Chapter 7 – That’s Why I To You (Part 2)

Song Yeong-joo called Junhee.

She handed Junhee a shopping bag with a famous brand name stylishly written on it. She said she thought it would suit Junhee when she went to the department store and gave it to her to wear when she went out after studying. She said that after spending so much time together, Junhee felt like a daughter to her.

Song Yeong-joo was still elegant and beautiful. Every word she spoke, every slight movement of her hand exuded sophisticated grace and refinement.

Junhee had heard that Song Yeong-joo was the daughter of a prominent politician. Junhee once wondered about Song Yeong-joo. What good deeds had she done in her past life to be born into such a great family and be so beautiful?

‘Is there anything wrong with our Dowook?’

Her dark eyes, similar to Dowook’s, looked at her without suspicion.

She was worried that all their hard work so far might be wasted with the college entrance exam approaching.

She said Dowook’s grandfather was very angry. If he just got into Korea University, the Chairman would pass down many things to him… but it seemed Dowook was starting to wander again just before the final year. She asked Junhee to keep an eye on him.

‘Even though he never listened to me, he always listened to you, Junhee didn’t he?’

She took off her gloves and held Junhee’s hands. Junhee couldn’t meet Song Yeong-joo’s eyes this time either. She stared at the fur collar of Song Yeong-joo’s thick coat.

It was a soft and warm-looking beige coat.

She wondered what her dad had worn last time in the teacher’s office. It was a faded and worn suit and a pilled jumper. He must have chosen his best clothes to come to Seoul and see Junhee’s homeroom teacher. The sight of her dad limping back in those uncomfortable clothes stuck in her mind.

No matter what Song Yeong-joo said, holding Junhee’s hands, Junhee only stared at her precious coat.

“Junhee.”

A gentle call snapped her out of it. When she looked up, Song Yeong-joo was faintly smiling.

“I heard your grades dropped a lot this time too.”

Song Yeong-joo was merely stating a fact, but Junhee felt it as if it was her fault. The drop in her grades felt extremely shameful.

Song Yeong-joo withdrew her hands from Junhee. With a calm and elegant gesture, she picked up the leather gloves she had taken off. As she put her hands into the gloves, she murmured to herself.

“It will all pass. Dowook wandering again, ignoring me, it will all pass. For you, for Dowook. You both seem so grown-up, but you’re still young. These are just fleeting trials. Once they pass…they’ll be nothing. I believe that, Junhee.”

When the lecture ended and she left the academy building, the world was entirely white.

Snow was pouring down from the sky. The roadside was filled with cars of parents who had come to pick up their children from the academy. Thanks to that, the street was noisy. The shouts of parents looking for their children and the honking of car horns were all mixed together.

Junhee looked up at the sky for a while, then pulled up the hood attached to her padded jacket. She carefully checked the zipper of her bag to make sure the lecture materials didn’t get wet.

They were materials from a famous lecturer’s on-site lecture, which she had applied for by saving up the pocket money she had received from Song Yeong-joo.

To get back to the dormitory, she had to take the subway and transfer to a bus once in the middle. She wrapped her scarf around her neck, hoping the snow would stop before she had to get on the bus. As she took a step, her name was called.

When she turned around, it was Choi Dowook. Next to Dowook stood Driver Kwon, holding a large black umbrella. Dowook gestured towards the roadside. Dowook’s private vehicle was parked there.

“Did I tell you where I was going today?”

“No.”

She was about to ask how he knew to come here, but stopped herself. Dowook’s outfit was particularly nice today.

“…I can take the subway.”

With his hands in his coat pockets, Dowook looked down at Junhee with a calm face.

“It’s not that far, I just have to transfer to a bus once in the middle.”

That typical ‘so what’ face of his. It seemed like only Junhee was aware of Driver Kwon’s presence.

“About thirty minutes.”

It was actually forty minutes, but she reduced it by ten. The silent, piercing gaze seemed to already know Junhee was lying. Junhee lowered her eyes slightly.

“And.”

“Hmm?”

“And why can’t you get in that car?”

“…I just don’t want to.”

Dowook chuckled briefly. A laugh as if saying, ‘Is that all?’

“Got it, now get in.”

“I just said I’m not—”

“Thanks so much for saying that, but it’s damn cold right now.”

Dowook strode towards Junhee. Driver Kwon hurriedly followed Dowook’s steps. The shadow of the black umbrella fell over Junhee as well.

“Just get in.”

Dowook flicked the snow off Junhee’s hood. The snow fell to the ground.

“I don’t want to catch a cold. I don’t want to get an injection. Can you handle my annoyance if that happens?”

It was as if he naturally assumed Junhee would have to deal with his annoyance. He hadn’t been sick in a long time, yet he was pretending to be weak. Even now, he looked down at Junhee with that arrogant and annoying face.

But just in case. Just in case Dowook really got sick again, it wouldn’t be good.

“No way. Our frail Young Master can’t catch a cold.”

Junhee decided to obediently follow Dowook.

When they got out of the car, the snow had stopped. Driver Kwon stepped back, and Junhee walked side by side with Dowook towards the dormitory. The path from the parking lot to the dormitory was a gentle hill, so they carefully stepped on the snow. The snow made a crunching sound with each step.

The cold street was filled with the smell of winter. Cold wind, dry air, wet soil, and musty exhaust fumes. Junhee inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the smell.

Suddenly, Dowook turned to look at Junhee. There was quite a distance between them now.

“Are you a turtle? Why are you so slow?”

His expression was cold, but there was a familiar playfulness in his eyes. Today, Junhee couldn’t meet those familiar eyes. She lowered her gaze and looked at the white snow on the ground.

“Just, enjoying the snow.”

“You’re not a kid.”

“I am still a kid.”

“Look at you talking back.”

“Seriously, are you my brother?”

It was the moment when she snapped and looked into his eyes.

“Want to go to the ski resort?”

The sudden question left her speechless.

“Next week.”

“…….”

“If you like watching the snow so much, do it there.”

As always, his eyes stared intently. Today, that gaze kept scratching a corner of Junhee’s heart. She didn’t want to ride in Dowook’s car. She didn’t want to be left alone with Dowook.

“Dowook.”

The reason Junhee didn’t want to ride in that car, the reason she didn’t want to meet Choi Dowook today.

“I think we need to stop.”

She had to say this today.

“I won’t do anything with you anymore. I’m going to study. You need to focus too. You said you’re going to Korea University. The Chairman is worried about your grades dropping. I also need to get my act together and study….”

Dowook, who had been standing still for a while, let out a bitter laugh. Junhee’s mouth closed at that laugh. Then Dowook tilted his head as if to say, go on. His chin was buried in the beige turtleneck.

“Why stop halfway. Keep going.”

“…We’re still young and have a lot to do, so.”

Junhee couldn’t finish her sentence. It was because of the fierce look in his eyes staring at her.

“Why do you keep cutting me off?”

Dowook muttered, sounding a bit tired.

“So your conclusion is to stop everything?”

In the end, the impatient boy concluded for her.

“After playing with me for a few months, that’s the conclusion you came to?”

“…….”

“Answer me, Woo Junhee.”

“Yes. That’s my answer.”

Junhee tried to look straight into his eyes as much as possible. But habitually, her gaze ended up on his lips.

A thin breath escaped through Dowook’s lips. She remembered the moments when she swallowed that breath. How hot and ticklish that breath was. How the sound of Dowook exhaling was.

This shouldn’t have happened. 

Both Dowook and Junhee needed to get their act together now.

“If we stop now, when will we start again?”

“…….”

Junhee couldn’t answer the unexpected question.

“Oh, so you’re just going to end it all like this.”

Dowook laughed bitterly.

“Seriously, you have a knack for driving people crazy, Woo Junhee.”

“…….”

“I.”

“…….”

“I, damn it, didn’t even realize.”

Dowook’s Adam’s apple moved greatly. He kept laughing twistedly.

“I was making a fool of myself, Junhee.”