Campus Log - Chapter 61

While I hesitated, Ryu Eun-seok made the first move. The place he set his bag down was right behind me. At the presence I felt from behind, my writing speed gradually slowed. My ears perked up, and I couldn’t even register what I was currently writing.

Kwon Ga-ram, who had been trailing after Ryu Eun-seok, also paused upon spotting me. Judging by how her smiling face quickly hardened, it seemed the grudge from having her seat taken at the sports day after-party still remained.

Or perhaps she saw me as something like a rival.

Once my thoughts reached that point, I could no longer look at Kwon Ga-ram even out of the corner of my eye.

Just because Ryu Eun-seok looked after me at the after-party, and because he spent a lot of time with me in the study room, that didn’t make us anything special. Didn’t I realize that clearly yesterday?

So I wasn’t much different from the countless girls who fell into the swamp of delusion after receiving ordinary kindness from him, or from me, who was now paying attention to every person around him just because I had gotten a little closer to Ryu Eun-seok.

The very idea that Kwon Ga-ram might be wary of me—I was just having nasty thoughts about a junior.

Ryu Eun-seok was someone who enjoyed being around people, and he tended to raise his likability by smiling prettily or readily buying coffee.

His waiting for me with a cake on Monday night was also part of that. Perhaps he treated me better than usual because our situations were similar, but in any case, I must not forget that Ryu Eun-seok is a warm person to everyone.

And also the fact that he can just as easily withdraw that warmth.

I deliberately recalled the icy face of Ryu Eun-seok I had witnessed in front of the study room yesterday evening. I needed to brace myself for the worst…

…so that I would be less hurt later.

“Hey, bro, hello. Hey, Kwon Ga-ram, can’t you see me?”

Only Lee Dong-ha, fortunately, remained one step outside this subtle atmosphere. Kwon Ga-ram, pouting her lips, didn’t answer and quickly went to sit next to Ryu Eun-seok.

“Senior, do you write your notes by hand? Don’t your fingers hurt?”

Lee Dong-ha, not seeming to mind Kwon Ga-ram’s attitude much, spoke to me familiarly. It was a bit annoying since I was busy enough just doing my own share of studying, but I reminded myself that this was also part of social life.

“Anyway, exam answers also have to be written by hand. And this way, I remember things better.”

“Wow, so this is what it takes to be number one. I should follow your example, senior.”

Lee Dong-ha took out a clean notebook that looked like he hadn’t written a single page in it and started taking notes. His handwriting was so bad I couldn’t overlook it even if I tried.

And then, from right behind me, came a cutesy voice.

“Oppa, I don’t understand this problem. Could you teach me?”

My concentration immediately slipped back again. I should have put in my earphones a long time ago.

“Prepaid expenses here need to be treated as a liability.”

“Like this? Then what about this problem?”

“You miscalculated this part. Try solving it again like this.”

Ryu Eun-seok’s low voice was kindly to everyone, equally. It was similar to when he called, saying he would come pick me up from Cheongju. I kept telling myself not to be delusional, but in the end, I had been interpreting the situation only in the way that favored me.

While my attention was elsewhere, the pen I was dotting with pressed down hard. As a result, black ink smudged and the paper soaked through.

“But oppa, why haven’t you been coming to the central library lately?”

“There are no seats, and it’s too chaotic.”

“Then where do you study? A cafe?”

“The dormitory.”

“You can study with it right next to your bed?”

“There’s a study room on the first floor.”

“Huh?”

Lee Dong-ha, who had been struggling to fill his notebook, suddenly twisted his body and invaded my space. A sharp gaze came from behind. I pulled my notebook to the side and created distance from Lee Dong-ha.

“Bro, do you study in the dormitory study room too? Senior Sang-hee said she studies there. So the two of you… together…?”

Lee Dong-ha’s voice trailed off. Suspicious glances flew and landed on me from the side and from behind.