WTFUDLS 06

Chapter 06

“You pay.”

Hansol tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and slurped a spoonful of soup.

Noeul asked,

“Why me?”

“Ungrateful, aren’t you?”

Noeul frowned, confused. Hansol looked at him once, then calmly continued eating.

“I saved you, didn’t I?”

“…What is she even doing?” Noeul had no data on people like Hansol. He couldn’t bluff or mislead her. What kind of life had she lived to read him so easily? Pretty people like her wouldn’t need to.

Noeul grew quiet. He didn’t know which words would work in his favor or against him. He felt a creeping unease, similar to the first time he’d interacted with girls as a kid.

Hansol suddenly laughed, noticing his expression.

“Geez, you think too much.”

Noeul felt dragged along by her every word. He decided the safest stance was to act like he didn’t understand anything.

“Why did you say we had a lunch plan?”

Hansol blinked her big eyes.

“You looked like you were in trouble.”

“Me? I wasn’t really.”

“Oh. Never mind then.”

“What… kind of weak conclusion is that?”

Noeul felt probing further would only hurt him, so he let it go.

Hansol nodded.

“It’s scary if someone finds out you like them.”

“…What are you talking about, since last time?”

Noeul realized he couldn’t control his expression. But then he saw Hansol didn’t even care. If she were trying to tell whether he was lying, she would have shown it on her face. But her expression never changed. She had known all along.

Noeul understood he was utterly powerless here.

Hansol asked,

“Should I help you get along with Ji-woo?”

Did she need entertainment? Was life too easy and boring, so she needed a puppet to amuse her? An ugly puppet she could laugh at.

Noeul thought lying would be even more ridiculous now.

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Seeing Ji-woo flirt like that, maybe she likes you too.”

Noeul laughed. Hansol didn’t. That pure expression made him question reality.

“I don’t want to be a laughingstock.”

“I don’t want to make you one either.”

Hansol’s sincerity almost convinced Noeul to believe her. He realized talking with Hansol was dangerous.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings either.”

“Ji-woo wouldn’t mind.”

“I never said Ji-woo.”

“You think Ji-woo would be upset.”

“How do you know that?”

Hansol didn’t answer. Silence hung between them.

Noeul remembered: when an unattractive person loses, the resentment is greater. They get more hated if they assert themselves. He avoided conflicts to remain harmless, unnoticed. But just now, he had argued with Hansol without realizing.

“You’re right. If I said I liked you, Ji-woo might be upset. And you’d be upset too, right?”

“I wouldn’t.”

Noeul felt a strange emotion from her expression and tone. But he couldn’t let himself notice—it would only make him a laughingstock. He shrugged, pretending he felt nothing.

“Still, we won’t date, right?”

“…Right.”

“See?”

“But that’s not because you’re ugly.”

“Then?”

Hansol didn’t answer.

Dr-r-ruk.

Noeul glanced sideways. Hansol had sat next to him.

“Hi.”

She acted like she’d always been there, glancing at her phone. Usually, she sat at the back of the lecture hall, but today she was right beside him, almost in the front.

Noeul tried to focus on his laptop, but his mind was on her. People kept sneaking glances. Pretty people’s small actions always draw attention.

He didn’t react outwardly. People get curious when you react to their curiosity. So the best strategy was to do nothing, endure the attention, and appear indifferent. The brief glances would fade—people are mostly self-focused.

Noeul wondered why these things kept happening with Ji-woo and Hansol. Maybe he’d become someone attractive to pretty girls? Or maybe it was his personality and skill that drew attention? The temptation of that thought was dangerous.

Stepping back, he realized it wasn’t true. More likely, it was because he, an unattractive guy, stood out too much. He enjoyed socializing, had good grades, a wide network—things unattractive people usually did quietly. His visibility made him a target for interest and gossip.

He didn’t ask Hansol why she sat there. Seeking an answer would make him look too eager. Better to let it be.

“Noeul, what are you doing after class?”

Hyun-su was suddenly at the desk.

“Nothing. Probably just study for finals.”

He grinned slyly.

“You should thank me, you jerk.”

“What nonsense now?”

“Nonsense? Yeah, nonsense.”

Noeul, annoyed, said,

“Enough. Hurry, the professor’s coming.”

“Hey, let’s go to the mixer. 4v4. Seongji Women’s University.”

Hyun-su snapped his fingers dramatically.

“Wow, Seongji Women’s University?”

Even though Noeul reacted casually, he felt a twinge of fear.

Unlike in middle and high school, he could now face girls without trembling. If he convinced himself he wasn’t interested romantically and only presented a decent image as a person, interacting with girls wasn’t hard.

But mixers were different. You couldn’t hide behind a shield of disinterest. Mixers assumed romantic competition—your charm is your weapon. Knowing your weapon is weak makes it terrifying. If others see that, you risk ridicule.

“Okay. If it’s Seongji Women’s University, I’ll go.”

Noeul assigned himself a role: the “neutral clown” at mixers. People asking him didn’t see him as competition. He played along. The girls understood. No fear, no ridicule.

Refusing was possible, but then he’d appear insecure, and no one would discuss dating or mixers around him. People would check his mood, feel guilty. Noeul hated being that person.

“Let’s go after class.”

Hyun-su clapped happily, satisfied. Noeul realized why he was called—it wasn’t about preparation, just convenience. Noeul’s indifference made him suitable.

“We’ll start with the three principles of class promotion today.”

Noeul was writing notes when Hansol slid her notebook toward him.

[You don’t want to go to the mixer, right?]

Noeul realized Hansol was just playing a concept. Initially, he panicked thinking she knew too much, but it was simple deduction: unattractive people don’t enjoy mixers—they dread being ignored, but won’t admit it.

He wrote back:

[Then are you excited?]

[Of course]

[Looks tiring though]

Noeul stared. Then wrote:

[Being with girls isn’t tiring]

[Is it really playing? It’s more like acting.]

…Acting…

He hesitated. Hansol grabbed the notebook and added:

[If being with girls isn’t tiring, just hang out with me]

Noeul paused, then wrote calmly:

[Today, you pay for lunch]

[I’ll pay today. I’ll tell the others too.]

Blinking, Noeul held the pen. Class ended. Hyun-su rushed over.

“Hey, let’s go.”

He gestured toward the door. Some boys were waiting at the back.

“Sorry, Hyun-su.”

Hansol leaned between them. She rarely spoke first. Hyun-su stiffened.

“…Huh? What?”

“Noeul is having a drink with me, so she can’t come to the mixer today.”

“Ah… really…?”

Hyun-su glanced between them, incredulous.

Hansol answered:

“Yeah. Really sorry.”

“Ah… can’t help it. Have fun then.”

Noeul watched Hansol’s calm side profile. She said:

“What are you doing? Let’s go.”