Campus Log - Chapter 37

As I lifted myself from the seat, it became clear my underwear was soaked through. I almost swore out loud.

“Oppa, are you leaving now?”

Kwon Ga-ram grabbed the hem of Ryu Eun-seok’s t-shirt and asked. She seemed shaken by the earlier commotion—her round eyes were glistening with moisture.

“Yeah. You can stay and finish eating.”

Ryu Eun-seok’s tone was as kind as ever, but his slightly lower, restrained voice made it sound somewhat cold. Perhaps Kwon Ga-ram felt the same way—she pouted but immediately let go of his shirt.

Ryu Eun-seok walked ahead first. I followed, using his green t-shirt to cover my damp thighs, ignoring the stares that pierced us at every turn.

“Ugh, the mood is totally ruined.”

A blatant complaint burst out from behind my shoulder.

“Do they think they’re the only ones eating? Ruining everyone’s appetite with their brawls.”

When I glanced back, Park Tae-hyun was glaring this way with a face full of displeasure. He was probably talking about Ryu Eun-seok’s group, but the person in question didn’t even glance back as he passed through the restaurant door.

When I followed Ryu Eun-seok outside, rowdy voices could be heard not far away. Seeing cigarette smoke drifting from a secluded spot between the restaurants, it seemed the guys were there, trying to calm Kim Do-wan.

Ryu Eun-seok also briefly glanced in that direction before heading toward the school. My stuffy underwear and damp pants made my steps sluggish, and his stride naturally shortened to match mine.

Outside, the midday heat had cooled, replaced by a crisp darkness. Fitting for a Friday night, the area in front of the school was filled with boisterous laughter. Other departments seemed to be having gatherings too—occasionally, group t-shirts in matching colors caught my eye.

A gentle evening breeze swept by, and the smell of meat and alcohol wafting from my body became distinctly noticeable. I frowned and took a step away from Ryu Eun-seok.

“Why?”

Without waiting for a reply, Ryu Eun-seok closed the distance, stepping right next to me. Closer than before, our shoulders and arms brushed.

“I smell.”

Ryu Eun-seok immediately grabbed the neckline of his own t-shirt and sniffed it. Then he stepped back again. He seemed to have misunderstood, thinking I meant he smelled.

“No, not you—me.”

When I corrected him sullenly, Ryu Eun-seok returned right to my side. His arm pressed against mine even more firmly than before. Since I was using his t-shirt to cover my thigh, I couldn’t move my hand away, so I had to endure the direct feel of his skin against mine.

“You don’t smell at all.”

“You lie so well.”

A sigh-like sound escaped between Ryu Eun-seok’s lips.

“Sorry.”

Then, after a short laugh, he said something abrupt. I thought he was apologizing for laughing just now.

“We should’ve just gone to the dorm. You came here because of me and ended up in a bad situation.”

But his apology wasn’t that simple.

“I only thought about what I wanted, what was comfortable for me. I really didn’t know anything. You probably had plenty of reasons for not wanting to go.”

Admitting one’s ignorance is difficult. Avoiding or rationalizing is the easier path. Cognitive dissonance theory didn’t come about for nothing.

But Ryu Eun-seok readily acknowledged that he could be wrong.

“Now you know.”

My reply sounded harsh even to my own ears. It wasn’t the attitude to show someone who apologized first. Yet Ryu Eun-seok didn’t argue back, just stared intently at my profile.

“It wasn’t forced.”

I swallowed a sigh and added quietly.

“I was curious too. About what other people talk about when they hang out.”

I regretted coming, my body felt limp like soaked cotton, and it seemed I’d hear more gossip later. But I didn’t want to grumble at Ryu Eun-seok, who apologized first.

“There’s something to gain if you show your face at places like this once in a while.”

I didn’t hide the calculated result I’d tallied in my mind.

“I missed the notice last time and couldn’t even apply for a locker. No one tells me anything. But at least now I’ve made a face-to-face connection with the department rep, so next semester it shouldn’t happen again.”

It was the kind of honest thought I could share because I knew he meant no harm. Even if it meant revealing somewhat silly mistakes, I knew Ryu Eun-seok wouldn’t laugh at me.

“So you carry everything in your bag all the time?”

The man’s gaze shifted to my back. I hadn’t brought a bag at all today because of the sports event, but he must have seen me as if I were carrying a turtle shell.

“Yeah. Since I live in the dorm, it’s not really inconvenient.”

Though if I had to commute by subway, it would have been hell.

“Then use my locker.”

Ryu Eun-seok made an unexpected offer.

“You saw it last time, right? Locker 25 next to the department office. The passcode is 0817.”

I didn’t answer, just stared intently at Ryu Eun-seok’s face. His eyes, meeting mine head-on, wavered slightly. His lips curled inward, as if anxious.

He must really feel sorry. Offering a locker that’s not even that big so readily. It was Kim Do-wan who was acting crazy, not Ryu Eun-seok’s fault. But the man was taking responsibility for today’s commotion.