Expression of emotions - Chapter 14

It was Thursday of the second week of the semester — the Thursday of the week when classes truly began after the course adjustment period had ended.

This semester, Kang-woo didn’t have a single class in common with Seung-joon. And although everyone else had dropped the general education class saying it had way too many assignments for a non-major subject, Kang-woo couldn’t bring himself to drop it and ended up taking it alone.

Maybe I should’ve switched too. Feeling a little deflated about having to attend alone, Kang-woo opened the back door of the lecture hall, thinking that now — at this point — it was too late to change.

But honestly, changing to another course was a hassle, and though the grades might be harder to get, the upside was that with fewer people in class, he was less likely to run into classmates from his department, so he tried to think positively about it.

Looking around at the unfamiliar students who had arrived early, Kang-woo pondered where to sit. Then his gaze froze on one spot. It was someone’s back, yet something about it seemed oddly familiar, to the point of disbelief.

No way. That can’t be right.

When attendance was called last week, that name hadn’t even been mentioned, and he hadn’t seen that face either.

This general education lecture should’ve had fewer people this week, not more, since the add/drop period was over. Last week, when the professor said there’d be midterm substitute projects, students had flocked in but the moment they heard they’d have to submit three group projects over the semester, one every month, in groups no larger than three, everyone groaned.

Frowning in puzzlement, Kang-woo walked toward that suspiciously familiar back.

What the….?

As it turned out, his hunch had been right. Kang-woo stood there, dumbfounded, staring at Tae-young.

Listening to music, Tae-young raised an eyebrow when he sensed someone standing in front of him, pulled out his earphones, and met Kang-woo’s eyes.

“Oh? Seo Kang-woo?”

Compared to Kang-woo’s shocked expression, Tae-young didn’t look surprised at all.

“What the hell.”

“What?”

“What are you doing here?”

“You always say the same thing. It’s class time, what other reason would a student have to be in a classroom?”

“You weren’t here last week.”

“I switched into it.”

“You switched into this? Why?”

Kang-woo was still dumbfounded by every answer Tae-young gave, while Tae-young just looked up at him indifferently.

“Stop towering over me, my neck hurts. Sit down already.”

“I don’t really want to sit next to you.”

Tae-young glanced at the seat beside him and told him to sit, but Kang-woo adjusted his bag and tried to move somewhere else. Then Tae-young quickly grabbed his arm.

His movement was big enough to catch attention, a few nearby students glanced over at them. Feeling uncomfortable under their stares, Kang-woo tried to pull his arm free, but Tae-young only tightened his grip.

“Hey. What are you doing? Let go.”

“You’re alone in this class too, aren’t you? Just sit here.”

And how the hell would you know that?

Kang-woo frowned, feeling slightly offended at Tae-young’s assumption.

Seung-joon had said this semester was going to be tough enough just with his major courses, so he planned to take all his electives online. And Tae-young was supposed to be Seung-joon’s shadow, always sticking with him.

So why was he, of all people, suddenly showing up in this miserable class?

81.

In the end, Kang-woo sat next to Tae-young. Well… he told himself that was fine. Up to that point, it was still manageable.

“Group projects will be done in pairs or trios. Please form groups with those seated nearby. If you’re left without a group, raise your hand.”

In an instant, Kang-woo found himself grouped with Tae-young. Unbelievable. He sat there with a dissatisfied expression, while Tae-young, noticing it, gave him a sly grin. Kang-woo glanced at Tae-young’s mischievous smirk, then looked away.

“Hey, seriously. Why’d you take this class?”

He asked again, since Tae-young hadn’t answered earlier.

“Do I need your permission to take it?”

Hard to argue with that.

“I just got bored seeing the same department faces all the time. I looked around, saw this class was small, so I joined. Didn’t know you’d be here.”

Then why act like you did? Why tell me to sit next to you?

Kang-woo sighed. Not like he even likes me anyway.

If he’d known last week that Tae-young was in this class, he would’ve changed it. no matter how much hassle that was.

There were three upcoming group projects. Three.

Why did it have to be pairs? And why, of all people, did my partner have to be Woo Tae-young?

82.

After class ended, Kang-woo had to discuss the project with Tae-young — at least briefly. Since this was Kang-woo’s last Thursday class, and Tae-young didn’t have any more either, they decided to head to a café near the campus building where the class was held.

On the way, Kang-woo’s eyes met with his ex-girlfriend, who was standing by a convenience store tasting counter, eating a triangle gimbap alone.

What is it today? Why do I keep running into people I don’t want to see?

It was the first time he’d seen her since last semester, after that one awkward encounter in the school cafeteria. She had even asked back then if it was okay to say hello sometimes. And now, here she was again.

Should I say hi?since their eyes had met? He hesitated.

But… Why’s she eating alone? She used to hate eating by herself, so Kang-woo looked at her through the glass with a puzzled expression.

When Kang-woo stopped walking and looked inside, Tae-young, who was walking behind him while on the phone, also halted and followed his gaze.

When he spotted the woman inside — who looked awkwardly back at them — Tae-young let out a short, mocking laugh.

Hearing that, Kang-woo turned to look at him. Tae-young had just ended his call and was pulling his phone from his ear, looking at Kang-woo with a half-exasperated, half-amused expression, as if to say, “Really? This again?”

“What.”

“What?”

“What’s with that face? You look annoying as hell.”

“You mean handsome?”

“Oh, for fvck sack”

Tae-young’s nonsensical reply made Kang-woo frown and start walking again. Why did I even stop?

He and his ex didn’t greet each other. He could’ve just walked past, it’s not like they were going to talk anyway. He was irritated at himself for hesitating… and even more annoyed that Tae-young had witnessed the whole thing.

Once they reached the café, they acted as though nothing had happened and talked only about the project.

They discussed the overall plan and how to divide the work, nothing too detailed yet — the conversation was purely businesslike.

When Tae-young asked about his class schedule, Kang-woo showed him his four-day week. Tae-young looked surprised and showed his own — a tighter five-day schedule.

“Do you even have time to eat before class?”

Tae-young’s Thursday schedule ran nonstop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., ending only with this shared elective.

“No.”

Kang-woo stared at him, baffled.

“Seriously, I don’t get it. Why would you drop an online elective and take this? You don’t even have time to eat. Do you enjoy suffering? Are you some kind of masochist?”

To Kang-woo, Tae-young was simply incomprehensible.

Their discussion ended soon after, but Kang-woo hesitated — should he leave, or stay a bit longer?

If he’d known he’d be stuck with Tae-young like this, he thought, he would’ve asked Seung-joon to take this class with him. He hadn’t even seen Seung-joon all week — the guy was busy with both school and his sweet new relationship. Maybe that’s why Tae-young had ended up on his own and by coincidence, in this class, the one Kang-woo was taking alone.

Every time he saw Tae-young, Kang-woo told himself to keep his distance — yet somehow, they kept crossing paths. It was strange.

“Hey. Even Kim Seung-joon’s got a girlfriend now. What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Why? I heard you’re popular with girls. When was the last time you dated? Did someone break your heart or something?”

“Wow, you sure ask a lot. You sound like you’re interested in me.”

“Ugh, don’t say stuff like that, it gives me chills.”

“Why? Cause I’m gay?”

“What the…. Seriously? Don’t say that! Don’t admit it!”

“Oh, come on. You were the one joking about it before, what do you want from me?”

Tae-young laughed, amused at Kang-woo’s flustered reaction, while Kang-woo glared at him with a dead serious expression.

A moment later, Tae-young stood up, saying he was going to the restroom.

Kang-woo thought he probably hadn’t eaten all day, but asking “Wanna go grab something?” felt awkward — too nosy, even — so he just sat there overthinking. Maybe he should just go home.

While he was lost in thought, Tae-young’s phone—left on the table—started ringing.

He glanced at the screen and saw the name ‘Seung-joon’. Even though the name was familiar, Kang-woo hesitated to pick it up. What if it wasn’t the Kim Seung-joon he knew?

Then, through the speaker, he heard a familiar, excited voice.

“Dude, hey! Wanna see my girlfriend? She’s on campus right now….”

But as soon as he picked it up, which kept ringing, he realized that the ‘Seung-joon’ saved in Woo Tae-young’s contacts was indeed the Kim Seung-joon he knew.

“Hey, Kim Seung-joon. I’ve never even seen your girlfriend once, but you call Woo Tae-young first?”

“Hey, Kim Seung-joon. I’ve never even met your girlfriend, and yet you’re calling Woo Tae-young first?”

—Oh? Seo Kang-woo? Since when are you two close enough to be hanging out?

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

—Why are you answering Tae-young’s phone? What’s going on? He called you to hang out or something?

“Didn’t I tell you not to call me whenever Woo Tae-young’s around?”

—And yet the two of you are together right now? What’s going on between you guys?”

Kang-woo opened his mouth in disbelief to respond, but just then, Tae-young returned.

“Hey. What the hell. isn’t that my phone?”

Caught mid-conversation, Kang-woo froze, then handed the phone back to him.

Tae-young took it, looking unimpressed, and began talking to Seung-joon.

Unlike Kang-woo — who’d been bristling at Seung-joon’s teasing — Tae-young responded calmly, like it was nothing.

So that’s how you’re supposed to handle him, Kang-woo thought, scratching the bridge of his nose awkwardly.