A Terrible Senior - Chapter 8

January 27, 2023

Monday Morning.

Love had always looked forward to the time when she could give Do-han his morning call, but today was different. She had tossed and turned all night, haunted by dreams of him and Hyeri. Ever since Ji-woo had mentioned the idea of them being mere bed partners, the image had taken hold, vivid and cruel.

In the dream, they were close, intimately so, and Love had been forced to watch, helpless. Blocking her ears and squeezing her eyes shut hadn’t helped. Only after she wept, hunched and broken, did she wake up, drenched in sweat.

It was a nightmare.

She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling until morning light filled the room. Finally, it was time to call him. Love picked up her phone, fingertips grazing the screen before pressing the call button.

“Hello.”

“You’re awake,” she said, surprised by how clear his voice sounded—far more alert than usual.

“Yeah.”

“I’ll see you later,” she said, cutting the conversation short.

“Alright.”

Today, she was glad the call didn’t last long. As much as she didn’t want to see him, she couldn’t skip class. With a sigh, Love prepared for school and stepped outside.

Descending the stairs, she met Do-han just as he was coming out.

“Good morning.”

Of course, fate would have them meet like this when she least wanted it. The road ahead meant they’d walk side by side.

Silence fell between them, heavy and awkward. Nothing had changed, but the air felt thick, weighed down by everything she didn’t say. Love felt foolish for being angry; he hadn’t done anything wrong. Whatever he and Hyeri were, he owed her no explanations. She wasn’t his girlfriend. She’d never even confessed her feelings.

She tried to be rational. To him, she was just a junior—a familiar face, nothing more.

“When should we work on next month’s project?” she asked, turning to the only safe topic they shared.

Though they’d only finished their first project yesterday, she needed to speak, to break the silence that made her skin prickle. Even as she tried to sound casual, her face betrayed her, tense and stiff. Do-han glanced at her with a hint of concern.

“I just want to plan ahead. What days are you free?” she added.
“Anytime. Whenever it’s convenient for you.”

“Let’s do it on a weekday afternoon, not the weekend.”

Love spoke with determination. Spending a whole day together felt unbearable with her feelings entangled and messy. A brief weekday meeting would have to suffice.

“Okay.”

Weekdays could be tricky with Hyeri in the picture, but Do-han agreed, noting her unusually flat mood.

“Where should we go?” he asked.

“I’ll figure that out.”

Silence returned until, unexpectedly, Do-han spoke first.

“Do you want to see some flowers?”

“Pardon?”

“You seem to like flowers.”

Love’s mind caught up. He was suggesting a place for their project—a date location, to be exact.

“There’s a tulip festival at the amusement park next month. If we go during the night opening, we could catch the fireworks too.”

Surprise lit her eyes as she looked up at him. Despite his casual approach to classes and barely making it on time, he’d thought about this. She’d assumed he wasn’t taking their “date project” seriously.

“Did you look that up yourself?” she asked.

“I couldn’t let you do all the planning. Do you not like it?”

“No, I love it. I do love flowers.”

Before she knew it, Love was smiling. She wasn’t sure what pleased her more—seeing flowers or the fact that he remembered she liked them. The thought of putting distance between her feelings and him suddenly felt impossible; her heart fluttered, defying her resolve.

Do-han’s own smile was slight but real. This morning, he had waited for her call. He had woken early, accustomed to the time now, and felt an odd thrill when the phone finally rang. Her voice usually so full of light, sounded tired today, worrying him. And now, seeing her in person, pale and quiet, confirmed his concerns.

Since yesterday, he’d wondered what might lift her spirits, remembering how she’d delighted in the red plum blossoms. He had checked out the festival for their project, not just for her, but because it seemed right to contribute.

“For the third project, we’ll go wherever you like,” Love said suddenly.

“Where would that be?” he asked, a touch of amusement in his voice.

“The PC café and the billiards hall. We’ll game, eat instant noodles, and play pool with jajangmyeon after.”

“Do you even know how to play pool? Or game?”

“No, but I’ll learn. Is it hard?”

“It is.”

“You just don’t want to teach me.”

“True.”

“Wow, that’s petty. I’ll find someone else to teach me.”

“Do you have someone like that?”

“…No.”

Their laughter mingled, the ice between them cracking slightly. Monday mornings had never felt so complicated, or so quietly hopeful.

Love’s chatter had filled the quiet morning until her face fell, and Do-han couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. It was comforting to see her return to her usual self, even if just for a moment. The guilt from driving away with Hyeri yesterday, leaving Love standing alone in the mirror’s reflection, had lingered in his mind far longer than he’d have admitted.

But why? Love wasn’t his girlfriend. Even if she was, when had he ever cared about such things? He never intended to become like his father—a man who had loved, no, obsessed over one woman. It had been easy to avoid. Accept affection when it came, let it go when it faded, and never look back. As long as he didn’t betray a lover the way his father had his mother, no one would leave scarred. Only women who knew this about him ever approached.

So why did the image of Love, standing alone under the dim glow of a streetlight, unsettle him so? It was as if he truly liked her. But he couldn’t even say the word “love,” let alone understand what it felt like.

After his last class on Friday, Do-han stepped out of the engineering building with Tae-hoon at his side.

“Isn’t that Love over there? And that guy must be the athlete she mentioned. Built, isn’t he?” Tae-hoon’s gaze flicked to a pair in the distance. It was Love, laughing with a tall, broad-shouldered young man. Do-han recognized him from the stories at lunch.

“Are they dating? They look good together, don’t they?” Tae-hoon continued, waiting for a response. But Do-han said nothing, eyes fixed on the scene ahead. Only a few days ago, he had thought the same—that they suited each other. But now, the simple nod didn’t come.

“Go ahead without me,” Do-han said abruptly.

“Why? Got plans?” Tae-hoon’s surprise was warranted; they always ate dinner together after this class.

“Project stuff.”

“Ah, the dating and marriage course?” Tae-hoon caught on quickly when he noticed where Do-han’s attention was. “Told you to retake it with me last semester,” he teased before walking away, leaving Do-han to cross the campus toward Love.

As he neared, their laughter reached him, clear and bright. Love tossed her head back, eyes closed in joy. A sharp, irrational pang hit him. Other girls were cautious around him, avoiding him like Ji-woo and others who’d heard the rumors. But Love had been different from the start—bold, open, unafraid. And he’d found himself drawn to her defiant warmth, though he kept his distance.

But seeing her now, with another, felt like betrayal. The innocent smile she shared so freely with others suddenly felt too precious. For a fleeting moment, Do-han felt like a selfish child who wanted his favorite toy all to himself.

He didn’t pause; he walked straight up to them. Love’s eyes widened in surprise at his sudden appearance.

“Oh, hello.” Her gaze darted around as if to confirm his presence, and sure enough, Tae-hoon was on the other side of the street, waving.

Do-han’s response was a question, curt and out of place.

“Is your report done?”

“Not yet,” she admitted, puzzled.

“Let’s work on it now.”

“Now?”

“Yes, now.”

Though taken aback, Love could hardly refuse. She had wanted to finish the project with him anyway. She glanced at Yoon-jae, guilt flickering across her features.

“Yoon-jae, I need to go for a project,” she said apologetically.

“No problem. We can hit the library another time.” He waved off her concern, adding with a playful grin, “Just buy me lunch later.”

Love laughed, the sound light and carefree. “Deal. I’ll treat you next time.”

“Just kidding,” Yoon-jae said, ruffling her hair with a friendly hand. She scowled good-naturedly, waving as he turned away. Straightening her hair, she met Do-han’s gaze.

“I thought we were writing separate reports. Didn’t you say you’d send yours over?”

“Did I?” His voice was clipped.

“Yes.”

“Do you want to write them separately then? Would that be better?”

There was an edge to his words that made Love look at him closely. Something was off. He seemed tense, angry even. Was it something that happened in class? A fight with Tae-hoon, perhaps? She wasn’t sure how to navigate this, so she shook her head.

“No, working together is easier for me.”

“Good.”

“So, where are we doing this? Did you bring your laptop?”

“Yeah.”

“Then should we go to a café?”

He didn’t respond right away, and she felt her nerves prickling. Before she could offer an alternative, he relented.

“Café’s fine.”

“Alright.”

His expression remained unreadable, and Love felt a niggling worry creep in. Could they even focus enough to write the report?

They reached a café outside the campus, and while Do-han set up the laptop, Love ordered their drinks. When she returned, she placed a cup in front of him.

“Here, for you.”

Do-han lifted his coffee to take a sip, then paused, setting it down as the memory of Yoon-jae’s request for a meal flashed through his mind.

Why was he just getting coffee while Yoon-jae got a promise for lunch? The pettiness of his own thoughts startled him, but his face hardened.

“You two seem close,” he said, his tone casual but eyes trained on the screen.

“Yoon-jae?” Love looked at him, surprised.

He nodded, still not meeting her eyes. Love placed her mug down and fiddled with her phone, preparing to sort the photos from last weekend’s project.

“We’re in the same class.”

“He have a girlfriend?”

“I’m not sure.”

“You never asked?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It never crossed my mind.”

“Then why ask me?”

Her hand stilled. Heart thudding, she lifted her gaze. When had he started watching her so intently?

A question lingered unspoken in the space between them.