Alone in the Club Room (1)
The Travel club room, which I'd visited after such a long time, was exactly as I remembered it.
"Whoa... it can stay this consistently damp..."
I plopped down in a poorly ventilated corner, the whole place shrouded in muggy humidity, but that only made me like it more. You could sprawl out endlessly without a care, swing by anytime without watching the clock. The club's vibe was like that, and so were the seniors.
In a word, it's fucking comfortable, yeah?
There was this saying from some ancient senior I'd never met that had become tradition here: "Treat it like a comfy spot, not a convenience store." Think of it as an emotionally soothing space, not somewhere to exploit. The seniors seemed to make an effort to live by that. Even those who only showed up when they felt like crashing would roll up their sleeves to help if a junior was in a bind.
"Season 1's first dropout junior has returned, seniors." More precisely, I'd bolted because of that not-quite-love-triangle mess with the seniors, but now... well, it had become reality.
"So, what do you think? A bit dirty, right? I tidied up a little, but guys and girls are the same when it comes to being lazy. I tossed a few pieces of trash and then got too annoyed to do more."
I chuckled at Yu-mi's grumbling and replied, "Yeah, it's kinda dirty."
Thwack.
"Ow! Ah... it hurts!"
"You're one to talk, after ghosting the place? The club room's basically a constant party spot—we all clean up on the last day of the semester before disbanding. But you ignored this senior's calls right up to the end, didn't you?"
"Ugh..."
I had my excuses, but I didn't want to poke the bear any further.
"Honestly, though, it doesn't feel dirty dirty. Just cluttered? Papers scattered everywhere, souvenirs and displays from trips just casually hung up all over. Nothing else really jumps out."
"Stuff like that just piles up again no matter how much you sort it, so I gave up."
Yu-mi waved her hand lazily and flopped onto the sofa with a thud.
"Mm..."
Watching her, my heart started pounding as I fiddled with some display items on the table.
Ugh... now that we're alone, it's super awkward...
"What're you doing? Come sit over here."
"Huh? Oh... sure."
I glanced at Yu-mi cautiously and perched on the edge of the sofa, as far from her as possible. She smirked at me.
"The guy who ravaged my virginity like a beast is suddenly acting all shy?"
"Guh!!"
My heart nearly stopped at her straight ball.
"Ugh... so blunt..."
"After pounding away with that intensity yesterday, now you're acting like a blushing schoolgirl?"
This is... the world of reversed genders?
Yu-mi was still tough as nails, no holds barred. If she slung an arm around my shoulder right now, buried those jiggling tits against me, and went for my throat, it'd be vintage Yu-mi. I was getting pissed inside at how she was brushing off yesterday like no big deal, acting all casual.
You loved it too—begged for more this morning...
I tried not to show it, but I'd been mulling over where our relationship stood. I'd made it clear I still couldn't forget Yeon, and Yu-mi had accepted that, understood it. But rushing things with a girl who already had a boyfriend? That was a stretch. Especially since her boyfriend was a senior from the same school and club. Even if she was cool with it, the tangled web of connections made me hesitate to take that step. Still, I didn't want to let things fizzle out or pretend last night never happened. Call me selfish, but I wanted to hold onto whatever thread of this relationship I could.
Yu-mi watched me brood, chin propped on her hand, then suddenly shot to her feet like she'd had enough.
"You're killing me. At least manage your face."
"Huh...?"
Ignoring me, she strode to the door.
Click.
She locked it. I started flailing in panic.
"W-wait... why lock the door?"
Tap.
Pretending not to hear, she killed the lights next.
"...???"
She came back and plopped down right next to me—insisting on the spot I'd claimed in the corner.
"You really don't know?"
"......"
"Hey, if you're gonna play dumb, at least school your expression. Your face is screaming, 'I wanna do it again with Senior Yu-mi.' You wanna keep up the act that bad?"
"Gasp???"
I touched my face in flustered shock at her blunt call-out.
"You want me, but pushing the relationship forward feels iffy because of Senior Min-cheol, plus you're scared of rumors at school—right?"
"..........How?"
"Heh. But that's not all, is it? That neighbor noona you like—you're still hung up on her, so stepping up with another girl has you hesitating."
"........."
Spot on. No, it was eerie how she peeled back the feelings I'd buried and ignored.
I averted my eyes, embarrassed at being so exposed. Yu-mi cupped my face with both hands and turned it back to her.
"Whether you realize it or not, you keep the girls around you at arm's length, ignoring them. I don't know if it's because of that neighbor noona or just your nature, but sometimes you need to show your real feelings outright. My personality shrugs that stuff off, but some girls might get hurt by your wishy-washy attitude. Definitely."
"M-me? I don't have any girls..."
"You really think that?"
".........???"
"Whatever. Ignorance is bliss sometimes."
She released my face, slung an arm over my shoulder, and pulled me close.
"See? Even with the lights off, the hallway bulb keeps it kinda bright in here, right?"
"Yeah... moody, even."
The darkness cloaked the club room, but light filtering through the window cast a perfect glow on Yu-mi's face.
"This old-school club room? No key, no entry from outside."
"..??"
"And those keys got duplicated and handed out to three people. I've got one. Second's with Senior Min-cheol. Third's with club president Yun-hwan."
"Prime members only, huh."
"Yeah, but guys must be scatterbrains."
"Huh? Why?"
"The other day, those two guys hit me up saying they lost theirs and could I copy mine? I told 'em I'd hand it over at the new semester meeting—get it copied and give mine back."
"...."
"So right now, with the door locked? No one's getting in."
"Mmph?!!"
"More atmosphere now, right? A silent, dark room. A beam of light piercing the shadows. Two people cut off from the world."
Yu-mi smiled seductively at me.
Gulp... fuck. Stay still in this setup, and I'm either a eunuch or some four-legged beast.
What's the difference between a human male and a male animal? Human males wield their clubs year-round for pleasure. Male animals swing only in heat. Instinct for species preservation versus rational pursuit of orgasmic bliss.
Senior's laying out the board like this—a female senior, no less. Hold back, and I forfeit my humanity.
I swallowed dryly, cupped her face with trembling hands. Her red lips filled my vision, and I pressed mine to hers.
****
"So, what do you think of my March 14th plan?"
"Huh? Oh... but have you already talked to Seonghwan about it?"
"Of course. He said he's cool with it. It's been ages since the three of us booked a room and hung out."
"I'm fine either way, but we have late classes the next day—Seonghwan's got morning ones, though?"
"Oh, that. He'll handle it... said he'd head to school early."
"Hmm... do they even run cars from Incheon that early?"
Yun-su broke into a sweat at Ye-seul's persistent probing.
She's not letting this slide today. Something bugging her?
"Taxis exist, don't worry. I even offered to spot him some cash."
".........Fine, whatever."
At Ye-seul's suspicious tone, Yun-su scrambled to change the subject.
"It's been forever since the three of us crashed in a room. Should we prep some booze and snacks ahead? How about hitting the big mart this weekend—date vibe while shopping?"
Thankfully, Ye-seul laughed at his enthusiasm.
"Sounds fun. Nothing too heavy since we'll have to carry it—maybe grab easy snacks. Stuff good for munching on the move. Bring Seonghwan?"
"Seonghwan? Eh... he's been doing his own thing lately. And let's make the weekend just us two. Movie, dinner before shopping. He seems kinda burdened being the third wheel anyway."
Ye-seul's eyes narrowed, her face stiffening.
"Burdened...?"
Missing it, Yun-su kept going.
"Obviously. I'd feel awkward too. No matter how close, there's a gap between boyfriend and friend. Watching us flirt up close? Torture. Not that we're over-the-top or anything."
"........."
With Ye-seul silent, Yun-su took it as approval, grinned wide, and hugged her shoulders.
"But seriously, the day I planned? Gonna be a blast. Stock up on drinks... oh, and pack a swimsuit, Ye-seul. Nothing too sexy—Seonghwan'll be there. Indoor pool's perfect for three. Let's get wrecked for once. You never let loose, so drop it all that day."
".......Wrecked?"
"Yeah, like those party room nights. And that rash guard from our Yangyang trip? Looked so prim. Haha, the white one that matched perfectly—full coverage, zero skin. That'd be perfect. Haha."
"....Prim?"
Her quiet retort drowned in his booming laugh.
Was she prim? Unwavering? Questions that had haunted Ye-seul since school days.
"Doll-like pretty, never worries her parents, and top of the class too."
The adults' whispers always made her smile.
Stay quiet, be good, never crack, know how to doll up...
Ye-seul polished herself meticulously. Studied harder than anyone, ironed every wrinkle, washed even when sleep-deprived, slathered on creams—never a sign of fatigue outside. Through middle and high school, she felt herself turning into a doll.
Boring. Tiring.
Last night, the night before—she solved problems, tracked sleep, showered on schedule, snacked precisely. School commute included.
Two minutes...
Korea's bus system was top-tier; Ye-seul wasted no time. She scanned the stop: elders, pregnant women, disabled? No need to yield today. Board, sit.
Good...
Exhausted from late-night studying, but the compulsion to check others lingered. She leaned against the corner to rest.
"Heh heh heh. Come at me."
"..?"
Until she saw the short-haired guy in front shaking his phone, giggling.
Blind to stares, mashing buttons wildly—classic gamer lost in the zone.
...Fun?
He muttered nonstop, oblivious.
"I'm the berserker. No backsies. All in."
Berserker...? Backsies...?
His solo hype drew Ye-seul in oddly. Next stop...
"Crap? Already? Fucked."
He'd missed his stop, frantically hitting the bell, fidgeting. She stole glances at his profile. He bolted off toward the overpass. For the first time on her commute, Ye-seul smiled faintly.