Chapter 101
Otherwise, my bright red face would have been exposed.
“Oh my, we finally get introduced to a friend of our daughter’s.”
“She gets along with everyone.”
I calmed my mom down so she wouldn’t make a fuss. Worried that they might find out he was my boyfriend, my face was even stiffer than usual.
Ryu Eun-seok handed over my luggage in front of the female student residence. My parents couldn’t take their eyes off the man with his relaxed smile.
“Please go in safely. I’ll greet you again next time.”
I remembered Ryu Eun-seok comparing himself to a proper gentleman. Indeed, right now he was as modest and courteous in front of adults as someone who had received a thorough home education.
“Sang-hee, let’s have dinner together later. I’ll text you.”
And then he waved at me and added that farewell—more than enough to bring a spring breeze to my parents’ hearts. After Ryu Eun-seok left, my mom, waiting for the elevator, playfully slapped my dad’s arm.
“That boy’s mother must be full just looking at her son, don’t you think?”
“It’s a shame for him to just be a friend. Does Eun-seok have a girlfriend?”
“He must. The girls won’t leave him alone.”
My parents whispered about Ryu Eun-seok, but I didn’t join in. My heart had dropped, and I had no energy to speak. If I opened my mouth now, I might blurt out something like, “Actually, I’m that girlfriend.”
Though I was surprised and flustered by Ryu Eun-seok suddenly greeting my parents, to be honest, I didn’t dislike it. His polite attitude was pleasing to see, and it was also a relief that my parents liked him.
And I felt a slight swell of satisfaction, as if he was trying to make a good impression on my parents. That felt like proof that his feelings were sincere.
After my parents returned to Cheongju, I went down to the first floor to eat dinner and stopped short when I saw Ryu Eun-seok standing in front of the cafeteria. He was wearing the panda T-shirt I had bought him as a birthday present.
“You actually wear that?”
“Yeah. It’s really comfortable.”
Ryu Eun-seok proudly straightened his shoulders. The image of a tanning panda on his thick chest caught my eye.
“Why aren’t you wearing yours?”
Ryu Eun-seok’s sullen gaze landed on the plain black T-shirt I was wearing. I had asked him not to act like we were dating at school, but he seemed to have forgotten already.
“I’ll wear it when you don’t.”
I walked past him and picked up a tray and utensils. Since move-in period was ongoing until tomorrow, the cafeteria was almost empty. It seemed like it would be okay to stick close to Ryu Eun-seok for dinner tonight.
We sat facing each other and began our meal. As usual, I propped my phone against the tissue holder and played a panda video when something tapped next to my slipper.
I glanced at the man sitting across from me, then lowered my head to check under the table. Ryu Eun-seok’s leg was between my feet. Whether it was because his legs were too long to control, he often invaded my space like this.
I sat back up straight and tried to focus on the pandas again. Then the sensation of bare skin crept up the top of my foot. Soft flesh slid slowly up to my ankle, then down to my toes, nudging them playfully.
“Hey.”
I scowled and glared at Ryu Eun-seok. He had taken off his slipper and was playing with my foot.
“What?”
Ryu Eun-seok kept his bare foot where it was and acted innocent. When I didn’t lower my sharp glare, the mischievous foot returned to its place.
“If you won’t even let me do this, what am I supposed to do?”
Ryu Eun-seok pouted and grumbled.
“Don’t do anything.”
I tucked both feet under my chair. I also pulled my tray close to my body. At my thorough distancing strategy, Ryu Eun-seok shot me a dissatisfied look.
Nothing’s ever easy.
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