Mint Is Pure Love - Chapter 48

Yeono University’s language exchange club, Polylogue, was founded with the lofty goal of going beyond monologues and dialogues—pushing toward true multi-party conversations.

Of course, every university club likes to think big, but Polylogue’s status was a little different, even within Yeono.

Unusually, the heads of the English, Economics, and International Trade departments all served jointly as faculty advisors. The club didn’t just get generous support—it had a reputation for looking great on a résumé, whether for jobs or overseas study after graduation.

The club had exactly a hundred members, and they didn’t recruit unless someone graduated, quit voluntarily, or was kicked out for being inactive. Even then, there were only a fixed number of freshman spots each year, so competition was intense.

It wasn’t like all hundred members worked together. The club was split into smaller student-led projects based on language, each getting varying levels of school support depending on size and scope.

Yeonseo had first heard of the club from Eunjoo, an upperclassman in the same department. She’d casually suggested Yeonseo apply, so Yeonseo submitted a short English essay—and somehow got in. Honestly, she wasn’t sure it was a good thing.

“I’ll be the club lead and project team leader, but the main facilitation is gonna be yours, Cha, right?”

Cha. That was clearly how they referred to Cha Seokyung. He accepted the attention with his usual calm, answering easily.

“I’ve already wrapped up talks with their circle, so I don’t have much else to do. I’ll just go along with however you run things, Jeongmin.”

“Yeah?”

Jeongmin clicked his tongue, scratching his neck.

“Alright, cool. Then… let’s eat first.”

That got a mix of laughter and groans from the group. Jeongmin grinned sheepishly.

“What? We can talk about the project over food. Plus, Cha’s here for the first time in ages.”

With that, the meeting naturally wound down.

When Seokyung asked what people wanted to eat, the female seniors immediately shot back—Are you treating us?

Yeonseo had never seen Eunjoo look so thrilled since she entered school.

When Seokyung casually offered to pay for whatever they wanted, the room buzzed with excitement. This clearly wasn’t the first time.

Yeonseo slowly slung her bag over her shoulder. Not wanting to intrude on the lively discussion about where to go, she leaned toward Eunjoo, who was busy texting.

“Eunjoo sunbae, I have plans today, so I’ll head out first.”

“Minseo, you have plans?!”

Apparently someone nearby overheard, because a male senior suddenly bellowed it loud enough for the whole room. Even the people halfway out the door turned to look.

Seriously… does he think volume equals importance?

And of course, she became painfully aware that Seokyung’s eyes were among those on her.

“Yeah, I’ve got a prior commitment.”

Eunjoo gave a knowing Ohhh.

“Wait, is it with Jawoon oppa?!”

Rather than get into it, Yeonseo just smiled awkwardly. Jokes flew back and forth—

“It’s our first project meeting-slash-dinner, you can’t stay for a bit?”
“Let her go, don’t ruin a blooming romance.”
“You weren’t even gonna talk business anyway.”

“Only people who have time should come,”

Seokyung’s voice cut through from the doorway.

“Don’t drag anyone who said they can’t.”

He turned neatly on his heel.

Even though she was the one who’d declined, Yeonseo still felt oddly left out as she walked out into the evening air.

***

“…Guess they ate well.”

After showering at home, she made herself some instant ramen, then sat down to do homework—but ended up clicking into the club’s online forum. Apparently the dinner had wrapped up early; photos were already in the gallery.

“What kind of ‘club dinner’… more like a gourmet feast.”

Every table was piled with steak, pasta, and pricey-looking dishes—probably from that new family restaurant near campus.

No group shots, of course. Seokyung wasn’t the type. But there were plenty of sneaky photos—someone pretending to take food pics, but catching him in the frame anyway.

Even the candid shots came out looking annoyingly good.

Scrolling down, she saw the post had over a hundred comments—most greeting Seokyung, asking when he’d returned to school, or just leaving strings of wordless exclamations.

One thing struck her: Seokyung sure has more friends now. Then again, he’d been like that in high school too—everyone wanted to be close to him, even if he only let a few past his walls.

Back then, the only person he’d let in was her.

She was mulling over that bittersweet thought when the very last comment caught her eye.

[04 Shim Minjung: Is it true Seokyung sunbae broke up with Yang Jisoo?]

Less than five minutes later, the comment was gone.

That kind of thing happened often on the forum—half-drunken confessions, love-life overshares, fleeting gossip about who liked who, who was dating who, who’d been dumped. They’d pop up and vanish just as quickly.

This could’ve been one of those. She could’ve just let it go.

But she’d already seen the name, Yang Jisoo. Someone she’d never heard of before.

Her hand moved the mouse slowly, the cursor drifting across the screen.

You know those days—you feel like you shouldn’t look, but something inside insists you have to open the box anyway, even if it’ll just make noise in your head.

Not that it was really a box. Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with her. She was just the girl he’d dated for a single week, back when they were both immature teenagers. His love life now meant nothing to her. She knew that.

“…”

Fine. She admitted it—she was curious. Not just about his ex-girlfriend, but about what Seokyung had been doing in the six years since.

It wasn’t like it was lingering feelings. She’d even snooped around Kim Eunho’s old mini-homepage after their whole drama—this was the same kind of curiosity.

“…Hoo.”

After a moment’s thought, she made up her mind and logged into Cyworld. She typed Yang Jisoo into the friend search—about 170 results came up.

Funny how the brain works fast when it wants to. If her name was floating around the club forum, maybe she’d been a member too. Or maybe she was connected to one of the seniors.

Yeonseo went to Eunjoo’s mini-homepage and opened her friends list.

There she was—Yang Jisoo.

Last chance, Ji Yeonseo. You don’t have to look. You can just live your life, mind your own business. Once you see, you’ll never unsee. Right. Let’s not.

At the exact same time she thought that, her finger clicked.

Her photo albums were all public.

Slowly, Yeonseo scrolled through the pictures of Seokyung’s ex. Her impression grew clearer with each one— The woman was dazzling. Pretty and polished. Long wavy hair, sharp nose, tall and slim—exactly the type guys dreamed about.

She dresses so well too… So, Seokyung, this is your taste now as an adult, huh? Trust you to pick someone with perfect aesthetics.

Yeonseo shut the computer.

The first feeling she had was… glass. A perfect, clear wall. It hit her that eighteen-year-old Seokyung and her belonged to entirely different worlds now.

Wasn’t it funny? That world had already shattered when she ended things, dismissing their clumsy teenage romance as nothing much—so why was she feeling this way now?

Maybe… maybe she’d hoped. That when they met again by chance, there’d still be some faint thread between them. But Seokyung had spent six whole years building his life—

…That’s only natural, Ji Yeonseo. You did the same. You lived just fine too.

She murmured to herself, imagining what his six years had been like. She couldn’t help feeling a little… left out. She knew she had no right to—but feelings didn’t need permission.

And yet, what lingered strongest in the end… was relief.

Twenty-four seasons had passed since their breakup. In that time, Seokyung had laughed, cried, and loved with someone else. He probably hadn’t been lonely—and she was glad for that.

I’m alone, Yeonseo.

It was a relief to think she’d been the only one whose chest ached when she remembered those words.