TBE 12

chapter 12

Hesitant, Yoona fidgeted before opening her mouth.

“Um… but Youngwon isn’t signed up yet… maybe he doesn’t really want to do it? It’s not like we have to, so…”

“Are you just saying that?”

“No… it’s just that I’ve already been a hassle enough today.”

Her voice was heavy with dejection. Considering that Yoona had been chattering about her romanticized college life while moving the boxes, it was obvious she actually wanted to try it.

Seoyeon glanced at Yoona’s tiny, wriggling figure and asked with a playful voice,

“Don’t you think it’ll be fun?”

“…Maybe, but we can just go together!”

“What about my mission? I was planning to give it my all too.”

“…That’s true…”

Yoona avoided Seoyeon’s gaze, trying to hide her disappointment. Seoyeon, thinking she was a bit cute despite feeling slightly guilty, said,

“That senior might not even know the mission exists. Why don’t you just tell him?”

“…Really?”

Yoona’s round eyes finally met Seoyeon’s. At that single sentence, hope lit up in her eyes—it seemed she had been holding back her desire to participate for quite a while. Seoyeon nodded decisively.

“See? If he knew, he’d definitely do it. He’s a ‘kind senior,’ after all.”

“…Really… do you think so?”

“I bet my hand on it. 100%.”

Watching Seoyeon’s wrist wave in front of her, Yoona finally laughed properly.

“Youngwon!”

As soon as Yoona spotted Youngwon walking from afar, she ran toward him, clutching the school map tightly in both hands.

“Thanks to you, we have time for lunch, so let’s eat quickly. It’s on me. How much time do we have?”

“One hour. But the map… where did you get it?”

“It was in the welcome kit. Since the Engineering Hall is nearby, we can start with the cafeteria there!”

Yoona led the way, beaming with anticipation. Youngwon couldn’t help but chuckle at her carefully examining a map that no one else used.

Even as a first-year, he had only participated in mentor-mentee selection out of courtesy, never caring about activities, so he hadn’t known such a thing even existed. But seeing Yoona so happy made it seem a little fun.

Following Yoona’s directions, they arrived at the cafeteria. Luckily, they avoided the busiest time, so Yoona could ponder over the menu at the kiosk.

“I’ll have the rice bowl! What about you, Youngwon?”

“I’ll have the same.”

As Yoona added a second dish to the order, Youngwon inserted his card into the machine.

“I was going to pay…!”

“It’s money the manager gave me anyway.”

“…Really? Then… I’ll enjoy it, Youngwon.”

Yoona finally smiled sincerely. Though it wasn’t from a part-time job but from overseas stocks, it was better for her to smile than to look apologetic. Some of the money was probably from a part-time job anyway.

The food arrived quickly. The two of them, each with a rice bowl, went to an empty table. Yoona pulled out her phone, took a picture of the food, and decisively took a bite.

Yoona, who usually chattered incessantly during meals, seemed quite serious today. After a few more bites, she asked,

“How many stars would you give it? The Michelin guide goes up to three stars, so pick out of three.”

“…I’m not really sure.”

“Not good?”

“No… I just think it all tastes about the same.”

“That’s true. You always eat well, no matter what I give you.”

“….”

Eat well? Was that too gluttonous? While Youngwon considered her meaning, Yoona took out a diary.

With a serious expression and a little hesitation, she made an entry and then set the diary down. Youngwon glanced at it—it was a menu rating.

In Youngwon’s entry was ‘Pending,’ and Yoona’s had two stars with a brief note.

Do they have to take this so seriously? Amused, Youngwon spoke in a slightly teasing tone.

“I never said ‘pending.’”

“You said it all tastes the same.”

“Yes.”

“Then if we go to another restaurant and try similar dishes, we can compare. That’s why I wrote ‘pending.’”

“So the two stars the manager gave are a complete rating?”

“…Hmm. Makes sense. You’re smart.”

Yoona, putting on a serious face, picked up her pen and changed her own rating to ‘pending.’ Youngwon burst out laughing.

“…Hahaha.”

“Wow, Youngwon, I’ve never seen you laugh like that.”

Yoona’s face also brightened. Embarrassed, Youngwon avoided her gaze. He couldn’t remember the last time he laughed in front of her. It felt like he only ever laughed about things related to her… Thinking this, his expression stiffened.

But this time, Yoona let out a quiet laugh.

“Haha, why the serious face again? You look way more handsome when you laugh… ah.”

“….”

“You should stop complimenting me, Youngwon. I reflected on it yesterday.”

“…What?”

Her bright smile disappeared. Youngwon furrowed his brow in confusion. Yoona added an explanation.

“No matter how close someone is, you shouldn’t say things like that to someone who has a girlfriend. I realized too late, sorry—.”

“I don’t.”

Youngwon’s cold voice cut her off. Not only his words but his gaze held no trace of amusement.

Though not normally warm, this was the first time he had cut someone off so decisively. Yoona, startled, asked again to make sure she heard correctly.

“…What?”

“I don’t have anyone I’m dating.”

After that, Youngwon avoided her gaze again and picked up his spoon. It felt like a sudden cold front had swept around him.

Was having no partner a complex for him? Yoona didn’t understand why he seemed upset but picked up her spoon anyway. She cautiously apologized.

“I thought… you had someone. Sorry.”

After that, Yoona stayed quiet, and an awkward silence settled between them.

“….”

Ha. This isn’t it. Youngwon stirred his rice bowl aimlessly.

“…Now, let’s form groups and choose the movie to watch. Pick from the list on the screen.”

The professor displayed a list of movie titles on the screen. Students rose and went to find the groups randomly assigned by the professor. Yoona was in Group 3.

There were five members in total. After everyone settled, they took turns introducing themselves. Three male students, one female, and finally Yoona.

“I’m Han Yoona, first-year in Business Administration. Nice to meet you.”

When Yoona greeted warmly, the atmosphere became slightly awkward. But soon, one of the male students started the discussion.

“If we pick something too obscure, it’ll be hard to find references, so let’s choose two movies everyone’s heard of. It’s better if some of you have already seen them.”

Everyone nodded and began discussing. But Yoona clenched her fists on her lap. Out of the 30 movies listed, she had only seen or heard of one—a Japanese animation shown at the cinema during a special class in elementary school.

‘No one seems interested in that animation…’

First-year general education writing assignments required watching a movie, writing a review, and exchanging peer edits. Choosing a familiar movie made sense, but Yoona couldn’t say anything.

She had never had a device to watch movies online while growing up. The small TV at home was always her stepmother’s. She never got pocket money for going to the cinema.

After marriage, she was involved in her in-laws’ social activities and supporting her husband, leaving no time for movies. She only occasionally watched the dating show her husband appeared on.

Then, the female group member asked,

“Han Yoona, do you have an opinion?”

“I… haven’t seen most of these. I’ll follow whatever you four choose.”

“There’s also a Steven Spielberg movie, A.I. It often aired on TV—don’t you know this one?”

“…Just pick whatever. I’m fine with anything.”

Honestly, she had never even heard of the director or the movie. As Yoona awkwardly smiled, another male student murmured,

“You must have been really busy with household work.”

“Being a virtuous wife isn’t bad, is it?” the female member added, sounding slightly sarcastic.

Yoona was too flustered to respond and froze. Her heart started pounding.

Since she had stated she was 27 in the Business College, guessing her age shouldn’t have been hard. Yet how did they know? The group members were from different departments and had just met.

“….”

How did the rumor spread so quickly? Confused, Yoona pretended not to hear.