Even Avoid Gray Underwear When Meeting a Guy
Since I'd shared my side dishes with him, Hanjiu magnanimously handed over the menu choice to me, tossing out the words like he was doing me some grand favor. That indifferent stare of his, pretending not to care—it was so damn annoying. The guy devoured anything in sight without discrimination anyway. So this was just him acting generous. By contrast, now that I was a fresh-faced college girl, I had a ton of picky preferences. My appetite had shrunk, and so had my tolerance for flavors. Anything too spicy, greasy, or intense like the mala hot pot or hotpot all the trendy kids raved about these days—it just didn't sit right with me.
So I picked ramen. There was this famous spot near the back gate that served up decent stuff—not some pre-packaged tonkotsu broth with instant chashu slapped on top, but proper miso and even a light shoyu ramen that hit the spot. I'd gone there a few times with friends. Oh, wait a sec!
"You threw out my panties?"
"Huh? Panties?"
Hanjiu tilted his head, looking utterly baffled. Ramen and panties—two words that didn't mix well, so his confusion made sense.
"The ones you left in the laundry when you bounced. You tossed them, right?"
"Oh, those? No, but why would you throw out someone else's stuff like that?"
"Your sister crashed here, and you didn't warn me. I hid the condoms and vibrator just in case, but it didn't even cross my mind to deal with your panties."
At my words, Hanjiu glanced slyly down the empty officetel hallway, then dropped his voice to a whisper.
"Did she notice?"
"She did, but I played it off like they were some old ones I hadn't tossed yet."
"Phew, close call. But then why'd you throw them out?"
"So she wouldn't think I was still hung up on you."
He didn't pry further after that. We were heading down the hall toward the elevator button when Hanjiu suddenly grabbed my wrist.
"Hey, you going out like that?"
"Why? I don't overheat much, so it's fine."
What the hell? Why was this guy suddenly playing caretaker? Unlike his usual self, he hemmed and hawed, letting out a small sigh before fumbling on.
"No, not that... Ugh, hey! Your leggings... there..."
It wasn't even a proper sentence, so I had no clue what he meant. I'd been wearing leggings for ages now, nothing new, and even if it was just leggings, the long hoodie covered everything fine, right?
After squirming for a bit, Hanjiu grabbed my shoulders and positioned me in front of the mirror by the elevator. Then he gently lifted the hem of my hoodie.
"Wh-what the hell!"
I thought he'd lost it and went to pinch the back of his hand hard, but...
"Calm down and look first."
Peering into the mirror, I finally got it. These were new leggings. Holy shit, they accentuated my crotch way more than I thought. There it was—the infamous cameltoe. Not super deep, and the hoodie would cover it if I pulled it down, but walking around like this felt kinda indecent. Wait... had I been strutting around like this the whole time?
Luckily, it was Sunday morning, so not many people around... but more importantly, Song Yunseo! She must've noticed and not said a word?
"Ugh... fine. I'll change. Wait downstairs."
"Yeah, do that."
Only then did he let go of my hoodie.
"But honestly, doesn't this get you a little excited?"
"Shut up and hurry back!"
~
While I was up, I changed my whole outfit. The season must be shifting for real. I hadn't admitted it since I hated seeming like I was giving in, but yeah, it was hot. Inside the hoodie, not just my breasts in their cups but even the underband of my bra was damp. I ditched the leggings and hoodie, throwing on a thin tee with a light cardigan and loose training shorts that went to my knees. It was just Hanjiu next door anyway. No need to dress up for a quick ramen run.
I did a quick swipe of makeup at the vanity, grabbed my go-to lip balm for outings, and headed out. Lip balm in hand, I checked myself in the elevator mirror and hit the ground floor, where Hanjiu was waiting by the entrance. We strolled toward the back gate, chatting about this and that. And by "this and that," I don't mean any of that lovey-dovey couple stuff you'd expect between guys and girls.
I teased him about whining like a patch beggar, waiting endlessly for summer updates and balance patches, and before I knew it, we were at the ramen shop. Maybe because it was just opening time, the place wasn't packed even for Sunday lunch. The part-timer, Eye-na, seated us.
I ordered the clean shoyu ramen; Hanjiu went for the special tonkotsu set with a small gyudon. I sipped my lavender tea leisurely, eyeing Hanjiu across the table as he scanned the impressively long order sheet.
"You're not even hitting the gym anymore?"
"I'm not trying to be a bodybuilder. No need for a strict diet."
For someone who says that, you sure demolished those chicken breasts like a champ. And you lit up like a kid at Christmas over curry because you had something to dip. Plenty I wanted to say, but I just picked up my tea as my lavender arrived.
"Food's up. Shoyu ramen for this table?"
Our orders arrived soon after. Across from my modest shoyu, his massive special tonkotsu looked filling just to stare at.
"You gonna finish all that?"
"And you're only eating that much?"
We blinked at each other, dumbfounded. We were in the same world when it came to body talk, but our eating habits? Worlds apart. After a sharp stare-down, Hanjiu scooped up a deep spoonful of broth, ramen-shop style. I flagged down the passing Eye-na.
"Excuse me, sorry."
"Yes, what can I do?"
"Could I get a side plate and a ladle?"
Song Yunseo's glare had made me eat a heavy breakfast, and like Hanjiu said, it wasn't a huge portion, but I wasn't confident I'd finish. I ladled some noodles and broth onto the side plate. Grabbing my chopsticks, I swept my annoying side hair behind my ear to keep it from dipping in. But the ramen never made it to my mouth.
"What? Something wrong?"
"Nah, just..."
"That face says otherwise. What's your problem now!"
"Not a problem, exactly."
After a pause, Hanjiu sighed softly.
"Seeing you nitpick like this... really drives home that you're a girl."
Again with the girl talk!
"Oh, really? You stared plenty at my cameltoe earlier, and now it hits you?"
"Ugh... I gotta hold back, seriously."
He picked up his chopsticks like he was done talking. Finally, I slurped my ramen. Unlike with other friends—girls especially—Hanjiu got quiet around food, and so did I. Honestly, I still didn't get snapping pics of your meal. Thanks to that, we ate in silence. But despite digging in, I left more than half.
I thought I could polish it off. Miscalculated. Meanwhile, Hanjiu had vacuumed his tonkotsu broth and gyudon set clean—and still looked hungry, idly flipping the menu.
I slid my shoyu toward him.
"Hey, want this? I ate clean from it."
Unlike usual, he waved off my bowl. Hey, I really did eat tidy...
"Come on, force it down."
"No way. I'd be immobile."
He eyed me and the bowl back and forth, then frowned slightly.
"Hey, Song Yujeong. You don't have anorexia or something, do you?"
"Anorexia?"
"It's weird. The portion's not that big."
Even he was saying it. I appreciated the concern, but after a full day of Song Yunseo's nagging yesterday, it grated.
"Anorexia my ass. Don't make a fuss over nothing. It was the heavy breakfast from your sister. If you're not eating it, let's go."
"Wait, I didn't say I wouldn't."
Before I knew it, he'd slyly pulled my bowl over and demolished the rest like a pro. Worrywart one second, food vacuum the next.
~
After ramen, we hit a nearby cafe for a palate cleanser. He got iced Americano; I went for strawberry yogurt smoothie. We'd exhausted patches and balances, so with drinks in hand, talk turned to the upcoming festival.
"We're just doing a cafe."
Various issues had banned booze booths this year, so Economics Club settled on the next best thing: cafe.
"What about your dept?"
"Us? Experience game zone."
"Game zone?"
"Stock market themed. Mixed with board games, but details are fuzzy even for me."
What? Sounds fun! So original compared to our dept's zero-creativity crap!
"You doing anything there?"
He shrugged.
"Too many participants already, so guys can sit it out."
"Makes sense. Who'd enter a booth full of dark sausages?"
"Watch your mouth—crowded place!"
I stuck out my tongue. He shot back.
"Even if I skip, what about you, Song Yujeong?"
"One shift serving."
His eyes widened.
"Serving? Not kitchen—you serving? They forcing it in Economics?"
"Nah, voluntary."
"Then what flipped the switch?"
"Didn't wanna, but friends begged, saying it'd be a memory."
Ugh, thinking about it gave me a headache. I sighed and shook my head.
"When's your shift?"
"Why you asking?"
Suspicious. Especially that sleazy grin!
"What else? Boost your sales as a good friend."
"Piss off—I don't need it!"
"What kinda service is that to a customer?"
I flipped him the bird.
"Customer my ass. No way I'm telling you!"