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Chapter 12
Jung Tae-heon led Hae-joo into the parking lot and had her get into his car.
It wasn’t the blue sports car she had seen before but an SUV this time.
Hae-joo didn’t know much about cars, but the bold emblem—a letter “B” with wings stretched out on both sides—made it clear this was another expensive import.
So, he really likes blue, huh.
This one was blue too, just like the sports car. Different model, same taste.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Anything’s fine, as long as the smell doesn’t stick. I’ve got to head to my part-time job afterward.”
“That busy café again?”
“Yes, that one. And ever since the semester started, it’s been insanely busy.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried you might get fired for being too free.”
Tae-heon made the comment with a light tone, though he clearly didn’t mean it. He started the car, driving off smoothly.
For some reason, Hae-joo had expected him to drive recklessly, but his handling was surprisingly steady.
“You must have a lot of driving experience.”
“I started early. I went to high school in the States.”
That jogged her memory—Bo-yeong sunbae had mentioned something like that.
“Oh, right. That’s true.”
“You knew? I thought you weren’t interested in me at all.”
“Honestly, I just heard a little about you during our OT.”
“Oh yeah? And what exactly did you hear?”
“That you went to high school in the U.S. And… that you’re the son of the Cheongshin Group.”
“Ah, what a shame.”
Hae-joo turned her head toward him.
His eyes stayed forward, fingers tapping the steering wheel—tap, tap. His lips carried the same easy smile, but the air around him dropped a few degrees.
“I liked it better when you thought I was some broke guy with a car loan.”
Her face drained of color.
Right. That was why she’d come today—to explain that text.
“I’m really sorry about the message. I was drunk and sent it by mistake. I even blacked out that night, so it didn’t mean anything—I don’t even remember what I was thinking when I wrote it…”
“The day you sent that text… that was your department’s OT, wasn’t it?”
“…Yes.”
“Figures. Let me guess—Bo-yeong got you drunk and she’s the one who told you those rumors about me?”
Hae-joo’s eyes widened in surprise.
He didn’t look like it, but he was quicker on the uptake than she’d thought.
“How do you even know so much about our department, when you’re not part of it?”
“I’ve got to stay friendly with future journalists. That way, when I ask, they’ll write me good press.”
Not as careless as he appeared, then. Maybe he actually did have a plan for his life.
“You must have a lot of friends in our department.”
“I hang out with Moon Do-yoon and Lee Hyun-woo a lot. And I know a few others on the side.”
Come to think of it, Bo-yeong had once said: ‘Hyun-woo sunbae wouldn’t normally join student council, but he got dragged in because Do-yoon sunbae asked him.’
So, those connections traced back here.
Tae-heon seemed to know plenty even about those he only considered acquaintances. He blended into the Department of Journalism and Information so naturally that even other seniors treated him like one of their own.
“You’re close with Hyun-woo sunbae?”
“Why?”
The car stopped at a red light.
Tae-heon turned his head, eyes fixed on her. His stare burned strangely, almost like he was glaring.
“Are you interested in Lee Hyun-woo?”
“I just… want to get closer to him.”
At her answer, Tae-heon’s expression hardened for a moment. He studied her in silence before asking, offhand, like testing the waters:
“Want me to help?”
“You, sunbae?”
“I’m close with Hyun-woo. We even went to middle school together. Still hang out.”
Hae-joo shook her head.
No. Getting further entangled with Jung Tae-heon didn’t feel wise.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll manage on my own.”
“Why? I said I’d help.”
“Because if I accept your help, I’ll feel like I owe you. It’d be uncomfortable.”
“But it’s fine when you accept Hyun-woo’s help?”
“He’s in the same department as me.”
“So you’re saying you discriminate against outsiders? Guess students from other majors just have to suck it up.”
His tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction—less playful than usual, almost sulky.
After that, Tae-heon fell silent.
Hae-joo stole glances at him, uneasy. Should she just cut things short and say she wanted to go home?
But then again, he was close with the student council president and Hyun-woo. She’d be seeing him every Friday anyway. Keeping things civil might not be so bad.
“…If you really want to help, I’ll gratefully accept the favor.”
“Do whatever you want.”
Even as she agreed, his mood didn’t lighten.
What does he even want from me…
Feeling sour herself now, Hae-joo pouted slightly, fiddling with her seatbelt.
She glanced sideways at Tae-heon. His face betrayed nothing, eyes fixed on the road, though the gloom around him was obvious.
The air in the car was suffocating. She wanted out. Sitting through dinner with this atmosphere would be unbearable.
Finally, the car came to a stop. They were already far from campus.
“We’re here. Get out.”
“…Okay.”
Hae-joo hurried out, almost fleeing.
Left alone, Tae-heon tightened his grip on the wheel, muttering in a low, sunken voice:
“They really do look good together, don’t they.”
The veins on the back of his hand stood out, pulsing under the skin. His eyes glimmered with sharp light.
With a frustrated gesture, he unclipped his seatbelt.
“What, she thinks I can’t win her over? Hah. As if I’d ever lose to Lee Hyun-woo.”
His leg bounced restlessly as he mumbled, tone restless, almost frantic.
Even though he boasted, the bitter knot in his chest wouldn’t go away.
Only later would he realize that what weighed on him wasn’t annoyance—
It was fear.
