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chapter 04
As soon as all her classes ended on the first day of the semester, Yoona stopped by the café just to check the items she had ordered and then headed straight home.
“Let’s move quickly.”
Inside the studio-type one-room officetel she had moved into under a monthly rent contract, boxes were stacked here and there. They were her belongings packed in advance, since her lease was about to expire.
Barely stepping inside, Yoona tossed her eco bag aside, opened the fridge, and took out the 1+1 yogurts she had grabbed from the convenience store. Her spoon was just a regular rice spoon. Before her divorce, she might have considered cutlery and placemats too, but now, comfort came first.
Standing at the sink, she roughly satisfied her hungry stomach, then washed a plastic cup and sat at the table that doubled as her desk.
“I really owe Youngwon… I can’t be surprised if my mentor suddenly changes.”
The truth was, despite her constant efforts, she found it most frustrating that her basic life skills were slightly below average.
Coming from a rural province and having only a high school diploma, Yoona had been married less than a year after graduating high school. Her married life was little different from being imprisoned in a palace.
During those years, which were like living as a dependent, Yoona had been completely alone. In that sense, Youngwon, who could teach her anything on the spot, was like a guide accelerating her social independence.
Her phone buzzed beside her. Glancing at it, she saw it was a message from her first-year group chat and immediately picked it up.
[Reminder for the Class 5 Freshman Welcome Event. Please check the notice for time and location. Those whose classes end late can join later. Please inform us by tomorrow morning if you will not attend.]
It was about the freshman welcome event, which she had thought she would skip because of the café. She had been hesitating to give a definite answer, but now it was time to decide.
“…….”
From what she overheard from other students, the friends you’d stick with were basically determined from this event. To be honest, she wasn’t confident she could adapt quickly like a normal twenty-year-old freshman. Still, she didn’t want to become isolated like she had in her past life.
From now on, it would be entirely Han Yoona’s life, hers alone.
She typed slowly, a little tense:
[I will attend.]
“Choi Youngja, I have something important to discuss with you. Do you have a moment?”
After disappearing for a long time, Gitae appeared right after Youngwon’s last lecture ended. Standing politely with his hands clasped in front of Youngwon, who was putting his laptop into his backpack, Gitae looked guilty.
Finishing his task and sling a bag over one shoulder, Youngwon asked:
“Why?”
“I’ll guide you this way.”
“….”
It wasn’t that he looked guilty—he genuinely seemed to have something. Gitae didn’t speak further and led Youngwon somewhere. After a long walk, they arrived at the school’s anniversary hall, a place rarely visited by students.
Even after bringing Youngwon there, Gitae suddenly wore a distressed expression while standing in a space hidden by walls where a video was playing. Youngwon frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Did you know our boss was the ex-wife of that influencer-turned-dermatologist or something?”
“….”
It wasn’t surprising if Gitae had found out. Some café customers had occasionally recognized Yoona and whispered among themselves. Photos of her face online had mostly been deleted, but with some searching, they could still be found.
Youngwon remained silent. Gitae, exasperated, waved his finger:
“You knew about this. I was going to tell you, so why didn’t you say anything to me?”
“…Why should I tell you?”
“You’re really disappointing! I was the one who made a slip of the tongue because of you!”
“…What?”
Seeing Youngwon’s face grow cold, Gitae slowly lowered his hands, which had been raised triumphantly. Youngwon furrowed his brows and pressed:
“Speak clearly.”
“Well… the students were curious about our boss’s looks, so I told them she runs ‘Café Yoona,’ and they knew who it was. I only found out because of the rumors…”
“Which students?”
“…Kim Minji, Shin Hayoung, Hwang Euna.”
They were the biggest gossipmongers in their year. Overly social, they knew everything, so if they found out, the whole department probably did too.
Given that Yoona only started university at twenty-seven, there were already a lot of whispers about her past. How entertaining would this news be.
Youngwon touched his forehead.
“…Hah…”
So that’s why she hadn’t contacted him all day? Not a single message came from Yoona, who usually would at least send one question.
It felt somewhat unsettling, but since Yoona wasn’t that helpless, Youngwon didn’t feel the need to reach out.
Still, perhaps he should have been more careful. As Youngwon’s expression worsened, Gitae glanced at his watch and quietly turned away.
“Anyway, this sinner must act as the boss’s knight at the freshman welcome event, so I’ll…”
“Where is it?”
“What, what is?”
“The welcome event location.”
Youngwon grabbed Gitae’s shoulder. Surprised, Gitae’s eyes widened.
“…You’re coming? I thought you wouldn’t.”
Even when he was a freshman, Choi Youngwon hadn’t attended the welcome event. But he just walked past Gitae without saying a word.
An hour and a half into the event, most of the seniors who stopped by Yoona’s table seemed to do so out of courtesy. The fellow freshmen at the neighboring table had already left.
Still, a few fourth-year female seniors who were curious about the new students remained at her table, seemingly watching over her. While the noisy bar was filled with drinking games, Yoona’s table stayed quiet.
Since she wasn’t good at drinking games, she actually preferred it this way. Besides, this was the first time she was drinking with strangers without her husband or in-laws, which made her slightly excited.
After some calm conversation, an empty chair was suddenly pulled, and someone with a strong smell of alcohol sat down. Judging by the number on his jacket, he was a senior. The fourth-year students who recognized him looked visibly startled.
“Do… Dohyeon sunbae…!”
“This is ‘that freshman,’ right? She really looks young.”
Ignoring everyone else, Dohyeon focused entirely on Yoona. Startled by his sudden approach, she instinctively bowed.
“Hello, I’m Han Yoona. Dohyeon… sunbae.”
“Why the formalities, nuna? Just call me Dohyeon. We’re only a year apart. You’re twenty-seven, right?”
“Still, greeting like that…”
“I like it when older girls speak casually to me.”
“…What?”
Yoona’s eyes widened, and Dohyeon grinned. Unsure what to say, she just picked up a fresh glass and the soju bottle.
“Anyway… nice to meet you, sunbae.”
“Wow, you drink a bit? Giving me the first glass. Awesome.”
The fourth-year girls sitting with Yoona realized that Dohyeon had a keen interest in dating older women outside of school. He apparently chose Yoona as his target tonight. When one of them reached for the soju bottle to pass it to Yoona:
“Sunbae! I’ll—”
“Nuna, you give it.”
“Ah… okay…”
Dohyeon blocked the fourth-year girl and handed the glass to Yoona. He took the soju she poured and laughed.
Throughout the night, Dohyeon kept giving alcohol to the female juniors. Unable to refuse or leave, the girls’ faces flushed red, while Yoona remained relatively composed.
After quickly finishing five bottles with red caps, Dohyeon asked Yoona:
“Nuna, want to go buy ice cream?”
Startled, Yoona glanced at the fourth-year girls, who were all slumped back in their chairs, heavily intoxicated and flushed.
“Now? Right now?”
Seeing her hesitate, Dohyeon urged her again. Although she was wary of going out alone with him, refusing the senior outright felt inappropriate. After a quick glance around the lively surroundings, Yoona stood up.
