Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: What Happened at the Class Reunion
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This is a work of fiction and has no relation to any real names, events, organizations, place names, or persons.
Chapter 24. What Happened at the Class Reunion.
Woo Ji-hyun gazed at the Jeokgi Gamjatang restaurant visible across the street.
It was dinnertime, so the road was bustling with quite a few people passing by.
“Has spring already arrived?”
He smacked his lips at the sight of couples strolling by in noticeably lighter clothing.
Time seemed to be flying by like an arrow.
On the flip side, it also meant he’d been living diligently up until now.
He’d been so focused that he hadn’t even noticed the passage of time.
“Spring should visit my side too.”
“What’s with all that muttering?”
“Hey.”
“What’s up with that lame greeting?”
He was waiting at the crosswalk for the light when Kim In-hu suddenly popped up.
But Kim In-hu scowled as deeply as he could at Woo Ji-hyun’s greeting.
“Like the greeting of a guy who got dragged here against his will?”
“What’s with that negative word choice? Isn’t this a good opportunity for you too?”
“I’m not big on people my age.”
“You’re even more annoying today.”
Kim In-hu gave Woo Ji-hyun a look of utter disbelief, as if he were someone chugging kimchi soup when no one had even offered him rice cakes.
But Woo Ji-hyun stood his ground confidently.
He hadn’t wanted to come in the first place.
“How about we just head home now? Wouldn’t that be better for you?”
“What are you saying after coming all this way? Besides, you’re cooped up at home working too much. You’ve got to meet people and live a little. The character for ‘person’ was made with two strokes leaning on each other for a reason. You can’t survive alone.”
“I think I can. Im Sang-min too.”
“Shut up and follow me.”
Kim In-hu grabbed Woo Ji-hyun’s shoulder.
He figured if he just walked normally, they’d breeze past the meeting spot and end up somewhere else.
“Hey, let go. I’ll go on my own.”
“Opportunities like this don’t come often, so think about it.”
“We’ve all seen each other before anyway.”
“Have you seen them since middle school graduation?”
“Maybe bumped into a few around the neighborhood?”
Kim In-hu shook his head.
Then he headed inside the Jeokgi Gamjatang restaurant, their meeting place.
“You’re here?”
“You’re on time.”
“Hey.”
As they entered, the friends sitting in a long row greeted them.
Despite the meeting time still being a ways off, a good number had already arrived.
“Long time no see, everyone.”
“Yeah.”
“There are some unfamiliar faces, right? I invited everyone who could make it, regardless of class. But we all went to the same school, so no big deal?”
“True. We’ll recognize the ones we don’t know as we go.”
Park Hyun-seong, the former student council president, explained with a friendly smile, and Kim In-hu nodded.
That was exactly what he’d hoped for.
He wanted to see people he hadn’t crossed paths with in ages.
“Ji-hyun, it’s really been forever.”
“First time since graduation?”
“Pretty sure. I’ve heard bits and pieces through the grapevine.”
“About me?”
The prime seats in the corner were taken, so Woo Ji-hyun sat down with Kim In-hu in some empty spots, tilting his head slightly in surprise.
There was no reason for them to be interested in his news.
He and Park Hyun-seong had zero connection—first time seeing each other since graduation.
“Yeah, it just came up somehow. We’re all one degree of separation anyway.”
“Fair point.”
“But your face screams ‘dragged here against my will.’”
“Spot on.”
Woo Ji-hyun agreed right away.
He hadn’t come because he wanted to.
If Kim In-hu and Im Sang-min hadn’t nagged him, he wouldn’t have shown up, no matter how precious his time was.
“They say your personality’s changed a lot, and it checks out.”
“He’s always been like this; they just didn’t know. But why book such a huge place?”
“About thirty people coming, I think. Maybe more. Thirty-one confirmed with me so far.”
“Factoring in flakes, more like twenty.”
“Including latecomers, we’ll hit around thirty. Better too much space than too little, right?”
Woo Ji-hyun nodded.
Sprawling out comfortably beat huddling in a cramped spot.
‘The guys look mostly the same, but the girls have changed a ton. Power of makeup, I guess.’
Woo Ji-hyun scanned the others from his seat.
Kim In-hu was already chatting away excitedly, so he ignored him.
Instead, he observed his classmates like an outsider.
“What’re you staring at?”
“Making the time worthwhile, I suppose?”
“Shut up and take the drink.”
“Food’s not even out yet, and you ordered soju?”
Im Sang-min, who’d been sitting quietly in the corner, sidled over and offered a soju glass.
His glass already showed traces of being filled and emptied multiple times.
“Booze for awkward vibes.”
“No side dishes?”
“Water works fine.”
“You’re insane.”
Woo Ji-hyun said the three words dead seriously.
But Im Sang-min just grinned.
He’d expected that reaction.
“Alright, food’s here!”
Right then, the food arrived.
Gamjatang bowls hit each table at the perfect moment.
They’d ordered the largest size, with bones and potatoes piled like mountains in the pots.
“Thank you.”
“Enjoy!”
“Sure.”
Im Sang-min’s smile deepened at the timely arrival.
Now they could get the drinks flowing.
Woo Ji-hyun chuckled and finally raised his glass.
“I’d better head to another table. This spot’s scary.”
“Yeah, dodge when you can.”
“Catch you later.”
Park Hyun-seong laughed and stood, as Im Sang-min started pouring shots right away.
He had to keep an eye on the steady stream of arriving classmates anyway.
“More strangers than familiars?”
“Faces are kinda familiar though.”
“I don’t recognize any of the girls. Hard to believe we went to school with them.”
“Keuk keuk keuk!”
Woo Ji-hyun laughed silently, hitting too close to home.
Kim In-hu, mid-chat with some girls, glanced over curiously.
Woo Ji-hyun just waved him off.
Play your own game, don’t mind me.
“They’re here too.”
“Saturday, so anyone with time will show. Solos because they’re single, couples because they’re coupled?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Doesn’t add up.”
“Heh heh heh.”
Im Sang-min cocked his head, but Woo Ji-hyun didn’t explain.
Instead, he glanced at Lee Ye-seul, Jang Eun-ji, and Jo Se-jin entering the restaurant.
Connections really were tenacious, he thought.
“Hey, everyone!”
Then Park Han-saem appeared, pretty much the only married guy.
His face beamed, free from childcare duties.
“We might actually hit thirty.”
“Looks like it.”
Woo Ji-hyun nodded as seats filled up fast.
The momentum suggested they’d make it.
“Anyone catch your eye?”
“Not here for that. Honestly, I got dragged.”
“So what? You’re off tomorrow anyway. Think we don’t know your schedule?”
“You guys are scary.”
“Better to drink together than alone, right? Might even meet someone new.”
Im Sang-min nodded toward one side.
The girls’ table.
Most of whom he didn’t know.
“Sorry, my standards are high.”
“Time to lower them. We’re almost thirty—tomorrow we’ll be pushing three-zero.”
“I need someone I like, not someone who likes me. Otherwise, I turn into a bad guy.”
“You’re plenty bad already.”
Im Sang-min said it straight.
From an outsider’s view, Woo Ji-hyun was a greedy jerk.
“Still hard to measure up to you though.”
“What about me?”
“Can’t compare to Gu-ddo. Makes me reflect on my twenties, friend.”
“I’ve lived pretty tame.”
Im Sang-min shot back, puzzled.
He saw himself as average.
“You’d like to think so.”
“Feels oddly off-putting.”
“Still, I’m good with tonight. If In-hu’s happy, I can sit here quietly.”
“What’s with that out-of-left-field friendship squeeze?”
Im Sang-min let out a hollow laugh.
It was so sudden, like forced bromance.
“He’s enjoying it most of us three.”
“Can’t deny that. He wanted this most.”
“He missed people, so he should see them. Harder to do as we age. These gatherings don’t just happen.”
“Talking like an old fogey. You’re our age, dude.”
Im Sang-min clicked his tongue at Woo Ji-hyun’s younger-brother vibe.
Acting superior despite being peers was ridiculous.
“Mental age is different.”
“Here we go again. Drunk already?”
“As if.”
The two bickered on as numbers swelled.
Yoon Sung-hwan and Kim Seo-yong were among the arrivals.
Both made it on time.
“Long time, Ji-hyun.”
“Hm?”
Unlike the chattering groups, Woo Ji-hyun was quietly sipping with Im Sang-min when he sensed someone nearby and turned.
An unexpected face entered his view.
“What? Why the look?”
“You’re the one—what brings you?”
Lee Ye-seul looked a bit embarrassed at Woo Ji-hyun’s flat, joyless response.
Not super close like Im Sang-min or Kim In-hu, but they’d been classmates in middle school.
His coldness threw her off.
“What brings me? Just saying hi after ages.”
“Were we that close?”
“You’re coming off kinda harsh. We’re classmates.”
“Fine, sorry if I offended. Just didn’t expect you to approach first.”
Woo Ji-hyun apologized immediately.
No skin off his teeth.
Old him wouldn’t have bothered, but now? Empty words were free.
“Can’t I talk to you?”
“Told you—didn’t see it coming.”
“How about a penalty shot then?”
“Just me?”
Lee Ye-seul smiled and poured into her own glass too.
Then raised it for a cheers.
“Of course together. I know I came on strong. Mutual fault, kinda?”
“Make yourself comfy.”
Woo Ji-hyun glanced at Im Sang-min, blankly sitting there, after eyeing her unwavering smile.
Join the toast, his eyes said.
“Hm?”
“Don’t drink alone. Cheers with us. Not total strangers.”
“Right. Let’s drink. We’re not randos.”
Im Sang-min’s eyes went wide.
He eyed Lee Ye-seul suspiciously.
Woo Ji-hyun’s surprise matched his—her sudden friendliness was fishy.
The Lee Ye-seul he knew wasn’t one to cozy up to Woo Ji-hyun.