Campus Log - Chapter 28

A small cup filled with fruit tumbled into my lap.

“You eat this.”

Ryu Eun-seok jerked his chin toward the players gathered on the court.

“I’ll go strategize with the guys.”

He didn’t need to explain every little thing. But I wasn’t so socially inept as to say that out loud, so I just nodded.

“Any girls here who are fast runners?”

Just as most people were finishing their meals, Song Hyuk-jun, the department representative, was making his way around the tent, raising his voice loudly.

“Noona Eun is having stomach pains and can’t run. Any substitutes? We’ve got a lot of sponsored goods to share!”

Everyone murmured, but no one raised their hand. They all knew this sports event was a matter of pride for who would represent the Business School, and the final relay race had the highest stakes. If a substitute made even a small mistake, they’d bear all the blame.

“Yujin, can’t you do it? Garam, how about you? Ugh, why is everyone saying no?”

“May I make a recommendation?”

A deep voice suddenly rang out from the front. It was Kim Do-wan.

The senior turned his head and fixed his gaze directly on me. My brow furrowed reflexively. As eyes slowly turned at the moment the man’s lips parted, a jolt of unease washed over me.

“Yes, Hyung. Do you know someone?”

“I recommend Hong Sang-hee.”

“Hong… who?”

Naturally, the department representative didn’t know who Hong Sang-hee was. So Kim Do-wan helpfully stood up and pointed at me.

“That girl with glasses over there.”

“Ah, is she a freshman?”

Song Hyuk-jun approached me with a puzzled look. He had no idea I was actually a senior, including the time I’d spent on a language study program—I’d been at this school for four years.

“Have you ever run in a relay?”

Until I graduated middle school, the anchor leg was always my role. But Kim Do-wan didn’t know that when he recommended me. He was just being spiteful, trying to push me into an awkward spot.

Silently, I shook my head. Song Hyuk-jun, sweat beading on his brow, looked back at Kim Do-wan. His gaze carried a hint of reproach—*why pull a prank like this when we need to find a runner as soon as possible?*

“Do you know how fast she is?”

But Kim Do-wan didn’t seem inclined to back down.

“Announcing the results while conveniently leaving my name out, then darting off right after class. Damn, I ran my heart out trying to catch up to you. You saw it, right? Me running down those stairs like crazy.”

The man’s resentment was immense. So blinded by his desire for revenge against me that he shamelessly presented such a far-fetched reason.

“Hong Sang-hee is the top student in our department. She went on a language study program and is back, so Minho, get ready not to receive a scholarship this year.”

Did Kim Do-wan even realize how much he resembled a despicable, petty villain right now?

“I recommend Hong Sang-hee, who excels both in studies and sports.”

The man suddenly raised a clenched fist and put on a solemn voice. If only he could manage that twitching corner of his mouth in that moment.

The air inside the tent grew heavy. Anyone with ears and a head knew Kim Do-wan was deliberately targeting me with ill intent.

But no one here would point that out or take my side. Just as no one called out my name seeking me for group assignments hoping for an A, no one would now either.

So I had to navigate this predicament myself.

Would I confront Kim Do-wan even if it made things awkward, or would I endure the ridicule and flee this spot? I had to decide one way or the other.

My heart pounded. Heat surged up my neck. My unfocused eyes wandered through empty space. In a moment, my face would probably flush bright red.

“What’s going on?”

But before I could open my mouth, a familiar low voice flowed from behind Kim Do-wan. The players wearing lime green vests had returned to the tent, apparently having finished their strategy meeting.

“What’s happening?”

Ryu Eun-seok glanced around the tent, which was filled with a strange tension. The destination of his gaze was Hong Sang-hee, sitting there blankly. The space between his eyebrows furrowed faintly.

“Ah, Eun noona isn’t feeling well, so we’re looking for someone to take her place in the relay.”

Someone explained the situation to Ryu Eun-seok.

“And?”

“Um, Do-wan hyung recommended that… girl over there.”

Ryu Eun-seok’s gaze flew back to me. Being quick-witted, he must have grasped what was happening in an instant. Having witnessed Kim Do-wan spit and kick the cabinet, it was impossible for him not to know.

So I didn’t want to wonder what Ryu Eun-seok was thinking. Whether it was pity, amusement, or discomfort, I didn’t want to see any of it.

Avoiding eye contact with him, I looked out at the artificial turf shimmering green outside the tent. While intensely pondering how to get back at Kim Do-wan, my lower lip curled inside my upper lip and then came loose again.

“So, is everyone pushing it onto Sang-hee?”