Changes in Relationships (3)
The first time Yoon Seoha learned about Lee Min-woo was through rumors.
There are stories that slip into your ears whether you want them to or not.
A handsome guy. And he'd even become a celebrity. Yet he still attended school like any ordinary student.
It was the kind of setup you'd only see in novels or dramas. So it wasn't strange that her friends buzzed with excitement during breaks, dropping his name in thrilled voices.
If a guy like that actually appeared right in front of you, it'd be enough to cause a fuss. Just about.
Even when she ended up in the same class as him in her second year, it was the same for Yoon Seoha. To her, Lee Min-woo was just one of the boys in class.
When she got paired with Lee Seol at the start of the semester and they grew a bit closer, even Lee Seol occasionally brought him up. Knowing they were friends, Yoon Seoha just nodded along without much thought.
Then, through some trivial trigger, she ended up talking to him a few times.
He was easy to talk to. She repeated that to herself inwardly a few times.
Even when she didn't elaborate, he understood right away. For some reason, he didn't seem intimidated by her, and he picked up exactly on what she wanted to say without her spelling it out. That put her at ease.
Maybe it was because he'd dealt with so many people, Yoon Seoha thought. A social skill she herself lacked.
Socializing had always felt difficult and tedious to her, so someone who handled it so effortlessly seemed a little impressive.
After that, she felt more at ease around him.
Most guys got all nervous just from her talking to them, and while she was used to that reaction, familiarity didn't make it any less uncomfortable.
Things got a little deeper with him... well, at least from her side. It was during the sports festival.
That day, she lost her cherished raccoon character keychain. To others, it might've just looked like a small, worn-out plush keyring, but it meant something more to Yoon Seoha.
That character was the protagonist from the only cartoon she'd faithfully watched as a kid without missing an episode.
A cheerful character who viewed the world with a quiet kindness others overlooked. But that kindness wasn't flashy or attention-grabbing.
He noticed even the tiniest loneliness everyone else ignored, approached without fanfare, and simply stayed by their side.
Yoon Seoha had loved that character since childhood.
The cartoon aired every evening at a set time. On days when she and her little brother were alone in the house, it somehow softened the heavy silence of the spacious home.
As she grew up, the things she liked changed one by one, but oddly, that character stuck with her. Even at an age when it might seem childish, she couldn't let go of that little raccoon.
That tiny keychain held echoes of those quiet childhood evenings and the faint warmth that had gotten her through them. More than anything, losing it felt like losing that fragile warmth she clung to.
So when she realized it was gone, her mood sank more than she'd expected.
She didn't want to make a scene. She had no desire to fuss over something as small as a keychain.
And she knew full well how childish it was to let something like that get her down.
Then Lee Min-woo found it for her. In itself, it might not have been a big deal.
The issue was that he knew what it meant. But he didn't seem particularly interested, and he didn't pry further.
He even acted like he'd vaguely picked up on the embarrassment she felt.
Just tactfully sparing her feelings. Lee Min-woo was good at that kind of consideration.
After that, he became someone she felt even more comfortable around. Being in the same space didn't bother her as much, and conversations felt less strained.
Maybe because she'd realized he accepted even the parts of her she found embarrassing without batting an eye.
Around then, something subtle happened between Lee Min-woo and Lee Seol. She didn't know the details, but Lee Seol's reactions gave her a good idea.
Lee Seol seemed to like him.
Lee Seol liked him, U Hana liked him, other girls liked him—everyone did.
It wasn't surprising. He was handsome, famous, and had a good personality. Anyone would like him.
Even she did. It was a natural fondness that grew from being comfortable around someone.
Of course, Lee Seol's and U Hana's feelings were probably far more intense.
Yoon Seoha didn't really understand romantic emotions. She'd never properly felt them. She'd never liked anyone special or had her heart tangled up over it.
It was a few days after she'd counseled Lee Seol on her worries. Yoon Seoha lost the keychain again. She hadn't even realized it at first.
"If no one's claiming it from our class, we'll toss it?"
A boy held up the small, worn keychain. She recognized it instantly.
She wasn't overreacting or anything, but with the whole class watching...
Buy a new one. Or wait till they throw it out and sneak it back later.
As those thoughts crossed her mind, Lee Min-woo suddenly shot up from his seat.
"That's mine."
His voice held no hesitation.
He claimed it as his own without missing a beat.
The class murmured that they never knew Lee Min-woo was into something like that.
He attended school like a normal student, but he was undeniably an actor. Didn't his image matter...?
A minor hobby like that could spark unnecessary talk.
He had to know that, yet he stepped up without a care.
Yoon Seoha clutched the keychain, frozen in place for a while.
...Why go that far? The thought hit her suddenly.
They were just acquaintances, right?
Well, not total strangers.
Same class, chatted a few times, somehow gotten to know each other a bit.
But that hardly made them close enough for him to stick his neck out like this.
She'd always vaguely known he was kind. Gentle to everyone, never making the atmosphere awkward. The type who kept a comfortable temperature in any group.
And he showed that kindness in ways that didn't call attention to themselves.
No showiness, no expectation of reward.
That's why it lingered in her mind. In that moment, Yoon Seoha suddenly thought of the cartoon from her childhood.
She gripped the keychain tightly in her hand.
The worn raccoon's face pressed slightly between her fingers.
The little trinket she'd only been relieved to recover now felt different, carrying a new meaning.
It wasn't just the keychain that had come back—it was something more.
The faint warmth at her fingertips seemed like it wouldn't fade easily.
With the management team leader stepping out briefly, I turned to Jin-su hyung, who was still there.
"Hyung, what is dating, anyway?"
"...".
Jin-su hyung's gaze drilled into my face. A look of utter disbelief.
I'd just been testing the waters, but starting off with that stare made me feel awkward. Was dating talk more sensitive than I'd thought?
"Why ask me? You got a girl?"
"...Pardon?"
"Haven't you dated way more than me? Or what, is this some philosophical 'What is true love?' crap?"
He spoke like it'd be weirder if I hadn't dated dozens of girls. I shook my head.
"Where would I find the time?"
"Dude, with your face, time doesn't matter—they won't leave you alone."
"It's not that bad."
"You'll say that forever. There's always those types. They go 'Nah, no way,' but everyone else is jealous as hell."
Jin-su hyung looked utterly convinced. Arguing would just bring more ironclad logic my way.
Still, his reaction wasn't outright skeptical. More like he assumed I would be dating.
I spun the paper cup idly and asked casually, like it was no big deal.
"Is it okay to date right now...?"
"Date?"
"Yeah."
He stared at me intently for a moment, then set his phone down entirely. Looked like he was finally going to give a proper answer.
"We don't make a huge fuss about that. Our agency's not the type to nitpick. The manual they gave me at first didn't mention it either. Though now... maybe be a bit cautious."
He leaned back against the sofa and continued.
"Like, no two-timing or getting drunk pics with girls floating around. Incidents... uh, sorry, bad word. Anyway, avoid that stuff."
"...".
"Stay within common sense. Date quietly, don't let it mess with work, and the company won't come after you."
He shrugged as he said it, light as passing conversation, like it was nothing.
For all my beating around the bush, the answer was simpler than expected.
They didn't care much.
Anyway, we hadn't gathered for dating advice.
There was a main topic.
Discussing my next project.
A few pre-selected materials lay on the table.
Three options.
One was a web drama script. Closest to the image I'd built so far. Matched my looks and vibe, continuing the Eighteen's Temperature feel. The lead in a web drama about an ugly guy transforming into a handsome one.
Another was an OTT drama role... heavier tone than the first.
A child actor for the protagonist. A character who'd had a kid as a minor and was essentially raising them alone while the sick mom couldn't. Not a massive role, but filming overlapped with the semester.
The last was a movie—a high school noir, I guess. Someone would love the genre. Schedule fit, lead casting offer, worth considering, but personally least appealing.