WTFUDLS 76

Chapter 76

“The Han River?”

“Yeah.”

“Mm… okay.”

Noeul checked the time and said:

From the main gate of the university, it was a 15-minute walk to the Han River. Freshmen often went there during their free periods to enjoy the “campus vibes.” Hansol didn’t really go much in their first year—no friends to go with, and also thinking, “The Han River is just a river, what’s the big deal.”

But suddenly, Hansol felt like going there. Jiwoo had told her to wait in the department room or the library, but because he said that, she didn’t want to. Jiwoo probably didn’t like the idea of Hansol and Noeul being alone together. So he wanted her to stay somewhere predictable. And to be honest, there wasn’t much to do in the department room or the library either.

But still—just because they like each other, why does Jiwoo get to decide where Hansol and Noeul can or can’t go?
She knew that feeling was childish… but not exactly wrong.

And it was true there wasn’t anywhere else to go besides the department room or library anyway. If they went someplace else, it’d be just a café. And if it’s a café, might as well go somewhere free.

But then she looked up at the sky—it was blue. Everyone around looked young. The weather was nice. It suddenly felt like a waste to sit somewhere indoors.
Maybe that’s why the idea of the Han River had popped into her head.

So Hansol and Noeul walked toward the river.

“Wanna ride bikes? Or get a beer? Or just walk around a bit,” Noeul suggested.

“Mm… what do people usually do when they come here?”

“Usually one of those three.”

“Mm… do you come often?”

“In first year, yeah. I went a lot with the guys. Hardly went in second year though.”

“Wow, definitely an extrovert.”

Noeul laughed quietly.

Even though they practically stuck together all throughout second year, they had never gone to the Han River. Neither of them were outdoor-activity people, so the idea never came up.

Going to the Han River with Noeul for the first time… maybe that also influenced Hansol’s sudden desire to come. A sunny, breezy day at the Han River with Noeul…

Suddenly Hansol wondered, Is this okay?

What would Jiwoo think if he found out? He literally told Hansol that he liked Noeul. And even knowing that, she still went alone with him to the river. Wouldn’t he feel betrayed? Would he think, “Did my words mean nothing to you?”
If it were someone else going with Noeul, he’d probably stop them—but if it’s Hansol…

Maybe she shouldn’t act the way she used to. Otherwise people might think she has zero awareness.

Maybe she should turn around now and just go to the department room. It wasn’t too late. If she said she wasn’t feeling well, Noeul would just go back with her without asking anything.

But… did she really have to?

Hansol and Noeul always hung out together. They weren’t going on a date—they were going as friends. What’s wrong with that? Why shouldn’t they? Sure, she knew Jiwoo wouldn’t be thrilled, but… was that Hansol’s responsibility? He couldn’t tell her not to see her friend just because he had feelings for him.

While thinking this, they had already reached the entrance of the riverside path. A few first-year students were renting bikes, excited for their free time.

“Wanna ride?” Noeul asked.

“…Should we?”

“…You don’t really want to, do you?”
He looked at Hansol’s face.

“No.”

“Then let’s just go.”

“You don’t really want to either, do you?”

“No.”

“Then let’s go.”

They passed the bike rental and stepped onto the riverside path. The wind carried the smell of the river—slightly fishy.

“At least since we came all the way here, wanna go to the park?” Noeul asked.

“Sure.”

They walked quietly along the river.

“Hey, do you work out at all?” Hansol asked suddenly.

“No.”

“You should.”

Noeul turned his head toward the river, ignoring her.

“Hey, if you start in your twenties it becomes a habit and your thirties and forties will be healthier.”

“Ah~ I see~” Noeul answered halfheartedly.

“You’ve never heard the saying ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body’?”

“That’s not something I expect to hear from someone who wrecked her health taking diet pills.”

“You little—”

Hansol threw a genuine punch at him. Noeul let out an “Ugh—! Ough—!” as he got hit.

“So that’s how you wanna play, huh? You wanna go there?”

“Go where! I didn’t mean—”

“God, you piss me off… Hey. Have you ever seen the statue of Socrates?”

“…What?”

“If you look at it, you’ll learn something surprising.”

“What?”

“He’s ripped.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. Look it up.”

They stopped walking. Noeul leaned on the railing and googled it.

“…Wow. He really is.”

He zoomed in on the stomach area.

“Right?” Hansol smirked.

“Wow, Brother Tes… bit disappointing actually.”

“Back then philosophers exercised while they thought. They didn’t sit in their rooms. They did squats while discussing life and death.”

“I don’t believe that.”

Hansol shook her head. “The point is—exercise wakes up the brain. Makes you think better. That’s it.”

“…Hey, do you know this?” Noeul asked.

“What?”

“Aristotle was apparently super ugly.”

“Really?”

“Like, historically ugly.”

“Huh.”

“And the point here is—good thoughts come from ugly faces.”

Hansol stared at him.

“So I don’t need exercise. My face already has philosopher vibes. You, on the other hand, could’ve been Aristotle, but you threw the chance away.”

“Do you wanna die? That thing about Aristotle being ugly is a lie.”

“It’s true.”

“Search it. Or you’re dead.”

Noeul searched, but nothing clear came up.

“Let’s ask AI,” Hansol suggested.

Noeul opened AI and typed:

[ Was Aristotle ugly? ]

The answer popped up immediately:

[ Roman philosopher Cicero recorded that Aristotle was not particularly well-featured, noting small eyes and a slight speech impediment. ]

“See? ‘Not particularly well-featured.’ …Wow, the more I read the more annoyed I get. If he was ugly just say he was ugly! How dare they sugarcoat it! Insulting one of humanity’s greatest minds like that. I won’t stand for it.”

“Maybe they didn’t say ‘ugly’ because he wasn’t,” Hansol said.

“No, I’m asking again.”

[ Was he ugly? ]

[ It is difficult to give a definitive answer. However, based on Cicero’s remark, he may not have matched the typical standard of handsomeness. Yet it is important to note that his intellect and achievements— ]

“This AI really trying to lecture humans. How would you know which was more noteworthy—his face or his intelligence?”

“Still didn’t answer clearly,” Hansol said.

“Should I force it to answer yes or no?”

“Do it. Do it.”

Hansol was now fully amused, egging him on. Noeul typed:

[ Was Aristotle ugly? Answer yes or no. ]

[ Yes. ]

“Pfft—!”

Both Hansol and Noeul burst out laughing.

“Oh my god—! It didn’t even hesitate! Just ‘Yes.’ I’m dying—”

Hansol laughed so hard she couldn’t speak, tears streaming down her face.

“Wow… something so stupid but so funny…”
She wiped her eyes, but as soon as she looked at Noeul again, she cracked up.

“Stop— don’t look at me—”

“You look away—”

They turned in opposite directions, laughing uncontrollably.

“That was that moment. You know, when something’s not that funny but for some reason it’s hilarious,” Hansol said breathlessly.

“The moment where if you look at each other it’s even worse,” Noeul agreed, wiping tears.

“I mean, why are we like this at the Han River? We could’ve just stayed in the department room.”

“You’re the one who told me to stop and look it up.”

“And we didn’t even make it to the park—time’s almost up.”

“Be honest, you didn’t wanna go anyway.”

“…True.”

Hansol snickered. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed like this.

And suddenly, she realized something strongly—
She and Noeul really did get along.

But even if they matched so well—
Even if their banter clicked, even if time passed quickly together, even if their personalities aligned, even if they understood each other—

…romantically, they were nothing.

So was Noeul really not thinking anything about Hansol? Just “Ah, that was fun”? Only “We really match as friends”? Not even a tiny bit more?

…Why?
Why were human affection and romantic attraction separate things? Why did Noeul click better with Hansol as a person, but like Jiwoo romantically?
No—it’s not that he liked Jiwoo more.
He liked only Jiwoo.

How could that be?
Is that just how men are?
That there are women they can like romantically and women they can’t?
People say there’s no reason for liking someone, but… Hansol felt like there must be one.

Maybe Noeul didn’t like Hansol because she wasn’t originally pretty. He understood her, and he didn’t judge her for plastic surgery, but… maybe he still couldn’t feel anything. Maybe he liked Jiwoo because Jiwoo was just naturally pretty.

Yeah. Anyone would.
People always prefer someone naturally pretty over someone who became pretty. The first is “real,” the second is “fake.” Noeul wouldn’t be any different.

And yet… she felt resentful toward him.
Shouldn’t he be different?
After everything he went through because of his looks.
Shouldn’t he be the last person to think like that?
If he thought like those who hurt him… didn’t that mean he didn’t deserve to be hurt in the first place?

Annoyance surged up. She breathed quietly so she wouldn’t show it.

Do I even have the right to resent him?
Noeul liked Jiwoo way before he knew Hansol. Now Jiwoo liked him back.
The unwanted third wheel was Hansol. She was the only one hiding her feelings under the label of friendship.

Even now.
Even after Jiwoo told her he liked Noeul, she shamelessly came here with him alone. Telling herself, “We’re just friends, so what.”
Who was the villain here?

So…
If she didn’t want to become the villain—
To Hansol, Noeul had to really remain just a friend.
Nobody could ever find out what she was thinking right now.

“Park Hansol.”

Noeul’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Huh?”

Hansol looked at him.
At some point, he had been watching her. She must’ve looked spaced out. Maybe even troubled.

Noeul said expressionlessly:

“I know exactly what you’re thinking right now.”