Changes in Relationships (2)
The ringtone didn't drag on for long before the call connected.
"Yeah, noona."
"What's up with the personal call?"
Her voice came through the phone, oddly childlike yet soft.
"Aren't you busy, noona? You never message first."
"I try to avoid one-sided love."
"Everyone knows you're slammed jumping straight into your next project. Why play coy?"
"Why'd you get so sly? My boyfriend wasn't like this."
"Your boyfriend was even slyer from the start. And now he's gone."
"Whoa... I'm disappointed. How can you say that?"
Our conversations always flowed like this.
I wiped the smile off my face and cut to the chase. Chit-chat with her dragged on forever, burying the point under weird tangents.
"Anyway, I wanted an intro. One of my friends is itching to try influencing..."
"You finally going pro with management? Hooked on the perks now? Can't quit once you start? Addicted?"
I rubbed my brow.
"Listen. It's my friend."
Guess I wasn't the only one tuning out.
"Friend? For real?"
"Yeah."
"I know someone... but she's a girl. Different from guys."
"My friend's a girl too."
"Oh my oh my."
"...You must be doing older roles lately."
"What? Anyway, girlfriend?"
"No, not a girlfriend... Anyway, she needs help. Can you connect us?"
"If you're asking like this, it's obvious. Gotta vet her as your ex."
I half-rose from the sofa backrest, then flopped back down.
She never deviated an inch from expectations.
"Just the intro?"
"Why?"
"You say weird stuff."
"Sigh... Can't say no if you wanna protect her. Vetting every girl would kill my schedule anyway."
"...Do you really think I'm Kim Yul?"
"Reality might be even more..."
"Anyway, thanks."
"Ignoring me on purpose."
As we wrapped up, she piped up out of nowhere.
"Oh right. Our study group—time to meet up?"
"Study group? ...Oh."
It hit me late. She'd been grilling me on stuff a lot, so I'd loosely dubbed it a "study group."
Just the two of us: her and me.
And she clocked that I'd totally forgotten.
"...You're a bad guy. Break up."
"We already did. Ex-girlfriend, remember?"
"Still dating in the drama. Cold."
Utterly invincible. Logic couldn't beat illogic.
"Yeah... yeah yeah. Ah, midterms then... yeah. See you then."
I mumbled agreements and hung up.
On the walk to school with U Hana—now part of my routine—I skimmed the call highlights for her.
Who the intro was to, how it'd link up.
U Hana nodded faintly a few times as I spoke.
I capped it off.
"After exams?"
"You really wanna meet her face-to-face?"
"Better that way. Easier to get advice in person."
"Hm..."
She pondered, then asked curiously.
"But is there actually a technique to that stuff?"
"Probably."
I wasn't sure, but it had to exist.
One thing was certain: she was model material already.
Objectively, and she'd succeeded at it before.
As I thought that, U Hana spoke quietly.
"...Thanks. Didn't expect you to go this far."
"No big deal."
We chatted casually on morning walks like this. Post-business, it shifted to midterms naturally.
She knew I crammed during acting breaks.
"Glued to that workbook every break."
"This time I'm barely scraping by."
"I should too..."
She gave an awkward smile.
"You've helped every time. Not this round. I'll prove it solo."
I had zero bandwidth during exams—no more hand-holding. She knew that.
Drawing the line to ease my burden, maybe.
"Cafe shifts too?"
"...How'd you manage first year?"
"Weekends only."
She did weekdays too, so fair question.
"You're grinding acting and all... I'll try hard."
Yoon Seo-ha's notes transcribed, next-project pitches skimmed—it was study time.
Nothing intense: review spare moments, workbooks.
Even transcribed, not all sank in.
Second-year stuff felt vaguely familiar yet fuzzy.
Yoon Seo-ha helped then.
Lucky pairing.
Simple trigger: I scowled at a problem forever; she noticed, spoke up.
"Want help?"
"Huh?"
I looked up; she averted eyes slightly.
"...Forget if it's nosy."
Classic Yoon Seo-ha: offers, then steps back. Pre-calculates discomfort.
I shook my head.
"Nah, help me."
No reason to refuse.
I agreed quick; she scooted her chair closer.
What cologne? Smells calm.
Before she started, a stray thought.
"You... CSAT or early admission?"
Eyes on workbook, curt.
"Early."
Made sense—active school life fit early apps.
Short reply, but top uni grad, I recalled.
Then, front door banged open; someone strode in. Eyes flicked over.
Our class guy, arm raised. Dangling from his hand: small, fluffy something.
Fluffy raccoon character keychain.
He scanned the room.
"Owner? Found it by the door. Seems like ours."
Someone piped up.
"Isn't that from that kids' cartoon? My cousin watched it."
Instant cluster. Exam vibes: trivial stuff drew crowds.
"Who's still toting that? Come claim it. Gonna roast you."
"Who're you?"
"Don't front."
"Boo."
Less malice, more boredom-busting jabs.
...Isn't that Yoon Seo-ha's?
Drops it a lot.
I glanced sideways, muttering internally.
She stared at the keychain too.
Stoic as ever, but fixed gaze confirmed it.
No raised hand, no claim.
...Freaking out? Hates showing it.
Last time I found it, less hiding—but maybe exception. Not desperate to conceal, not flaunt either.
Guy up front:
"Not ours? Trash it?"
I stood without overthinking.
"Mine."
"...Pardon?"
I stepped forward, hand up; he blinked, stunned.
Rowdy kids switched gears fast.
"That roast guy, step up. Try Min-woo."
"Kim In-soo zipped it."
"Wasn't me?"
"Yeah, you."
I stopped, extended hand.
He handed it over easy.
"Thanks. Hunting for it."
"Ah... really yours?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Uh... nothing."
Awkward laugh ended it.
Jabs flew.
"Min-woo's tastes wild."
"You're outdated."
"Just called it babyish..."
"Lemme see. Trending?"
"Bull."
"Follow the trend."
Back to seat with keychain.
Fluffy raccoon. Up close, matched before: worn grip, faded ring. Frequent drops checked out.
New one better? Nah, she knew. Reason exists. Held off handing it; too obvious now.
"What were we on?"
Casual ask; silence.
Glanced: she looked back. Eyes met briefly, dropped.
Voice low.
"Nosy? Givin' it now."
She shook head tiny, delayed.
Don't, now.
I nodded, pocketed it.
Wait till hype dies. Desk mates: chances galore.
(Illust by Lee Da-kyung)
