Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Leaving on Friday
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"What? You're leaving already...?"
Su-hyeon, who had only poked her head out, was flustered at the sight of Min-ji and Ji-eun with their bags slung over their shoulders.
"Yeah, why?"
"No... It's not even 5 o'clock yet?"
She'd thought they were just heading out for dinner to match Ga-eun's class schedule...
But this felt like they were heading straight home.
"Pfft, we've been here almost five hours—that's super long."
"Right? And it's not even exam season yet."
"Ah..."
The two tilted their heads at her, looking at Su-hyeon like she'd said something weird.
Well, there was still over a week left, so no real reason to study late already.
It was early April, after all.
For freshmen this time of year, Fridays were for wetting their whistles with drinks late into the night.
Of course, Su-hyeon just assumed that was the case—she had no idea if it was true.
"Aren't you leaving, Su-hyeon? You said you got here at 7. What are you, a high school senior?"
"...Yeah, I should go too."
She didn't have much studying to do in the first place.
She'd just been reviewing the same stuff over and over because her friends were there.
"Grab your bag quick and come on out. I'll wait."
"Okay..."
Su-hyeon trudged back toward the reading room.
Watching her retreating figure, the two exchanged glances again.
"Why's she so down in the dumps?"
"Maybe 'cause she's sad to leave us?"
"Hee hee hee. She was all prickly at first, but she's already fallen for us."
Through the glass door, they could see Su-hyeon listlessly packing her things in the distance.
Ji-eun thought for a moment, then asked Min-ji,
"Hey, you heading to work today?"
"Nah, I have to work straight through the weekend, so today's my day off. Dinner shift tonight, then straight to morning shift tomorrow—it's gonna suck."
Min-ji shuddered, imagining the weekend peak hours.
"Oh yeah? Got plans for dinner?"
"Kinda... The kids from my department are blowing up the chat about drinks."
"You going?"
"Dunno? Our department's all guys except me, so it's kinda iffy... Plus, going to work hungover sounds rough."
Min-ji was as laid-back as they come—even Ga-eun couldn't hold a candle to her—but joining the lone girl for a late-night drinking session with a bunch of dudes was still daunting.
With a hopeful glint, Min-ji asked,
"Wanna come with? If you go, I'll go too."
She was a girl who could down bottles of booze like water and still be fine—even if her booze-guzzling grandpa showed up, she'd wreck him.
Every bar around here that posted names of folks who'd broken soju sales records for events had Ji-eun's name up front.
At first, people wondered if she'd awakened some alcohol-decomposing ability.
If her bestie tagged along...?
But her hopes were dashed quick.
"No way. Why would I crash the architecture department's drinks?"
"Huh, why not? You love drinking. And you kinda know their faces anyway."
What's her deal? Turning down booze?
Min-ji's eyes went wide as she pressed, but Ji-eun just shrugged it off.
"Whatever. So nothing after this?"
"Yeah... Oh, wanna grab drinks with the media kids? I like your department better anyway—way more girls."
"Nah, I was gonna hang out with Su-hyeon."
"Ooh~?"
Min-ji glanced at Su-hyeon emerging from the door.
Her small frame looked even more pitiful under the oversized bag.
Her drooping mouth corners said it all.
"So, what're we gonna do with her?"
"...Bar's probably a no-go?"
"Yeah... Might look bad."
"Figured."
No matter that she was 23— with that face, booze was off-limits.
"Oh, any cherry blossoms left?"
"Saw some on the walkway still. Cherry blossom festival?"
"Yeah, how's that? Bet the festival spots are still going."
Ji-eun pulled out her phone, searched, and nodded.
"Night lights too—sounds fun. Let's check with Ga-eun first."
"I'm out."
As Su-hyeon approached, they pocketed their phones.
"Let's go? Ga-eun's class just ended."
"Hurry, she'll be waiting."
"Here's your pizza first. Enjoy!"
The apron-clad server set the pizza in the table's center and left.
It wasn't meant to fill them up—a small, thin-crust combo pie.
"Wanna go out?"
Ga-eun's question while waiting for the rest of the food.
For the record, this was a pasta joint.
"Yeah. Gotta study next week, so last refresh before that."
"Your stream?"
Stream time was soon.
Even if weekdays were short two-hour ones, skipping it?
"Short night stream today, then do it when I get home, or longer tomorrow."
"Hmm..."
"What do you think?"
Su-hyeon eyed Ga-eun suspiciously.
What was this streamer scheming?
"You..."
"...Yeah?"
Su-hyeon smirked, suspicion confirmed.
"Just making excuses 'cause you hate studying?"
"...What?"
"Sigh, that much?"
"...?"
"Ga-eun, your stream's blowing up, so you ignore studies? You'll regret it. Sure, NewTube loves dumb streamers, but moderation's key."
Ga-eun's eyelid twitched.
Why bring up streaming now?
"No, smart folks just play dumb cutely. Go full idiot, and viewers bail."
"...Why tell me? I've never done a dumb concept."
Ha, really.
Who was lecturing who on streaming?
"Your escape room stream last week? Total... Sigh."
She shook her head.
Suddenly, a baby-palm-sized leaf drooped slowly. Chubby cheeks included.
Crack.
A weird noise from the chair arm Ga-eun gripped absently.
She barely held back a flick to the forehead.
This little punk...
Shed checked her phone after class—messages from the girls saying Su-hyeon seemed down, plotting a subtle outing, asking her to help since she was closest to Su-hyeon.
And this was her thanks?
Su-hyeon lectured on like some old-timer.
"Gotta hit the books young. No regrets later."
"Pfft!"
Min-ji burst out laughing.
Ji-eun elbowed her to play it cool.
?
Like, You laughing? You?
Sorry.
Min-ji eyed an apology to Ga-eun.
Ga-eun turned back.
But Su-hyeon, arms crossed eyes shut, missed it.
"Makes sense—if you'd studied, it'd be a better school than Korea U. Nickname'd be Silver Genius, not Silver Bucket."
There it is.
Ga-eun nodded, then grabbed her cheeks and stretched.
"Tha...!"
"Hey! Same school? Same department?"
"I, I had reathons...!"
Su-hyeon felt wronged.
Mental state wrecked, curriculum kept changing.
Kept getting stuff she never learned.
Self-esteem in the gutter, thought her memory sucked.
Wasn't that.
"I've been studying since third year too."
Ga-eun felt wronged too.
No college plans originally—Da-hye said degree's handy, plus high school study content.
"You dinth thtudy an thtreamed-!"
"What're you even saying?"
Thud.
"Eek."
Cheeks snapped back.
"Anyway, let's go. Last day of the cherry blossom festival."
Su-hyeon, rubbing her cheeks, blinked at the festival mention.
"Cherry blossoms...? There's tons on the walkway. Gotta go elsewhere?"
"Tsk tsk tsk, it's a festival. Festival."
Min-ji chimed in.
"Not the same as picnicking. Busking, food trucks, all that."
"Yeah? But at night, you won't see any blossoms."
Ji-eun backed her up.
"Lights make night better—more to see. Han River's got boats too."
"Huh? C'mon, Su-hyeon. Last day. Miss it, wait 'til next year?"
"Uh, uh, yeah..."
Not like college entrance exams—annual thing. Really gotta go?
Su-hyeon thought so, but their pushy vibe got a reluctant nod.
"Good, it's decided?"
"Yup~."
Min-ji grinned satisfied; Ji-eun like she knew.
Su-hyeon arched a brow.
"You guys planned this from the start..."
"Your orders are up! Where's the Neapolitan?"
The server's chipper voice cut her off; she shrank into the corner.
"Uh, that one's for the kid inside."
"Sure thing~! Aww, little sis? You ladies are all pretty— she'll be the prettiest grown up."
"Right? Totally!"
Min-ji beamed at Su-hyeon.
No point arguing—ride the praise to tease.
Wasn't wrong anyway.
"N-no... Not me..."
"Huh? Not? Neapolitan here? Oh, seafood pasta?"
"Ah...!"
Server tilted head, swapped plates to Su-hyeon.
"Seafood pasta! Similar colors—easy mix-up!"
"Ah..."
Su-hyeon eyed Ga-eun beside her for help, but Ga-eun turned away, grudge lingering, playing dumb.
Thud.
"Um, excuse me..."
Su-hyeon piped up, voice too soft.
"Enjoy~."
Server smiled bright, off to another table.
"Uh..."
Seafood pasta loaded with shrimp before Su-hyeon.
She poked a shrimp with her fork.
Didn't hate seafood... but wanted Neapolitan.
Barely tried pasta dishes.
Just curious about the famous name.
Tried swapping plates herself.
Too wide for her hands—kept slipping.
Mess up, disaster.
"Um, Ji-eun?"
Su-hyeon eyed across, swap plea.
But Ji-eun forked up Neapolitan, rolling it.
Su-hyeon's eyes widened.
"What're you doing!"
"Huh? Why?"
Ji-eun paused fork-to-mouth.
"You ordered seafood... Swap?"
"Huh? Don't care. Wanted seafood, right? Told server seafood."
Ji-eun played innocent, teasing on.
"N-no... I wanted Neapolitan..."
"Heh, want a swap?"
"...That was mine originally."
"What? Just eat this then?"
"Quit joking—swap now."
"Say 'pretty please'."
"Ah..."
"'Pretty pleeeease~' and I will. Try it."
"......"
"Hm, wanted seafood after all."
"...Pretty please."
"Whaaat~?"
Fork neared mouth again.
"P-pretty please!"
"Huh? Hmm... Not that cute."
"What? Hey!"
Fork moved; Su-hyeon climbed chair, desperate.
"Pretty please! Pretty pleeeease!"
Ding.
"Uh."
"Kkh... Ah."
Twisting, saw Ga-eun phone aimed, biting lip.
Grinning Min-ji too.
Forgot the video save sound.
"Fine, swap! Geez, check your order next time?"
Clink. Her order returned—but Su-hyeon was pissed.
"......I hate you guys."
But her seat was inside.
Ga-eun blocked escape.
Crawl under? Grabbed easy.
Looked worse.
So sulk a bit, clink plates.
First pasta? Delicious.