Chapter 32

She blushed as soon as the words left her mouth. She knew how provocative her suggestion sounded. Hastily, she added a clarification.

“I mean… not in that way. I just thought you might be uncomfortable.”

“If I come up, it’ll be too cramped. Are you okay with that?”

“…!”

“It’s a super single size, so it’ll be tight if we lie down together.”

“Ah, um, well…”

Flustered, Seol-rin stammered, her large eyes darting around as she searched for words. At that moment, their gazes met in the air. Tae-oh smirked mischievously.

“If you keep tempting me like this, it’ll be a problem. I’m still a man, you know.”

“Well, you’re definitely not a woman, Professor… Haha…”

Her heart raced so fast she thought she might go crazy. 

Was it because he had never acted this playful before? 

She laughed awkwardly, saying nonsensical things.

“Don’t worry about me. Just go to sleep.”

With that, Tae-oh placed his large hand over her smaller one. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down her spine, making all the hairs on her body stand on end.

‘Ugh, this is so awkward!’

Everything was so new to her that she had no idea how to handle it. Meanwhile, Tae-oh seemed completely at ease. His relaxed demeanor was a stark contrast to her heightened sensitivity to his every move. It felt unfair somehow.

“Honestly, I still can’t believe it.”

“What?”

“That you… like me. I mean, I just can’t believe it. You seem so perfect to me, but I’m full of flaws…”

Without realizing it, she started rambling. The memory of what she had seen in his study that morning kept resurfacing. She wanted to be someone worthy of him, someone who matched his perfection, but at the same time, she felt insecure, as if they were worlds apart.

It was a childish complaint, but Tae-oh’s eyes turned serious.

“I like you.”

“…!”

“I like you, so stop doubting it and overthinking. Don’t belittle yourself, either.”

He gently squeezed her hand as he continued.

“And besides, humans are all flawed.”

His words were simple yet strangely powerful. It felt like all the hardships she had endured were suddenly soothed.

“But you still seem perfect to me, Professor.”

“Thanks for thinking that. Now, go to sleep.”

As he spoke, he brushed her hair gently with his free hand. However, instead of feeling sleepy, Seol-rin felt more awake than ever.

Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she smiled. Now it was her turn to be playful.

“Professor, I have a wish.”

“A wish?”

“Yes. Promise you’ll grant it.”

“What is it?”

“Promise me fiist.”

Looking at her childlike insistence, Tae-oh reluctantly nodded.

“Alright.”

“You can’t take it back later! My wish is… say that today is our first day as a couple!”

Seol-rin hesitated for a moment before blurting it out. She couldn’t stop thinking about what Mi-yeon had told her.

Of course, their actions were already like those of a couple. They exchanged affectionate glances, held hands, and whispered sweet words to each other.

But even so, Seol-rin wanted to hear it. She wanted their relationship to be clearly defined in his words.

“What?”

Tae-oh’s eyes widened in surprise. He looked as if he had just heard something incomprehensible.

“Say that today is our first day.”

Her expression was firm as she repeated herself, enunciating each word clearly. Once she said it, it didn’t seem as difficult as she had thought.

“Should I say it again?”

“No, hold on.”

It was obvious that Tae-oh was flustered. His eyes, framed by his glasses, were shaking intensely.

It was the first time she had seen him so at a loss. And… it didn’t feel bad. In fact, it was thrilling. Her expression became more determined.

“You promised, remember?”

“Seol-rin.”

“…Yes?”

“Do I really have to say that?”

Tae-oh, bound by his own promise, couldn’t back out due to his personality. He looked at Seol-rin with an earnest expression.

Seeing him like that, Seol-rin felt it was both amusing and pitiful. She briefly considered letting it go, but quickly steeled herself. This was something she needed to address.

“What’s this…? You said you liked me, but it was all a lie?”

“Pfft.” 

With a pouty face, Seol-rin stuck out her lips. Seeing Tae-oh’s troubled expression only fueled her stubbornness.

“It’s not that, it’s just too—”

“Hurry up. Okay?”

With her eyes sparkling as if she wouldn’t yield, Seol-rin urged him again. Tae-oh instinctively knew—he had no choice but to say it.

With a deep sigh, Tae-oh finally began to speak, albeit slowly. His face was visibly flushed.

“Well, fine. Starting from… today.”

“Sorry? What did you say? Professor, I couldn’t hear you at all.”

Seol-rin cupped her hands around her ears, teasing him gleefully. Tae-oh was clearly putting all his energy into each word, but she couldn’t resist poking fun at him.

“Starting from what?”

“…”

“At this rate, I won’t hear it tonight—”

“Starting from today, we’re a couple.”

“…!!”

“Happy now?”

“…Pfft!!”

She couldn’t hold back her laughter. It was surreal to see Tae-oh, who was mortified, actually say, “Starting from today, we’re a couple.” Even though she had insisted on it, she couldn’t believe it herself and burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.

“Oh… Professor, haha!”

“Stop laughing, will you?”

“Yes… I’m just so happy, I can’t help it.”

Before long, his face turned visibly red, flushed to the point where it was noticeable even from a distance. Tae-oh, seemingly lost in self-deprecation, gently covered Seol-rin’s eyes with his large hands. Though her vision went dark, she felt a strange sense of peace. She knew that Professor Ma Tae-oh would be by her side.

“Honestly, I’m doing all sorts of things because of you.”

“Hehe… But I really wanted to hear it.”

“Now, go to sleep.”

“Good night, Professor.”

“Sleep well.”

For some reason, it felt like she would have a wonderful dream tonight.

***

The first morning after officially declaring “Starting from today, we’re a couple” with the professor had arrived. It felt like the nerves she had on her first day of work all over again. But this time, it was a pleasant excitement.

“I absolutely can’t cause trouble for the professor.”

Given their positions as professor and assistant, it was only natural to be cautious. Openly displaying affection would undoubtedly put Tae-oh in an awkward position rather than herself.

With her resolve strengthened, Seol-rin entered the department office. The now-familiar surroundings greeted her warmly.

With the semester starting in March, both Tae-oh and Seol-rin had become extremely busy. The library organization was nearing its end, and the final lists of new and returning students had been confirmed.

“Oh, Cha Yeon-woo.”

While scanning the list of new students, a familiar name caught her eye. So, he was finally coming to school. Remembering the past ups and downs, Seol-rin smiled faintly, hoping he would adapt well.

Lost in organizing the student records, she realized it was almost lunchtime. Stretching, she stood up from her seat.

“Having lunch together shouldn’t seem odd, right?”

Until now, she had avoided having lunch with Tae-oh to maintain some distance. But now, she wanted to eat with him if possible. Once the semester started, they would be even busier, so she wanted to see him as much as she could before then.

With a slightly springy step, Seol-rin headed to the professor’s office next to the department office. The nameplate on the door that read “Ma Tae-oh” caught her attention.

Even his name seemed so cool. He really was a man without flaws. Thinking about how she had become so smitten, Seol-rin clicked her tongue at herself.

Knock, knock.

She knocked, but there was no response from inside.

“Is he out on business?”

Without much thought, she tried the doorknob, and the door opened immediately. The office was brightly lit.

Naturally stepping inside, Seol-rin looked around the office. The neatly organized space was unmistakably Professor Ma Tae-oh’s.

“I miss him.”

Even though they had spent the entire weekend together, she already missed him. It was clear that she had fallen for him completely.

Just the thought of him made her feel so happy that a smile spread across her lips. At that moment, she heard footsteps approaching from afar.

‘He’s back!’

Excited to greet him, Seol-rin hurriedly ran out to the door.

“Professor Ma Tae-oh, you’re back!”

“What’s this? Who are you?”

But the person looking at her wasn’t Tae-oh. It was a woman with a strong perfume scent.

“Who are you?”

The middle-aged woman with a sharp bob haircut and a relatively stern face stepped closer to Seol-rin. She seemed tall for a woman, and the high heels she wore made her appear even taller.

Seol-rin instinctively swallowed nervously and clamped her lips shut. The woman’s overwhelming presence made her feel completely intimidated.

“Can’t you speak? Who are you?”

“Ah, I’m… the assistant…”

Her voice naturally trailed off. The woman’s condescending gaze seemed like a deeply ingrained habit. With her head slightly tilted up, the woman scanned Seol-rin from head to toe. It was impossible not to realize she was being evaluated.