NILWM - 11

Ye-seo was still in a daze until Chae-rin nudged her elbow and whispered, bringing her back to reality.

“Hey, what am I gonna do? I’m separated from you. Boohoo...”

“I know. It’s a bummer, but we can’t help it... Even though we’re scattered, don’t worry, everyone’s hardworking seniors.”

Chae-rin nodded, still pulling a long face. Fortunately, there were no slackers or conniving members. Ye-seo ended up in a group with her close classmate Jo Sae-eun, Song Yu-yeong from another department, her classmate Lee Dong-hwan, and Han Ju-hyeok.

Since it was the result of the ladder game, no one raised further objections. Ye-seo was also inwardly bewildered by the unexpected outcome but quietly focused only on the lecture. Even though she was disappointed to be separated from Chae-rin, she was happy to be in the same group as Han Ju-hyeok. She even felt a flutter of excitement at the thought of being able to talk to him naturally again.

Just before the class ended, he naturally became the leader and set the meeting place and time, and everyone agreed. She felt relieved that everything seemed to flow smoothly until the presentation day, two weeks later.

“Ye-seo.”

As she was about to leave the classroom, following Chae-rin and Sae-eun, Han Ju-hyeok called her name. Ye-seo’s heart pounded rapidly. It was the first time they had talked since that day.

“It’s good that we’re in the same group.”

His voice was calm but gentle. The way he looked at her was also as kind and friendly as it had been two weeks ago.

“Ah... yes.”

Ye-seo blinked for a few seconds, then regained her composure and smiled.

“I think so too, Senior.”

“Ye-seo, hurry up!”

Chae-rin’s call was heard from the hallway. Ye-seo added, “Then I’ll see you later,” and turned around. A wave of relief washed over her, and her steps out of the classroom felt incredibly light, as if she were flying. It was just a coincidence that they hadn’t run into each other for the past two weeks after all.

Thank goodness. I didn’t make any mistake that day. Then, the times our eyes met from a distance... those must have been coincidences too, right?

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The group project progressed smoothly, as expected, like flowing water. The two primary missions for the next meeting were brainstorming ideas for each member and researching actual cases of global marketing.

Two days later, she was with Sae-eun, her group mate, at the library, looking for and organizing资料 (materials). Sae-eun checked her phone, then whispered with a mournful expression.

“Ye-seo, my Hodu is sick!”

“Really? What happened—”

“I don’t know. He suddenly started throwing up and is all listless, so Mom’s taking him to the vet now. Can I finish this at home? I’m too worried to stay.”

“Yeah, yeah, there’s not much left, so I’ll finish up. Go quickly. I hope it’s nothing serious.”

Sae-eun thanked her several times, packed her bag, and rushed out of the library. Ye-seo hoped that Hodu, Sae-eun’s cherished pet dog, wasn’t seriously ill, and turned her attention back to the materials.

By the time she had mostly finished organizing, it was already almost 7 PM. Ye-seo packed her bag and left the library. She hadn’t noticed it while sitting, but now that she was moving, she felt hungry.

Should I get ramen at the snack bar by the back gate? Or kimbap? Or...

Suddenly, the steaming, fiery red rice cakes, fish cakes, and cabbage mess flashed before her eyes. Her stomach growled even more at the thought of the sweet, spicy, and slightly sticky taste.

“I want tteokbokki.”

The words slipped out as she passed the department building. Just then, two classmates were walking towards her from the opposite direction, chatting. Ye-seo instinctively hid behind a large tree. One of them was the male student who had been bothering her uncomfortably until recently.

Her thoughts turned to tteokbokki again. If she was going to eat it, she wanted to boil it vigorously with ramen noodles and a boiled egg. But then she’d have to go to the instant tteokbokki place in the other alley, and eating a two-person pot by herself was too much. Chae-rin also had plans and had gone straight home after class.

“What do I do? I really want spicy tteokbokki...”

“Oh, me too.”

A familiar low voice reached the back of her head. Ye-seo jumped and turned around. She was startled by the warm breath and scent, but the person himself was calmly looking down at her.

“Senior Ju-hyeok?”

“Were you at the library and heading home? Haven’t had dinner yet?”

“What? Yes...”

Han Ju-hyeok nodded and smiled faintly.

“Good timing. I was just craving spicy tteokbokki too. Let’s go together.”

He put both hands in his jacket pockets and pointed towards the back gate. Ye-seo’s eyes widened. Instant tteokbokki seemed completely out of character for Han Ju-hyeok.

“Senior, you... eat tteokbokki too?”

“Of course I do.”

He smiled faintly, as if she had said something very strange. And then, he quickly took the eco-bag from Ye-seo’s hand.

“It looks heavy, I’ll carry it for you.”

“Oh, the books and materials are quite heavy!”

“That’s why I’m carrying it. Why would I carry it if it was light?”

Han Ju-hyeok spoke casually and led the way towards the back gate. Was she imagining it? It was as if he had taken her bag beforehand, fearing she might refuse and leave.

Was he that eager for tteokbokki? Well, even for a senior, sitting alone in front of a tteokbokki hot plate would be a bit...

A sudden burst of laughter escaped her as she imagined Han Ju-hyeok sitting alone in front of a bubbling tteokbokki pan, stirring it with a ladle. No matter how she thought about it, his appearance and charisma seemed more suited for a hotel fine dining restaurant, so she couldn’t quite imagine him sitting in a snack bar. Surely his towering frame would hit the low ceiling of the basement snack bar. The thought made her laugh again.

As Ye-seo burst into laughter, Han Ju-hyeok, who was walking ahead, turned around sharply. He looked surprised but not displeased.

“Why?”

His eyes, beautifully folded like crescent moons, actually looked cheerful. The smiles from the pancake house and the Han River terrace that day seemed to overlap.

“Oh, nothing! More importantly, I had an expensive meal last time, so I’ll pay this time.”

She wondered if she was repaying him with something too cheap, but he readily replied.

“Okay. I’ll enjoy it.”

He bent his upper body deeply at the bottom of the stairs leading to the basement snack bar and smiled. This time, his readiness to accept her goodwill somehow put her at ease.

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He again displayed his voracious appetite with elegance and grace. After finishing a two-person special instant tteokbokki with various toppings, he devoured jajang tteokbokki and even fried rice topped with cheese.

“Senior, did you not have lunch?”

“No. I ate. But... I keep having a big appetite today too.”

Han Ju-hyeok only put down his chopsticks after devouring about four servings by himself. He ate quickly, without seeming greedy, leaving the pan and plates silently empty.

“It was like this when I had dinner with you last time too. ...Is it a coincidence? It’s strange, but my appetite seems to get stronger when I’m with you.”

He smiled faintly, as if curious. Ye-seo also tilted her head. Was there something about me that stimulated others’ appetites when we ate together? Well, it’s better than the opposite, I suppose.

Ye-seo went to the counter to pay on her way back from the restroom. Han Ju-hyeok was already standing behind her, holding her bag.

“Let’s go. I paid.”

“What? I clearly said I would pay for this...”

Ye-seo unconsciously furrowed her brows. No matter how much of a senior he was, she disliked constantly being indebted to someone, even if the other person seemed much more financially comfortable than her.

“I ate too much.”

“Still. If you give me your account number, I’ll transfer it right away...”

“Then will you buy me dessert?”

Han Ju-hyeok asked casually, slinging her bag over his shoulder.

“A new cafe just opened in front of the subway station. It’s a bit of a walk, though.”

“Oh, I...”

Ye-seo hesitated for a moment. She had planned to return home by 8 PM at the latest today and write the novel she had neglected. She hadn’t been able to write much lately due to her tutoring part-time job, mid-terms, and helping at the pharmacy.

“Why? Do you have other plans...?”

For a moment, a hint of sadness flickered in his drawn-out gaze. Ye-seo’s heart pounded. A subtle feeling surged through her at his seemingly disappointed expression.

What do I do?

She wanted to stay with him longer. Writing was important to her and something she could never give up. But couldn’t she just postpone it for one day? She could write tomorrow, but this might be her last time alone with Senior.

Last time was because of the pen, and today they happened to run into each other on the way home. And since Senior also happened to crave tteokbokki, there was someone right in front of him to eat with. But no one could guarantee there would be a “next time.”

“Yes... Then let’s go to the cafe.”

“Okay.”

Han Ju-hyeok smiled brightly. His tightly sealed lips curved again, and his eyes folded like crescent moons. Ye-seo’s heart sank once more.