Part 6

11 years ago.

“Yoon Seowoo, have another drink!”

“I still have one exam left tomorrow. I’ve already had two drinks.”

Seowoo shook her head, covering the opening of the glass with her palm. It was clear that she wasn’t going to take any more.

“Why are you her then when you have an exam tomorrow?”

“Don’t worry about it. Seowoo has already finished everything, just a quick review is enough. Do you think she’s like us?”

“Senior, it’s not like that.”

Seowoo blushed with embarrassment and glanced away. She had been admitted to the university as a top student and got straight A’s on her midterm exams.

With her pretty appearance, lively personality, and considerate behavior, she was very popular not only among her peers but also among her seniors.

Tomorrow was the last day of final exams.

Although, as Senior Daehan said, she had finished studying for her exam, she had actually been persuaded only to come by her friend, Yoonmi. Fortunately, tomorrow’s exam was a light elective subject, so she had come along willingly.

Unlike Seowoo, most students were already enjoying the leisure of the end of the semester after finishing their exams.

“I can’t wait for it to be over, I wanted to play.”

Seeing everyone enjoying themselves so freely, she couldn’t help but feel envious. Twelve hours from now, after the last exam, she would also feel relieved, but for now, she could only envy them.

“Yeah, why are you so bad at registering for courses?”

“My computer suddenly started lagging. Anyway, tomorrow marks the end of this semester.”

“Let’s do well in the 2nd semester. Let’s take some easier courses to boost our GPA.”

Yoonmi strengthened her resolve as she took another sip of beer. Seeing her tongue already slightly twisted, it was clear she was already drunk.

Tomorrow afternoon, the entire department has scheduled a department MT.

T/N: Membership Training (MT) is an event held among university students in South Korea. These events last roughly two days and are considered free-form training sessions, where students spend time socializing with peers in the same academic majors or clubs, often at a remote location.

Usually, they would just rent a place and have a big end-of-semester party, but this time, they decided to go on an MT under the department’s initiative to soothe any regrets.

“Does anyone want to go grocery shopping with me tomorrow?”

When the department head, Songcheol, spoke, the table immediately fell silent. Since there were quite a few things to buy, everyone just looked around without making any moves.

“I don’t have anything to do after my first class ends. I’ll go with you!”

“Wow, as expected of Yoon Seowoo. Hey, everyone, take a cue from her. Our pretty freshman is going, so what are the seniors doing?”

As soon as Seowoo said she was going, several male seniors volunteered to go as well.

The cheerful drinking session continued. Seowoo usually stayed late at drinking gatherings since she lived near the school. But since she had an exam tomorrow, she thought she should leave early. It was when she checked the time belatedly.

“Are they here now?”

“Yeah. Looks like their drinking session over there is finished.”

“Who’s coming?”

Songcheol, who was sitting in front of her, said, and Yoonmi leaned toward him with a twinkle in her eye.

“Oh, my friends. They’re from the Business School, about four of them?”

“Oh! Those seniors?”

“Exactly. Did you know them?” 

“Yes, yes!”

Yoonmi nodded vigorously.

Songcheol, the department head, had a wide network of connections. So, he sometimes drank with students from other departments as well. The seniors Yoonmi mentioned were probably seniors that Seowoo had seen a few times as well.

“Since we’re almost done here, we’re gonna meet up and have a drink.”

“Why, let’s go together!”

“Han Yoonmi, you look like you’re already pretty drunk.”

“I’m not drunk!”

Yoonmi made an innocent expression and shook her head. Seeing her like that, it was clear she was already intoxicated, so Seowoo sitting next to her clicked her tongue.

“Hasn’t Jiwook already been discharged?”

“Yeah. That’s right. He’s with them now.”

“Who is he?”

Yoonmi asked, interrupting their conversation.

“Jiwook?”

“Yes! I’ve never heard that name before!”

“Enough. We really have to go now.”

In the end, Seowoo hastily packed up and pulled Yoonmi’s arm, but she suddenly twisted away and moved her body backward. 

“Let’s hang out a little longer. Huh? The cool guys are coming, where are you going!”

“Then let’s just play a little longer and leave together. I’ll ask them to come this way.”

At Songcheol’s suggestion, Seowoo sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Since she was living with Yoonmi, it was Seowoo’s responsibility to take her home.

She regretted not stopping Yoonmi before she got so drunk.

“So, who is this cool senior with the awesome name?”

“Have you ever heard of Kwon Jiwook?”

“Kwon Jiwook?”

“Yeah. He’s quite famous. Almost everyone at our school knows him. No, even in other schools, I think.”

“Wow. He’s that famous?”

Songcheol nodded.

Who is this person to be talked about like this?

To the freshmen who had just entered, he was just another unfamiliar name. 

How famous could he be?

“…….”

But the name was the same.

It was the same name as someone she knew. She was thinking about the familiar name when she got a strange feeling.

“Do you know Chairman Kwon Young-jin of the K Group?”

“Is there anyone in Korea who doesn’t know that chairman?”

“Well, he’s his grandson.”

Seowoo stared at Songcheol with a somewhat surprised expression.

“Huh, that’s amazing. His grandson? But he’s attending our school?”

“Yeah. I’m not sure if he’ll return to school this semester or not. I heard he might be going abroad. I’ll ask him today. Jiwook also entered as a top student. He’s famous in many ways.”

It’s really him…….

Seowoo’s face stiffened as she listened.

Encountering that name she had wondered about, her heart began to race. It wasn’t easy to run into someone living in such a different world, but she never imagined she would suddenly meet him like this.

Kwon Jiwook…….

Her breathing suddenly become irregular due to nervousness.

“Oh, they’re here. Over here!”

At that moment, Songcheol looked toward the door and waved. Seowoo and Yoonmi’s gazes shifted in that direction. Four men, all well over 180 centimeters tall, were entering the store.

Yoonmi’s mouth twitched upwards at the sight of their clean-cut, handsome faces. Seowoo quickly turned her head away again.

The men walked briskly to the table where Seowoo was sitting.

“Grab a seat at the table. Haven’t you had a drink? You look fine.”

“I’ve already had quite a bit to drink.”

“Hello, oppa.”

“Hey, Yoonmi and Seowoo. Nice to see you.”

With a charming smile, Yoohyun greeted Yoonmi and Seowoo. Seowoo recognized him from the last time they had drinks together with Songcheol.

“Seowoo, you don’t look too good. Are you okay?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. I’m fine.”

Seowoo awkwardly forced a smile in response to Songcheol’s concerned voice.

Surely, if he had come, he would be next to me.

She was curious to see his face, but she didn’t dare to turn and check.

After all, he probably wouldn’t even remember me.

It was kind of funny that she was the only one panicking like this, but it had been so long that she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

“Seowoo?”

“….”

Then, a deep, resonant voice rang in her ears.

She never thought she’d hear her name so strangely. As Seowoo bit her lip in surprise, Songcheol spoke up instead.

“Oh, are you meeting for the first time? She’s the prettiest and top-scoring student in our department. So, say hello.”

“Ah…….”

Eventually, Seowoo slowly turned her head.

Though it had been such a long time, she recognized him instantly. He was standing next to her, his gaze lowered, looking directly at her.

“…….”

Surprised, Seowoo’s lips parted slightly. Their gazes locked in mid-air.