NOVEL NEXT WORLD #016
#016
“Oh, Sun Woo, what brings you here? You never come to these gatherings.”
“The class rep told me to come.”
Sun Woo’s response to Beom-jun’s question was barely audible over the music. Somehow, Mi-eun heard it from far away. She jumped up from her seat and turned toward us.
“Sun Woo! Don’t call me ‘class rep.’ It sounds so cold. Just call me Mi-eun.”
“Hey, she’s drunk. Someone send her home.”
“Ah, her voice is so loud. My ears hurt!”
“Who gave the class rep a microphone? Someone take it away.”
“That’s just her natural voice.”
Various voices called out from all around. I found myself smiling at how these typical college student conversations were unfolding in Ha Jin’s life. When I felt Sun Woo’s head turn toward me, I quickly composed my expression. As I pretended nothing had happened, Min-ha, sitting across from me, noticed my empty glass and asked.
“Ha Jin, aren’t you drinking?”
“Because of my facial wound. I want to, but I’m holding back.”
“How did you get that wound? We were all in an uproar that day, saying we should kill whoever hurt your face. Even if it wasn’t a person but an object, we should destroy it. Ah, Mi-eun was the angriest, and I was second, Ha Jin.”
Min-ha, with her upturned eyes giving her a cat-like appearance, spoke shyly with a faint smile in a calm tone that contrasted with her sharp features. Though her calm delivery didn’t match her rough words, I just smiled at that.
“Ha Jin, you seem different when you smile. I don’t know how you’ll take this, but it’s really pretty.”
I scratched the back of my head at being called pretty. What part of this face was pretty? Handsome, maybe, but pretty?
“Right. Rumors really can’t be trusted.”
When Beom-jun nodded in agreement, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
“My rumors are pretty nasty, aren’t they?”
“No! That’s not what I meant. Cha Beom-jun, could you not say unnecessary things?”
Beom-jun, who received unwarranted criticism, also had to endure Min-ha’s punches. As Min-ha punched him with a shy face, Beom-jun squirmed, trying to avoid her fists while complaining about the pain.
While watching their squabble, I glanced to the side and saw Sun Woo sitting expressionlessly, not even looking in my direction.
I feel like I should apologize and clear up the misunderstanding, but I don’t know how to untangle this mess. Too many things have been happening to me lately to even attempt improving my relationship with Sun Woo. Now that I can finally catch my breath and start worrying about him, it feels like Sun Woo’s dislike of me might be destiny.
Lost in these thoughts, I looked forward and saw Min-ha still hitting Beom-jun. I should probably stop them first.
“Min-ha, stop hitting Beom-jun. It’s not like he started the rumors.”
“Still. Because of rumors spread by idiots like him, it’s such a waste that we couldn’t talk to Ha Jin for a whole year. They turned a perfectly fine person into trash.”
‘I really was trash, Min-ha.’
Though Min-ha said that, she stopped punching when I intervened. Beom-jun felt all over his body where he’d been hit. It must have hurt more than it looked, as his face contorted into a grimace.
“Your fists are damn spicy, Lee Min-ha!”
“Yeah, my fists are spicy. There are levels of spiciness, and this was just level 1. You should watch what you say from now on, Beom-jun.”
“How would me watching what I say stop rumors?”
“What’s that? You want to taste level 2?”
“Ah, no. I get it. I’ll be careful. Ha Jin, thanks for stopping Min-ha. If you hadn’t, I would’ve gotten a bone broken. No joke, Min-ha’s punches are seriously strong.”
“You two seem close. It’s nice to see.”
“No, Ha Jin. I’m not close with Beom-jun. I’m closer to you.”
“You’re crazy, Lee Min-ha. We’ve been friends since elementary school. Isn’t this your first time talking to Ha Jin? Acting like you’re so close.”
“Hm? Want to try level 3?”
“Hey, why won’t you let me talk?”
“That’s right. That’s exactly why I’m doing this.”
When I laughed at their banter, Min-ha stared at me blankly with slightly unfocused eyes. Beom-jun saw her expression and pretended to vomit beside her. I thought he might get hit by Min-ha again, but she was ignoring whatever Beom-jun was doing.
Sun Woo wasn’t drinking or eating. He just sat there quietly without saying anything. I thought about saying something to him but only opened and closed my mouth. He had told me not to get involved. I was considering whether I should move seats now.
“Sun Woo, how did you do on the midterms?”
Thankfully, Beom-jun spoke to Sun Woo. I perked up my ears at his question, waiting to hear Sun Woo’s answer. Did he do well? He must have, since he was originally smart.
“Okay.”
Sun Woo’s voice had returned to how it was when I first met him. I thought it had softened somewhat while we studied together, but now it was completely cold.
“In our department, Ha Jin is first and Sun Woo is second, right?”
Beom-jun’s eyes sparkled as he looked back and forth between us. My conscience churned violently, making me feel as unstable as if I were on a sinking ship. I couldn’t answer, and Sun Woo didn’t respond either. Beom-jun, who asked the question, scratched the back of his head, seemingly embarrassed by himself.
“Hey, Beom-jun. Why are you asking things like that? How could they answer something so awkward?”
“I was just curious…”
“What, do you want to show off that you study well too? Beom-jun must be in the upper ranks, right?”
“No. I think I messed up this exam. The professors seem to have too high expectations for us high school graduates.”
“Beom-jun, stop whining annoyingly.”
“I’ll prove those rumors wrong with this exam.”
“Aren’t these always the ones who do well on tests and then cry over missing one question?”
“No, that’s not true. Min-ha, I’ll show you my grade report, okay?”
“Why should I look at your grade report? I’m not your parent.”
“Can’t you just take a look? Ah, like those exam cheating scandals in the news lately. Those corrupt professors—why can’t I find one like that? I wish I could get test answers too.”
“Be careful what you wish for.”
“Right? A university has its standards.”
Listening to their conversation, I erased even the slight smile I’d been wearing. Ha Jin really had no conscience. How could he think of entering A University, known for gathering Korea’s top students, through admissions fraud? And he didn’t stop there—he even manipulated his grades.
Just then, Mi-eun’s voice rang loudly through the pub.
“Raise your glasses!”
“Yes, yes, class rep. We must.”
“Hey, class rep says raise your glasses.”
Everyone filled and raised their glasses. Not wanting to just sit there, I picked up the soju bottle next to me and poured some into my glass. As I raised my soju glass, I could feel Sun Woo, who had been quiet until now, looking at me. Unable to turn my head in his direction, I looked at Min-ha sitting across from me, who gave me a shy wink.
“Hey! Lee Min-ha, come here!”
Mi-eun’s voice struck my ears.
“Why suddenly?”
“Aish, who are you trying to flirt with, Ha Jin?”
Somehow, Mi-eun had noticed even from that distance and immediately summoned Min-ha, who had winked at me.
“I just had something in my eye?”
“Come here before I raise my voice.”
“It’s already super loud, though?”
Min-ha winked once more before leaving the table and going to Mi-eun. Kim Shin quickly came to fill the empty seat.
“Finally made it, Ha Jin.”
Kim Shin, smiling brightly, looked perfectly fine despite having drunk quite a lot. That used to be how I looked.
‘Damn Ha Jin.’
My body was restless sitting there, unable to have a drink. I’m good at drinking. No, I was good at drinking. I loved that feeling of being drunk. Now, it’s like a distant memory. I couldn’t risk getting drunk and making another scene. I might try to kiss someone like I did with Sun Woo. Though disappointing, alcohol was absolutely forbidden to prevent such unfortunate incidents.
“You know the Business Department is the best, right?”
Everyone cheered at Mi-eun’s shout.
“We know, we know!”
“Business Department is the best!”
“Honestly, our department has everything!”
“Right. We have it all!”
Everyone was making a ruckus, pounding on the tables. When Mi-eun yelled “Drink!” and downed her glass, everyone emptied their glasses. Seeing the soju bottle and filled glass beside me, Kim Shin smiled and held out his glass. When Beom-jun followed suit, I picked up my glass too.
Only Sun Woo at our table remained still. When Kim Shin signaled with his eyes to join the toast, Sun Woo reluctantly raised his glass, clinked it, but set it down without drinking.
“What, Sun Woo’s not drinking?”
“Don’t force people who don’t want to drink.”
When Kim Shin spoke considerately, Beom-jun shook his head as if wronged.
“No, that’s not it. I was just curious if he wasn’t going to drink…”
“Let’s drink among ourselves and leave non-drinkers alone.”
Kim Shin casually downed his glass. Beom-jun erased his wronged expression and emptied his glass too. It was a pleasant drinking atmosphere. It would be nice if Sun Woo enjoyed it too, but he seemed to have no intention of drinking.
From what I’d seen before, it wasn’t that he couldn’t drink. I figured he must have plans later. Like Kim Shin said, you shouldn’t force people who don’t want to drink.
I was about to bring my soju glass to my lips to drink with them when a sudden hand stopped me.
Someone snatched my soju glass in an instant. The liquid spilled from the momentum, wetting my fingers and the hand of the person who stopped me. I froze, watching the droplets fall from my fingers onto the table below.
Silence fell over the table. No one could speak about this situation. That’s how unexpected it was—who had grabbed my soju glass. My gaze followed the hand holding the glass. Soon, my eyes met the handsome face with its usually straight forehead slightly creased.
“Don’t drink.”
A low, warning tone.
It was Sun Woo.