Campus Log - Chapter 91

He could only sigh at the realization that he still ranked below even the pandas.

Then again, those creatures living here were Hong Sang-hee’s favorite beings in the entire world. It would be impossible for him to suddenly occupy the same place in her heart.

This time, Sang-hee, who had been recording the pandas on video, shot Eunseok a sidelong glance.

Why?

When he mouthed the question, Sang-hee’s lips jutted out in a pout before flattening again. Then she stopped filming and turned toward him.

“You shouldn’t say things like that so casually.”

“Things like what?”

“You just did.”

Looking distinctly displeased, Sang-hee moved toward the enclosure on the opposite side.

Eunseok immediately turned and followed close behind her like a bodyguard.

He knew exactly what was bothering her.

He simply pretended not to.

Just as Hong Sang-hee pretended not to notice his little schemes.

No one understood better than he did that he was constantly testing the line drawn between them, inching closer without quite crossing it.

He had never openly told her that he liked her.

And yet he never truly hid his feelings either, letting them spill out bit by bit.

They saw each other four or five times a week. Occasionally, he would briefly take her hand before letting go. In the hot weather, he would casually press his arm against hers.

That was all.

If only she would give him a slightly clearer signal.

If she would smile at him more often with the same delighted smile she showed the pandas—

Then he would ask her out.

The future where Sang-hee happily accepted his confession and the future where she coldly rejected him still balanced like a seesaw.

Their relationship was as good as it had ever been right now. He was afraid that, through his own impatience and lack of tact, he might be the one to ruin it.

But what about today?

It was his birthday, after all.

Wouldn’t Hong Sang-hee grant at least one wish for the birthday boy?

After finishing their third round of viewing, Eunseok’s choice at the gift shop was a short-sleeved T-shirt. A panda sunbathing on a beach was printed on the front.

“Are you serious?”

Sang-hee looked the shirt over with obvious suspicion.

Apparently she found it hard to believe that a man who wore nothing but luxury brands would pick something like this.

“Looks like something you wouldn’t even wear as pajamas. Pick something else.”

“Why? I’ll wear it with jeans.”

“Don’t lie. Even I wouldn’t wear something like that outside.”

Now that he thought about it, despite loving pandas to an extreme degree, she never wore anything that showed it outwardly. The panda keychain he had bought for her was the first panda-themed item she had openly carried around.

Maybe this was what an introverted fan looked like.

“Buy one too. Next time we come here, let’s wear them as a matching set.”

“Couple, my a*s.”

Sang-hee’s expression stiffened immediately.

“I told you to stop saying things like that.”

Then she tossed the T-shirt Eunseok had chosen into the shopping basket and turned away sharply.

This time, unlike at the enclosure, he didn’t follow after her. He simply watched.

For some reason, Sang-hee’s profile as she browsed a panda plush wearing an employee ID badge looked slightly dejected.

Hong Sang-hee disguised herself with a cold tone, but the truth was that her heart was as soft as an overripe persimmon, ready to collapse at the slightest touch.

That was why she had agreed to eat meals with him when he asked.

Why she had taken his side amid the barrage of cruel remarks.

Why, when vacation came and they were about to part ways for a while, she had given him a matching key ring.

Avoiding Sang-hee’s line of sight, Eunseok approached the counter.

In his hand was another identical T-shirt—this one in a small size.

He couldn’t suppress the desire to see her wearing it someday, even if it was only thrown casually over a pair of pajama pants.

Completely unaware, Sang-hee paid for the T-shirt Eunseok had chosen along with several rolls of masking tape.

Meanwhile, he secretly tucked the newly purchased shirt into his bag.

Then, wearing an innocent expression, he accepted the gift from her.

“Thanks. I’ll wear it well.”

Sang-hee still looked unconvinced.

Afterward, they had dinner at a restaurant inside the amusement park and headed off to watch the nighttime parade.

The plaza, now dark, still held traces of the day’s lingering warmth.

By the time they found a spot behind the crowd that had already gathered, Sang-hee was too busy rummaging through her shopping bag to pay any attention to him.