Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Hajun first saw Shin Yeonsu the day he went to Professor Hwamin Lee’s advanced major lecture.

After quitting hockey, which he’d been completely engrossed in, and enduring an unplanned year of intense re-study, he’d finally arrived here.

Korea University, Department of Business Administration.

Hajun hadn’t chosen it himself. His college entrance exam scores were simply good, his father wanted it, and his mother pushed for it.

Though everyone’s lives were different, and the goals they had to overcome varied, he genuinely didn’t know what was truly important.

It felt like he was living life with its essence completely missing. Day after day, Hajun’s time drifted aimlessly through laziness and idleness.

“I’ve already spoken a lot about you to Professor Lee, so just listen without complaint. If you want to work under your father later, it’s basically essential to take Professor Lee’s class.”

He tried to imagine where he stood within the meticulously calculated figures his mother had laid out.

He’d rather have been sent abroad. He even threatened to go overseas if they were going to interfere this much after he started university, but both his parents strongly objected.

That blasted short-lived curse or whatever. What era was this? Why couldn’t they see their son was the healthiest person in the world?

Why were they the only ones who didn’t know that he could even skip death and trample on others’ lives to breathe so vigorously?

“Hajun oppa, are you taking this class?”

Seonyeong, a junior one year below him, spoke to him as he sat with a bored expression.

She was sociable and bright, and they’d become friends in just one day after attending a small freshman welcome gathering earlier that year.

Seonyeong pulled a chocolate wrapped in gold foil from her pocket and offered it to him.

“Want some?”

“No, I’m not really into sweets.”

“Okay.”

She stood up from the center of the lecture hall, heading for the very front row.

Seonyeong tapped the back of a girl wearing a white blouse and jeans, with long, straight hair.

“Yeonsu, do you like chocolate?”

“Oh, yeah. Thanks.”

The girl, who had been completely engrossed in her book, turned her head.

Then she took the chocolate from Seonyeong’s hand. Hajun, who was pulling a book from his bag, reacted by furrowing his brow intensely for a moment.

He was utterly dumbfounded.

What kind of girl looked exactly like a doll? Did she have stars in her eyes? They sparkled so damn brightly.

Unaware of how long his gaze had lingered, he stared at Yeonsu’s back for quite a while.

It was probably due to drinking late into the night with the guys, but her eyelids fluttered delicately.

“Hyung, today too? The guys want to drink.”

Yumin, one of his classmates, nudged Hajun’s shoulder, trying to coax him. In an otherwise boring campus life, at least there was alcohol.

When he spent the night drinking, oblivious to the passage of time, another day would inevitably pass.

Hajun nodded.

“Yeah, got it.”

“We’re calling the girl classmates today too. That okay?”

“Do whatever you want.”

“Should we call those juniors too?”

Yumin’s finger pointed directly at Yeonsu. Someone had mentioned there was a particularly pretty new freshman this year, and well, she was certainly attractive.

After that brief thought, Hajun turned his gaze away.

The world was full of pretty faces. During his hockey player days, girls who looked like celebrities would constantly bring him handwritten letters and gifts.

There were countless confessions, so he could pick and choose a girlfriend whenever he wanted.

It seemed Hajun’s opinion didn’t matter from the start, as Yumin stood up.

He then told Seonyeong that they were going drinking after class, and invited her to bring some of the juniors along.

At that moment, Yeonsu turned around again.

“Sunbae, can I come too?”

Contrary to her seemingly aloof first impression, her casual eye-smile left Yumin flustered.

“Huh? Oh? Y-yeah, of course you can come! You know Knock in front of school at six, right? We’re drinking there, so you definitely have to come.”

“Yes, sir.”

After getting a definitive answer, Yumin came back to the rear of the classroom, elbowing Hajun’s arm, visibly excited.

“Hyung! Hyung! Yeonsu’s coming too!”

“So what?”

“It’s her, her! The freshman ace I told you about.”

“Okay, just stop spitting. It’s gross.”

Yumin wiped his lips with the back of his hand, whistling continuously, clearly in a good mood. Hajun twirled the pen in his hand, then looked at him and spoke.

“Are you that happy?”

“Yeah, yeah! This is flirting, right? Other seniors offered to buy her dinner, but she always said no! Said she was busy. She’d always rush home right after class! But Hyung, did you hear? Just now, Yeonsu asked me first if she could come too! Ugh, I should’ve dressed a bit nicer today.”

Hajun clicked his tongue at Yumin, who was already celebrating prematurely. He doubted a change of clothes would make much difference.

To relieve his boredom, he put earphones in his ears.

Behind Korea University’s dorms was a dense bamboo forest.

Late last year, the women’s dormitory was thrown into chaos because of a pervert who occasionally appeared in that forest.

The pervert had supposedly worn a black bag over their head, entered the women’s dorm, stolen several pieces of underwear, and fled.

For several months, the culprit wasn’t caught, leading to police deployment and general commotion, but recently things had quieted down. Now, only security guards patrolled in front of the dorms again.

After that incident, the dorm residents’ curfew was moved up by an hour.

Students who were out drinking would rush back to the dorms like Cinderellas as soon as eleven o’clock approached.

Regardless, it became a kind of unspoken rule that, using the pervert incident and the dark path as an excuse, female students would collectively ask Hajun to walk them back to the dorm.

There were even rumors that if you confessed your feelings along that path, fueled by alcohol, Hajun would accept.

“Hey, Kang Yumin. Get a grip. We’re at the dorm. Why are you so heavy? What did you shove down your gullet?”

“Hyung, ugh, Hyung. Hic.”

“…Disgusting. If you burp one more time, I’m leaving you here, got it?”

Late at night, Hajun and Yeonsu were the only ones not drunk. Hajun usually enjoyed talking with his friends more than drinking, and surprisingly, Yeonsu had a high tolerance for alcohol.

While Hajun moved with two drunken classmates supported on either side, Yeonsu helped Seonyeong all the way back to the dorm.

Perhaps because Korea University’s Business Administration department gathered all the studious types, many people became like untethered colts upon entering university, only satisfied when completely drunk.

As diligent as they were in their studies, they were equally diligent in playing whenever they gathered.

“Hey, hey! That’s not the restroom. Right, ah, to the right, you crazy bastard.”

After getting the two heavy guys into their respective dorm rooms and even making sure they relieved themselves, he returned to the dorm entrance.

He hadn’t exchanged a single word with Yeonsu on the way up.

No, Hajun hadn’t spoken to Yeonsu since the pub in front of school.

He had been surrounded by laughing friends constantly pushing drinks on him, and it was the same for Yeonsu.

‘Oh, for crying out loud. This is why being handsome is tiring. And it’s not just handsome. My personality is pretty damn nice too.’

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he flapped his shirt in the cool breeze. He needlessly checked the watch on his wrist, glancing at the women’s dorm entrance, but it remained quiet.

He had intended to walk Yeonsu to the school entrance since the path was dangerous, but she didn’t appear.

…Well, she’ll figure it out on her own.

Hajun scratched the back of his head and turned to leave.

He wasn’t her boyfriend, so why should he look after her? He knew showing affection for juniors was like showing love for one’s country, but he felt it wasn’t strictly necessary.

He started to walk down the dorm’s downhill path but changed direction. He took the side path to the left and crossed over towards the music department building.

As he emerged from the restroom after a quick stop, a familiar female voice reached his ears.

“I’m going to take a leave of absence for the second semester. Just so you know. Mom, are you really going to do this? How can I just comfortably go to school by myself? Your daughter is all grown up. I’ve grown up well enough, and I’m confident I can earn a lot of money if I work somewhere. So please… Mom!”

It sounded like something he shouldn’t be hearing, so he took a detour, exiting through the opposite door.

But then, he ran straight into Yeonsu, who was squatting on the round steps like a stage behind the music building.

Does she have wheels on her feet? How did she get here already?

He was about to walk past her, but a sudden wave of concern washed over him at the eerie presence of the bamboo forest behind the distant dorm. He unconsciously plopped down beside her.

Then, having nothing else to say, he just blurted out.

“What, an adult, still fighting with your mom?”

Yeonsu chuckled, then looked his way.

“I guess so.”

Unlike in the classroom where her hair had been down, Yeonsu’s long, straight hair was tied up in a ponytail, dangling in the air. This exposed her pale, long neck and clean ears.

Hajun plunged both hands deep into his jacket pockets.

“‘I’m just saying. I still fight with my mom a lot too.”