Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Anything's Fine
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The next day.
Fortunately, a departmental notice had come down, and the situation had improved a bit.
It was something along the lines of "don't show excessive interest in a specific student and make them uncomfortable."
It didn't name anyone, but every student in the department would know it was about me.
Thanks to that, I could finally catch my breath. I figured the interest would die down naturally over time, but I wasn't sure I could hold out until then.
I couldn't help the people who said hi or greeted me as they passed by.
As for the stares... they followed me everywhere, and while I wasn't used to them yet, I was starting to adapt.
Still, things were looking good today.
Because it was the day I was meeting Ga-eun and her friends—well, my friends now too—Min-ji and Ji-eun.
It seemed like having a group of girls around made it harder for anyone to approach.
No one came up to us even though we were standing right there in the hallway.
Normally, two or three guys would have already snuck over by now, starting with "Um, excuse me..."
Then again, who goes up to random girls from the same school they don't know just for a quick look? Especially engineering guys.
A few girls recognized Ga-eun and came over, but she chatted with them for a bit and smoothly sent them on their way.
Seniors or peers, didn't matter—she smiled and slipped away effortlessly. It was impressive.
"Whoa! Su-hyeon, you're wearing what I bought you!"
"...I did laundry on everything else, so this is all I had."
Ji-eun grinned mischievously, and I snapped back curtly out of embarrassment.
I regretted it as soon as I said it, but when I glanced over, she didn't seem to mind at all.
I'd been worried she'd get upset, but her nonchalant reaction put me at ease.
"Ah, you're smiling! Hehe, so cute."
"! Ah, no...!"
I hurriedly covered my mouth with both hands.
My chubby cheeks squished between my fingers.
Ji-eun giggled and teased me.
"You must really like hanging out with us, huh?"
"......"
I nodded slightly without a word.
It wasn't a lie. Having them as shields was reassuring compared to being alone.
"......"
"Hnnng..."
I heard someone gasp behind me.
Turning around, I saw Ga-eun clutching her chest.
I'd thought she was the mature one just watching her friends' antics quietly.
Heat rushed to my face belatedly.
"B-before we get any later, let's go eat..."
I pushed away Ga-eun's hands as she tried to scoop me up and spoke.
That's right—we'd gathered to eat lunch.
If we didn't hurry, we'd be stuck in line forever again.
"So, what are we eating? Cafeteria food again?"
I was heading toward the campus cafeteria when Min-ji's words stopped me in my tracks.
Wait, aren't we going for cafeteria food?
I wanted pork cutlet...
"What else? Got somewhere better?"
"Nah, it's been almost a month. Aren't you sick of it? There are tons of places around."
Her gaze turned to me.
"Su-hyeon must know all the good spots. You're the senior, after all!"
"Oh, right?"
...What's with the "you're the senior" bit?
I might not look or act like one, but hey, senior is senior.
Her last comment rubbed me the wrong way a little, but showing some senior dignity came first.
Three pairs of eyes sparkled with faint expectation.
Guiding underclassmen is a senior's duty, and their reliance is a senior's joy.
I declared confidently to lead the way for my juniors.
"Well... r-restaurants around here... good ones... um."
"......"
Oh no.
Come to think of it, there's no way I know any local spots!
I was too lazy to even eat out, let alone hunt for good restaurants...
No matter how hard I racked my brain or searched my memories, I couldn't pull up data that didn't exist.
But instead of disappointment, they all laughed.
Ga-eun, closest to me, patted my head and said,
"Then how about we all go explore together?"
And so began our restaurant hunt.
I missed out on pork cutlet, but it didn't matter. Cafeteria pork cutlet was available anytime.
Way better—exploring eateries with friends! The epitome of sparkling campus life. My heart raced.
"No no, this way."
"Huh? Where?"
Min-ji blocked us from heading to the main gate and led us to the parking lot.
"Hehehe, check this out."
"What, your car?"
"Nah, Dad's. Snuck it out."
"...So that's why you wanted to go out?"
"Heeheehee."
Thanks to our dutiful daughter Min-ji, we got a comfy ride nearby.
Anyway, time to pick a menu.
"So, what does everyone want?"
Ga-eun asked while buckling up.
"Eh, anything."
"Me too, anything."
"You suggested going out and you don't even have ideas?"
"Honestly, I just wanted to show off my driving."
'...Is she okay?'
Isn't that something new drivers say?
I glanced anxiously at Min-ji across from me.
"What about you, Su-hyeon?"
"Uh... um."
Two passes already. Even without them, judging by how they treated me, my pick would probably decide things.
But I didn't know what girls liked.
"Me too, anything...?"
So I passed too.
But Ga-eun sensed something off and stared right through me.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You really don't have anything you want?"
"Y-yeah. I'm good with anything."
"Liar. Regret's dripping off your face."
"...Really?"
I frantically rubbed my face, and Ga-eun chuckled.
"Why lie about what you want? Spill it."
"I actually wanted cafeteria pork cutlet... Ah, no, don't get out!"
Min-ji, who'd started the engine, hesitated and tried to get out at my words, so I stopped her quick. Ji-eun in the passenger seat was the same.
"I want pork cutlet, but I also want to explore restaurants together... It's fine."
My voice trailed off, and I bowed my head in embarrassment.
"......"
I looked up at the silence. Ga-eun was biting her lower lip, head against the window.
"What're you...?"
"...Okay, full course tour today?"
The silence broke, and Min-ji started the car, heading off campus.
We'd circle the area first and decide.
As we drove, Ga-eun listed recommendations.
"Alright, I'll throw out a few. Pick one."
Once word got out she went to Korea University, viewers flooded chats and her fan cafe with local recs.
"Pasta."
"Too floury for breakfast."
What's breakfast got to do with flour?
"There's a mackerel rice place."
"I hate fishy stuff."
"It might be okay if it's good."
"Why fish when there's other meat...?"
"Braised monkfish."
"Too heavy for lunch."
"Ah, no white meat for me."
Ga-eun's eyebrow twitched at their complaints, but she relented.
"...Fine, white meat noted. No army stew or Chinese either."
Can't argue with white meat allergies, I guess.
Chinese was good—the jajangmyeon with the professor. Army stew sounded fine too, but a bit disappointing.
"Cold noodles? Buckwheat if you hate flour."
"Hmm, too cold."
"Seriously."
Ga-eun finally glared at Min-ji's headrest up front.
If she weren't driving, she'd have choked her.
Then Ji-eun chimed in.
"Hate cold? Let's do seolleongtang."
"Seolleongtang...?"
"Hmm..."
"No more picks for you. Su-hyeon, seolleongtang okay?"
Spotting Min-ji's negative vibe, Ga-eun lightly smacked the headrest and asked me.
"I like it."
Been a while since clear broth.
My mouth watered.
I thought girls ate pasta and giggled, but these picks were unexpected.
"You like seolleongtang, Ji-eun...?"
"Huh? Not really?"
"Huh, then why?"
Curious, I asked, and got a surprise answer.
"Seolleongtang places sell soju in the morning."
"......"
Ji-eun really loves her booze.
"Kkh, kidding. They say the blood sausage is killer. You know blood sausage?"
"Blood sausage?"
We all shook our heads—no clue.
"What's that? Different from regular sausage?"
Ga-eun, me, and even Min-ji hearing it first.
"Tsk tsk, you country bumpkins... That's why I said just there."
"......?"
The place was a seolleongtang joint in a big alley.
It had parking, but alley-style: a narrow concrete lot.
"Need help getting out?"
"What if you scratch it? Stay put."
Ji-eun offered, but Min-ji refused confidently and tried reverse parking.
Turning the wheel looked pro enough.
These days, rear cams and sensors are great...
Grrrrrind.
"Uh...?"
Thud. The car went quiet.
I gripped my seatbelt and peeked at Min-ji—her neck was pale white.
"F-f*ck..."
"No bad words in front of the kid."
Smack—
Ga-eun slapped Min-ji's mouth.
'...? Not about me, right?'
Anyway, time to check.
We huddled behind the car.
Not huge, but clear scrape marks.
"Weird height—must've missed the rear sensor."
A protruding curb edge at my nose height, just above tire level.
"Ah..."
Min-ji despaired.
"Rub it out? DIY kits everywhere these days."
Ji-eun rubbed the mark casually—it wasn't her car.
"For real...?"
"Don't do dumb stuff. Take pics right. At least no other cars hit."
Ga-eun sighed at them.
Told her to be honest with Dad for insurance.
Whoa... streamer experience? Super reliable.
We dragged gloomy Min-ji inside.
Food first, right?
"Auntie, soju bottle here!"
Ji-eun ordered soju right away.
'Knew it—booze was the goal.'
We ordered soju, seolleongtang, and that prized blood sausage, waiting as Min-ji wobbled back from the bathroom.
She saw the soju and fake-sobbed, reaching out.
"Wahhh, gotta drown this sad memory in booze..."
Smack—
Ga-eun struck her hand lightning-fast.
"Ow!"
"Drinking when you drive? Not taking the car home?"
Ga-eun's axe-glare.
"Oh right."
"Yeah, mine now."
Min-ji laughed sheepishly—forgot in her grief. Walk home after bringing it.
Ji-eun hugged the bottle.
...Planned to drink it solo.
Soon, seolleongtang arrived.
"Aww, such a cute kid! Out with big sisters? Service from Auntie 'cause you're adorable~."
"Thank you!"
"Hehe, our Su-hyeon is cute, right."
Auntie praised, plus free blood sausage and chive pancake.
"...Thank you."
Too tiring to correct each time.
Service received—be good.
Clatter clatter
Hot pots set before us.
Same size, but mine looked huge. Relativity?
Clink
"Hot..."
Why do Korean places use metal bowls that burn?
Lid too hot—I kept touching and pulling back. Ga-eun opened it effortlessly without looking.
"...Thanks."
So natural.
The two across watched and asked,
"She's really not your mom, right?"
"Not mom, but auntie vibes?"
"Shut up and eat."
The seolleongtang was hot, but delicious.