The Reason I Fled the Club Room (2)

After the club trip, I started visiting the club room even more often. Sharing a room and sleeping together had built a sense of camaraderie beyond mere closeness, and now I could hang out without any awkwardness with the seniors and peers who were the same age as me or younger. Just two months ago, going to school had felt so lonely it terrified me, but now I was even looking forward to the moment I stepped onto campus.

But the heavens didn't seem to approve of my positive change. One day, right before lunch, I'd made plans to eat with Yesul for the first time in ages and stopped in front of the club room to drop off my bag. That's when I froze in place.

"I told you to keep your distance, didn't I? It pisses me off every time I see you two together."

This voice... It's Mincheol sunbae?

I crept closer to the club room door and pressed my ear against it, listening intently.

"Do I have to take interference from a senior like you?"

That's... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yumi sunbae?

"Just a senior? Aren't I your boyfriend? You've been calling me 'oppa' all this time, so why the sudden switch back to 'sunbae'?"

"Now you're nitpicking my word choice? I told you before—I use 'sunbae' in the club, and you agreed."

"Exactly. Things were fine until that bastard showed up, and now you're changing how you call me. And a girl who tries so hard to separate public and private life is hugging that guy in front of everyone? You think I didn't see it? The other club members are whispering about it too."

I instinctively knew it was about me the moment she mentioned hugging. Chills ran down my arms as I hugged myself, holding my breath even tighter, waiting for what came next.

"......I admit I got a bit overzealous because I didn't want anyone feeling left out in the club room. But is that worth gossiping about?"

"Overzealous? Admit? And that's the end of it? Every time I try to get close, you freak out, and now you're just admitting it like that?"

"Are you saying I have personal feelings for him? And isn't our skinship the issue? You're the one obsessing too much. Isn't that why I freak out?"

"Haha, now you're smoothly shifting the blame to me."

"Sunbae!!!"

"Fuck, that damn 'sunbae, sunbae.' Ugh... Fine. I'm really gonna fucking kill that bastard..."

"What did you say?!!"

That was enough. Mincheol sunbae's rage hit me like a wave. I bolted out of the club building in a panic.

Gasping for air...

I ignored the constant calls from Yesul and kept running until I was outside the university gates, my vision blurring as the main entrance faded into the distance. I panted heavily.

I hadn't seen much ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of Mincheol sunbae, but every time I did, I was impressed—he reminded me of my brother. His tanned skin, rugged features, tall stature, broad shoulders. His warm, hearty laugh that didn't care who was around exuded unshakeable confidence. He always stood tall, facing straight ahead, the epitome of a bold, manly guy.

I'd vaguely imagined how he'd look next to my brother Minhwan, a senior at Korea University Economics, and who might be more popular. He and Yumi seemed like a perfect match.

Having entered as a late freshman the same year as his two younger sisters, I'd been awkwardly peeking into the club until the second semester. Yumi must have pitied me. I definitely felt her treating me special, but what woman would just dive in and hug a guy she likes from the start? Shouldn't she approach shyly, slowly? Yumi had been like that with me right away, so it had to be pity for the pitiful older freshman newbie, not personal interest.

Knowing that, overhearing their argument made me feel like I'd wedged myself between them. I felt sorry about it.

But Mincheol's last words stuck with me: I'm really gonna fucking kill that bastard. It was a warning. Stay away from the club room and Yumi. I decided to heed it.

"Alright, everyone pick what you want. If you want tteokbokki or snacks, go to Jaeho from the class of '23 over there. For regular cafeteria food or one-dish meals, come to me."

Park In-ho, the class rep for the year of '21 in the Education Department at Korea University's College of Education, glanced back at the freshmen trailing them. His eyes lingered especially on one girl.

She had her long hair neatly pulled back into a ponytail—not easy for just anyone to pull off. Her slim face, delicate features, and fair skin made her a stunning beauty who shone with charm. She was prettier than any girl he'd seen in high school or before enlisting, incomparable to other female students. After light greetings with the freshmen, his classmates were buzzing excitedly behind him, whispering that an idol had joined them.

In-ho had a girlfriend before enlisting who waited for his discharge, but seeing a girl like this made him think he could easily switch.

Whoa... she's seriously gorgeous. I was disappointed with the freshmen at orientation, but I never dreamed a beauty like her would skip it and head straight to the department. Wait, she's not going to the snack corner, is she?

After scanning the menu briefly, she hesitated at the one-dish section, then looked around the cafeteria.

What? Changing her mind? Nooo, come on.

But soon enough, she joined the line behind the group at the one-dish counter.

Yes! Now, naturally slide next to her...

As the freshmen picked their meals and formed lines in small groups, In-ho exchanged glances with a classmate nearby and collected meal tickets.

"Hey, I'm getting the one-dish. You take the others to the serving area."

"What? I want one-dish too. You take them somewhere else."

"Dude, do you know today's one-dish? It's curry rice. Last time we ate together, you said you didn't like it."

"That was then. I said I didn't like it, not that I hated it."

A girl watching the seniors' quiet bickering from afar whispered to Lee Hyun.

"Why are those seniors like that? Short on cash or something?"

"......Should we just buy with our own money?"

Hyun's first class had ended earlier than expected, so she'd wandered the buildings, glued to her phone. She considered calling Seonghwan but held back. As she searched for the department building, a group text came from the department.

Feeling even more burdened, she headed to the lounge and ended up greeting the girl next to her first. The girl had a friendly personality and quickly started chattering away during Hyun's background check, and before long, Hyun was responding and they'd become friends. Coincidentally, this girl had also skipped orientation for personal reasons, so they stuck together even more.

After late-arriving upperclassmen exchanged light greetings, they headed to the cafeteria for lunch. Seeing curry rice among the one-dish options, Hyun paused thoughtfully.

Curry rice... Seonghwan oppa likes it. Maybe he knew the menu and came early?

Hyun's mom always cooked in massive batches that lasted days. Even for pork cutlets, she'd fry over 50 at once. Curry was one of the best for busy dual-income days, easy for the kids to reheat. She'd always drag neighbor Seonghwan over to eat with them. As kids, they'd sit around the table—Yeon unnie, Hyun, and Seonghwan—eating curry rice often.

Whoa, Auntie’s curry rice is the best. Seonghwan would always thumbs-up Yeon unnie. Even as a kid, he loved spicy food, sprinkling chili powder and devouring bowl after bowl.

It was just store-bought sauce with pork and veggies—no special secret—so why did he love it so much? Hyun couldn't understand, but when she tried making it herself, she realized replicating Mom's taste, from veggie sizes to water ratio, wasn't easy.

Suddenly thinking of Seonghwan, she scanned around futilely but ended up in the one-dish line with her new sole college friend, Jeong Ji-a.

After the seniors bickered briefly, the guy who'd introduced himself as class rep led them to the counter. Hyun got her curry rice and headed to the condiments, sprinkling on chili powder.

"Huh? You put chili powder on curry rice?"

Ji-a, following behind, exclaimed in surprise. Embarrassed by her absentminded habit, Hyun quickly made an excuse.

"Ah.... It's too greasy without it. It's just a habit now."

"True, it can be greasy plain. I load up on kimchi. Hehe."

As they approached the table where Hyun and Ji-a sat, the class rep stood waiting and guided them to seats.

"Haha, sit here. Lunch rush means seats are scarce, so I saved them. Haha."

"......Thank you."

And so Hyun's thorny path began with her first spoonful.

"You said you missed orientation, right? What was the reason?"

"Personal reasons."

"Really? Like... maybe a date with a boyfriend? Oh, do you have one?"

"No, I don't."

"Haha, for real? Whoa, Hyun, you're so pretty—surprising! We set up mixers for freshmen in the department sometimes. Interested? Others asked at orientation too."

"............."

Ji-a next to her had also skipped orientation, yet this class rep zeroed in on Hyun alone. She wanted to hurl her spoon at his face. Already uncomfortable chatting with strange guys, his nonstop chatter while eating made her feel like she couldn't digest. Hyun rubbed her stomach.

Sigh... fuck off already.

Rrrring.

Hyun snorted and was about to send her last message when...

"What? You have a boyfriend? You said you didn't!"

Ji-a, sitting beside her, stared at Hyun's beaming face in wonder.

"Huh? What boyfriend?"

"You're smiling like that while texting—total girlfriend-talk face."

".......What are you on about? Just the oppa next door."

In-ho across from them grimaced and shook his head.

Girls always use church oppa as an excuse when caught. Now it's neighbor oppa? Smiling ear-to-ear while texting, and such an obvious lie. Fuck this, pass.

Ignoring In-ho's expression, Hyun texted Seonghwan back.

Bam! Hyun suddenly slammed the table. Not just In-ho and Ji-a, but many in the cafeteria stared, but Hyun, oblivious, fumed for a while.

"This asshole gives with one hand and takes with the other. Does one nice thing and pulls this shit."

"............Whoa?"

"...........Heh?"

In-ho and Ji-a gaped at each other, then at Hyun—who was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already grabbing her tray and heading to return it.

Whoa..... a girl who swears... so damn hot.

Hyun's the best... so cool.

Ooh.. who's that girl? She's badass.

And just like that, Hyun became the top popular girl in the College of Education in a single day.