A Terrible Senior - Chapter 10

February 3, 2023

The second “assignment date” had come around.

Unlike the first time when they had spent the weekend together, this one was scheduled for a weekday.

Friday afternoon at 3:30.

Sarang had just returned home from class and set her bag down, pulling out her books.

There were still 30 minutes left until her meeting with Do-han.
“Maybe I should’ve suggested meeting tomorrow instead.”
Ever since hearing from Hye-ri that Do-han might be involved with someone else, Sarang had tried to suppress her feelings for him. Scheduling their second assignment date on a weekday afternoon was part of that attempt. Meeting for a short while after class seemed safer than spending a whole day together on the weekend.

But feelings aren’t so easily folded away like a piece of paper. Instead, they blossomed brighter with time, filling her heart to the brim and pushing relentlessly at the edges, threatening to spill over at any moment. More than once, she had to remind herself not to let those feelings show.

“Let’s just get through today without incident,” she muttered.

Standing in front of the mirror, Sarang glared at her reflection, as if warning herself to keep her mouth shut and avoid any confessions. Unlike their last outing, where she had put effort into a dress and accessories, today she was in her usual jeans and a simple top. For a moment, she considered changing into something else but shook her head, deciding against it before heading out.

When she arrived at the school gate, she was surprised to see Do-han already there, waiting.

“You’re early,” she said.

With his class set to end at 3:50, she had expected him to be late.

“It was cancelled,” he replied.

“Did you go home first, then?”

“No.”

As they began walking toward the subway station side by side, Sarang glanced at him, curious.

“I just waited,” he added.

“You waited for me? Here at the gate? This whole time?”

Her rapid-fire questions made Do-han chuckle softly and nod. The unexpected cancellation had left him with nowhere to go. Going home felt pointless, and he didn’t feel like sitting in a café. So, he had come to the gate and waited, passing the time with music and news on his phone until the meeting time approached.

It was the first time he had waited so long for someone, and surprisingly, it hadn’t felt boring. He even felt a slight flutter of nerves whenever he checked to see if she was approaching—wondering what she would be wearing, how she’d styled her hair, silly little thoughts that made him feel oddly amused at himself.

When Sarang appeared in casual attire, not the dressed-up look he half-expected, Do-han found he liked it even more. The simple, neat clothes suited her perfectly.

“You should’ve called me. I would’ve come right after class,” Sarang said, a twinge of guilt in her voice when she learned he’d been waiting over an hour. It felt like it was her fault for choosing a Friday.

“We can’t be too early; it’s for the night admission.”

She nodded, realizing he was right. She’d chosen this time to keep their meeting short, yet seeing him now, she regretted not suggesting a weekend date after all. He looked as composed and handsome as ever, perhaps more so today. Was it her imagination? Why was she still clinging to the idea of suppressing her feelings?

The sun was setting when they arrived at the amusement park after a subway and bus ride.

“Let’s start with dinner,” he suggested.

“Sure.”

They stepped into a nearby diner and ordered burgers. Sarang unwrapped hers and blinked at its size, realizing a burger wasn’t the best idea for a date. There was no way to eat it gracefully; she’d have to take big bites. Resigned, she sighed and took a large mouthful. Hunger and taste took over, and she forgot about everything else, focusing only on eating.

When she looked up after finishing, she found Do-han watching her. Startled, she mumbled with her mouth still full.

“What is it?”

“You eat well.” He smiled, handing her a napkin.

“I was wondering if I should order you another one,” he teased.
Sarang flushed, feeling like he was poking fun at her. She wiped her mouth and took a sip of her drink, reminding herself that there was no point in trying to look pretty for him. Might as well eat her fill.

She waited for him to finish his meal, noticing the quiet between them now that the food was gone. It felt like she should say something, so she searched for a topic.

“Have you been to the P.E. department’s cafeteria?” she asked.

“No.”

“The food there is really good. You should try it sometime.”

The recent visit to the P.E. cafeteria had left a strong impression, and it felt like a safe topic to bring up. But his expression shifted, growing oddly serious.

“So, you’ve been there.”

“Yeah, just the other day.”

“With who?”

“Ji-woo and another friend.”

“Jung Yoon-jae?”

“How do you know Yoon-jae?” Sarang asked, surprised.

“You mentioned him before, when we had lunch with Tae-hoon and Ji-woo in the engineering building.”

“Oh, your memory’s impressive. You even remember his name.”
It was a bit surprising to her, but more so for Do-han himself. He hadn’t realized until now just how well he’d remembered. He had seen Sarang with Yoon-jae before, even noting their comfortable rapport. He recalled Tae-hoon commenting once that they looked good together.

Finishing his burger, Do-han wiped his mouth and, in a neutral tone, said, “You must be close now, eating together and all.”

“I guess, kind of.”

“So, did you ask if he has a girlfriend this time?” he added, staring down at his drink.

There was no response, and he felt the silence weigh on him, making him glance up. Sarang looked puzzled, searching his face.
“Are you interested in Yoon-jae?” she asked.

Do-han choked on his drink, breaking into a rough cough, his face twisted in disbelief.

“What kind of nonsense is that?” he shot back, frowning deeply.
“Well, you remember his name, and you keep asking if he has a girlfriend. It’s suspicious,” she said, half-teasing.

When he stayed silent, wearing an expression of disbelief, Sarang relaxed. It didn’t seem to be what she feared. Relieved, she answered his earlier question.

“He doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

“You said you didn’t care before,” Do-han muttered, barely loud enough for her to hear.

Jiwoo had asked a question.

“Why would someone who already has a boyfriend do that?”

“She said she wouldn’t mind if I was her boyfriend.”

Do-han was rendered speechless.

It struck him that people’s judgment was remarkably similar. Whether it was him, Tae-hoon, or Jiwoo, they all saw love and Yun-jae in the same light.

He frowned at the thought, but his phone vibrated suddenly. It was Hyeri.

Do-han stared at her name on the screen for a moment before answering.

“What?”

The coldness in his voice made Sa-rang glance up at him. She wondered who could make him sound so detached. A female voice filtered through the phone.

“Oppa, are you at the engineering building right now?”

“No.”

“Then the library?”

“I’m off campus.”

“Ah, okay. When will you be back?”

“It’ll be late.”

Sa-rang knew it was Hyeri just from the voice.

‘He said I was the only junior who had his number.’

As the bitter realization set in, the conversation continued.
“What’s going on?” Do-han asked.

“I got caught by my dad while drinking with friends. He told me to come home in your car.”

When he didn’t respond, Hyeri spoke again.

“It’s fine if you’re not at school. I’ll just take a cab. I’ll tell him you dropped me off, so don’t worry.”

“Alright. Got it.”

When the call ended, his expression darkened, making Sa-rang hesitant to speak. But curiosity pushed her beyond the restraint.

“Was that the woman I saw at your place last time?”

Do-han nodded silently, prompting Sa-rang to change her question.

“Do you like her?”

As Do-han, who had been worrying about the trouble that would erupt if Kyung-cheol found out he didn’t take Hyeri home, turned to look at her, she appeared as if she had just lost something dear—like a child whose candy had been stolen.

“No.”

At his response, Sa-rang, who had been holding her breath, lit up slightly. Buoyed by his denial, she dared to ask another question.

“Can I ask what kind of relationship you have?”

“You already did.”

He gazed at her embarrassed expression before answering after a moment’s hesitation.

“She’s my sister.”

Sa-rang’s eyes widened in surprise.

She had assumed Hyeri and Do-han had once been lovers or, as Jiwoo speculated, casual partners. But she was wrong.

“Your real sister?”

Ji Do-han, Park Hyeri. Different surnames. They couldn’t be biological siblings. Did they share the same father?

Sa-rang wanted to ask how they were related.

“My father remarried. Hyeri is my stepmother’s daughter. So, she’s my sister.”

Do-han cleared up her confusion with ease.

Though it wasn’t something he usually told anyone, it came out effortlessly now. He didn’t want any unnecessary misunderstandings with Sa-rang.

“It seems like even Tae-hoon doesn’t know.”

Sa-rang felt disoriented. Tae-hoon, who was closest to Do-han, only knew Hyeri as an acquaintance.

“I thought it would be okay to tell you.”

“…Why?”

She wondered why he would tell her such a secret, gazing up with curious eyes. His response made her heart drop with a thud.
“Because I trust you.”

That single word froze her in place.

“I know you won’t tell anyone.”

He stood up, leaving her blinking in stunned silence.

“Let’s go if you’re done.”

As Do-han walked away, Sa-rang quickly followed, her head spinning. Her mind was a whirl of emotions, and she couldn’t understand why her heart raced so irrationally.

The sky had darkened while they talked.

The buildings and rides were now lit, adding a romantic glow to the place. It was the perfect scene for couples.

Sa-rang loved the path filled with tulips the most. Reds, yellows, purples, and a myriad of colors filled the garden, making her stop in her tracks.

She had to capture it.

Hurriedly, she took out her phone and snapped photos from different angles. Though she longed to take a photo of Do-han, she resisted, knowing from past mistakes how risky it was.

Instead, she managed to take a photo together under the pretense of needing it for her report.

After watching the parade, they moved to a spot to view the fireworks. Yet, the bright display and the glittering sky didn’t register with Sa-rang. Only Do-han’s figure shone in her eyes.

“Sunbae.”

Lost in the glow of Ji Do-han, she called him.

He turned his gaze from the sky, where fireworks were bursting and scattering, to meet hers. Sa-rang thought she should cover her mouth. Any moment now, she would regret this, she was sure. She told herself to stop, but the feelings she had held in overflowed at last.

“I like you.”

Even knowing she would be rejected, she had to say it. For too long, those words had hovered at the tip of her tongue, unspoken, but endlessly replayed.

She had tried to step back when she thought Hyeri was more than family to him. But now, there was no reason to hesitate.
If they were simply step-siblings, she wanted him for herself. She couldn’t bear it any longer. The feelings growing inside her were too much.

If she didn’t confess, her heart would burst.

So, she said it, simply to save herself.