Campus Log - Chapter 2

A life like that is something I can’t even imagine, as someone who gets completely drained just by talking to people for more than ten minutes. Just briefly peeking into Ryu Eun-seok’s life already made me feel nauseated from being sick of it.

“Hey, Hong Sang-hee!”

At that moment, a booming shout calling for me cut through the noisy hallway. It’s a situation I utterly hate. But today, I had mentally prepared myself to some extent in advance.

The students who were moving in a crowd to attend the next class all turned to look in one direction. Kim Do-wan, his face flushed red and blue, was striding toward me.

“Why the hell is a kid like you so damn nasty? You really went and left my name out?”

Today was the day of the group presentation for Consumer Behavior. I had removed the name of a fourth-year senior who was trying to free-ride from the first slide of the PowerPoint and stood in front of the classroom.

Judging by the professor’s reaction, clapping and praising us, our group would all get an A+ for this assignment. Everyone except one person.

“I begged you, told you this was a retake for me. And you stab me in the back like this?”

People’s gazes shifted from Kim Do-wan to me. Attention is something I only want when I brace myself for it for the sake of my grades. Because the senior didn’t lower his voice, it felt like my cheeks were about to be pierced.

“If I fail this, I’ll have to take summer classes!”

“Then you should’ve at least shown your face.”

My voice was quiet, but it reached Kim Do-wan well enough.

Anyway, I do all the assignments by myself. Research—Hong Sang-hee. Making the PowerPoint—Hong Sang-hee. Presentation—Hong Sang-hee. Even just not putting only my name tag on everything could be considered generous consideration toward the other team members.

It wasn’t that I had zero social skills. I just liked being alone. So if Kim Do-wan had at least stayed in his seat like the other team members, he wouldn’t have had to worry about the group project grade.

“You’re the one who was unreachable until right before the presentation. Do you really think you have the right to question me like this, sunbae?”

“Ah, f**k. Fine. You go ahead and get your A+ all by yourself!”

Unable to hold back his anger, Kim Do-wan kicked the cabinet installed in the hallway with a loud thud. Either way, only his foot would hurt. Seeing the tip of his shoe curl slightly inward, it was obvious he was enduring the pain out of sheer bravado.

“You’re petty and filthy. I’m never working with you again, you bastard.”

Spit—phlegm scratched up from Kim Do-wan’s throat flew out and landed at my feet. A few passing students screamed and retreated.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong? Calm down.”
“He seems really off. Just go to the professor and beg.”

Kim Do-wan’s friends ran over, grabbing his arms and trying to hold him back. But the heavy-built man shook them off, panting.

“That’s my locker.”

At that moment, a tall man cut into the scene that was just a step away from breaking into a fight.

“Oh…?”

Until just moments ago, Kim Do-wan had been pouring out his overflowing rage, but now he blinked his eyes like a fool.

Ryu Eun-seok’s expensive sneakers approached, almost as if they were about to step on the phlegm he had spat. His fingertip pointed at the name tag stuck on the cabinet door.

“This is mine.”

Ryu Eun-seok looked down at Kim Do-wan with a gentle smile.

“But why did you kick it like this?”

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t know it was yours, Eun-seok.”

In an instant, Kim Do-wan’s energy deflated, and he hurriedly inspected the cabinet. Of course, the sturdy iron door hadn’t dented from the man’s clumsy kicking.

“Want to look inside? If anything’s broken, let me know.”

“And if I do? Will you pay for it?”

Ryu Eun-seok was still smiling, but his voice had subtly lowered. Unaware of it, Kim Do-wan let out a hearty, good-natured laugh.

“A rich guy like you sure knows how to make a grim joke.”

“It’s not a joke.”

Ryu Eun-seok muttered something that was hard to tell if it was a joke or serious, as he took out an original copy of “International Management Strategy” from the cabinet.

He pulled it out.

“I’ll let it slide this time.”

The heel of his retreating sneaker came perilously close to touching the phlegm. I, who had been fixated on the foul saliva slowly spreading wider, stifled a scream and stretched out my hand.

And I pulled Ryu Eun-seok’s thick forearm, exposed beneath his white short sleeve, toward me.

“Spit.”

I furrowed my brow and gestured with my eyes at the saliva dirtying the floor. Ryu Eun-seok, having checked beneath his foot, briefly stiffened his lips.

To avoid any strange misunderstandings, I immediately let go of his arm. I didn’t want to be seen as some clueless girl making clumsy physical contact with a handsome guy.

“Thanks.”

Ryu Eun-seok gave me a slight smile. The moment I faced him, I thought I understood why everyone was so eager to chase after Ryu Eun-seok. They all come up with flimsy excuses just to see that smile.

“I almost ended up having to bill you for shoe cleaning costs.”

No trace of annoyance could be found in Ryu Eun-seok’s voice. Kim Do-wan stood with an awkward expression, gauging the mood of his junior, who was younger than him.

“Oh, uh, right. I should be careful.”