WTFUDLS 07

Chapter 07

Noeul and Hansol stepped out of the school building.

If Hansol wanted a certain image—free-spirited, almost like a master who could see right through people—Noeul could play along. He only had to pretend she had read his mind. That would satisfy Hansol, and she wouldn’t try to persuade him about his “concept” anymore.

Noeul said,

“How did you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“That I didn’t want to go to the mixer. Seriously, are you a ghost or something? Could you tell?”

Noeul tilted his head. Hansol just stared at him silently.

“Thanks for saving me. Really.”

Noeul finished his words and walked on. From behind him, Hansol said,

“Running away?”

“…Huh?”

Noeul turned to look at her. Hansol walked toward him.

“I said—are you running away?”

Pretty girls had a way of making a guy’s mind go blank. Seeing Hansol so close, Noeul found it hard to think of anything else. Her skin was so white, her nose so perfectly sculpted… How powerful could beauty be?

While Noeul hesitated, Hansol added,

“You agreed to have a drink with me.”

“…When? You just said it yourself.”

“You thanked me earlier, didn’t you? Because of me, you didn’t have to make a fool of yourself in front of those idiots. That bought you this time, didn’t it? Then you should spend it with me.”

Noeul froze again. Hansol… actually said that? And “those idiots”? “Making a fool of myself”? He had never heard anyone voice that out loud.

“You were going to hang out with a girl anyway, so hang out with me. I’m pretty, so it’s not a loss.”

Noeul realized Hansol was bold in a way most girls never were—they rarely called themselves beautiful out loud.

Noeul didn’t feel annoyed, surprisingly. It was better than girls saying things like, “I’m ugly today,” or “I gained so much weight,” only to have someone else think, “Then my face must be garbage.”

“…Fine… then let’s also get Jungi to come. He lives near the school.”

“No.”

“…Why not?”

“I want to hang out with you, just the two of us. You don’t like hanging out in threes anyway.”

“…Me? I’m close to Jungi.”

“Being close doesn’t matter. You’d get annoyed being with a good-looking guy, right?”

Noeul thought: How could she know that?

“Wow, you think I’m some antisocial freak. Just because I’m less attractive doesn’t mean I hate all handsome guys. We have a bit of a misunderstanding here.”

“Really? Then your personality must be great. I just get annoyed. Every time I see them, I want to ruin something on their face—nose, eyes, whatever.”

“…You’re scary. Definitely dangerous.”

Noeul laughed it off, but felt a prick of unease—Hansol seemed to read his thoughts again.

“Exactly. I only think like this. Now that you know I’m scary, just play with me, okay?”

Hansol tapped Noeul’s shoulder and headed toward the front gate. Noeul had no excuse left to refuse. He followed her.

Hansol led him past the shops in front of the school toward the market. Near the school, students crowded; near the market, mostly locals. They entered a small Chinese restaurant tucked inside.

The place looked old. Stained wallpaper, round tables with glass tops, red backs of wooden chairs torn on 7 of 10, a dusty wall fan whirring.

Hansol sat in a corner, motioning for Noeul to sit across. An older lady from the kitchen placed a menu on their table and switched on the TV with a remote.

“This is a place I come to often.”

“This far away?”

“Yes.”

“Really a good restaurant?”

“No, just because it’s empty.”

“Chinese food tastes mostly the same anyway. Boss, two jjajangmyeon, one tangsuyuk, and one sorghum liquor please.”

Noeul kept losing his words in front of her.

“You like empty places?”

“Yes. Don’t you?”

Noeul swallowed a comment about their different circumstances.

“I don’t mind most places. I don’t need crowded ‘famous’ restaurants.”

“I hate people staring. Even if they’re not actually staring, it feels that way. Then, if I accidentally meet someone’s eyes, I can’t keep eating. I’ve even left restaurants because of that.”

Hansol’s feelings mirrored Noeul’s exactly.

“Even pretty girls hate being stared at. I thought it felt good.”

Hansol chuckled. Soon, the food arrived.

“You order whatever you want without asking me?”

“You should’ve complained earlier. It’s already here, just eat.”

Noeul shrugged and ate quietly. Hansol poured sorghum liquor and slid a cup toward him. By now, drinking in broad daylight seemed normal.

“Cheers~”

They clinked cups and drank.

“Why, pretty?”

“…You have to know your limits.”

“Being pretty is the best, right?”

“…Hah, seriously.”

“Being pretty is better than any talent. Even if I were a genius pianist, my genius only shows while playing piano. But if I’m pretty, I’m a genius every moment. People see my face and instantly recognize it.”

Noeul rolled her eyes, dumbfounded.

“If you’re pretty, everything you do gets a bonus. A doctor, a chef, even a traditional medicine doctor—they’re all just prettier versions. Easier to be liked, easier to be famous.”

Hansol slapped the table and said,

“Exactly.”

She drank again, a little louder now.

“All that stuff about personality mattering more than looks? Complete nonsense. Absolute nonsense.”

Noeul laughed out loud.

“Do you see the students waiting for Hyun-su at the back door? All of them are less good-looking. They just want to stand out. The rest are props. And even they think the same thing. Hilarious, isn’t it?”

Noeul nodded unconsciously. That was human nature.

Hansol suddenly raised her hand and said,

“Let’s be really close friends!”

Noeul laughed softly. She tilted her flushed face, hand outstretched. He felt he couldn’t refuse.

“Alright.”

Hansol grinned and shook his hand.

“Great! Round two, let’s go!!”