A Terrible Senior - Chapter 7

January 23, 2023

Hyeri approached them, her presence drawing silence from Do-han, who stood rooted, unable to utter a word. Avoiding his gaze, she spoke first, explaining why she was there.

“I had dinner with my friends near the campus. Sorry for bothering you on a weekend.”

“Wait here. I’ll grab the car keys.”

“Okay.”

Do-han turned to Love, signaling that she should head inside, before disappearing into the building. Love was about to make her way home when Hyeri’s voice stopped her.

“Are you dating Do-han?”

The question came with eyes so clear and innocent that Love felt the denial come easily.

“No, we just went somewhere for a project.”

“I see. I thought you might be dating since I saw you together last time.”

Love could only manage an awkward smile, which Hyeri mirrored with a warm grin.

“You must be a freshman. You two seem close. Do-han usually doesn’t get along with first or second-year girls.”

Hyeri’s gaze fell on the cardigan Love was wearing—Do-han’s cardigan. A strange feeling gnawed at Love. Though Hyeri’s expression was neutral, her words felt subtly barbed.

Love felt an unexpected defiance surge within her.

“You’re close with Do-han, aren’t you?” She knew Hyeri was a sophomore from what Tae-hoon had mentioned.

Try as she might, Love couldn’t mask the hint of a challenge in her voice. Hyeri’s smile grew faintly, almost knowingly.

“Are we close, I wonder.”

“If you’re asking him to drive you home, that counts as close.”
Hyeri seemed to ponder this before giving a small nod. “Yes, I suppose so. But ‘close’ might be an understatement.”

Love’s heart raced, a question forming she couldn’t bring herself to ask: Had they dated?

Hyeri leaned in slightly, almost as if sharing a secret.

“A deep connection.”

For a moment, her lips twitched into a smirk before settling back into an angelic smile.

“Yes, that’s how we could define it.”

Love blinked, stunned. Surely, she must have imagined it. The shock rendered her motionless, unable to even blink as Do-han returned down the stairs. Hyeri, noticing him, sent one last smile Love’s way.

“See you around.”

Love turned her head just in time to see Do-han opening the passenger door for Hyeri. Moments later, the car sped away, but Love couldn’t move from that spot.

Sunday evening traffic was relentless, turning a 20-minute drive to Kyung-chul’s house into a standstill beyond 30 minutes.
“I thought about taking the subway, but then Dad would have called you over just to lecture me again.”

Hyeri’s voice broke the silence that had settled in the car since they started. She spoke softly, almost to herself, detailing how a friend on leave from the military had gathered everyone, how she’d left early, fearing her father’s worry despite barely drinking.

Do-han listened in silence, eyes on the road, his only task, it seemed.

“That freshman said she was working on a project with you,” Hyeri noted suddenly. For a heartbeat, his eyes flickered.
Hyeri noticed the subtle shift.

“You should have driven, though. Public transport is a hassle.”

“The car’s here for me to drive you,” he finally spoke, his voice edged.

Hyeri’s monologue faltered at the barbed undertone, casting a shadow over her expression.

“I’m sorry. If I were healthier, you wouldn’t be inconvenienced.

It’s scary, not knowing when I’ll be out of breath again. That’s why Dad’s so anxious.”

They reached her father’s house, and Do-han stopped the car without a word.

“Go inside,” he said.

Hyeri parted her lips to speak but hesitated. A part of her had hoped he’d come in, greet her father—futile hopes.

“Thanks for the ride. Be safe.”

The moment she shut the door, Do-han drove off. This place was somewhere he never wanted to linger. He had agreed to stay until she graduated, as a debt to pay for that fateful day with his sister.

But as he drove, the image of Love came unbidden—smiling beneath a red plum tree, caught on his phone camera, like an old, faded photo. Unreal. As if beauty like that didn’t belong in his world.

Back at home, Love splashed cold water on her face and sat in the middle of her room, dazed. Time passed unnoticed until Ji-woo burst in, bubbling with excitement.

“Love! I have a boyfriend!”

The news snapped her out of her trance. She pushed Ji-woo back, unable to hold back her question. She had known whom Ji-woo liked for a while.

“Is it Tae-hoon?”

“Yes! Turns out he liked me too.”

“Really? That’s great! I’m so happy for you, Ji-woo.”

Love was genuinely overjoyed, finding hope in their six-year age difference. It made her think maybe the gap between her and Do-han wasn’t impossible either.

“Thank you! I feel bad being the only one with a boyfriend.”
“Why? I’ll start dating soon too.”

“Do you have someone you like?”

Ji-woo’s smile faltered as Love hesitated. The answer was clear in her silence. Sensing this, Ji-woo’s eyes narrowed.

“You do! Who is it?”

With a sigh, Love confessed.

“…Do-han.”

Ji-woo’s eyes widened.

“Do-han? Tae-hoon’s friend? The second-year from computer engineering?”

“Yes.”

After confirming it, Ji-woo froze in disbelief, her voice rising.

“That can’t be! Why him?”

“Why did you choose Tae-hoon, then?”

“Because he’s kind, sweet, and thoughtful.”

“So is Do-han.”

“Are we talking about the same Do-han here?” Ji-woo couldn’t fathom it. The Do-han she knew was cold, distant, speaking only when necessary.

“His nickname isn’t ‘Heartless Han’ for nothing, Love. There’s a reason.”

She recounted the rumors: that he accepted every confession but never said “I love you,” even when his girlfriends left him broken-hearted.

“You remember what Tae-hoon said?”

“Yes, that Do-han isn’t a flirt.”

“Not that! The part where he never says ‘I love you’ to anyone.”
“There’s probably a reason.”

“What?”

“There must be something behind it. Besides, do words matter so much? Can’t you feel love without them?”

Ji-woo was speechless, watching her friend defend him. Was Love truly in this deep? It reminded her of those dramas where the kind-hearted heroine falls for the wrong man.

“Don’t worry. He doesn’t see me that way. To him, I’m just a freshman.”

“Good. If he did, he’d be even worse.”

Ji-woo grumbled while Love, lost in thought, recalled Hyeri’s parting words.

“By the way, Ji-woo,”

“What now?”

Love’s question hung heavy in the air.

“I ran into her earlier.”

“Who?”

“That sophomore from literature we met before. Hyeri.”

“Pretty name. You met her?”

“Yes. She said something today that I can’t shake.”

“What did she say?”

“That she and Do-han share a ‘deep connection.’”

Ji-woo’s mouth fell open.

“What does that mean, Ji-woo?”

Ji-woo hesitated, unable to meet Love’s eyes, before whispering reluctantly.

“It could mean… something casual.”

“Something casual?”

“Like being… partners.”

Love felt her heart pound at the implication. A “deep connection” she’d thought meant love—a hidden, unspoken love. Ji-woo’s interpretation hadn’t crossed her mind.

“Love, you should give up on Do-han.”

Even Ji-woo, who rarely doubted others, was done.

“There are so many guys at school. Why him?”

“Remember when I said I’d only date someone like that guy at orientation? That was him.”

Ji-woo hadn’t forgotten, realizing it was the same man she’d once told Love to consider dating.

“Yeah, but that was just looks.”

Ji-woo sighed, giving up on her words.

“Find someone else. Anyone else.”

“Why bring up Yoon-jae?”

“Anyone’s better than Do-han.”

“Forget it. Let’s just sleep.”

“Why Do-han, of all people? And as your first love too?”

Exhausted, Love began changing, recalling that this day meant something to Ji-woo.

“Don’t get mad. It’s your first day with Tae-hoon. Congratulations again, my friend.”

Ji-woo, touched by Love’s words, wished more than anything that Do-han would never break her heart.