Part 7

It had been about 12 years since she had seen him.

The moment their eyes met, it felt like time and space stood still. 

A picture they took together when they were young flashed through Seowoo’s mind. It was a worn-out photo tucked into her diary.

His eyes were piercing, his nose was straight, and his jaw refined.

Jiwook looked just like he did when he was younger.

How could he not have changed at all?

It was amazing how he hadn’t changed at all.

“Yoon Seowoo.”

“…….”

“Hey! What are you doing!”

“Huh? Uh, um.”

It wasn’t until Yoonmi, who was sitting next to her, shook her arm that Seowoo’s eyes came back into focus.

“Let’s all sit together.”

Yoohyun pulled the next table over to join them. Jiwook sat down diagonally across the table from her. She tried not to look at him, but she could feel his eyes on her.

“Hello, senior! I’m Han Yoonmi, a freshman majoring in English.”

Yoonmi stared at Jiwook with sparkling eyes. Despite attending numerous drinking sessions throughout her first semester, it was her first time seeing him, so she was intrigued.

Jiwook’s gaze, on the other hand, was fixed in one place.

“Hey, the pretty junior is introducing herself. Aren’t you going to say hello?”

Yoohyun nudged Jiwook with his elbow.

“Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you.”

Jiwook replied soullessly, and Yoohyun laughed in disbelief.

“Jiwook, you’re still the same. Anyway, let’s drink. Excuse me! Can we get some drinks here too?”

“Are you guys all done with finals?”

“Yeah. We’re done.”

Songcheol and Yoohyun began pouring drinks and started chatting. Jiwook, without saying a word, lifted his glass to receive his drink.

“…….”

The tension was palpable. Nervousness made her swallow hard involuntarily.

Could it be that he recognizes me?

They had parted ways when she was just eight years old. Just as she remembered him, he might remember her as well. Unlike her, who had just entered elementary school as a first grader, Jiwook was in his fourth year at the time.

“Sigh.”

Seowoo shook her head in disbelief.

No, no. It couldn’t be. It’s been 12 years already, and unlike me, he might have forgotten.

The comfortable atmosphere suddenly felt uncomfortable. All because of one person.

Seowoo took a sip of beer, her lips trembling, and turned to grab Yoonmi’s forearm.

“Hey, Yoonmi. Aren’t you leaving? We should go now. How long are we going to hang out?”

“I’m done with exams. You’re going? What’s the rush?”

“I’m not done yet. Then I’ll go first. It’s getting late.”

Seowoo stood up, but Yoonmi quickly grabbed her and sat her back down. Seowoo’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Hey, let’s stay a little longer and go together! You’re done studying for the exam anyway.”

“Ehey, don’t tell me you’re leaving already. Let’s hang out a little longer. We just got here.”

“That’s right. We came here because Yoon Seowoo is here.”

Tae-jun chimed in agreement with Yoohyun’s words. Then Songcheol chuckled and spoke up.

“Yoon Seowoo is really popular.”

“Senior, you’re making me feel bad. Are you here to see Yoon Seowoo? What about me?”

“Of course, we also came because Yoonmi is here. Let’s have a drink for now.”

Yoohyun grinned and soothed Yoonmi. Feeling her throat burning, Seowoo gulped down the beer in front of her.

Since she had already finished studying for the exams as Yoonmi had said, she was just actually thinking of going straight home to rest. She only had one subject left, and it was not too difficult, so she didn’t worry much about it.

But….

Even the thought of glancing sideways made Seowoo uncomfortable. Despite her uneasy feelings, the conversation continued.

“Don’t contact us tomorrow to drink.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“We’re going on an MT tomorrow.” 

“Where?”

“Gangchon.”

“We want to go too.”

“Follow along if you want. But it’s for our department.”

Songcheol looked puzzled at Seongjin and Yoohyun’s eager attitude to join.

“Hey, we all drink together all the time anyway, and there’s no one in your department that I don’t know.”

“Is drinking together the same as going on an MT? You can go with your department mates. Why would you want to join another department’s MT?”

“We’ve already been to ours. Ah, I don’t know. I’ll come with you tomorrow. I’m bored.”

Yoohyun was straightforward. They were indeed close enough to have frequent drinking sessions as Yoohyun said, and there was hardly anyone they didn’t know. So, it wasn’t surprising at all.

But even as she listened to the conversation, Seowoo’s attention was drawn to one person.

“Sigh.”

“Seowoo, are you feeling okay? Did you drink too much?”

Seongjin asked in a worried voice. It seemed like even he noticed that Seowoo’s expression wasn’t quite pleased. Seowoo forced a smile, pulling the corners of her mouth up.

“No, it’s nothing like that.”

Seowoo pressed her palm against her flushed cheek and took a deep breath.

What would he be like as an adult? She had sometimes wondered.

Even as a child, he was incredibly handsome. Surely he would have become even more handsome as he grew older. But she had only imagined it to herself.

But the man in front of her was more handsome than she had ever imagined all those years.

She couldn’t even look up anymore.

It was too much. Being here any longer.

“I should go now.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Seowoo abruptly stood up from her seat and grabbed her bag hastily. Then, as if understanding, Songcheol looked at her and spoke.

“Okay, let’s have more fun tomorrow. Good luck on your exams.”

“Senior, I’ll call you after the exam, and we’ll go grocery shopping together.”

“Okay.”

Songcheol smiled and nodded.

“I’ll go in.”

“Are you okay going alone?”

“What am I, a kid? It’s not too late yet, so it’s fine. See you tomorrow. Hey, Han Yoonmi, make sure you come in soon.”

“Ugh, got it. The model student is nagging again.”

Yoonmi shook her head and shrugged. Seowoo awkwardly smiled and quickly left the place. In the end, she didn’t exchange a single word with Jiwook.

She couldn’t even bring herself to look him in the face, let alone speak to him.

“Hah.”

Seowoo sighed deeply as she walked out of the store, tightly closing her eyes. The humid summer night air penetrated deep into her lungs.

It was uncomfortably cold and humid, but compared to that awkward situation, it felt like a luxury.

“Meeting here like this.”

The events that had just unfolded felt like a dream. Seowoo paced slowly, lost in thought. Although she lived near the school, it was about a 10-minute walk away.

“…Feels like a dream.”

The things she remembered were so far in the past that she couldn’t tell if they were real or not.

“Come with me.”

“Mom!”

T/N: Startled expression much like ‘Oh, my!’

Suddenly startled by the shadow looming over her, Seowoo flinched. As she slowly raised her tightly shut eyes, she saw a man looking down at her.

Her eyes widened as she recognized him.

“Huh…?”

Why was he here…?

She didn’t know what to say, so she just stood there mouth agape. Loud noises echoed around them. At the same time, her body did a quick half-turn.

“Darn it.”

Before she knew it, his arm was firmly around her waist. The screeching of tires filled her ears. She looked around in confusion. She saw a motorcycle speeding across the alley.

“Sorry! Oops!”

Unintentionally, as she found herself nestled in his embrace, Seowoo staggered back in surprise, startled by the sudden contact. Then, as she stumbled and twisted her ankle, her body swayed heavily, and Jiwook quickly wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”

She had to be okay even if she wasn’t.

Seowoo’s face turned red with embarrassment. She took two steps back, distancing herself from him.

Why is Kwon Jiwook in front of me?

An awkward silence fell upon them. It was in the midst of trying to sort out her jumbled thoughts and find the right words to say.

“Where’s your house?”

“M-me?”

“Is there anyone else here besides you?”

Despite the tender touch around her waist, his voice was sharp. Seowoo looked at him wide-eyed as their gazes met.

Her heart began to pound as they were so close.

“W-why are you asking that?”

Why would he suddenly appear and ask about my house?

She knew who he was, but Seowoo couldn’t even be sure if Kwon Jiwook remembered her. Sweat began to form in her clenched palms.

“Just… if it’s on the way, I thought I’d walk down with you.”

“…….”

“Are you going to stay here?”

“I-I’m leaving.”