Others' Gazes (6)
"Alright, I get the situation you're in. Nothing's certain yet, but it's suspicious enough, I know that much. So why don't I go meet Yumi instead?"
"You? Why the hell are you trying to butt in?"
"Don't be so cynical about it. Are you seriously planning to blow up your relationships with everyone around you over Yumi?"
"........."
"And I don't want a headache from getting involved in all this mess either. Don't we need to at least talk to Yumi and figure out what she's thinking? She won't even meet with you, right?"
"Fuck, you're being way too blunt. You think I'm not frustrated? But do I really have to drag you into my embarrassing mess with Yumi?"
"The embarrassment's already started, hyung. If it goes any further, it won't end with just that. You know that."
"...Fuck."
Mincheol knew it too. If this kept escalating, it wouldn't stop at whispers behind his back. Rumors of someone breaking up lasted a day or two. Even tales of a guy dumping his cheating girlfriend faded after a week at most. But stories of a jilted guy stalking and harassing his ex? Those spread online, leading to doxxing and worse. Then he'd truly be the villain. Sure, he'd get some pity, but it'd all boil down to "that guy who got dumped by a girl turned out to be trash anyway." It'd just validate her, like "no wonder she cheated."
Yeah, time to get a little rational.
Mincheol decided to think differently while he still had some reason left. His close junior, Eunhyeok, was tight with Yumi too. Even Mincheol, who didn't buy into platonic guy-girl friendships, knew Eunhyeok had no ulterior motives toward her. Hell, back when Mincheol was aggressively pursuing Yumi, Eunhyeok had played middleman.
"What are you gonna say when you meet her?"
"What is there to say? I just wanna confirm if she's seeing someone. If she is, well, not much we can do. But if your suspicions are off-base, I can at least dig into why she's avoiding you."
"So you're saying there's nothing you can do either. What's the point of you meeting her?"
"We'll see once I do. You know Yumi can't hide her real feelings. If I can even pick up a hint about whether there's a chance for you two to get back together, that'll be enough."
"What if she's really done with me? What then? You want me to just accept it?"
"...That's up to you, hyung. I'm just a third party here. But honestly, I'd rather you moved on."
"Fuck. Does Yumi have more trust from you guys, or have I just been that kind of person to you all this time? How can I not have a single ally when it's clear she's the one who cheated?"
"Ally, whose side? And we're meeting her to confirm if she cheated or not, right? But what if she did? You gonna spread rumors everywhere? Is that what you want?"
"Are you crazy? Fuck, why would I embarrass myself telling people? 'My girlfriend cheated and dumped me, feel sorry for me'? Do I look like that much of a loser? I'd rather bash that cheating bastard's head in and get handcuffed first."
"......Haa."
Eunhyeok felt a headache coming on. He'd half-expected it, but Mincheol was prouder and more bullheaded than anyone. Bashing heads and getting arrested was exaggerated, sure, but Mincheol wouldn't back down easily, no matter what. Pity for a guy dumped by his girlfriend was natural, but reactions like this killed any sympathy. Plus, Mincheol's reckless behavior was tanking his reputation around campus—including Eunhyeok's by association.
That was when they were sorting through their thoughts.
"Huh? Isn't that Seonghwan?"
"What? Who?"
Eunhyeok spotted someone and pointed off to the side. Mincheol scowled and followed his gaze.
There was Seonghwan, sitting on a bench, looking relaxed and lost in thought.
"That fucker... what the hell is he doing here?"
"Why? He's a student here too. Obviously came to study."
"Haa... fuck..."
"Why the overreaction? Come to think of it, you've always seemed to dislike him. Got a reason?"
"None of your business."
Mincheol's face turned a bit menacing, but seeing his old junior after so long put Eunhyeok in a good mood, and his feet carried him toward Seonghwan. Mincheol followed, grumbling but along for the ride.
Fuck yeah, sage mode for the win.
After his secret rendezvous with Yuri, Seonghwan had cracked open a book in the library and entered a whole new world. Every character on the page sank straight into his brain. Perfect focus, retention, comprehension—he felt like a genius.
Feels like I've become a real sage. Is this just me, or do others know and keep it quiet? Nah, with my lifelong loser status, I've had sage mode once or twice at best. So is this Yuri magic?
Seonghwan lost track of nearly two hours buried in his studies. He didn't even notice lunch creeping up until Yuri tapped his shoulder and pointed to the sandwich she'd brought.
Neither was starving, and her snacks were plentiful, so they scarfed down a casual lunch and relaxed. Yuri had stepped away to the bathroom, leaving Seonghwan basking in the fresh spring breeze.
Until someone approached.
"Hey. What the hell's Seonghwan doing here?"
Huh?
Seonghwan turned at the familiar voice and faced two familiar faces.
"Oh...? Hey, seniors."
He shot up from the bench and bowed. People he'd greeted daily in the club room back then. Now distant due to misunderstandings—and his own dodging.
Senior club members from way back: Eunhyeok... and Mincheol.
"Here to study at the library? Makes sense—you gotta focus now. Catch up on majors too."
"Ahaha... yeah, I guess. More like desperately chasing other students' tails than keeping up with classes, haha."
"Kid. Still got that smooth talk."
Eunhyeok treated him warmly, like old times. Always playful, disarming folks with lame jokes. Seonghwan had felt comfy with him after Yumi—texting first for meals, treating him like a buddy. Eunhyeok had even suggested dropping formal titles over drinks off-campus, matching Seonghwan's age.
But one person made him uneasy. The guy glaring daggers, eyes narrowed.
Seonghwan just wanted out.
"You. Why're you here? What're you doing?"
Fuck. Asking why a student’s on campus? Should I flash my ID?
Absurd question from a fellow alum, but Mincheol's glare was intense, so Seonghwan scrambled for an excuse. Eunhyeok beat him to it.
"Whoa, hyung. You seriously asking why a student’s on campus? To study, duh. Not like they're all here for no reason."
Obvious, but Seonghwan appreciated the backup. He had zero desire to chat with Mincheol. But Mincheol looked itching to pick a fight.
"Eunhyeok, don't butt in when I'm talking. Did I ask you? Seonghwan, answer. Why're you here? Came alone?"
What the hell's his problem? This antagonism makes no sense.
Seonghwan's public ties to Yumi had faded. No reason to dredge up old shit. If he knew about me and Yumi-senior, she'd have warned me. And he'd have swung first, not asked questions.
Whatever, he needed to calm Mincheol down.
"I've been parked in the library studying since morning. You might've heard—part-time weekdays means late nights home. Gotta cram weekends or I can't keep up."
"Part-time? What job? Where? Came alone today?"
What’s this?
Club folks might not know his job, but interrogating the details? And checking if he was solo? Felt like a shakedown.
"Hyung! Seriously, what's with you today?"
"I said stay out of it."
Mincheol glared at Eunhyeok's interruption. Seonghwan froze, unsure.
Dragging a guy just chilling—what the...?
Then—thud.
Something hit the bench beside him. All three heads snapped toward it.
Black hair cascading down, eyes gleaming viciously. Amid spring breeze, she stood cold as winter wind—Yuri, staring down the trio.
Beside her, two steaming coffee cups freshly placed on the bench.
Coffee? Bathroom break was a coffee run?
Probably for him before heading back in. If alone, he'd have melted at the gesture. But now, hostile vibes—he played it cool.
"Uh...?"
"........."
Seonghwan turned at the sounds behind him. Eunhyeok gawked at Yuri, mouth agape. Mincheol alternated stares between them, scrutinizing.
Embarrassing after the tension, but Seonghwan didn't want Yuri seeing this. No way he'd let her watch him get grilled—pride and all.
"Uh... Yuri, mind giving us space? Over there. That bench. I'll catch up. These are my club seniors—we're talking."
"........."
Yuri glared at the two "seniors"—especially Mincheol—long after his words. Finally, she nodded lightly, handed him a warm coffee, and headed off.
"Oh? Ah! Thanks. See ya."
Ooh, warm. And café latte. Perfect. Yuri's the best.
Savoring it a moment, Seonghwan glanced up at the guys.
"...Damn, Seonghwan. You're something else."
"Huh?"
"That's Min Yuri from the produce stand, right?"
"Wait, you know Yuri, senior?"
"Of course. She's famous. Tons of posts about her on ETA. Heard some agency scouted her. Never talked, but seen her around—knew who she was. Right, hyung? You know her too."
"........."
Eunhyeok hyped it up, but Mincheol just stared silently—shocked, slow to respond.
Ignoring him, Eunhyeok turned back.
"Seonghwan, what's your deal with her? Studying together weekends is whatever, but coffee delivery? Not normal friend shit."
"Ah...... um..."
What are we? Fuck-buddies when time allows? Gonna confess soon but not yet? Ridiculous even to me.
"Oof, kid's tongue-tied—must be in the talking stage? Hey, think carefully. Guy thinks 'some,' girl might see 'benchwarmer.' Not saying you're ugly or anything—she's just standout hot."
"No, it's not like that..."
"Got it, got it. Won't pry. No need to squirm. But if official, bring her to the club room sometime. Group dinner. Weekend coffee service ain't benchwarming—shoot your shot."
That pond's fish already paired off, senior.
Words he swallowed. Let them misunderstand—Yuri was his.
Just confess next week?
He knew locking it down fast was best for both. But what choked him up was...
Yesul...
The ex-gal-pal he tried ignoring. Regret bubbling with her. Hid it from Yuri, but memories—and her changed self—made him waver. Blaming old crush Lee Yeon, he couldn't deny Yesul's pull.
If she'd confessed before Yesul, no dilemma...
Time waited for no one.
"When's the last time you met Yumi?"
"Huh?"
Mid-Yuri-Yesul spiral, Mincheol's abrupt Yumi jab startled him.
Mincheol's eyes still wide, but softer now. Bewildered, Seonghwan answered.
"Last time was running into her before morning class? You were there too, senior. Seen her at the library since, but from afar—no chat."
Prepped line, in case he suspected him and Yumi.
Mincheol glanced at distant Yuri—still watching them like a pissed-off cat, eyes sharp.
"Hah... unbelievable. Fuck, a punk like you."
"........."
Pointless insult, but belittling—Seonghwan felt it.
A punk like me?
"Eunhyeok yaps about benchwarming 'cause he ain't dated. She's into you, clearly."
"No, hyung, what're you—"
"Shut it, you."
"...Hey!"
Ignoring flinching Eunhyeok, Mincheol loomed over Seonghwan—taller, looking down disdainfully.
Haa... those eyes are fucked.
Seonghwan met them squarely. Felt Yuri's gaze too. No weakness here.
Mincheol smirked incredulously.
"Fine, fine. Play with your own league. Don't overreach for someone else's girl."
League? Overreach?
"Hyung, enough."
Eunhyeok tried intervening, but ignored—eyes locked, burning.
"Seeing you with another girl clears my suspicion... but still pisses me off. So watch your eyes."
Seonghwan didn't flinch at the threat. Mincheol started it; Yuri got dragged in too. His good mood soured.
"My bad assuming about you and Yumi from the start. Letting it slide today. You knew I hated you hanging with her. That's why you ghosted the club, right? Smart move then. Figured you had some sense."
"Seriously, hyung. Stop."
"One request: keep living like that. Got it? That girl's pretty—way out of your league. Make it work with her, stay clear of Yumi like before. Playing nice one last time, as your senior."
Request? Bullshit threat—obvious to a child. How low Mincheol saw him.
Mincheol turned away. Seonghwan burned his image in.
Guilt over Mincheol faded. Replaced by...
Hahaha... hilarious. Dodge and hide? Fucking rich...?
Seonghwan seethed—at Mincheol, and his own pathetic past.