Others' Gazes (12)
"By the way, Hyun, didn't you say you don't have a boyfriend?"
After a chaotic round of trash-talking and bickering that finally died down when Seonghwan stepped away to handle serving, Hyeonseok suddenly asked Lee Hyun from across the table.
"Not yet."
"Whoa... What about before? Like back in high school or something?"
It was the kind of question guys typically asked girls, but this one was the sort only a guy interested in her would bother with. Whether he phrased it casually like it was no big deal or straight-up advertised his interest, asking about a girl's relationship status was proof of curiosity. Guys didn't wonder if they didn't care.
So Lee Hyun was pissed.
Your girlfriend's right there next to you—what the hell?
Hyeonseok had been grating on her nerves all night, but she held it in and answered.
"I've never had one."
Reactions exploded around her.
"Whoa, a pretty girl like you, Hyun? How's that possible?"
"Why? Isn't it obvious? She's a freshman who just started college. You don't get into a place like this slacking off."
She could brush that off as a joke. Their tones were laced with playful teasing anyway.
"True. Pretty, smart girls have high standards—guys can't just waltz up. That's why she hung out with someone like Seonghwan hyung, who doesn't even register as a guy."
Is this asshole drunk?
Lee Hyun felt her patience fraying. Empty soju bottles littered Hyeonseok's side of the table, and she'd seen him sipping steadily, so yeah, he was wasted. Or maybe she was overreacting. The others didn't look offended like she was.
No time to figure out why she saw it differently.
"Hey, don't diss Seonghwan."
"...?"
A heavy warning growled from the seat next to her. Lee Hyun whipped her head around reflexively. Eunhyeok sat there, face flushed, grinning as he poured himself another shot.
He told me not to drink alone...
Eunhyeok had been knocking them back happily all night, apparently self-toasting now. She didn't want to, but reached for his glass to pour it herself.
Until his next words.
"Seonghwan's about to get a girlfriend."
What?
Her hand froze mid-reach. Eyes wide, she stared at Eunhyeok, but he didn't notice, just downed his shot.
The words rippled outward.
"Eek? Seonghwan hyung too? He had a girlfriend?"
"Holy shit, no way. First Hyeonseok, now Seonghwan hyung? You traitors."
"Whoa, chill. Nobody said he has one now. He said soon."
"If he has one, he has one. What's this 'soon' bullshit?"
Everyone was buzzed from the drinks, but Seonghwan's girlfriend talk sobered them up—they leaned in, hanging on Eunhyeok's every word. Jia was among them, eyes wide, flicking between Lee Hyun and Eunhyeok in shock.
"Haha! You guys know I live in the dorms, right? Sunday, heading to the cafeteria, and there's Seonghwan. We chat a bit, then bam—this super pretty girl pops up and hands him coffee. Fuck, you have no idea how shocked I was. Grilled him about it. Apparently not officially his girlfriend yet. But who the hell goes out with a guy on a weekend and buys him coffee if there's nothing there?"
"Whoa... So she's into him, but not dating yet?"
"We call that 'talking,' right? Asked Seonghwan, and he admitted it. They're in that stage."
Eunhyeok was blabbing excitedly about Seonghwan—who was right there in the same shop—as the main topic. Of course, Lee Hyun was the only one listening with a grave expression amid the hype.
And one other person had a serious face too.
"Pretty, huh? For real? Hyung, you exaggerating to hype Seonghwan up?"
Hyeonseok stared at Eunhyeok in disbelief.
"Why? What's wrong with Seonghwan hyung? He's tall enough, dresses sharp."
"Yeah, this guy's got a hot girlfriend himself. Nothing about Seonghwan hyung that's worse—why can't he snag a pretty one?"
Maybe thinking Hyeonseok was overreacting, Yujae and Chanwoo frowned and defended Seonghwan. His tone screamed sincerity over joke. Truth was, Hyeonseok figured he beat Seonghwan everywhere but height. Mid-170s wasn't bad, and as a non-repeater, his starting line was miles ahead of that three-time failure. Hell, he believed he crushed Seonghwan in every way. No contest with a guy who'd aimlessly bounced clubs.
But these guys? I reached out first, ate with them more, and they side with Seonghwan hyung? Even Eunhyeok hyung always favored him.
His pride stung; Hyeonseok snapped.
"What? I was just shocked, assholes. Besides, minus height, what's Seonghwan hyung got over me?"
"Oppa, don't yell like that..."
"Whoa? Dude, shut up—Seonghwan hyung's right here!"
"Huh?"
Hyeonseok's shout drew quick shushing from Eunhyeok. Yujae scanned for Seonghwan in panic. Luckily, he was at the counter, probably hadn't heard, but the group hushed guiltily anyway. Eunhyeok glanced over, scowled at Hyeonseok.
"You drunk or what? Yelling out of nowhere."
"Ah, no... Sorry. Got heated without thinking."
"Hilarious. Soju an aphrodisiac now? You were fine till you flipped."
Hyeonseok apologized fast; Eunhyeok smirked, eased up, continued.
"Everyone freaking 'cause Seonghwan might have a girlfriend? Haha! Pretty? Lemme drop a bombshell that'll floor you. I was shocked too."
"Hyung! No teasing—spill!"
"........."
Eunhyeok's mischievous grin had them glued. Cold-faced Lee Hyun waited among them, initial shock wiped into icy frost.
"You know Min Yu-ri? Eta blew up about her once. Rumor some agency's scouting her at school—she's that gorgeous."
"Min Yu-ri? Wait... the social sciences department's? Juhyun sunbae mentioned a celeb-lookalike in his department last year?"
"Yeah, her."
"Know her. Famous last year. Saw her from afar a few times. But why her?"
"Heh heh heh."
Eunhyeok's laugh raised suspicions; the guys eyed him warily.
"No way...?"
"Nah, can't be. Even for Seonghwan hyung, that's too much."
Even defenders Yujae and Chanwoo doubted. But Eunhyeok nailed it down.
"Why not? Yesterday at school, the girl with Seonghwan? Min Yu-ri. I was floored. Thought it was a dream when she handed him coffee. Waited till we finished talking, then came over all sweet, walking off chatting. Unreal."
"Eeeeeek?"
"Holy? For real? Yo, call Seonghwan hyung—gotta confirm with the man."
Yujae and Chanwoo shrieked in chaos. Hyeonseok double-checked, stunned.
"Hyung, I've seen her too. Real? Not dissing Seonghwan hyung, but Juhyun sunbae said she's super haughty—ignores guys. Wouldn't even mention blind dates around her."
"Yeah, Chanwoo and I heard that."
Travel Club's Kim Juhyun—lit major, class of '21, Yumi's peer—knew social sciences execs, had the social sciences college scoop. His verdict on Yu-ri: Bottom-feeders, drop the obsession and know your place. Beyond looks, her personality's guy-proof.
Pre-scout rumors, her standout beauty had campus buzzing, hogging male attention—till her icy rep made her untouchable.
And that girl's 'talking' with Seonghwan hyung?
Hyeonseok probed again.
"Seonghwan hyung getting played? Like, kept in the pond...?"
"Nah. Told him the same. He denied it. Not dating, but not stringing along. Said it confidently. Think of it as 'talking' stage."
"No way..."
Mind-blowing. Hyeonseok rated himself above Seonghwan but never saw him as a total fool. If he said no, it was no. Still baffling.
Yumi sunbae favored him platonically, fine. But 'talking' with that Yu-ri? What kinda guy is he?
Seonghwan's looks? Laughing at the counter with the boss—plain as day. No matter how generous, not girlfriend-material for that beauty.
"Seonghwan hyung a comedian? Comedians snag hotties for wives. That it?"
"Ooh, fuck yeah? Or secretly rich? Chaebol second son?"
"Chaebol kids do part-time?"
Unlike Hyeonseok, Yujae and Chanwoo spun positives, theorizing.
Jia sighed at the guys, stole a glance at Lee Hyun. Her chatty smiles gone.
Shocked herself, but Lee Hyun? Beyond that.
She's checked out.
To others, just a poised beauty listening coolly. But Jia saw: soul gone, no reaction.
So Jia asked Eunhyeok.
"Did Seonghwan oppa say the 'talking' part?"
"Huh? Yeah, obviously."
"Hmm... Right. Hey!! Server?!"
"Eek? Girl, no need to call the worker over."
"Gotta confirm. Can't stand rumors."
Mid-chat with Eunhyeok, Jia summoned Seonghwan fast. He panicked; she wouldn't back down. For her lost friend too.
"Yes, ma'am? Wait, still got meat and drinks—another order?"
Seonghwan approached, eyed leftovers, asked Jia. She glanced at Lee Hyun, ignored him.
"Oppa, know a Min Yu-ri?"
"Min Yu-ri? Yeah. How do you know her? Class together?"
Not Jia—her cheering squad Yujae and Chanwoo—erupted.
"Oh shit, real? Hyung dating her?"
"Hyung, please say no. Feels like meat stuck in my throat."
"What the hell, guys? Eunhyeok sunbae? You spreading weird shit again?"
Seonghwan gaped at their frenzy, shot Eunhyeok a look. He waved frantically.
"Yo, just facts from yesterday. No lies. You told me you're talking with her."
"Whoa......"
Seonghwan glared, realizing Eunhyeok's big mouth spread it in a day.
"Talking's no big deal to blab about?"
"Dude, it's who. Random girl? Who cares. But her? That's why."
"Right. Eunhyeok sunbae's spot-on. Some fight here, some too busy working for dates..."
"Why you all on me? Can't I talk to someone? Mid-20s soon—live single forever?"
Seonghwan protested innocence, but it backfired.
"So you're planning to date her?"
"Huh?"
Always beaming, comfy-vibe Jia now stared troubled, smile gone.
Come to think...
Lee Hyun next to her, head down, avoiding him.
Drunk?
If so, he'd carry her home again. Worried, Seonghwan gripped her shoulder, told Jia.
"Hey, who cares? Anyway, why's Hyun this wasted? You saw her last time—still let her pound it? Cut her off, let her rest..."
Snap.
Pain shot through his wrist mid-sentence. Stunned, Seonghwan looked down. His hand flung off her shoulder; Lee Hyun glared up, eyes blazing blue ice—pure resentment, unmistakable.
"Hey, why...?"
Flustered, he asked—but she ignored, stood.
"I'm heading out. Drank too much."
"Huh? Whoa, no, junior. Where alone? Wait—I'll walk you or grab a cab. You guys want second round? Split cab fare..."
Eunhyeok panicked, tried holding her—but she grabbed her bag.
"No. I can go alone. Don't follow."
She walked off. Seonghwan watched her back in silence.