Chapter 7 Part 3

“Can I take a look inside?”

“Sure.”

Minjoo entered the store and carefully examined the shoes.

“I think these are pretty.”

Minjoo pointed at a pair of beige high heels. Gihyun frowned at the ordinary choice.

“Those are pretty?”

“They seem like they won’t go out of style and I can wear them for a long time.”

It seemed like Minjoo’s frugal nature was showing again. Dismissing the choice as shabby, Gihyun turned the shoes over. After checking the price, his opinion about the shabbiness changed. It was indeed priced above average compared to other shoes on display, and the budget might fall short.

He remembered that Won-jun was supposed to get some pocket money next week. He thought he might need to borrow money from Won-jun and noted it down mentally.

“So, these are what you find pretty?”

“Yeah, do you think they’re too expensive?”

“No.”

Before Minjoo could check the price, Gihyun casually put the shoes back. An employee approached them.

“Would you like me to check the size? What size do you wear?”

“I wear 240.”

“We’re out of size 240. It will be restocked the day after tomorrow. Would you like to make a payment in advance?”

Upon hearing that the size was unavailable, Gihyun led Minjoo outside without hesitation. Minjoo, sensing Gihyun’s mood, remained silent for a moment before speaking up.

“You don’t have to buy those. I probably won’t wear them much anyway since they’re uncomfortable to walk in.”

Minjoo’s attempt at being considerate only bruised Gihyun’s pride. He shot back sharply.

“Who said anything about not buying them?”

Minjoo didn’t respond. She simply stayed by Gihyun’s side and walked quietly.

“Do you want to go see the sea?”

Minjoo awkwardly changed the subject.

“The sea? Why?”

“…Next week is my birthday…”

Minjoo trailed off, hesitating. Seeing Minjoo constantly try to change the mood this way made Gihyun more irritated than sympathetic. He walked beside Minjoo without replying. He didn’t feel like easing the mood. It was bothersome. He wanted to settle things later by buying the shoes.

***

“Park Gihyun, see you in front of Yukas later, okay?”

As soon as the lecture ended, Won-jun called out to Gihyun. Gihyun slung his bag over his shoulder and replied brusquely.

“I don’t want to drink.”

“You bastard, it’s Senior Changseok’s birthday. You should congratulate him.”

The mention of a birthday gave Gihyun a strange feeling. Senior Changseok was a senior in the department, but they weren’t close enough to celebrate his birthday. More importantly, he seemed gloomy and unappealing to Gihyun. He brushed it off as a misunderstanding.

“Give me some money.”

“How much?”

“Anything over 50,000 won.”

“You crazy bastard, extorting money. What are you going to use it for?”

“I have a use for it. I’ll pay you back next week.”

“Then come to Yukas by 7 o’clock. Senior Changseok’s buying drinks.”

“Why do you keep calling me? I don’t want to see that junior. He’s just a nuisance.”

“He said he needs you to come. He’ll lend you the money if you show up.”

Damn it. Gihyun cursed inwardly and nodded. He borrowed the money and headed back to the store where he had been with Minjoo.

Fortunately, the shoes Minjoo had picked were still there. The size had also arrived. Gihyun used the money to buy the shoes. With the shopping bag containing the boxed shoes, he left the store.

It would be easiest to drop them off at Minjoo’s dorm, but he was running out of time to get to the bar by 7 o’clock. He decided to head back to the school to give them to Minjoo before her last lecture.

“Park Gihyun.”

While heading towards the Humanities Building, Gihyun ran into some familiar faces. Yoonjung acknowledged Gihyun, and next to Yoonjung was Senior Changseok.

“Changseok, go ahead first. I’ll talk with Gihyun for a bit.”

“Can’t you say that in front of me?”

“Look at this, are you jealous? Makes me not want to go to your birthday party.”

“No, go ahead and talk.”

Changseok glared at Gihyun with a gloomy expression, and Gihyun calmly nodded. He looked at Yoonjung as if he couldn’t understand why she had stopped.

“Where are you going?”

“To the Humanities Building.”

“Why? Classes are over.”

“I have something to give.”

“That? What is it?”

Yoonjung pointed to the shoes Gihyun was holding. Gihyun answered honestly.

“Shoes.”

“Yours?”

“No.”

“Then it’s a gift for a girl?”

“Yeah.”

Yoonjung suddenly grabbed the shopping bag and ran to a bench. Caught off guard, Gihyun stood frozen for 2 seconds. Then, feeling exasperated, he chased after Yoonjung.

“It’s not mine.”

“Then whose is it?”

“Someone’s.”

“You mean that girl with the one tied-up hairstyle? Was it Cha Minjoo?”

“…….”

“You said you weren’t dating. So why the gift?”

“There’s something like that. It’s not like we’re dating, so…”

“Why give a gift if you’re not dating? Haven’t you heard that giving shoes to a girl means she’ll run away?”

“What’s it to you?”

“It matters. You’re going to date me.”

“…What?”

“Give it to me.”

Gihyun’s eyes widened at the unexpected remark. Yoonjung sat on the bench, calmly opening the box and taking out the shoes. She took off her black heels and put on the beige ones.

“Fits well, huh?”

“Take them off.”

“I usually don’t wear cheap stuff, but these are comfortable.”

“Kang Yoonjung, aren’t you listening?”

“Why are you calling me by my name so casually?”

Yoonjung’s smiling face drew Gihyun further into her trap. While Gihyun was bewildered, Yoonjung put on both shoes. As Gihyun stood stunned, Yoonjung gave him a soft smile.

“Thanks, Gihyun.”

Her voice was louder than usual. The emphasis and the way she called him “Gihyun” felt strange. Gihyun noticed Yoonjung’s gaze shifting to the side. Following her gaze, he turned his head and saw the entrance to the Humanities Building, with Minjoo standing there with Hye-kyung.

Before Gihyun could ask further, Yoonjung glanced at Minjoo again and said clearly,

“I’ll wear them well.”

Yoonjung then walked away, leaving Gihyun standing there bewildered. He turned his head back, finding Minjoo’s face twisted with sadness.

At that moment, he could have cleared things up. Whether he had been firm with Yoonjung or told Min-joo that the gift was meant for her, it could have been covered up somehow.

But Gihyun did nothing. He avoided the situation between Yoonjung’s claim of dating him and Min-joo’s nearly crying expression. He didn’t even go to the drinking party his senior had invited him to. He threw his ringing phone aside and lay down in the department room.

“I like you.”

“I liked you from the first time I saw you. So I made a move.”

Many girls confessed to him since school days only based on his appearance. Cha Min-joo was one of them. Though she stayed despite knowing Gihyun’s original personality was an exception.

However, there were parts of Yoonjung’s confession that he couldn’t understand. When did she see him for the first time and say she liked him? She must have noticed his bad personality and lack of money. Was it just because of his looks?

It wasn’t that he disliked her because of his doubts. There was no reason not to like a popular girl who showed interest first. Moreover, her face reminded him of his mother, which was problematic. So, he found himself being softer to Yoonjung.

If Cha Min-joo hadn’t been around, would he have dated Yoonjung?

Having finished his self-rationalization, Gihyun left the department room and headed toward Min-joo’s apartment as usual. He reached the front of the building, where he happened to see Hye-kyung coming out. Flames seemed to spark from her eyes.

“What are you doing here?”

“Mind your own business.”

“You seemed to be getting along well with Kang Yoonjung. Why are you hanging around here instead of spending time with her?”

“Min-joo is inside, right?”

“So what if she is?”

Gihyung tried to ignore Hye-kyung’s probing and pass by. Hye-kyung shouted at him.

“What’s your relationship with Min-joo?”

“Didn’t Cha Min-joo tell you?”

“You, define your relationship properly. Are you dating? Living together? Given that you’re just a punk with nothing but your balls, if you’re leeching off Min-joo, at least have some decency. How dare you have another woman on the side? Even if you can’t celebrate your cohabitant’s birthday, isn’t it too much to ask for her to choose a gift for another woman?”

He realized why he had felt uneasy about the mention of the senior’s birthday. Not only was it the senior’s birthday, but it was also Min-joo’s birthday around this time. He also remembered that when he was asked to choose shoes, Min-joo had not refused and had shown an excited face.

“Even if Cha Min-joo is foolish, she’s in her own fate. If you have any minimal sense of decency, break up with her quickly.”

“……”

“No matter how pitiful you are and I help you, I don’t think dating a parasite is right. If you’re going to switch to Kang Yoonjung, then wrap things up quickly.”

Hye-kyung referred to Gihyun as a parasite. Gihyun’s lower lip twitched as he listened silently to Hye-kyung’s harsh words. He chose the most provoking words to counter Hye-kyung’s anger.

“Why should I break up?”

Hye-kyung’s face twisted further. Gihyun sneered and tossed out his words.

“Cha Min-joo is treating me well. I have no reason to break up.”

“You piece of trash?”

“Mind your own business about other people’s relationships.”

“What relationship? Have you ever celebrated an anniversary or bought a decent meal? How did Cha Min-joo end up with a poor, useless jerk like you!”

“Hye-kyung.”

A voice cut through the shouting between Hye-kyung and Gihyun. Min-joo, who had come out of the building, was now standing there.

Min-joo stepped forward to start the conversation. Gihyun followed quietly behind. Entering the dimly lit playground, Min-joo headed towards the empty swing. As Min-joo sat down, Gihyun followed and sat beside her. The creaky sound of the old swing chains echoed.

“Do you like me?”

Min-joo, who had been silently swinging, asked cautiously. After a moment’s hesitation, Gihyun answered.

“Would you sleep with me if I didn’t like you?”

“Kang Yoonjung?”

“……”

“…Do you like her?”