Campus Log - Chapter 116

Leaving Yang Soo-bin alone, I hurried away. Since I was the one who had made her cry like that, I desperately wanted to turn away and avoid the situation. Guilt made my mouth dry and parched.

Walking out from the wisteria bench, I went around the business building. The acrid smell of cigarette smoke brushed past my nose. Three men were the culprits, smoking outside instead of using the designated smoking room.

I recognized familiar faces and slowed my steps. The combination of these shameless smokers was odd.

Joo Seung-jae, Kim Do-wan, and Park Tae-hyun.

The first two were in the same grade, so that made sense, but the last one was four years younger—not the typical company for them.

Was it just a chance meeting over cigarettes?

“Oh? Sang-hee.”

Among them, only Joo Seung-jae welcomed me warmly. Kim Do-wan loudly spat out phlegm gathered from his core, and Park Tae-hyun blew smoke in my direction, grimacing.

I had clearly been a student who blended in everywhere, yet I realized that in just three months, I had managed to make quite a few enemies.

“Hello.”

“The kids said you wore lenses today. Why are you back in glasses?”

It was also unfamiliar to have people talk about my every appearance like this. Even considering that Joo Seung-jae took a particular interest in me, I couldn’t deny that the atmosphere surrounding me felt ominous.

“Because it was uncomfortable.”

“Really? I wanted to see them too. What did you have for lunch?”

“A burger.”

“Is there a good place? Ah, Sang-hee, I should buy you a meal sometime. When are you free?”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to.”

“Seriously, that attitude.”

The last words weren’t from Joo Seung-jae. Kim Do-wan, holding a cigarette between his teeth, was glaring at me. Park Tae-hyun snickered.

“The senior is offering to treat you, so you should at least say thank you.”

“I have my own time too.”

When I shot back without backing down, Kim Do-wan threw his cigarette butt to the ground.

“Hey, Hong Sang-hee. That’s why everyone says you have no manners. You have no idea what people are saying behind your back, do you? Well, of course you don’t, that’s why you act so high and mighty.”

I know very well what’s being said. The very person who was badmouthing my attitude is right here in front of me.

“Hey, Do-wan. Don’t be so harsh.”

Before the atmosphere turned ugly, Joo Seung-jae stepped in.

“Sang-hee, don’t take what Do-wan said too seriously. He was just trying to take my side.”

Watching Joo Seung-jae curl the corners of his mouth gently, I felt a sense of déjà vu. In his tone of soothing rather than snapping back, and his relaxed smile, I kept trying to think of someone.

“You’re busy, right? I’ll contact you separately later. Go on ahead.”

Joo Seung-jae gave me a subtle signal with his eyes, out of sight of the men behind him. I wasn’t particularly grateful for the help, but I didn’t refuse and turned away. After being hounded by people all day, I just wanted to hole up in my own space and rest.

As I walked back up toward the dormitory, I suddenly realized who I had been reminded of by Joo Seung-jae.

The person the senior was imitating was none other than Ryu Eun-seok.

From the moment I wore lenses, something I never did, my day had clearly been jinxed. There’s a saying for a reason—trouble comes when you do things out of the ordinary.

Instinctively, like a mouse seeking out a dark hole, I hid myself on the bench behind the acacia tree. The more I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to think, the more the images of the people I’d encountered today swarmed without pause.

Ryu Eun-seok, who had been sullenly downcast; Yang Soo-bin, who had shed tears; and Joo Seung-jae, wearing an unfamiliar mask—they all buzzed in my head like gnats.

“I looked for you for a while.”

Ryu Eun-seok, who had finished his classes, stopped by here. The air was filled with the scent of grass everywhere, and a similar fragrance wafted over once more from beside me.

“Why weren’t you at the study room?”

My simple routine was already in the palm of his hand. It was one of three options—huddled in the corner of the study room or under the acacia tree, or buried under the covers in my room.

“Because I’m drained.”

“Why?”

Instead of Ryu Eun-seok’s face, I stared at his hand resting comfortably on his thigh. Outwardly expressionless, my mind raced busily. I calculated where and how to start—how to be honest without putting myself at a disadvantage.

“…I met Yang Soo-bin.”

“What?”

Ryu Eun-seok’s voice shot up. At his more intense reaction than I expected, my gaze lifted.

“Why? How did you meet? Did you make plans and meet? Or did you run into each other by chance? Where did you meet?”

Ryu Eun-seok poured out questions and turned his entire body toward me. Seeing the veins in his neck bulge, he seemed to take my meeting with Yang Soo-bin very seriously. Every question carried worry, which ironically made me feel awkward.