Chapter 31: Shin So-eun
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 31: Shin So-eun
“What’s the matter?”
I asked first.
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't figure out why Shin So-eun would be calling me. Our only point of contact was the single class we shared once a week.
If I had to find one more...
‘Was it that little spat we had the other day?’
It wasn't even a major fight, just a minor disagreement. Could it really be because of that?
—It’s nothing major. The professor asked me to check if the students have purchased the textbooks.
Typical professor. Trying to hawk the books he wrote to his own students...
Even so, as an undergraduate, I didn't have much of a choice.
“If that’s what this is about, I’ve already bought it.”
—I see.
Sometimes, there are professors who want one student to organize supplies or various assignments for the rest of the class. In exchange for doing the professor's busywork, they usually get a bonus on their grades.
Seeing as she went out of her way to call me, it seemed Shin So-eun had taken on the grunt work for this major.
‘She didn't seem like the type to do this kind of thing.’
Since the business was concluded, it was time to hang up.
“Aren't you going to hang up?”
—I have something to ask.
“To ask me?”
—Yes.
What now?
—When did you return to school? I don't think I saw you during the first semester this year.
“I came back starting this semester. Is there a problem?”
—No, it’s nothing like that. I just haven't seen a classmate in a while, so I was curious.
“Is that so? If you have nothing else to say, I’m hanging up.”
—Wait—
I hung up on her.
It sounded like she wanted to say something else at the end, but I didn't bother calling back. If she really needed something, she’d call again.
Anyway.
“Talking to women is actually pretty easy now, isn't it?”
I hardly hesitated or stuttered. Was it because I was already talking frequently with women who were considered the "goddesses" of their departments? Talking to a woman didn't feel awkward anymore.
“Maybe I can finally become an 'insider' too?”
*
I didn't expect to run into Shin So-eun again until next week. I had planned to mostly ignore her even if we met during class.
“Why did you hang up yesterday?”
Shin So-eun stood in front of me in the hallway leading to the lecture hall, her arms crossed.
“Excuse me?”
“You suddenly hung up. I still had more to say.”
Shin So-eun looked down at me with a venomous expression. It was a look that said, 'How dare you cut me off?'
She was the kind of prideful woman who wouldn't dream of calling back herself.
‘Ah, right. She was this kind of woman.’
A princess. No, a queen.
She was once the queen of the Computer Engineering Department. Since everyone coddled her, she probably felt like the world belonged to her.
Classmates who would do her assignments if she showed a little aegyo. Seniors who would pay for drinks just to show off in front of her. And even the new freshmen were enchanted by her beauty, following her like slaves.
Me? I wasn't one of them.
As I emphasized before, I never went out of my way to get close to her. It seemed she still hadn't kicked her old habits; her overbearing attitude was exactly the same.
If it had been the old me, I would have stammered out an apology. I might not have even been able to get the words out properly.
I looked at Shin So-eun and asked, “Was it something important?”
“What?”
“I asked if it was something important.”
“...Yes. It was important.”
“Then you should have called back.”
“Wh-what did you say?”
“If it was about the professor or this class, you should have called me back. You didn't start this job without that kind of responsibility, did you?”
Her arrogant attitude annoyed me, so my voice naturally turned cold.
“It... it wasn't about the class.”
Perhaps not expecting this reaction, Shin So-eun stepped back, looking flustered.
“Then what was it?”
“The Class of 2017 was planning a meetup, and I was going to ask you to join.”
“So it wasn't important at all.”
“Why isn't it important? It's about classmates interacting and sharing information...”
“I’ve never once attended a separate gathering with my classmates.”
The Class of 2017. I wasn't particularly close with any of them. There was no one I wanted to pretend to be friendly with at a meetup, so there was no reason to go.
“It’s really not that important. If you’re done, could you move? I have things to do.”
“Ha!”
Shin So-eun let out a scoffing laugh, as if she couldn't believe it.
“Look here, Choi Jae-ho.”
“Are you still not done?”
Shin So-eun asked, huffing with indignation.
“Are you gay?”
What kind of bullshit was this?
“Gay?”
“Yes.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Ah, I meant to just think that, but it slipped out.
“If you weren't, there's no way you'd ignore me while I'm talking...”
I took a belated look at Shin So-eun. She was dressed up quite elaborately. She wore a carefully chosen blue one-piece dress. It accentuated her figure just enough without looking cheap—a clear indication of why she was treated like a princess or a queen in the department.
She was quite pretty. Literally, quite pretty.
‘But Miju and Ye-seul are way better.’
I found myself unconsciously comparing Miju and Ye-seul to Shin So-eun.
“I’m not gay. I’m a normal heterosexual. And I never ignored you, Shin So-eun. I just clearly stated my intentions.”
As I stared at her calmly...
“Grrr!”
Shin So-eun bit her lip as if she were about to explode with frustration. Just as I was thinking of a way to shake her off...
“Senior, what are you doing to Jae-ho oppa?”
It was Miju’s voice. Miju suddenly appeared and stood between me and Shin So-eun. How long had she been watching?
“I’d appreciate it if the freshman stayed out of this. I have things to discuss with a fellow Class of '17 member.”
“It doesn't look like Jae-ho oppa wants to talk to you, though.”
Miju had definitely been watching for a while. As their voices grew louder, the eyes of the people around us began to fixate on our group.
“What’s going on?”
“Is it a lovers' quarrel?”
“Why are they fighting in the hallway?”
“Hey, film that.”
Conscious of the attention, Shin So-eun clicked her tongue.
“Let’s talk later.”
She left after dropping a line that sounded like something a third-rate villain would say. The attention that had briefly gathered on us soon dissipated.
“Whew.”
Miju, who had spoken so boldly, let out a long sigh.
“Jae-ho oppa, do you know that senior?”
“No.”
“Then how did you end up arguing with her?”
“She called me once because we're in the same class.”
“A phone call?”
“Just to ask if I bought the textbook.”
“Ah...”
Miju nodded for a moment, then lowered her voice.
“Oppa, be careful.”
“Of what?”
“I heard that senior is really dangerous. There are quite a few male seniors who got enchanted by her, ruined their grades, and ended up enlisting in the army.”
“Really?”
“So be careful. Especially since you're in the same class!”
After warning me several times, Miju hesitated.
“Um, so... Oppa?”
“Yeah?”
“...You don't have feelings for that senior or anything, right?”
Miju asked with great difficulty after fidgeting for a long time.
“Of course not.”
A woman like that isn't my style. No matter how pretty she is.
“That’s a relief.”
Miju breathed a sigh of relief.
“Anyway, good luck with your class. By the way, did the PT with Ye-seul go well? She didn't make any mistakes, did she?”
“Yeah, it was great. Why?”
“Oh, it’s just that Ye-seul said her class was canceled today and she’s resting at home. She said she has muscle pain... I was worried she might have overdone it.”
“Ah...”
I felt a pang of guilt. I suspected it was exhaustion from excessive orgasms rather than muscle pain. I didn't bring that up, though.
“I should send her some medicine for muscle pain or something.”
I just made that excuse.
But... why was Miju following me in the same direction?
*
“It was incredible.”
Heo Da-young arrived at work with a dazed expression. Even today, she felt like she was floating. It had been like this since yesterday. She couldn't focus on her work.
Whenever she tried to concentrate, the training she did with Jae-ho popped into her head.
Climbing on top of him, moving her hips up and down. Holding a pose with her hands against the wall while Jae-ho moved his hips behind her.
It was intense exercise. Every time they did it, she felt like all the toxins in her body were being purged. Her fatigue was gone and her body felt refreshed, but her mind kept wandering.
It was the same today. For two days after exercising, her body and mind were clear and refreshed. But by the third day, she always ended up like this.
She had been so busy with overtime lately that she hadn't been able to exercise properly, but the thoughts kept coming.
I want to exercise.
She felt her nipples hardening. Her body had become sensitive. Why did all the characters on her computer screen look like Jae-ho and exercise?
As Heo Da-young sat staring blankly at her computer, lost in her fantasies...
“Assistant Manager Heo.”
Assistant Manager Jung’s voice snapped her back to reality. This man was persistent, hitting on her even after being rejected multiple times.
“Yes?”
“How about we leave together today? It’s hard on me if you stand me up too many times.”
“Assistant Manager Jung, I’m working right now. Please talk to me later.”
She was sick of his advances. Honestly, a month ago, she might have welcomed them. But not now. There was someone much more important.
“Don't be like that...”
“This is sexual harassment. I clearly told you I’m not interested!”
“I just thought since we're going the same way, we could grab dinner...”
“I said no.”
“Ahem, I—I understand.”
Assistant Manager Jung backed off at Heo Da-young’s sharp words.
Just then...
Ding.
A text arrived.
—Trainer Jae-ho ♥
It was Jae-ho.
—Member Heo Da-young, you haven't been to the gym lately. You were scheduled to visit yesterday; I hope nothing is wrong?
Her face flushed at the concerned text.
“Ho ho ho.”
Heo Da-young laughed, unconsciously covering her mouth with her hand. The irritation that had built up from Assistant Manager Jung and the overtime vanished in an instant.
The memory of exercising with him was still vivid. She even wished every day could be like that day. She sent a text back, filled with regret.
—I haven't been able to go because of overtime the last few days. ㅠㅠ Tomorrow is the weekend, so I’d like to visit. Would that be okay?
The reply came immediately.
—Of course. I’ll be waiting. Noona.
Jae-ho sent an emoticon of a small bear giving a thumbs up.
“How cute.”
Noona, he called her. Was this the power of a younger man? Her lips curled into a grin despite herself.
‘Black underwear... he liked that, didn't he?’
Maybe she should try a similar design next time.
But then...
‘Why am I worrying about my underwear just to go to the gym?’
It wasn't even a date. A slight sense of dissonance washed over her. It was strange. Something was definitely strange...
In that moment, her mind became hazy, as if a fog had rolled in. It was like the feeling of having just woken up. For a moment, Heo Da-young’s eyes lost their focus.
“Why did I think that? Wearing winning underwear to the gym has always been a regular thing.”
Look at me. She must be exhausted from overworking. Heo Da-young slapped both her cheeks to focus her mind.
“Get it together.”
To go to the gym tomorrow, she had to grind through her work today. But she kept thinking about the workout she did yesterday.
The trainer—no, Jae-ho—was incredible.
‘Is that what it means to be a professional?’
Even now, days later, her lower abdomen throbbed.
‘I’m already looking forward to it.’
Her next PT session, that is.