SWCL 10

Chapter 10

Haejoo couldn’t remember whether her drunken self had meant to type “Jung Taeheon Car Poor-nim,” “Jung Taeheon Car Poor-imm,” or “Jung Taeheon Car Poor Not.”

Whatever it was, the result was the worst-case scenario.

The message was full of typos—except for the one word that mattered: “Car Poor.”

She vaguely recalled that, drunk as she was, she’d been trying to jot something down so she wouldn’t forget. She had a habit of sending notes to herself through the “Send to Me” function in the chat app. Somehow, though, she’d opened the wrong window—his private messages.

Lucky or unlucky, Jung Taeheon had seen the message. He’d even checked it in the middle of the night. But he hadn’t replied. Yet.

“Haah… I must’ve lost my mind.”

Haejoo stared at her phone, the incriminating message still glowing on the screen, and lowered her head.

The little “1” next to the message had vanished. Which meant he had read it.

What on earth had he thought?

Her mind leapt back to the ramen she had slurped down that morning to chase away the hangover, and to the gossip her senior Boyoung had casually spilled across the table.

“There are tons of people—guys and girls—who’d kill just to be in Taeheon’s circle. Some even stalk his class schedule, and during course registration, they’ll switch electives just to sit in the same lecture. I heard this time he ran away to a different course because of it. Someone even posted on the school board offering 200,000 won for the details of which class he attended in the first week.”

Boyoung had laughed as she went on.

“That course was supposed to be all individual work, no group projects. But starting this year, it’s run as a two-person team class. Whoever ended up with him as a partner? Jackpot. People would kill for what they’re getting handed. Honestly, I’m jealous.”

Haejoo had only stared back in silence.

“Why that face? Don’t tell me—you like him too?”

But the truth was, she was that partner.

It was a simple scheduling accident. Freshmen rarely had free Fridays, and she’d thought it convenient to slot an elective after lunch on Fridays anyway. The only seat left was Understanding the Popular Culture Industry. She’d clicked it without hesitation.

And that was how she’d ended up paired with him.

That same day, Taeheon had sent his very first message.

[Hello, partner.]

In class, everyone else had sat with their partners. Only she and Taeheon remained at separate desks. When their eyes met, he grinned and patted the desk next to him.

She’d moved without protest—he was a senior, and a bossy one at that.

“This side’s got the better view. From now on, sit here.”

She hadn’t known if he meant she should take his seat, or the one she’d just moved into. Either way, she’d nodded and focused on the lecture.

To her surprise, he stayed quiet the entire class. No teasing, no distractions.

But that only made her more self-conscious. She forced herself to keep her head high, staring straight ahead. She never once checked if he was watching the lecture—or staring out the window at the “better view.”

Since then, they hadn’t exchanged messages. But still—their fates were sealed. Team projects. A final presentation. Two hours every Friday, for the whole semester.

Now she finally understood why he had once thought she was following him. With so many students actually stalking him, her presence must have looked suspicious.

And after that embarrassing, drunken text? He’d probably written her off as a stalker for sure.

She sighed, thumb hovering over the chat window, ready to close it forever—when his reply appeared.

Her eyes betrayed her. They darted across the screen before she could stop them. His phone would have shown the read receipt instantly.

“Oh no.”

She dropped the phone onto the desk and buried her face in her hands.

Damn alcohol.

Never again, she swore. Never again until blackout. If she did, she wasn’t a person—she was a dog. She repeated it over and over, clawing at her hair.

From a little distance away, Hyunwoo watched her quietly.

Life would be easier, she often thought, if it followed neat, predictable lines—like a well-planned schedule.

Haejoo didn’t want much. No wild ambitions, no drama. Just a quiet, uneventful college life, graduating smoothly, finding a job, making a living.

That was enough.

Which was why she wanted nothing to do with school gossip.

Her plan was simple: keep her distance from Jung Taeheon, stay close to Hyunwoo—the reliable, well-liked senior—learn tips about tutoring, jobs, and campus life from him, attend department events regularly, maintain good relations, and otherwise remain unnoticed.

Luckily, she and Taeheon weren’t in frequent contact. They weren’t even in the same college, nor the same year. The odds of running into him outside class were slim.

All she had to do was get through those two hours every Friday.

With that thought, she headed to the student lounge, excitement bubbling.

Hyunwoo had promised to show her how to find tutoring gigs today.

She had met him during freshman orientation. They’d exchanged numbers late at night, in the haze of lost memories. Just last night, he’d texted to ask if she was free today. She’d said yes immediately.

Now, with her head held high, she opened the door to the lounge.

And froze.

Sitting comfortably on the sofa, a familiar face smiled up at her.

“Hi.”

Bang.

She slammed the door shut again, checking the room number. This was definitely the right lounge.

Hyunwoo had called her here. So why was he inside? A senior from another department, no less.

And today was Monday. Which meant not even three days had passed since orientation. Not even three days since the drunken text.

“Haejoo, you found it. Come on in.”

Hyunwoo’s voice drifted from inside.

Had she mis-seen?

Hesitant, she cracked the door open again.

And there he was. Standing right at the threshold, blocking the light, tall frame swallowing the room’s glow.

Their eyes locked.

He smirked, lips curling.

Even in backlight, his features cut sharp and flawless. If her classmates had been there, they’d probably be gushing about halos and divine radiance.

“Why run away? Don’t hurt your partner’s feelings.”

“……”

“You text me so easily when you’re drunk. But sober? You can’t even say a word?”