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Chapter 22
“Professor, You’re a Shark”
PK Namyong, who was writing a self-reflection letter, flinched when he saw Professor Choi Taehyuk sit down in the seat in front of him.
“I did post on the forum like you told me to, Professor, and I’m even writing this reflection as punishment.”
With an aggrieved look that seemed to ask why he had shown up again, Namyong stared at him. Taehyuk crossed his legs and looked back at him in an intimidating manner.
Under the overwhelming pressure, Namyong’s writing speed slowed noticeably.
Even so, he never once mentioned Professor Yoonina until the very end.
Taehyuk acknowledged his loyalty, but that was precisely why he couldn’t let PK Namyong off easily.
Yoonina had used this naïve medical student to create a perfect alibi.
This was practically criminal.
Taking a bite of the apple he had brought as a late lunch, Taehyuk spoke.
“My father was a police officer.”
At the word “police,” Namyong tensed up immediately.
“A-Are you going to hand me over to the police?”
Even the hospital had settled the matter with just a reflection letter. If Taehyuk contacted the police, Chief Park would surely scold him for blowing things out of proportion.
“In legal terms, you’re an accomplice. The main culprit is someone else.”
Avoiding his gaze, Namyong lowered his head over his reflection letter and pretended not to know anything.
“Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep your mouth shut.”
With the look of a predator watching its prey, Taehyuk ate his apple. It made him seem even more terrifying, and Namyong couldn’t bring himself to meet his eyes.
Beep, beep.
When his phone alarm rang, Taehyuk assumed it was a hospital call and checked it.
But the message was from Nayeong.
His eyes widened as he read it.
<I’m off this Sunday. If you’re going to use your second chance, use it then.>
The fact that Nayeong had brought it up first before he could say anything was an extremely good sign.
In high spirits, Taehyuk burst into loud laughter, snatched the reflection letter Namyong had been writing, and tore it apart.
Rip, rip.
Startled, Namyong stared in shock.
After all the effort he’d put into writing it, it was shredded just like that.
With a very pleased expression, Professor Choi Taehyuk said to him,
“Start over from the beginning.”
In that moment, Namyong saw the devil in him.
Nayeong felt she needed to repay Professor Choi Taehyuk.
After all, she had come out of the Eunbyeol incident unscathed thanks to his efforts.
She wanted to buy him a gift as a token of gratitude, but she had absolutely no confidence in choosing something he would like.
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out what he liked. She really couldn’t.
It would be awkward to ask him directly, so she thought it might be better to meet him outside and naturally let him pick something himself.
So she subtly brought up the second chance first.
It wasn’t as if she had begged him to meet—he had earnestly asked her for that chance.
Considering he had already used the first chance on the hospital rooftop, it didn’t seem like he considered it very important, but if they met outside the hospital, it would be easy to create an opportunity to buy a gift together.
Her only goal was to repay him with a good present.
It was the right thing to do.
She wasn’t the type to forget a favor.
Nayeong checked the balance in her living expenses account in advance.
There was about one million won left.
That should be enough, right?
Surely he didn’t only like luxury brands?
In truth, everything Professor Choi Taehyuk wore was expensive designer clothing, which made her slightly anxious.
She almost called her mother to ask for money but decided against it.
That would really be overdoing it.
Beep, beep.
Just then, a reply arrived from Professor Choi Taehyuk.
<Then let’s go to the aquarium on Sunday.>
The aquarium?
She hadn’t expected that at all.
Come to think of it, Professor Oh Seungjun had once mentioned that he only bothered to feed his dog.
A man who likes dogs and fish.
If it was a gift related to pets, she could definitely afford it within one million won. Her face brightened.
She quickly sent a reply.
<Okay.>
She felt happy knowing she’d be able to choose a good gift.
It might not just be because of the gift, but because of Professor Choi Taehyuk—but she still couldn’t bring herself to admit that honestly.
Ah! There was one more reason.
She finally had a chance to wear the dress her mother had bought for her at the department store.
Of course that made her happy. It was a way of showing filial devotion to her mother.
Taehyuk called Chaehyun to ask for recommendations for a good restaurant for a date.
Chaehyun had scouted filming locations all over the country and knew countless great restaurants.
But he first asked a fundamental question.
[Why the aquarium?]
“What’s wrong with that?”
[It’s a place you like.]
Since he hadn’t gone even once since returning to Korea, he thought it would be nice to go this time and suggested they meet there.
[You didn’t even ask Moon Nayeong where she wants to go?]
“……”
[Does Moon Nayeong even like aquariums?]
“She probably does.”
[…….]
“She’ll like it.”
As if he’d committed some huge mistake, Chaehyun kept silent, so Taehyuk stubbornly insisted.
“What’s wrong with the aquarium?”
[Fine, it’s not somewhere she’d curse you for bringing her.]
That comment somehow made him feel like he’d already been cursed, and Taehyuk frowned.
[But make sure you ask Moon Nayeong what she wants to eat. Choose what she wants.]
“Got it.”
If he didn’t need to research in advance, that was more convenient for him.
[You hate pasta. But if Moon Nayeong says she wants pasta, go anyway.]
He flinched.
Once, Chaehyun had taken him to a famous pasta restaurant, and Taehyuk had cursed loudly, asking why anyone would eat something like that.
“It’s not going to be pasta.”
There were countless dishes in the world.
Surely they wouldn’t end up eating that on his first date with Nayeong.
[Women like pasta. Even if they don’t, if they pick something safe, it’s pasta. And the more certain you are that it won’t be, the more likely it is. Your luck’s usually bad.]
It sounded like he was doomed to eat pasta after all.
“Then recommend another pasta place. Not that one.”
[Why? The atmosphere there was good.]
“I’m worried the owner will remember me!”
That day had to be perfect.
It was an important second chance.
And Moon Nayeong was probably searching hard for excuses to reject him.
[I haven’t seen you try this hard and even ask for help since you were preparing for medical school in your senior year.]
Chaehyun’s voice carried a trace of laughter.
Studying for the college entrance exam had been easier.
Moon Nayeong was an unsolvable problem.
But from the very beginning until now, Taehyuk had never once imagined a tragic outcome in his relationship with her.
It wasn’t confidence—it was faith.
An unfounded belief that she would eventually accept his feelings and be with him.
He couldn’t even admit that to Chaehyun.
He’d surely tease him for believing in fate.
Sunday.
On a day off, Seoul’s streets were crowded with people out enjoying themselves.
Women passing by the aquarium whispered to each other when they saw a tall man standing in front of the entrance like a gatekeeper.
“That guy was here an hour ago. He’s still here. I bet he got stood up.”
“Oh my. Even a guy like that gets stood up.”
“He’s so handsome. Should I go talk to him?”
“No way. If he just got stood up, he’s probably in a terrible mood. You’ll only get snapped at.”
Taehyuk heard every word about being stood up but pretended not to.
He wasn’t stood up—he had simply arrived early.
And he wasn’t in a bad mood—he was actually in an excellent one.
He checked the time on his wristwatch.
Nayeong should be arriving soon.
It was a different kind of nervousness from when he met her at the club or at the hospital.
Even for him, meeting someone with a proper appointment like this wasn’t common.
He wasn’t good at ordinary, everyday relationships, so he was worried he might make a mistake today.
The urge to call Chaehyun rose within him, and he pulled out his phone, gripping it tightly.
Click, click.
Then he heard the lively sound of high heels approaching.
“Professor.”
At the familiar voice calling him, Taehyuk turned around.
Below the softly swaying silk skirt that fluttered like flower petals were long, white legs that dazzled his eyes.
Her hair flowed naturally over her shoulders, elegant, and her carefully done makeup made her beauty shine even more.
He had known she was beautiful from the first time he saw her, but he hadn’t realized until this moment how special and breathtaking she could look when she dressed up for a meeting like this.
It made him feel strangely unsettled.
When he said nothing, Nayeong looked puzzled and called him again.
“Professor?”
He cleared his throat briefly and spoke.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen you in a skirt.”
“Oh! My mom bought it for me. She always buys clothes like this.”
You look pretty.
The words never made it past his lips, and he said something else instead.
“Have you ever been to the aquarium?”
“No. It’s my first time.”
“You don’t hate fish, do you?”
“I like sashimi.”
“……”
Seeing his expression as if he had lost his way, Nayeong bit back a laugh.
She had only ever seen his arrogant, all-powerful professor side at the hospital. This side of him felt fresh and amusing.
“Let’s go in.”
They walked side by side into the aquarium.
Whenever Taehyuk came to the aquarium, he had always come alone—usually after something bad had happened.
In a way, this place was his refuge.
But the aquarium felt different with Nayeong.
He used to feel a perfect solitude here, as if he were alone in the world.
Now, he didn’t feel that at all.
“Wow! The fish are……”
“They look delicious?”
“They’re pretty!”
Even when she glared at him, he felt good.
Nayeong noticed that his gaze at the fish in the tank looked more relaxed than it did at the hospital.
“Do you like everything that isn’t human?”
He was about to say yes, then realized the implication and narrowed his eyes.
“That sounds like you’re saying I have a bad personality and can’t get along with people.”
She let out a small laugh, as if acknowledging he probably knew that about himself.
Nayeong pointed at a shark in the tank.
“If I were just one fish in a school, Professor, you’d be the shark.”
He crossed his arms.
“So that means you’re wary because you think I might eat you?”
But he couldn’t deny her words either.
He could never live as just one fish in a school.
He had always been an outsider.
“At first, maybe. But now……”
When she left her sentence hanging like a comma instead of finishing it, Taehyuk felt short of breath, as if he were underwater.
