Chapter Text
Hong Seol : Introduction
I wonder… Why did I grab Sunbae's hand that time? Even though I knew something was off with him and I had feared him. I could have just let him leave and that would have been the end of that, but I didn't. I grabbed his hand and held on. Likewise, I may have acted like it wasn't the case, but I guess I was paying attention to him too. Behind that sweet smile, he was cold, lonely, and child-like. I guess, I was quite curious about Sunbae who had an entirely different side to him that was only visible to me.
Yoo Jung : Introduction
At first, I misjudged her, or maybe I instinctively knew. I didn't know that I would grow to like her, but perhaps I knew what she would bring… I didn't know what liking someone was like. How frustrating it could be, or how scary that it could be. Despite that, had I known what she would mean to me. I would have run towards her instead of away. Once I did know, having her by my side was all I thought of. I just… Want to be with her always. Now… I'm scared that once she sees me for what I really am, she might leave me. Is it really okay if I don't let go of this hand?
Second Semester
“I'm done! I'm leaving school!” Seol exclaims loudly around her third bottle of sake. Catching the attention of all her classmates at the bar. This is also around the time that her friends realize just how much Seol has consumed. They'd been distracted but were now rushing to reign in their disheveled friend, whose hair and flushed face currently matched. Her perch on the wooden stool had become even more precarious as she fought with them. Arms pinwheeling around her, in an exaggerated and frantic manner. So, it was unsurprising to everyone watching, when she unbalanced herself and landed flat on the floor before the other business majors at the bar that night. What did surprise them was when the unperturbed girl, pointed towards their charming and adored Sunbae to slur out, “And it's all your fault. You win. Are you happy.” What further confuses them is that the very person she'd been pointing at, was less concerned with the accusation and more concerned with caring for said drunk person.
It was a well-known fact among all of them that the two had a general dislike of each other. None of them had realized it was to the point of leaving school, though. Most attributed the dislike to the similarities shared by them, but could it be more? It was difficult to believe as they watched the tall and strikingly handsome Yoo Jung gentle scoop up the clearly angry girl in his arms. Easily restraining her as if she were a hissing kitten instead of the young women she was. They had often heard Seol grumble about how Yoo Jung made her uncomfortable, but they all agreed that they hadn't ever seen him DO anything that would justify her feelings of discomfort.
First Semester
Hong Seol smiled with joy at her two spunky best friends, Bora, and her boyfriend Eun-Taek. Everything was loud in the bar. From the music, to the crowd talking, and even the sizzle of the cooking pork, but it only added to her joy rather than dampening it. All this chaos meant that she was back, and it was good to be back. Being just like everyone else, instead of the poor kid who had barely scrapped living expenses together to come back from her year off. No, today she was exactly like everyone else. A normal college junior, joining everyone in celebrating the beginning-of-term. She'd still have to take any part-time jobs handed her way to cover what her scholarship wouldn't, but that was a worry for another time. What mattered is she would still be attending college this year.
Her glow dimmed slightly as she watched the tall, stocky athlete, San Chul ambled toward her upon entering the dimly lit bar. Her trepidation spiking as he got closer. The lazy senior's hand was steadily going from the chip bag he carried, back up to his mouth. Crumbs flaking and falling to his shirt as he munched. All three of them instinctively leaned away from him, as he greeted them in his loud megaphone voice. Then sighing in unison as he changed course to sit at the end of the table. Her eyes involuntarily following the male that had come in with Jae Woo and now sat next to him. Half listening to her bestie, as she enthusiastically rambled about Yoo Jung's attractiveness. Admittedly, he was an exquisitely appealing man, but she mentally deducted points from him due to him barely acknowledged her existence when Jae Woo had given introductions.
Granted, she didn't look anything like Joo Yeon who'd just sat next to him and was currently trying to pour him a drink. Even as he adamantly declined. No, she could allow that in comparison she was simply cute, but was that any reason to ignore her? While lost in thought, she was unable to take her eyes off him. Which is why she caught the sleight of hand that upended the beer pitcher into the elegant Joo Yeon's lap. Yoo Jung was apologizing with what seemed to be sincerity, but Seol was sure she'd seen him do it on purpose. Though it appears as if no one else had noticed. When she catches a slight upturn to his lips, she's sure that what she noticed was correct. Part of her was amused, and then another part didn't know what to make of this Sunbae. Did he consider them all beneath him? Around the time that she is thinking this, is when she realized she'd been staring at Yoo Jung, who in turn was looking back. She felt goose bumps raising and nervousness taking over. Instinctively, she turns away, unable to meet those predatory eyes any longer.
Still unnerved, she escaped outside, only to hear his low sultry voice a few minutes later. The way he was talking on the phone didn't match the personality that he had shown a few minutes earlier. It matched the smirk she had seen. He wasn't bothering to hide his disdain for the caller nor his fellow classmates. She could feel the breath literally freeze in her lungs as he turned and directed those lethal eyes once again at her. His features twisted into a cruel indifference. Though he'd spoken low, she was sure she heard him call her a loser.
Subsequently, she would wish she'd never gone outside.
From then on, he'd only talk to her if others were around; otherwise, she got his cold exterior. She would have been fine with indifference, but this was something more. It skated on the edge of malice but damned if she could prove it. He'd run into her until she dropped things, pretending as though they were accidents, as he stepped on her items that had fallen. Undoubtedly, he was behind his many groupies sabotaging her. Had it not been for her two besties, she would have likely been tardy on more than one occasion. Which would have cost her, her spot in the class. That's when she started to return tit-for-tat, but no one knew it was her. Only she had the satisfaction of knowing that when his car didn't start, it was her or when his notes went missing. That was her too.
Honestly, a part of her had enjoyed it. That is, until it got terrifying. Maybe he did know it was her because his tricks became more malicious. That sultry voice telling her that's why she should be careful. She was positive that he was involved in encouraging the boy who stalked her. From what she understood of the stalker's babbling, Yoo Jung had assured Young -Gun that she must like him. All because she had been nice to Young-Gun when he'd seemed down. Young-Gun had gone past just trying to talk to her at school, he'd begun to follow her home and when confronted he'd gotten physical. She was tough, but there was only so much one could do when they were snuck up on.
She was furious with Young-Gun and scared, but at least she understood why he was doing what he was. With Yoo Jung, she didn't get it. Just what the fuck had she done to deserve all this. Why was he trying to hurt her? And why did she take it so personally? But when she approached Yoo Jung about it, when others were around, so he couldn't ignore her. He didn't dance around with his verbiage as he was prone to, but unequivocally denied it. To further add insult, everyone unsurprisingly sided with Yoo Jung. Never mind that she too helped with their class work just as much as him, helped tutor, and basically tried to make everyone's life easier. She didn't have the charm or money he did. Couldn't buy them snacks or dinner, nor smooth talk them. There was no competing.
Her life had become hell due to the two psychos. Higher education had gained her nothing but a Xanax dependency. But then, slowly, life started to get better. After confronting Yoo Jung his attitude went from confrontational to indifference, Young-Gun took a break from school and the many admires of Yoo Jung finally started to let her be as well. This left her unsteady but finally able to breathe, that is until Yoo Jung changed tactics once again. In a way, scaring her even more than before. His sultry voice started taking on a soft cadence as he began asking her to lunch. His smile, so alluring to others, was now directed at her, and it made her turn tail and run. He went from straight hunting her to instead baiting a trap and waiting for her to be lured in. It was time for her to admit defeat.