Chapter 5
"Alright, this is Literature Hall. Most humanities majors have their major classes here. For general electives... uh... Understanding Literature? If you pick that, you'll end up in this building. And foreign language electives except conversation classes are probably here too... And over there... Hey, you listening?"
"I'm listening. I'm memorizing it myself."
Before her first class started, Seonghwan had been giving Lee Hyun a rough rundown of the buildings around her lecture hall. But he couldn't stand her arms-crossed, half-assed listening act that screamed annoyance. They weren't even blood-related, so he wasn't about to tolerate her full-on puberty-mode bullshit like slamming the door and declaring 'I'll figure it out myself.'
"Hey. You know where your department building is?"
"How the hell would I know that?"
"Follow me. I'll show you your department building. Most departments except a few are in Building 1, so it's not hard to find."
"Ah, fuck. Can't you just explain each one as we go up?"
"You got time to kill? First class is at 9:30, right? Just find your department after class and plant yourself there. And since I couldn't make the OT, tell them you want an intro to the university. They'll take you out for food first, okay?"
"Okay my ass. What are you gonna do? Wipe your mouth after mooching off my sister? That money she gave you was supposed to buy me food."
"That was pocket money for me... Ugh, fuck it. Fine, I'll cover half."
"Am I some beggar?"
"What the hell do you want from me?!"
Seonghwan swallowed his rising frustration. For some reason, ever since they got off the bus, Lee Hyun's face had been etched with all sorts of complaints. Forget complaints—even after he'd chased her across this massive campus to give her a university tour, she was standing there with her arms crossed in that arrogant slouch, barely paying attention. And now, one by one, people's eyes were turning toward Seonghwan and Lee Hyun.
First day of the new semester—a senior bickering with what looked like a way-younger freshman. It was obvious how that looked.
Agh... my peaceful college life...
Composing himself, Seonghwan spoke to her in a calm voice, trying to persuade her.
"Hey, Lee Hyun, listen up. I'm dumb as shit—took me three tries to get in, no choices left, so I spent my freshman year as a total loner. You think I could've hit on girls two years younger than me at my age? But you're smart, and your face is... well, fine. Just do well in your department, and the seniors will take care of you, got it? You don't wanna be a loner, right?"
Lee Hyun's face was still sulky, but as Seonghwan calmly shared his honest feelings, she stopped backtalking and just listened quietly.
"I don't know why you're in a funk, but I'm swamped too, so cut me some slack and we'll each go our way. I'll buy you something tasty for dinner. Get lunch from your department seniors—that's how social life works."
"Hmph. What about you, oppa? Eating with those friends from earlier?"
Her sudden switch to calling him "oppa" made Seonghwan think his calm persuasion was finally sinking in.
"Hey, back in my freshman year, Yun-su was in the army, so I could eat and hang with Ye-seul. You think I'd wanna squeeze between two couples like a third wheel? Gives me indigestion."
"Aigoo, what 'notice'..."
"Here we go again. I'm heading to the library to snag a seat. Everyone at this damn school is too smart—slacken off even a bit and your grades tank. Second years gotta study now, so you enjoy college life, Lee Hyun. Got it? I'm off. Text me when your classes end. If you're cool with it, we can head home together."
"..........Okay."
Checking her finally agreeable expression, Seonghwan turned away in a good mood. But he had to whip his head back at her call.
"But... I... suck at department life."
"What?"
"I... don't make friends easily either."
"........."
Her sudden confession shocked Seonghwan a bit. It didn't make sense that a pretty girl like her struggled to make friends, but on the other hand, he could imagine how much mental weight it took for someone as prideful as Lee Hyun to admit that to him. It was the exact worry he'd had starting college.
From a young age, Lee Hyun had hung out with Lee Yeon, Seonghwan, and Kim Minhwan without envy of other kids—playgrounds, bikes, splash pads, comic shops, etc. In early childhood and elementary years, the age gap didn't matter. Their interests and play overlapped perfectly.
But as the older ones aged—one year, two years ahead—their cage grew loose. They outgrew the kid-only world of house play; the oppa and unnie started drifting from Lee Hyun.
Before she knew it, Lee Hyun was trapped in the past, the only one still acting spoiled. Her body matured, but without her elders to dote on her, she was half-helpless. Loneliness started shadowing her heart.
Who noticed first? Seonghwan, alienated by his family and crushed by inferiority around others, spotted the shadow on her face—similar yet different from his own.
No joy at finding a kindred spirit. Just pity and guilt. Endless affection for the little sister he'd failed to notice sooner. The bird that had briefly escaped the cage returned to embrace the fledgling.
Seonghwan stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He ignored the stares. Right now, it was all about Lee Hyun.
"Lee Hyun, I've told you before—you're really pretty. I always said I'd brag about a sister like you everywhere if I had one. My brother and your unnie—they're great, awesome people, but you're not lesser. Why keep tying yourself down?"
Her eyes wavered, staring silently at Seonghwan. Before tears could well up, he rushed on.
"I've told you a million times—I'm not pitying you 'cause you're lacking. I can't hold your hand and play forever, so go make some friends. I'll always be here, but you can move forward. If it gets too tough, look back then. Got it? Just this once. Trust oppa once."
Lee Hyun bit her lip hard, suppressing the surging emotions. Feeling Seonghwan's hand on her shoulder, she bowed her head, shoulders trembling briefly, then looked up steadily. Sunlight reflected in her eyes, sparkling bright.
"Go in. I'll find the lecture halls myself, so pick up when I text later. Tch, you take the money and ditch me to figure it out solo."
"Pfft. You're not a total airhead. Walking along, someone goes 'Huh? Pretty kid just passed'—that's you. No need to text."
"Heng. I'm almost 170cm now? If I'm a kid, half the women in Korea belong in a kids' cafe."
Seonghwan chuckled. He loved her out-of-nowhere snappy confidence. He'd gladly take a kick to the shin a few times if it brought that out.
Smoothly, almost unconsciously, his hand rose to her head, stroking it gently like combing hair. She flinched but didn't stop him.
A few seconds later, Seonghwan pulled away and turned.
"I'm off. Text if you wanna go home together later."
Silently, she watched his back through the passing crowd until it vanished.
****
Korea University's Library 1 was right next to the club building. In this vast campus, the library—the biggest building—was beside the smallest, the club building. It meant little architecturally, but everything to students.
Clubs, meant for healthy hobbies and social experience, had naturally become rest spots for study-weary students. Cram at the library, flop in the club room next door.
Impossible for underclassmen, ironically boosting upperclassmen's club attendance. Juniors/seniors ditch hobbies for job prep and studies, leaving clubs to freshmen—but not at Korea University.
Seonghwan had unintentionally dipped into club life last year. Travel Club sounded like a den of quack eccentrics, but it meant traveling Korea's landscapes, writing reviews to promote beautiful spots—a club with real history.
Fuck. I ignored club activity texts how many times, but the library's right next to the club building. Second library's a bitch to get to... and seats are scarce now anyway.
For some, the library's location was a godsend. Not for Seonghwan right now.
He stealthily scanned for eyes, pulled out his student ID, and tapped the library entrance.
Ooh, good. Library's huge—barely any chance of running into someone?
Thud.
Suddenly, someone hooked his arm around Seonghwan's shoulder from behind, choking his neck.
"Ack? Gack gack khhk."
"Yo, Kim Seonghwan, it's been fucking forever?"
Seonghwan barely blocked the muscled arm, peering at the guy.
"Urk. Wh-who...? Yu-mi... sunbae?"
"Watch that tongue slipping casual."
The rough choke and casual profanity screamed male senior, but the gender was proven by the massive size pressing his elbow.
Squish.
Huh? Just now?
The huge softness on his right elbow made Seonghwan dizzy.
Bigger... even bigger?
He shuddered, recalling the first accidental brush with this sunbae's chest size.
Last year's Seonghwan had leaned on Ye-seul for a precarious college tightrope. Different department, different year—Ye-seul was a second-year on leave, technically two years his senior.
When she started neglecting her department for him, Seonghwan knew he needed this tightrope act. A bold step to be the protagonist.
My change starts in the club room.
Entering the club building, his vision spun.
Computer club? I'm a total noob... Mountaineering? My heart... What's that? Samul nori? I can't even play triangle...
That day: two steps forward, one back—self-consolation as he slipped out quietly.
Checking uni boards for club intros, retrying: Fuck, why so many girls.
No courage to open doors, peeking through gaps as students passed, then chickening out.
Days... weeks later.
What's this? Tucked in a corner. Travel Club? Car stunts? Pass.
As he turned, an arm looped his neck from behind, tripping him.
"Hey, what're you doing here? Joining our club?"
The arm tightened.
"Guhk. Ck ck ck. Wh-who?"
Over his shoulder: neat mid-length hair, thick brows, heavy double eyelids. Slightly droopy eyes, half-lidded like drunk, exuding cynical beauty.
"Me? Club vice president, class of '21, Jo Yu-mi. But should I be the one introducing first?"