, you're supposed to say 'thank you' and do it. Does it make any sense to turn me down like that because you're busy?"
"...Jeez. Calling herself pretty."
"Hmph. When you're as pretty as me, it's actually way more annoying to act all humble, you know? I've even been street-cast before!"
"Really?"
I asked back in surprise, but I looked at her face and understood immediately. It's just that she always made pervy old-man comments, but looks-wise alone, she was prettier than most celebrities.
Anyway, that's that.
"How long are you gonna keep touching? Wait, why are you taking them off?"
Ah-reum tilted her head as if asking why I was questioning something obvious.
"Because you're hard, obviously?"
"We're outside!"
"It's fine. It's a corner so no one comes. There's no CCTV here either."
"How do you even know that?!"
In the end, Ah-reum pulled down my pants. She was dexterous enough to get my boxers in one go too.
My already standing-at-attention dick popped out.
Ah-reum wrapped both her hands around my dick and held it.
"Whoa, your dick is super warm. It's not a hand warmer, it's a cock warmer."
"You crazy bitch......."
"You! Aren't you gonna put that nicely?!"
Squeeze, she gripped my dick shaft tight.
I wanted to argue about which of us needed to put things nicely, but she had me by the vital spot, so I didn't dare talk back.
"G, gently! I'm sorry. Warm your hands all you want. You can use the ball warmer too, not just the cock warmer."
"Ball warmer?"
"My balls are warmer."
"Uhyahahah. They really are."
Ah-reum slipped one hand between my crotch. I felt a chilly sensation on my dick and balls.......
Meanwhile, Ah-reum's breath was reaching the tip of my dick. That was because Ah-reum was squatting in front of me. Her lips were so close they seemed like they'd touch.
I spoke, feeling anticipation and anxiety at the same time.
"You're not seriously gonna do it here, are you? I'm starting to get cold, let's go somewhere else."
"Don't wanna~."
"Hey......."
"What, why. Honestly, you want to try outdoor play at least once too. Am I the only one? Am I the only pervert?"
Her words got faster, as if she did feel some shame. Her cheeks were red, and not just from the cold, I bet.
Ah jeez, I don't even know anymore.
"If you're gonna do it, then suck it."
"Okay. But let's kiss first. I like kissing."
Getting up from her spot, Ah-reum went up on her tiptoes. I wasn't too keen on kissing after she'd sucked my dick either, so I met her lips right away.
Jjop. Our lips met, and our tongues intertwined.