Campus Log - Chapter 20

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My fully charged phone and earphones, a raincoat that reached my calves, ankle-covering rain boots, an energy bar to replenish stamina, and just in case, a backup battery—my preparation to leave for Yongin right after morning classes was perfect.

I was the first to leave the lecture hall and quickly maneuvered through the students. My plan was going smoothly—until someone grabbed my elbow at the entrance of the business building.

“Where are you going?”

Ryu Eun-seok blocked my hurried steps. He was alone. Since Park Tae-hyun’s group had just passed by, he must have been attending a separate class.

“Everland,” I replied shortly, twisting my elbow free from his grip.

“Now? It’s raining a lot.”

“There aren’t many people on days like this.”

“Alone? Are the rides even operating today?”

“I’m not going to ride the attractions.”

I tried to step away, leaving a puzzled Ryu Eun-seok behind.

“Oh, right. They have pandas there, right? You like pandas.”

Ryu Eun-seok figured it out faster than I expected. Surprised that he had guessed so quickly without me saying anything, I unconsciously stopped and stared up at him. Someone had figured out my preference before I even mentioned it.

It had been a long time since someone had noticed me.

“Can I go too?”
“Do as you like.”

If he wanted to go, then he would go. I wasn’t the amusement park manager, so I had no right to tell him yes or no.

“Then let’s go in my car.”
“You mean together?”

On a rainy day, a private car was the best option. But the thought of having to keep the driver company as a passenger all the way to Yongin felt like a burden.

“Yeah. I want to see the pandas too.”

Ryu Eun-seok answered, tilting the corners of his eyes prettily. For a moment, his expression even seemed innocent. He didn’t look malicious at all, which made me realize why so many people treated him so gently.

Two days ago, I had coldly ignored him, hiding inside without even peeking out. Given that, it would have been natural for things to feel awkward, but Ryu Eun-seok casually acknowledged me, leaving no room for me to act uncomfortable.

“Classes?”
“I don’t have any.”

Ryu Eun-seok lied without changing a single expression. It was absurd—he had come to the business building to attend class, yet he acted as if he had no schedule at all. The next lecture was set to start in three minutes, but he remained completely unbothered.

If he were a friend, I might have nagged him to check the timetable, but he was clearly outside my boundaries, so I had no right to scold him. It was his life, and he would handle it himself.

He had said he could keep attending school, so he wasn’t in urgent need of a scholarship either.

“You’ve been to see the pandas before, right? Then I’ll follow your lead a bit.”

Ryu Eun-seok casually requested that I guide him.

“Just ride comfortably. I won’t say anything even if you sleep in the back seat. Really.”

My ears perked up. At this rate, I wouldn’t hear complaints about bad manners for staying quiet all the way to Yongin. Besides, he already knew I wasn’t particularly friendly.

I had a choice: stretch my legs comfortably with an awkward classmate, or squeeze through the crowd on a rainy day, transferring buses for two hours. Choosing the former meant I could see the pandas sooner.

“Alright.”

After much deliberation, a short reply slipped out. Ryu Eun-seok grinned widely, then opened his umbrella as if he had been waiting for this moment. Water droplets on the black waterproof fabric splashed into the air. His broad arm extended toward me.

“Let’s go.”

I opened the three-fold umbrella I was holding. The sky-blue fabric created just enough space for one person to pass through.

The umbrella opened and created a small space.

“Oh, you had an umbrella.”

Ryu Eun-seok stepped out of the business building first, looking slightly embarrassed. I kept my gaze fixed on the heel of his expensive sneakers as I followed him.

Whether it was a student from the dorm driving a car, or his still high-end attire, there was no sign of his family being in financial trouble.

The German luxury car in question was parked in the lot between the business building and the student center. Finding a parking spot would probably take longer than walking down from the dorm, yet Ryu Eun-seok seemed determined not to give up on that car.

Thanks to that, I could travel to Yongin comfortably today, so I didn’t want to think of him as pitiful.

As Ryu Eun-seok approached the car, the lock clicked open. He didn’t go straight to the driver’s seat, but first opened the passenger door for me. I felt a bit guilty climbing in with my wet umbrella.

“Thanks.”

I mumbled my thanks and carefully folded the umbrella. A few raindrops landed on the crown of my head, but the black umbrella he held tilted over me immediately.

Ryu Eun-seok held the umbrella over me as if he didn’t care whether my bag got wet, until I was completely settled inside. Only after I had put my bag down and comfortably perched in the passenger seat did he retract the umbrella and close the car door.

I quietly watched Ryu Eun-seok walk around to the driver’s side. It wasn’t just his looks that made so many girls miss “Soldier Ryu.” Experiencing such kindness firsthand, no other guy could possibly feel satisfied.