Campus Log - Chapter 45

“Actually, I should charge you more, but since you’re a senior, I’ll only take 200,000.”

“What? F**k, 200,000?”

Without further response, Eun-seok entered his account number into Kim Do-wan’s phone. The phone was returned to the fuming senior’s hand, and Eun-seok’s back straightened.

The glances that had been peeking from all around flinched and turned away. Then, even though friends sat right next to them, everyone took the trouble of tapping their screens and pretending to converse.

After this class ended, everyone would probably think of the nickname “beggar” when they saw him. But the upside of openly acknowledging it like this was that he no longer had to anxiously wonder what was being said behind his back.

Did he hear the rumors? Is he laughing at me behind my back, knowing my situation? Is he making a fuss pretending to be worried even though we’re not close? Is he hiding a sudden sense of superiority behind a welcoming smile?

Now, he didn’t need to harbor such doubts.

He wouldn’t strain himself trying to read people’s true intentions behind their smiling faces. They’d insult him anyway, so what? He could just assume that from the start and move on.

If someone still treated him kindly without change, that’d be fortunate; if not, he could just pass by without disappointment or bitterness.

His heart wasn’t turbulent—it was like the surface of a calm lake. Even if a pebble dropped, only slight ripples would form and then settle.

Right after the rumors spread, he’d once teared up in front of a girl whose name he barely knew. But in just two weeks he’d grown up overnight, it seemed. His shoulders squared unintentionally.

Eun-seok held his phone and hesitated for a moment.

He wanted to tell Hong Sang-hee every detail of what had just happened. That he’d tried following her advice, that it made him feel lighter, that he felt ready not to care what others said anymore.

All thanks to her.

He thought about how to start a message, but quickly grew dejected. His jaw jutted out and retracted as he suppressed his dissatisfaction.

He’d been in this state all morning after witnessing Joo Seung-jae’s advances toward Hong Sang-hee right beside him.

Joo Seung-jae used the most basic tactic—”buying something tasty.” He should’ve pulled that on freshmen—why suddenly show interest in Hong Sang-hee? Feeling spiteful, Eun-seok snatched the drink away, preventing Hong Sang-hee from even putting the straw in her mouth.

Meanwhile, that pale-faced guy—Lee Dong-ha or Lee Dong-hwa—had even gotten Hong Sang-hee’s phone number through the department representative.

Watching Hong Sang-hee fall for such an obvious attempt, he grew curious.

Was that kind of face her type? She’d been ignoring his follow request all this time. He’d practically begged for her number—was she actually handing it out so freely? Then why was she so aloof with him?

Of course, whether she gave out her number or not was Hong Sang-hee’s business. Eun-seok had no right to interfere. If he grumbled at her and they grew distant, he’d be the one to suffer.

Hong Sang-hee found hanging out with anyone bothersome, so she’d probably be happy if Eun-seok drifted away, but conversely, he would lose his only lifeline in this lonely life he hadn’t yet adapted to.

Knowing this full well, he hadn’t spoken to innocent Hong Sang-hee throughout the entire meal. Sitting three seats apart as she wished, he’d pretended to be refined, staring at his tray and chewing his rice thoroughly.

But now, pouring out all the trivial details via text made him seem childish and petty even to himself.

It was the tantrum of a kindergartener whose best friend had been taken away. You’re supposed to play house with me, why are you playing with them? Don’t include them. You said you’d only play with me.

Eun-seok unconsciously shook his head. It was a good thing Hong Sang-hee couldn’t peek at his petty thoughts. If she could, she might’ve screamed “creepy” and fled.

Just then, his phone buzzed briefly. Hopeful, he quickly checked it, but unsurprisingly, Hong Sang-hee hadn’t sent anything.

[Bank deposit: 100,000 won

5/21 12:59 Kim Do-wan]

A notification appeared showing that 100,000 won had been deposited under Kim Do-wan’s name. It was a petty gesture showing he absolutely wouldn’t accept 200,000 won. If Eun-seok hadn’t meekly accepted being called “beggar,” he probably wouldn’t have sent even this much.

A petty bastard who didn’t even apologize after pouring soju on a junior and trying to stab her with chopsticks.

Of course, he had no right to criticize—he was just as petty, wanting to monopolize a friend long after he’d stopped being a kid.

Before class started, Eun-seok fidgeted with the green shirt in his bag one more time before letting it go.

After class, his older brother Jin-young called. His brother, who worked as a sales team leader at their father’s company, had had dark circles under his eyes since last winter.

“Are you attending your classes well?”

“Yeah. I’m done for today.”

Eun-seok put on a calm voice as he walked toward the wisteria bench. He glanced around busily, checking that no one was nearby.

“We’ve put out the urgent fire. Things should normalize by autumn.”

“You didn’t use loan sharks, did you?”

When asking this, his voice dropped to almost a whisper.

“Not that bad, man. If we’d fallen that far, I’d have told you to take a leave of absence first.”

They’d hastily sold off several properties, including the officetel Eun-seok had lived in. Fortunately, they hadn’t delayed paying employee salaries and had managed to take care of them. Despite just calling himself a “beggar,” he still didn’t have to worry about being thrown out on the street.