FreshmanButtChamp (2) “Gulp”
Seonghwan's bloodshot eyes had been glued to the gym gallery for nearly an hour already.
It's definitely her. No doubt about it. I thought that flower bed looked familiar—turns out it's the little one at our school's rest area.
Korea University had rest areas scattered all over. The school had set them aside so students from each department could take a breather nearby, sit on the grass or benches, and shake off some stress. The flower bed in the photo was at a somewhat secluded spot near the Apple Department building where Seonghwan belonged.
He'd lounged on those benches now and then during his freshman year. Sometimes chatting with Yesul, sometimes munching snacks. He vaguely remembered following her finger a few times since she was into flowers, but what stuck with him more was the statue of the founding president. Erected in the '60s amid a boom of zeal for education, the man had championed Hangul over Hanja to spread its value, even personally curating textbooks. To honor him, they'd sculpted him alongside the words "Korea University" broken into consonants and vowels.
It wasn't just the statue's cool design that made it memorable. No, it was the endless clashes over its placement between the Public Administration Department and the Korean Language and Literature Department. Why put Korea University's super pro-Hangul founding president's statue in front of the Social Sciences building instead of Literature Hall? And their childish retort: If that's the logic, shouldn't the admin office be in front of Public Admin, not next to the Humanities building? Seonghwan couldn't help but pay attention amid all that embarrassing drama.
His eyes ached from staring through the photo, so he lifted his head and blankly stared at the wall. A phrase flashed through his mind.
I don't like other people staring.
Especially guys' gazes. Yuri's voice from class still rang clear in his ears, the way she'd whispered while sitting shoulder-to-shoulder: "What? She hates guys staring but posts selfies like that right in front of school?"
Sensing some backstory, Seonghwan had stubbornly stayed put instead of switching seats. Recalling that now, he kicked his desk.
Bang!
"Ow, fuck."
Rubbing his knee, Seonghwan pictured Yuri's haughty face from class that day.
They say women have two faces... but isn't this straight-up multiple personality disorder?
Tap tap.
Seonghwan drummed his fingers on his phone, lost in thought.
Not like I'm gonna blackmail her with this pic or anything... Heh. Maybe just tease her with a warning for fun?
He fired up his phone again and searched the gallery.
Gulp. Damn, Min Yu-ri's body is this good? I knew she had some chest, but it's pretty perky. C-cup at least? Nah, with that tiny waist, maybe pushing D? Or not... Kinda ambiguous.
Women's busts are relative. A fat girl's rack and a slim girl's slight swell might both be labeled the same cup size. With his hand trembling slightly from nerves, Seonghwan messaged the username FreshmanButtChamp.
KarmaStackedPlumpGut has sent a DM to FreshmanButtChamp
Heh. Bet she'll panic and delete the pics in a frenzy.
It was harmless teasing—easy to brush off as a guess. But Min Yu-ri, so sensitive to stares, might freak out enough.
As Seonghwan grinned, imagining the fun, something popped up.
Huh?
FreshmanButtChamp has sent a DM to KarmaStackedPlumpGut
His inbox lit up.
Always online? Or just checking DMs 'cause they pile up around now?
It was just playful, not expecting a reply. And she'd probably gotten similar messages already. Seonghwan quickly checked FreshmanButtChamp's response.
Holy shit...
Short, but dripping with attitude.
Confirms it. That sass in such a brief text? Only you.
Staring at the message, Seonghwan pondered.
Let it slide? Or poke more fun? She could use some schooling in manners.
He tapped his phone, then typed decisively.
Heh heh. Time to freak her out.
KarmaStackedPlumpGut has sent a DM to FreshmanButtChamp
Hahaha! She's gotta be shitting bricks now. Sweating bullets, shaking... I didn't say Korea U, but dropping H Uni as a hint? She'll think I've sniffed her out. Uhahaha!
Seonghwan cackled, picturing Min Yu-ri's panic.
Even if she deletes all her old pics over this, no biggie. I've already downloaded 'em. Not like I'm some petty creep blackmailing her. Hell, she should thank me. If these spread nationwide and some sharp-eyed guy like me tracks her down, disaster. I'm giving her a polite heads-up. Heh heh.
Then his inbox lit up.
Heh. Took longer this time. Definitely rattled. Apology and plea for silence incoming?
Seonghwan casually clicked the message. It was longer than before.
Bang!
Seonghwan kicked the desk again.
This bitch?
His hands shook with rage as he hammered out a furious reply.
Can't read the room? Did you cheat into Korea U? I've dropped this many hints and you still pull this shit?
This time, he attached the photo too.
KarmaStackedPlumpGut has sent a DM to FreshmanButtChamp
Huuuu. Even bolded Social Sciences for emphasis. Still not get it?
This was a straight-up "I know who you are" warning. He'd sent the photo in anger, but stuck to the original intent without extra threats.
Fuck, I gotta job hunt too, and here I am wasting energy on this crap.
FreshmanButtChamp has sent a DM to KarmaStackedPlumpGut
It's here!
Seonghwan hurriedly clicked the glowing inbox. Inside: one photo and a short sentence.
The photo showed a woman in short legging shorts and a thin jacket, blatantly exposing her shoulder line. She wore a cap, but long, wet hair cascaded out, glistening. Her pale skin gleamed strikingly. Snapped in an apartment complex park at night, part of a playground peeked in the background. Mosaic over her face, she posed holding something for a selfie.
Huh? What's she holding? Blurry... Oh shit?
'Korea University Student ID Card'
Cough?!?!
The woman had sent a pic holding up her student ID. The name and student number were edited out thoroughly, but "Korea University" and its emblem were left clear. Plus...
Short but punchy. Brazen past bold.
Seonghwan was speechless.
You... who the hell are you?
***
Yu-ri's message had twisted Seonghwan's soul.
"Seonghwan, why are your dark circles so bad?"
"...Ah... yeah. Didn't sleep last night."
His mom watched him pitifully, placing side dishes in front of him with a sigh.
"Stressed from yesterday? Don't sweat it too much. If you need cash urgently living on your own, your dad and I can discuss and slip you some now and then under other pretexts."
"Ahem... ahem ahem."
His dad cleared his throat disapprovingly, but Seonghwan looked like hell—anyone could see he'd pulled an all-nighter—so he didn't push back.
Seonghwan gave a wry smile at his mom's tender words.
Not that, Mom. I was up all night ogling a classmate's body.
FreshmanButtChamp was confirmed as Min Yu-ri. That alone stirred excitement rivaling when Jo Yu-mi-senior stripped naked in the club room and smiled seductively.
Unable to resist, he'd devoured all of FreshmanButtChamp's archived pics again last night.
Last year when I heard Min Yu-ri got scouted by an agency, I felt nothing...
But learning she was a top wannabe in the gym gallery ignited an unknown thrill surging through him. And as far as Seonghwan could tell, no one else knew FreshmanButtChamp's true identity yet. That secret alone was stimulation enough.
The son who got chewed out for drinking with a girl and crashing over... spent the whole next night admiring her body. What should I do, Mom?
"Oh, right—Ihyeon said she'll wait outside till 8 to go together. Hurry up and get ready."
His mom's words snapped him from his daze.
"Ihyeon? Tell her to go ahead..."
He still remembered his brother's scolding on the way home from school yesterday. Hell, it might haunt him all semester. And honestly, tagging along with Ihyeon offered no real upside.
That's why he'd ignored her KakaoTalk from last night unread. Guess she'd gone straight to Mom.
His mom gently scolded him.
"Your brother's graduating soon. Living next door, same school—what's there to avoid? You two go way back; when you were kids, Ihyeon always stuck to you. Think of yourself as the big bro and look out for her as much as you can."
"Yeah..."
One side says stay away, the other says stick close and take care. Seonghwan's head throbbed.
***
"Told you to be out by 8, and you crawl out at 8:10. Late every goddamn time—is that your hobby?"
Ihyeon eyed the dawdling Seonghwan with folded arms and pity.
"You damn brat. You're too early. How many times I gotta say it? Leave 40 minutes early and you arrive spot-on. 5 min walk to the stop. Bus wait and ride: 20 min. To the building: max 15."
"That precise? Arrive all sweaty and it'll be too hot to study."
"Sigh..."
Irritated by Ihyeon's morning nagging, Seonghwan shook his head wearily and trudged toward the bus stop. She chased after, prodding relentlessly.
"Heard you crashed out the night before last? Got an earful from your dad? Who were you with?"
"Sigh... where'd you hear that?"
"Overheard Minhwan oppa talking to Yeon unnie on the phone."
"Bro's blabbing too. Whatever. So you know who I was out with?"
"Some senior girl? Who?"
"You'd know her, newbie? A senior's name ring any bells?"
"Hmph. I'll figure it out eventually at school anyway—what's it matter?"
Seonghwan shot an exhausted look at Ihyeon, who was extra clingy and nosy today. Sleep-deprived and drained, he lacked the energy to parry.
Finally relenting, he muttered, "Jo Yu-mi, PE Ed '21. Your college of ed senior. Greet her properly if you cross paths."
Ihyeon froze at his answer.
"Jo... Yu-mi...? PE Ed?"
"Huh? You know her?"
"..."
As Seonghwan watched her deep in thought, he pointed at the approaching bus.
"What're you doing? Wallet out. Bus is here."
"Hm..."
Urging the lost-in-thought Ihyeon, Seonghwan boarded first.